In Rainbows - A Response

I, like most of musical journalism, went quiet yesterday. We took our shoes off at the door and transcended into silence, like the hush before the storm. We bowed our heads and reflected on the immense impact Radiohead have had on our lives, from the day we listened to OK Computer, to the day we heard the opening chords to Everything In Its Right Place, to the present. Not only have Radiohead inspired other musicians, there effect has spread throughout the world, reaching our hearts and minds through our well-tuned ears. It seemed appropriate then, as it does now, to await the magisterial day to follow in a state akin to reverence and anticipation. What an affirming delight it was was to open my inbox this morning and be faced with a download link to Radiohead's latest work. As we all know, Radiohead's refute with iTunes has led to a bitter exchange, whereby Radiohead do not allow iTunes to publish their music, for the simple reason that Radiohead's albums should be treated as items themselves, not as a collection of individual, 79 pence, songs. So then, here it was, the album as the band intended - 10 tracks in sequence; 43 minutes of playing time. As Paul Morley comments in his self-aggrandising prose, it would be wrong to post a critical reaction to the music itself; this would seem particularly naive. As fans of Radiohead, we appreciate the often inaccessible nature of their music. Therefore, may I suggest we leave complete musical analysis for another few wholistic listens. What I would say, however, is that it would be unforgivable not to access the album in some way, for it takes the listener on a journey through the tangents of Yorke's artistic genius, from the abrasive opening tracks to the soul-rendering conclusion. One finds themselves surrounded, encompassed by sound. This is a devastatingly astute collection of songs, whilst, simultaneously, a triumph as an entity in itself. There are many comments one could easily make to advertise the expertise of this album; Yorke appears to have overcome some of his confidence issues and allowed his voice to be prevalent in the songs, and yet he by no means dominates the ever-powerful rhythm section. And what more could be said that hasn't already about the sequestrial awe of Radiohead's guitar combinations. This album represents plenty of new additions to the Radiohead catalogue, each with an individual identity that somehow fits perfectly with the overall emotional spine of the piece. In years to come, this album could be heralded a classic, a masterpiece, a definition. This blogger was rendered speechless this morning. I hope you too respond with all the resounding intensity that this album demands.