Spring Break
Seventh and possibly final album shows Radiohead still in top form
The venerable rock band released its seventh album last week over the internet. The album, on sale at a user-defined price from a band-owned Web site, was certified digital platinum later in the week.
by Daniel Orkin
Music | 10/16/07
Posted online at 8:41 PM EST on 10/15/07
The first track of Radiohead's newly released In Rainbows, "15 Step," starts with a lonely digital rhythm loop soon joined by a thin vocal line from Thom Yorke, coldly reminiscent of his 2006 solo album, The Eraser. Forty seconds in, a lush guitar part from Jonny Greenwood asserts a much-needed layer of humanity, and by minute 13 the rest of the band completes the soundscape with bass and drum. Radiohead has returned.
To recap briefly, Radiohead has been working on this, their seventh album, since at least 2005. Last month guitarist and general music innovator Jonny Greenwood dropped word that the band had completed the album and still lacked a record contract. Oct. 1 rolled around and brought with it an announcement that the album would be released via the Internet in 10 days' time with no set price; it is essentially a free download with the option of a donation.
It's difficult to overstate the utterly revolutionary implications of this release model. Radiohead is the first major act to embrace the changing tide of the recording industry fully and accept the merits of file sharing rather than fight them. While the henchmen lurking at the Recording Industry Association of America are doing everything in their power to deter free music distribution, Radiohead has proven that it can be an ally to musicians.
With all the obvious accolades and appreciation we can pour over this bold and enlightened move, it seems likely that discussion of the album will be dominated by the ingenuity of the release. And yes, this point does rightfully warrant much focus as the release of In Rainbows will probably be looked back on as a major turning point in the history of recorded music. However, when taken in its own terms as strictly another Radiohead album separate from its business and marketing aspects, the album should speak for itself as a piece of musical output from a group of artists. Bearing this in mind, In Rainbows is indeed a great album, an album that genuinely maintains Radiohead's reputation as the most inventive, relevant and all-around brilliant band in the world.
To recap briefly, Radiohead has been working on this, their seventh album, since at least 2005. Last month guitarist and general music innovator Jonny Greenwood dropped word that the band had completed the album and still lacked a record contract. Oct. 1 rolled around and brought with it an announcement that the album would be released via the Internet in 10 days' time with no set price; it is essentially a free download with the option of a donation.
It's difficult to overstate the utterly revolutionary implications of this release model. Radiohead is the first major act to embrace the changing tide of the recording industry fully and accept the merits of file sharing rather than fight them. While the henchmen lurking at the Recording Industry Association of America are doing everything in their power to deter free music distribution, Radiohead has proven that it can be an ally to musicians.
With all the obvious accolades and appreciation we can pour over this bold and enlightened move, it seems likely that discussion of the album will be dominated by the ingenuity of the release. And yes, this point does rightfully warrant much focus as the release of In Rainbows will probably be looked back on as a major turning point in the history of recorded music. However, when taken in its own terms as strictly another Radiohead album separate from its business and marketing aspects, the album should speak for itself as a piece of musical output from a group of artists. Bearing this in mind, In Rainbows is indeed a great album, an album that genuinely maintains Radiohead's reputation as the most inventive, relevant and all-around brilliant band in the world.
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