Radiohead’s latest In Rainbows is pretty much the greatest album ever. I say that tongue and cheek but it could be true. Definitely their best so far since I think it draws on so much of all their previous work and masters it. Perhaps that is the nature of this album because about half the songs have been floating around unreleased in their touring repertoire for about a decade (we heard them in June ’06 at the BOA Pavilion). That being said, there is a great flow, unity, and cohesion to the first 10 tracks they have released (there are 8 tracks on a bonus CD that will be released in December) with a blend of their varied musical resources. A few words come to mind of characteristics that find their way acutely into this great soundtrack: texture, layers, progression, and transition. The 4th track, “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi,” typifies all of these elements woven together. In Rainbows also dashes through various emotional fields, ranging from relative “upbeatness” (yeah, even happy/fun at certain points) in “15 Steps” to relative “angsty/punkyness” in “Bodysnatchers” and “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” to more slow/sober in “All I Need”, “Faust Arp”, and “Videotape”. I would suggest only listening to this album in sequence to capture the full flavor. My favorite track is number 7, “Reckoner”. I consider it their holy of holies. Overall, a beautiful Radiohead symphony of movie soundtracks that could bring you to tears if you listened hard enough. It’s really not fair to have access to music this good for $2.50 from the band’s own website. Then again, it is not fair they are charging over $80 dollars for the disc box coming out in December. But do yourself and favor and get over to www.inrainbows.com, pick a price, and download. Also check out a great fan site for more info, www.greenplastic.com.