in rainbows

the seventh studio album from wonderband radiohead
unlike about 1.2 million other people worldwide
i did not take up the option to download it
and name my own price in the process
i bought my copy on good old cd format
it's the touchy-feely trophy-collecting thing you see
i just can't get past the concept of the complete package
or maybe i just want to see cd's continue as a medium
or more likely i want to see cd shops continue to exist
something to do with my vested interest there
but really i do like looking at the artwork
and the credits...and the lyrics...really
radiohead are up there as an all-time favourite
they are highly original, seriously influential
and pack a mean sound that i always enjoy turning to
no matter what other type of music i may be delving into
be interesting to hear this album in virgin play mode
15 step
full-on electronica and drum machine intro
thom going all falsetto on vocal input
a jazz guitar sound added to the mix
and other assorted instruments adding bits
a loose, relaxed, mixed-up, radiohead-only-ish starter
bodysnatchers
dirty, distorted guitar laying down the background here
all sorts of other noises including a hammond-ish organ
going at rapid-fire pace and thom almost lost in the mix
halfway through it drops back to a much cleaner sound
then rocks it's way through to the big-guitar band conclusion
nude
slowed right down, stripped right back, thom right out front
lightly strummed electric guitar, various other electronica
could this be radiohead in love song territory?
now that you've found it - it's gone
now that you feel it - you don't
weird fishes/arpeggi
impressive electric jazz guitar noises start out this one
some rapid-fire repetitive drum sequences from phil selway
thom's voice strong and given the echo treatment
accompanying himself with extra backing vocals mixed in
typical radiohead - lots going on and totally unique
all i need
quite a swing feel to this one - punting here at a 7/8 timing
thom again singing with total confidence and nicely produced
this is a fine tune - another love song it seems - you are all i need
great use of echo allowing his voice and other instruments to breathe
including the superb use of grand piano in the later stages - special
faust arp
a throwback to 60's beatles sounds here - voice and strings
quite a short number (relatively) at just over 2 minutes
acoustic guitar used as the main instrument
including a very nice solo mixed right out front
and backed up with massed strings a-la orchestra
reckoner
phil selway on drums given his moment in the spotlight
all sorts of percussion sounds in the mix with thom's falsetto voice
electric guitar joins in and works nicely together to the halfway point
everything drops out to a strange and not very likeable bridge part
before returning to the familiar mix and feel until the end
house of cards
another slow number with simple instrumentation
echo wound up to the max for vocals and the odd noise mixed in
i don't want to be your friend, i just want to be your lover
no matter how it ends, no matter how it starts
forget about your house of cards, forget about your house of cards
jigsaw falling into place
pseudo flamenco guitar playing leads in a standard rock band sound
takes about 2 bars to figure out this one is going to go somewhere
thom sings a couple of verses and steps back from the microphone
band moves up a gear as does thom for the next couple of choruses
repeat again and by the end everyone is giving all to the tune
videotape
piano intro not unlike the sound of the edge on the october album
continues to be the main part of the tune while thom sings on
some quite strangely timed drumming added in
not sure what the lyrics are about but what the heck
seems like quite a good outro to the album really

impressions - yes - they have done it again
delivered an album of great consistency
affirming the concept of that format
no real standout tracks on first listen
which is just fine by me
repeat plays necessary
looking forward to that