I just downloaded Radiohead’s new album “In Rainbows” and I am so very happy to say that I like it… a lot even. In case everyone in the world is not already aware, they took the record business by surprise and announced they would allow people to download if from them and pay as little or much, or even nothing at all for the new album. ( you can read more about that here, if you like)

I will still probably let out a little sigh now and again as I listen to “OK Computer” or “The Bends” but those belong to bygone days now. This album is quite frankly very lovely.

The first song; “15 Step” has such distinctive guitars you would know it was Radiohead before you ever heard Thom Yorke’s voice.

“Body Snatchers” and “Nude” have lots of Thom’s beautiful voice as he sings in his sweet way.

“Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” starts with kind of a happy, fast little beat and just builds slowly throughout the song while Thom sings, until towards the end it breaks into something slightly harder with more guitars.

“All I need” is mostly electronic with slow talking/singing until piano comes in at the end playing against loud background music, Thom singing still. Its a great way to end that song, it all sounds so well together.

“Faust Arp” features nice simple guitars and what sounds like a violin perhaps playing slow and gentle, while the singing is quick. Its nice.

“Videotape” the last song, starts with a lone piano while Thom Yorke’s voice rings in mildly and yet very clear, creating a highly enjoyable song. As the song progressed, at any moment I expected it to just start rocking out, kind of like a last song on the album surprise, but it didn’t. That wasn’t necessarily a complaint, I just listened to Muse almost all day yesterday and I think I got used to mello beginnings that suddenly get very loud.

There are obviously more songs than what I just described, so pick your price and download them for yourselves.

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