Radiohead - "In Rainbows"

Self-Released, 2007

Almost everyone has been waiting for this album for over four years and almost everyone had big expectations, which finally can be compared with reality. Was it worth to wait? Was it worth to have such hopes?

The first two tracks on this new Radiohead album strenghten expactations and appetite. "15 Step" and "Bodysnatchers" are two solid songs what can be quite confusing. They are the best two tracks on this CD, but not as good as the earlier Radiohead's accomplishments. Let's go further, sometimes getting tired, but still forward, because there are a few good things. The next several tracks sound a bit derivative. But if this derivative feature came from general music, it would be ok. In this case, where it comes from eariler Radiohead's records, it's really strange. They are repeating themselves because we've already heard those melodies. Moreover - they don't come from the best Radiohead's albums (I'm thinking about "The Bends" and "OK Computer") but from averages such as "Amnesiac" and "Hail to the Thief". So, after good "Bodysnatchers" we have a few dozen minutes of boredom. During this boredom made, among other things, of irritating "Faust Arp" and "Reckoner" which are on the standard of some Jonny Greenwood's or Thom Yorke's solo albums, I can single out two songs: "Nude" and "House of Cards". But it's still a lower standard than the first two trakcs (in my opinion the whole album should sound as numbers one and two - more energetic). Another good song is number five - "All I Need". It was also some time earlier but anyway, it's absorbing.

On the other hand, "In Rainbows", for today's times, is a good and even a bit interesting CD. If it wasn't Radiohead's, the success of a band making it's debut with it would be unquestionable. But in this case we deal with the old stagers, who, some time ago, made us used to some really good standards of their records. With "In Rainbows" they are trying to come back to the former glory. Successfully, I think, because this album is much, much better than the two previous ones.

3,5/5

P.S. In next few days I'm going to place here some older reviews taken from my Polish blog and translated into English. After this you'll find here my opinions on some newer albums.