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.
Dave's Exegesis is my eclectic site of exegesis on pretty much everything I can think of, whether biblical studies, theology, music, movies, culture, food, drink, sports, or the internet.
3 comments so far
As you know, i think is great. Hardly the best album ever, but nonetheless good. Its virtually impossible to beat the Classical Greats composition and sound (Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, etc).
What did you think of Videotape?
Well, I think it is a matter of genre and opinion. I’m thinking within the general ‘rock’ genre primarily and I think it could prove to be the greatest album in that genre. Of course it is hard to say without putting down some criteria. But, after all, this isn’t science it is preference. And this album only stands to get better once we all hear the bonus CD.
“Videotape” is an ethereal song and a brilliant conclusion to the album. It is Kalila’s favorite song on this album. Radiohead seems to end every album with a perfectly fitting track. This track reminds me very much of Paul McCartney’s “End of the End” from his latest ‘Memory Almost Full’ but with a much more obscured Radiohead/Thom Yorke slant. To be honest, I’m always pretty puzzled by Radiohead lyrics:
When I’m at the pearly gates
This will be on my videotape, my videotape
Mephistopheles is just beneath
and he’s reaching up to grab me
This is one for the good days
and i have it all here
In red, blue, green
Red, blue, green
You are my center
When i spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can’t do it face to face
I’m talking to you after it’s too late
From my videotape
No matter what happens now
You shouldn’t be afraid
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I’ve ever seen.
The problem with such songs is that the referentials are only known to author. “This is one for the good days…” is sparse because I have no idea what Thom means by “This”. “You are my center when I spin away…” leaves us wondering who he is talking to because I don’t know who “You” is referring to. Aside from that, that lyrics are straight forward and not cryptic, but one wonders if each line can be taken at face value. The language definitely conjures up the image that you refer to in your post about reflecting on the good and bad in his life, and I think the music itself puts you in that frame of mind. It is very beautiful and one of my favorites on the album.
agreed!
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