Radiohead - In Rainbows
Self-Released / XL
October 10th, 2007.
Radiohead's seventh studio album blurred the lines between the business world and the art world. Ringing in a new era of consumer culture with regards to music and its market, In Rainbows sets a prestige for opening new doors and generating new ideas, while simultaneously being one of the greatest albums ever made. Sonically, stylistically, and artistically In Rainbows ticks pretty much every box that it finds itself in.
'How come I end up where I started? How come I end up where I went wrong?'. In usual downbeat Radiohead fashion In Rainbows comes to fruitful life. Reflective, soul searching words to ring in the album, In Rainbows is set up to be a beautifully introspective step in Radiohead's career. After 'Hail to the Thief' in 2003, an album which delves deep into the paranoid, mistrustful mindset, In Rainbows is like a breathe of fresh air. A new direction in sonic spaces and a focus on captivating and capturing lush, vibrant and aesthetically pleasing soundscapes was high on the list of to-do's. Along with the lavishly built soundscapes, you wont find an album with better, more fulfilling grooves. The feel across in Rainbows is thick with soulful musicianship. A tangible, resonant warmth gradually offers itself up - an ever-giving fountain of residual heat.
Risks must be taken for new ground to be broken. Progress relies on the act of stepping out on the branch - belief in one's wings is essential. With the 'pay what you want' plan in place, some acts believed it would be the end of the business - one step closer to collapse. Said acts have fanbases who care for the 15 minutes of fame, then ditch. Nowadays, sites such as Bandcamp thrive off of this system - put the power in the hands of the fans. Let them decide what something is worth. It's pretty much what the system has always been, less the price-setting middle man. Artists that hone their craft to a meticulous degree never really have to worry once the wheels are rolling - the cream always rises to the top. When you know, you know. It's a feeling, a being.
Very few records manage to get everything right. In Rainbows is a special collection of music. Some things tap into a place in which words can't really describe.
'Don't get any big ideas, they're not gonna happen'
