In Rainbows

Forgive me for missing the controversy by several months, but it's near impossible to talk about the revolution in the way music is being distributed and paid for without bringing up In Rainbows, the stellar Radiohead album that was released, as everyone knows, via digital distribution, where the customer paid whatever they wished for the download- down to and including nothing at all.

My original intention was to pay twice the price I would pay for a normal album from iTunes- about $30. Not just because I love Radiohead (although I do), but because I liked the idea of what they were doing. Screw the labels, screw the distributors, direct communion between the musicians and the fans. I was genuinely excited about the whole idea. Then the details started to trickle in. First was the audio quality- it was low. Then their agent slipped up- the 'real' album was being released early next year, with additional tracks. It was basically a promo disc for the forthcoming album- and I was being asked to pay for it. Now, I have to admit, it's a pretty good idea- why wait for pirates to put your album out for free when you can do it yourself and get paid? And while I don't know how much they made exactly, I heard it was a lot.

I ended up playing three pounds, or about $8. That's pretty good for a promo album, considering I'll be buying the genuine article when it comes out, just as they intended. Because the bottom line is: it's a great album, and I'd be happy to have the extra tracks, and the higher quality that a CD entails. But I really feel like they missed an opportunity. Why not release the entire thing as a full album, at CD-quality? I'd pay a fixed price for that- hell, I do, all the time, on iTunes. I'm still giving most of my money to either a label or to Apple. I'd rather give all my money straight to Radiohead, but they inexplicably don't give me the option. What seemed exciting and revolutionary ended up just being a bit frustrating. Fortunately a very short while later, Niggy Tardust was released with exactly this model- more on that album tomorrow.

As for the album, distinct from the hype, do I really need to review it? If you're a Radiohead fan, you'll have it by now, and you'll love it. If not, you're a dingus already- go get it (it's free). It's brilliant. A bit short, for the reason already listed. But all the songs are gold, not a lemon among them. The Bends is still, and will ever be, my favourite Radiohead album, but this sits comfortably with OK Computer, although sonically it is quite different- this is much more mellow. Great to sing along with. Upliftingly depressing.

The album is downloadable here. Can't wait for the real thing.