Radiohead In Rainbows Album Cover

Words By Jada G.

Radiohead is the greatest rock band on earth.

Try to convince any fan differently and you’ll find it impossible.

I fell in love with England’s five-man band in high school. Like most of us, it was an era in my life that was filled with awkwardness, curiosity, and a need for self-expression. No one could sum up the angst and uncertainty of my fifteen year old existence like Thom Yorke. Radiohead is the music of intellectuals, and there’s an air of elitism that rests in the heart of us Radioheads. And yet again, they’ve made us proud. At the pinnacle of artistic praise and critical claim, they’ve made an attempt to revolutionize the business.

Radiohead released their latest album In Rainbows, on their official site, inrainbows.com. Its cost is up to each listener ­- if they even decide to pay for it at all. Whether you pay five cents or fifteen dollars, it’s clear upon listening that In Rainbows is one of the band’s greatest efforts to date. “15 Step” propels Rainbows… into an audio frenzy of static and hypnotic drumming. The music of copy cat bands dissipate from memory as Thom Yorke’s haunting voice accompanies the sounds of electronic perfection. Radiohead spent two years perfecting ten tracks, and such attention to detail is evident on “Reckoner,” as it’s easy to get lost in each intricate element of instrumentation. “Faust Arp” will undoubtedly hook the next emo set. The melancholy lyrics, “Wakey wakey/rise and shine/it’s on again, off again, on again/watch me fall/like Dominoes/in pretty patterns” brings back the angst of sophomore year. In Rainbows has already taken its place as a favorite of critics and fans in just two weeks. But should the price of creative genius be left in the hands of the fans?

It’s already estimated that In Rainbows is now in the earbuds of over a million listeners, and the number is growing. It’s unclear how much profit the album has brought in, but Radiohead has clearly pleased fans with ten tracks comprised of emotion and distinct musicality. Perhaps more importantly, the band has reinvented themselves by taking such a revolutionary risk. But how much has the band really lost? Artists make less than 20% on average from album sales. In Rainbows will be released as a boxed set for $80 later this year, and the band has an extensive tour planned in 2008. Essentially, it’s only the music industry that suffers. If artists follow their lead and make music available on their official sites, Itunes will follow the similar fates of vinyl, cassettes and CDs.

Could hip-hop emcees follow this trend of pay-as-you-go music? Veterans may find it beneficial. With albums leaking two weeks before they’re due in stores, sales are becoming irrelevant with each release. It’s difficult to predict who would be the first of the set to pioneer, since worth is placed on chart topping and revenue. As Radiohead proves, revolution involves risk. And the result is critical genius.

Radiohead – In Rainbows

Radiohead – In Rainbows (Bonus)

Related articles…

Radiohead In Rainbow Changing the Music Industry But With Poor Online Execution (WebConnoisseur)

In Radiohead Price Plan, Some See a Movement (NY Times)

Radiohead Returning To The Road In 2008 (Billboard.com)

For more info, visit www.inrainbows.com.