Review 9 of 26

zapata1910 writes:

5of 5 Stars

I want to say that I just love the progress of Thom Yorke. He's a musical genius. On this album, if you allow him, Thom will take you on an unforgettable journey. His honesty totally stands out on this album as does his voice. I just wish there were more musicians like him out there.

Sep 14, 2006 15:18:03

Review 10 of 26

50yrsyoung writes:

5of 5 Stars

Thom's unique talent has always been to draw you into his head. He sings from the soul ..... to the soul.
On first hearing this album, my anticipation turned to niggling disappointment. It sounded so thin and there was even a black Judas moment when I thought this should have been called "Thom's Rambling Musings in his Room with a Mic and Sound Thing".
Then, the penny dropped - as it does with so many of those albums you love forever after the 4th listen. And with Thom and his ilk, it usually drops with a resounding clang.
Minimalist, yet enigmatically complex, structure that makes you focus on the melody - and, to all you detractors, Thom is beautific as a songwriter.
This is what Thom hears while he walks down the road, hangs out at home, alone or in a crowd, sitting on the bog, basking in the afterglow, agonising when it occasionally goes wrong.
In the absence of adequate superlatives, I will simply restate what so many have said before me - the man is a genius.

Sep 8, 2006 01:43:35

Review 11 of 26

Spoony writes:

Not Rated

I think that change is necessary. Yes, we all long for the days of Pablo Honey and even OK Computer. But as time goes by, the coolest music out there right now is the experimental stuff e.g. Bjork(another constant innovator), Psapp, Nuetral Milk Hotel...just to name a few. But you know, I think Radiohead really stays ahead of the curve and this album stands out to me to be a more ambient techno sort of wind down to years of great music. I mean honestly, the true Radiohead fan has to admit that there's not one Radiohead album that you don't pull out and listen to atleast on occasion. Their timeless.
I like the slight 80's vibe to this album. Maybe I am a bit biased but I think that Thom Yorke is and always will be a great innovator of music. What he and Radiohead do is nothing short of brilliant. I think this album is raw and beautiful and I shall listen to it alot.

Aug 11, 2006 09:44:49

Review 12 of 26

wiwbulletproof writes:

5of 5 Stars

Firstly, I commend the official Rolling Stone review of this album. I have been a huge Radiohead fan for many years. Needless to say, I love Thom Yorke's writing and am very big supporter of his standings. Although, there are live recordings of Thom soloing Radiohead songs, this is a CD where you really get to hear JUST Thom--and I think it is absolutely beautiful. I read that Nigel, the producer of the album, encouraged Thom to not use any reverb on his voice--making it sound clear. I'm glad he did so; it is a new side to Thom: the sounds, the writing...and I love it.

Aug 4, 2006 08:57:53

Review 13 of 26

PierrotleFou writes:

5of 5 Stars

I like to think of Radiohead in the same category as Jean Luc Godard: rather than be crippled by fame into a relentless anc comfortable mediocrity that befalls most persons that encounter success, experimentation continues unabated as the years go by. And Thom Yorke's new, paranoid humanoid record is no exception. It's like those bits of Kid A or Amnesiac that older Radiohead fans hated - sparse electronic blips and nervous beats. Over it all, Yorke's voice delivers his now characteristic elegaic mumbling. As though we were listening directly to the inside of his head. I don't know what he is singing about and it doesn't matter. This is music that is borne of a world that wars on terror even though it doesnt know what that really means. Mr Yorke: I salute you and your irrepressibly inventive ways.

Aug 3, 2006 16:55:15

Review 14 of 26

lasgames writes:

1of 5 Stars

Is it me,or does anyone else miss the old radiohead?? This album sucks its just a bunch of warble,bleeps and portable keyboard noises. Now I know where this new sound is coming from.(York) They used to have so much to say. Now its all this hidden meaning and stuff. You don't see many bands nowadays turn thier back on the sound that made them, I keep buying their c.d's hoping for a glimmer of hope,I would hear a guitar or something that sounds like a complete finish song,but nothing. I've seen them live during o.k computer tour and then on Kid A tour.Its a hole new band and radiohead can't say they don't see the reaction the crowd gives them when they go back to thier old stuff. I know music changes and progress's but this is a step back. When U2 did the Passengers C.D . everyone freaked and don't even talk about the popmart fiasco. Well,thats where this band is today. I just hope thier fanbase is that strong cuz this is one fan who's losing hope.Even U2 had enough sense to go back to the basics maybe it's time for York & co to do the same!

Aug 2, 2006 08:10:19

Review 15 of 26

blackabbot writes:

3of 5 Stars

I completely disagree with Rob Scheffield. First off, this album has a definitive political slant with hardly any songs about relationships in any romantic context. Many of the songs are confrontational (The Eraser), apathetic, and even matter-of-fact with hints of sarcasm (Black Swan), lunacy (Skip Divided), and bewilderment. 'Atoms for Peace' was actually a speech given by Eisenhower to deter the use of nuclear weapons during the Cold War by advancing armament. I doubt given Yorke's political/historical leanings that this song is about a conflicted lover but rather the oddity of Orwellian doublespeak. And yes, some of these were demos for songs had been scrapped. In particular the programmed loop on 'Cymbal Rush' appeared in altered form on 'The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time' and has been admitted to being in circulation for over 3 years. This album is a 3. Very one dimensional. An obvious experiment from boredom in dire need of additional insight. It does contain some few ideas but overall, nothing near as impressive as the past 4 Radiohead albums.

Jul 26, 2006 16:47:16

Review 16 of 26

rickyt writes:

5of 5 Stars

Maybe it was the fact that I had not listened to Radiohead for sometime. I hadn't burnt their cds on to the blank discs i carry around in my car. It seemed as if i had almost moved past them. The music they made was reminiscent of a different me; someone hurt, someone scared, and I had changed...My new tastes included jazz and movie scores. I thought my Radiohead phase had ended.(a phase that stretched all the way back to Pablo) While i always would have to acknowledge their greatness, their type of music just didn't fit into where i was at the present. Then i picked up Thom Yorke's solo project "The Erasure". I reallly didn't expect too much. I had to make myself buy the album. In albums past I would have been at the music store on the day of release, but now i had to muc going on and this "type" of music wasn't on the top of my priorities. I rationalized it, telling myself that "even though i didn't really listen to radiohead anymore i could be pretty sure that this would be a good album." I was dead wrong. This is a great album. This is the album i didn't even know i was waiting for.

It sat on my desk a few days. I played it once but it didn't really catch my ear the first go around. So there it sat a little longer. Then 2 days ago i put it in while i was talking on the phone...oh screw it. This album is GOOD! VERY GOOD!

Jul 25, 2006 21:27:02