 With more humanity, Radiohead ascends in their introspection. RADIOHEAD - IN RAINBOWS (2007) After their contract with EMI ended, Radiohead innovated by releasing their 7th studio album, In Rainbows, with a unique sales format called "pay what you want," giving the public the option to choose how much to pay for the album via download. Released in 2007, and produced by Nigel Godrich, the British group shows a more human side and ascends in their introspection with compositions accessible to the public and well-defined in their artistic concept. "15 Step" begins with a more pop rhythm, maintaining the traditional atmosphere within a suggestive environment. The soft guitar notes provide the necessary charm for the moment's enjoyment, which also features the unexpected help of children in the background; "Bodysnatchers" enters a state of hyperactivity as Yorke sings: "I have no idea what I am talking about," lost in his hallucination with instrumentation also in continuous trance in the void. "Nude" enters a more poetic state of mind, like sand slipping through fingers and thoughts getting lost in time. The soft instrumentation and slow rhythm fit Yorke's angelic voice, who boldly states: "Don't get any big ideas, they’re not going to happen…," before raising the tone and contrasting the atmosphere with harsh vehemence behind the artistic delight: “You’ll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking….” With some agony, "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" tries to find a breath amid the group's creative sound in the most appealing rhythm of the album, as if the protagonist were submerged in their deepest thoughts waiting for the dreamed existential escape. It is a piece of great value. "All I Need" feels like a rehearsal in a dark room, containing enigmatic elements, standing out in the emphasis given to the chorus: "You are all I need…," sings Yorke, before the instrumentation ventures into something very experimental; "Faust Arp" receives sunlight with its repeated and restless verses while the pads fill the empty spaces, and the guitar marks its quick execution drawn by liberation. The rehearsed drums of "Reckoner" dictate the rhythm for the well-adventured guitar solo, which stands out throughout the process; midway, the drums take a break, allowing for greater appreciation of the musical background until the band's more coordinated return; "House of Cards" has a more interesting and pleasant rhythm, which takes the listener through a healing process from existential crises while contemplating the love of a lifetime in a slender melody. "Jigsaw Falling into Place" stands out for its lyrics while the band seems to enjoy themselves with their instruments, like a genuine invitation for the listener to join the intuitive dance in its development; "Videotape" introduces a delicate piano and takes the traveler on a journey of self-discovery with its march intertwining affably with the melody: "this is my way of saying goodbye," sings the protagonist tenderly, before admitting they don’t know how to do it face to face. It is a deep, intrinsic conclusion that values the album’s ending. As a bonus, Radiohead released an extra CD containing 8 additional songs, with highlights like "Last Flowers," which shines with its piano and vocals and stands out as the best song of the In Rainbows era (the most creative and solid era of the band's career). The tracklist also includes "MK 1," "Down Is the New Up," "Go Slowly" (a gentle song that brings hope), "MK 2," "Up on the Ladder" (an engaging beat and a pleasant surprise on disc 2), "Bangers + Mash," and "4 Minute Warning" (a small introspective piece with a somewhat Christmas-like atmosphere in its arcs after departing from the brutality in the introduction). ★★★★½ (out of 5 stars) Radiohead Collection (9 Studio Albums): Pablo Honey (1993), The Bends (1995), OK Computer (1997), Kid A (2000), Amnesiac (2001), Hail to the Thief (2003), In Rainbows (2007), The King of Limbs (2011), and A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). |
