Year in Review: Best Albums of 2007, Number 2

News Type: Event — Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:09 AM EST

entertainment, music, radiohead, listen-in, in-rainbows, thom-yorke, listen-in-2007-in-review, best-albums-of-the-year

Excitement builds as we approach the end. For those just joining in, ScooterDMan and I are counting down our top ten albums from 2007. Check out his column today for his second pick.

Note: I am not a Radiohead fan. While I certainly enjoy many of their songs I've never "gotten" the majority of their catalog. Keep this in mind while reading the following review.

2. Radiohead – In Rainbows

In Rainbows is an album that leaves me terribly conflicted. I've never liked Thom Yorke's voice and after an incredible start the record begins to settle into stretch of fairly uninspiring songs. In "Nude" Yorke's crooning takes over the entire song without really stirring anything except perhaps annoyance and boredom and while the following track "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" promises some movement it is ultimately an elongated failure to deliver. "All I Need" is the brightest spot in this uneven sequence with Yorke almost staying within the bounds of haunting, not quite straying into the range of grating he usually occupies (to my ear.)

With these complaints why, then, does this album occupy the second spot on my list of best albums of the year? Because in the instances that In Rainbows is good, it's really @!$%#ing great.

Opening with a stunning one-two punch, the record offers one of the most dynamic, audibly dazzling songs of the year in "15 Step" followed by the bare-knuckled "Bodysnatchers." The faster pacing and prominent rhythm sections in these songs cut the sharpness of Yorke's voice perfectly and, before the bit of a mid-album lull mentioned above, almost instantly made a fan out of me. The light guitars of "House of Cards" matched with a simple cymbal tap offered a perfect backdrop for a relatively subdued vocal, filling in a steady, laid-back offering leading into the penultimate song on the album, "Jigsaw Falling Into Place." A build-up of tension is quickly released as Radiohead knocks out one of the most addicting, exhilarating tracks of the year.

Ultimately the valleys of this album are small patches of rough amid a field of diamonds and while there are definitely a few tracks I do not like at all, there are more than a few that I can't imagine going without.

Eric and I have been collaborating for the past week and half using Google Documents. Tonight, in the space he's designated for my comments about In Rainbows, it reads: "ScooterDMan gushes about this album." Heh. Well, I won't fall for this trap. Eric simply assumes that because I have "gushed" about this album before that I am going to gush about it again. Well, he's got another thing coming. You see, like an lasting, long-term relationship, In Rainbows and I are past the lovey-dovey bull@!$%# that envelopes the first few weeks. We've moved on. I'm no longer "gushing" about In Rainbows because we have already settled down — we're committed to the long haul. We'll be together for the rest of my life. I can look back on the first few weeks when everything was new and exciting — when every note sounded like it was played just for me and every sad, post-industrial, paranoid line that came out of Thom Yorke's mouth seemed like it perfectly described the feelings of diminished relevance in a chaotic world that I experience today. But that was then. I love In Rainbows. I want In Rainbows to raise my children. I hope that one day, when I am old and decrepit, In Rainbows and I can slowly wither away together, gently rocking on a set of matching rocking chairs. But no, I don't gush about In Rainbows anymore.

The Top Ten So Far:

3. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
4. The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
5. Menomena - Friend or Foe
6. The Narrator - All That to the Wall
7. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
8. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
9. The Forms - The Forms
10. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

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Eric Atienza's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Independent Music Fund, Newsvine Music: Listen In, The Review Cafe, Tunes
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5.5

4.5

1.4

{"commentId":1265415,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

Anyone else listen to this? Good? Bad? Worth being this high? Need to be higher?

{"commentId":1265415,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

#1 - Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:28 AM EST

{"commentId":1265421,"authorDomain":"darkside"}

Mykola Bilokonsky

I guess I have to keep listening to it. It just hasn't clicked for me. I'm almost ashamed to say it, I don't hear it. I'm trying!

{"commentId":1265421,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"darkside"}

#1.1 - Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:31 AM EST

{"commentId":1265425,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

Would you say you're having problems with the same songs I did, or is it an entire album thing?

{"commentId":1265425,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

#1.2 - Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:34 AM EST

{"commentId":1265428,"authorDomain":"zeketyler"}

ZekeTyler

It's funny because my feelings on In Rainbows are pretty much exactly the inverse of yours. I don't like the opening two songs very much at all. 15 Step is pretty much unbearable to listen to, and Bodysnatchers starts out alright, but degrades into a wifty latter day Pearl Jam b-side. The two belie the rest of the album, which, I think, is a nice and fairly ambient affair.

{"commentId":1265428,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"zeketyler"}

#1.3 - Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:36 AM EST

{"commentId":1265440,"authorDomain":"darkside"}

Mykola Bilokonsky

The only Radiohead I ever liked is:

a) Creep
b) Let Down

I've never been able to get into their sound at large. I'm sure In Rainbows is an act of perfection in terms of that sound, but I'm still not quite able to grasp the paradigm itself in a way that would allow me to appreciate this particular implementation. Does that make sense?

Maybe I just need to get lit and lock myself in a room with it.

{"commentId":1265440,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"darkside"}

#1.4 - Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:42 AM EST

{"commentId":1265516,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

I'm sure In Rainbows is an act of perfection in terms of that sound

I really don't think it is though since if it was it wouldn't have been my number 2 pick. Like I said, I've never really "gotten" most of Radiohead.

15 Step is pretty much unbearable to listen to, and Bodysnatchers starts out alright, but degrades into a wifty latter day Pearl Jam b-side. The two belie the rest of the album, which, I think, is a nice and fairly ambient affair.

The biggest thing for me with Radiohead has always been Thom Yorke's voice. Most of the time I can't stand it. The songs I like from Radiohead (and from this album) I think just do a really good job of emphasizing other things. I appreciate them as musicians but when a vocal like that takes center stage i just can't take it.

{"commentId":1265516,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

#1.5 - Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:20 AM EST

{"commentId":1265525,"authorDomain":"zeketyler"}

ZekeTyler

Maybe I just need to get lit and lock myself in a room with it.

I don't know how far that would get you. I went heavy on In Rainbows and played it exclusively for a couple weeks (which wasn't intentional, really) and it neither grew on me, or wore out. It's solid, but I don't think it's a revelation by any definition.

{"commentId":1265525,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"zeketyler"}

#1.6 - Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:21 AM EST

{"commentId":1270095,"authorDomain":"vincentgrayson"}

Vincent Grayson

Funny, 15 Step is probably my favorite song this millenium. So far, anyway.

{"commentId":1270095,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"vincentgrayson"}

#1.7 - Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:26 PM EST

{"commentId":8740084,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I go back and forth still on this album

{"commentId":8740084,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#2 - Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":8744311,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

Lkessler

I do like this Radiohead product... I really do. I can't wait for #1.

{"commentId":8744311,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":8751892,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

i should explain that i've been listening to music more lately and have been printing out some of the listen-in reviews to compare my impressions with those of the writers... thats why this piece is revived.

psst, i totally know who i think #1 is going to be:)_

{"commentId":8751892,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":8760150,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

Lkessler

I do too!!! *neener neener neener!*

{"commentId":8760150,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:05 AM EDT

{"commentId":8764800,"authorDomain":"deatienza"}

Eric Atienza

Scott, at this point I'm impressed you remember what came out in 2007 as opposed to 2006 or 2008.

{"commentId":8764800,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"deatienza"}

#2.4 - Tue Aug 11, 2009 1:29 PM EDT

{"commentId":8770185,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

Lkessler

@ Eric: *lol!*

I'd be impressed if Scoop could still remember what he ate for breakfast this morning. ;)

{"commentId":8770185,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

1 vote

#2.5 - Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":8771088,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

a breakfast burrito.
so there!

{"commentId":8771088,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#2.6 - Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":8773231,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

Lkessler

Well, ya don't need to get all huffy puffy... *lol*

So, how'd that breakfast burrito go over?? :P~

{"commentId":8773231,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

2 votes

#2.7 - Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":8794419,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

It was quite tasty thank you for asking

{"commentId":8794419,"threadId":"188687","contentId":"1160984","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#2.8 - Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:04 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"188687","isPrivate":false}

ERIC ATIENZA

Backyard

Year in Review: Best Albums of 2007, Number 2

2. Radiohead – In Rainbows

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Top 5 of Albums of 2007: #1 Radiohead — 'In Rainbows'	ScooterDMan	Fri Dec 14	9
Radiohead criticized as band shuts down 'In Rainbows' promotion \| Tech news blog - CNET News.com	CNET News.com	Tue Dec 11	2
Year in Review: Best Albums of 2007, Number 1	Eric Atienza	Fri Dec 14	31