Valley Star

Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Valley Life

If you had any expectations for Radiohead's seventh release "In Rainbows" to sound anything like "Kid A" or "Ok Computer," you will be let down. You can search the record all you want; there are no immediate singles like "Creep," "Karma Police," or "Idioteque" on it. This isn't a concept record with beefy political overtones like "Hail to the Thief." The bottom line is if you have any preconceived notions about "In Rainbows" you're in for a nasty surprise.

The new record is the most prevalent musical change of pace since The Beatles started hanging out with Dylan and smoking pot - culminating in the release of "Rubber Soul." In this album, Radiohead has strayed away from their optimism and dived head first into reality. In the past, they have tried to conquer issues that we as humans are powerless over.

With new songs such as "House of Cards," the band addresses a common factor in all of our lives, love. Thom Yorke opens the song admitting - "I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover." Whether they were the parting words to an old girlfriend or a longing for something that will never be, it speaks volumes universally speaking.

Ifyou decide to give the new album a listen, open up and let Radiohead in. Their whole career has been a crescendo to this point. Radioheads musical toolbox is full and accurately displayed in this arrangement of songs. Stick some headphones on your ears to get the full stereo-effect because the composition is what words like beautiful were created for.

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