“Nude” - Radiohead’s In Rainbows
GENERAL By TSSCrew on October 29, 2007 at 9:17 am
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 Â- 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 (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.
Posted in GENERAL, REVIEWS — Tags: In Rainbows, Radiohead
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29 Comments
What’s good yall….no one remembers 2nd..holla
as always RMF…
Kareem!
2nd place gets da hoes
nutitn but a g thang
http://www.aspektz.com
“Radiohead is the greatest rock band on earth.”
i was about to stop here
“Radiohead is the music of intellects”
stopped here.
Did they make like $10-$15 million from this album in one week?
^ I’m pretty sure that’d be a stretch b/c they gave it away for free initially.
http://rapidshare.com/users/KDMJDD
jayz ipod video mtv concert
Bilal’s cover of Radiohead’s: High And Dry
http://www.zshare.net/audio/4521738f4de97e/
Props to the homie Suave.
I think Saul Williams is doing something like this
Anybody got Bilal’s “Love For Sale”?
Killa Cam is too. And Prince. But it’s nothing new, right?
Great read. Great album.
I thought Cam was just releasing a mixtape?
And has anyone heard of Prince et al forcing a lady to remove a video from Youtube b/c she used his music?
Yeah, I saw that crap. Little kid was just dancing to one his hits, and it was getting more hits than his YouTube video. So he got his label to get it removed. Now the mom is suing them.
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=prince+youtube
Retardedtry. - Darius Sinclair
I like that reply Peep Sho….lol
Gotty whaddup sun dun…you good?…just did the new Slim Thug video and next up is Freeway
As always RMF…
^ trying to make a dollar out of .15 my dude.
Free? Where? Let me know b/c I can see a Session right there.
Is this Pittsburgh Slim kid any good? I know he messes with Ski, but that “Girls Kiss Girls” ish is kinda weak…
Y’all gotta see that American Gangster…
http://www.ssupload.com
This is my spot for movies online
Don’t ever say I never gave y’all nuthin!
Oh, He’s a white guy! I thought it sounded Eminem-esque, now I know why….
And Hov signed this dude & let Buddens sit on the shelf?
AmpGeez-
I got it on my iPod AND DVD. Screw some SSUpload
soooo…. how’d u get it TC?
Who watches movies on an iPod?
Dirk posted it a week ago. I converted and burned…
AmpGeez-Me!
You need to listen to more music if you think the new Radiohead is groundbreaking music.
Radiohead is a band that has at least three albums that are at least 4.5/5. “In Wainbwlows” is not one of them.
Radiohead is a great band but they also tend to have the same sort of “sheep” fans that Thom whines about endlessly in his occasionally brilliant songs.
Essentially, it’s only the music industry that suffers.
===================================
I’ve been saying that for years. Radiohead (and about a thousand other artists) stand to make way more money and get way more publicity by selling their shit directly to the public and cutting out the bullshit middleman entirely. Money from record sales are nothing but nickels, anyway.
Gotty…looking to shoot the video this weekend in Atlanta with another session member you posted awhile ago…our director friend.
I’ll be back in the A tomorrow so will keep you posted sir til then…&
As always RMF…
Soulja Boy is the music of true intellects
Great read. Great album.
————————
Both. Co-sizzle.
Good read as always Ms. Jada. You bring up some interesting points with your writing. I think Trent Reznor said something in the media about the industry being revolutionized by independent distribution like this. I’m pretty sure he’ll follow suit with Radiohead, much as I expect many other artists to do in time.
You mention hip hop emcees trying something like this.. Some underground acts have done it in the past, as for the mainstream rappers, would they be willing to sacrifice the all important sales figures? As far back as I can remember, there have been convenient beefs arising as rappers release albums in close proximity to each other. If an idea like pay-as-you-go became popular with rappers, do you think radio rap would be less about money, feuding, and women and more about having fun and getting respect?
See you next article.
Ms. J,
Bravo. Fabulous read.