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Radiohead - The Bends Audio CD

A fair review of the Radiohead "The Bends" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Radiohead reviews here, or go back to the Radiohead tabs.

Radiohead Band: Radiohead
Title: The Bends
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-04-04
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Planet Telex 2: Bends 3: High & Dry 4: Fake Plastic Trees 5: Bones 6: Nice Dream 7: Just 8: My Iron Lung 9: Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was 10: Black Star 11: Sulk 12: Street Spirit (Fade Out)

My third favorite Radiohead album after Ok Computer and In Rainbows
It is a good introduction, and it gets the listener ready to hear OK Computer. Like someone else said in a review, this would be the album to give someone who had never listened to Radiohead.

OK Computer is a better album than this one from a technical and artistic standpoint, but this one has stronger melodies for those listeners who want a more "accessible" album.

I disagree strongly with people who say that Radiohead got too "weird" after this album, but I think that thinking is to be expected when one considers that this album is so well made, with perfectly processed guitar sounds, pretty vocals, keyboards kept neatly tucked in the background, and classic song structures throughout. What people who take the time will hear though, is that the same strong melodies, lyrics, and interesting harmonies that make this a classic are present on every Radiohead album, and sometimes even more so on the "weird" ones. The difference now is that Radiohead has decided to widen its pallette with keyboards, strings, effects, etc. The guitars, bass, and drums are still there, though, and so are the strong melodies and emotions behind them, so I don't see what all of the fuss is about. Radiohead is one of the few modern bands who has talent even somewhat comparable to the bands of the 60s and 70s, so why not grant them the same freedom to explore new territory?

One thing that does bother me about this album is that the band should play more songs from it live. .


RADIOHEAD - would it be anything less than 5 stars?
It just brings back so many memories from the 90s. I think this may be my favorite Radiohead album.


Perfection, defined
Where PABLO HONEY sounded a bit too rehearsed and over-produced, herein the band manage to let her breathe just enough to capture 12 cuts over-flowing with heart and vigor. Radiohead
The Bends; 1995
EMI/Capitol Records

My Rating: 10/10

We all know the story by now: one-hit wonder mope-rockers fated to follow their alterna-rock debut into oblivion go and record an album of beautiful, esoteric, and glorious Brit-rock, humbly putting loud-mouths like Oasis and Blur to shame. Producer John Leckie wisely guided the band to emphasize their noisy streak, utilizing just as many live recordings as in-studio sessions. Every song here could have been a single at the time, and every song is literally perfect. Simply put, one of the greatest rock records ever created. "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" is the greatest album closer in the history of rock music. "Creep?" Never heard of it.

TRACKS:
1. Planet Telex (5/5)
2. The Bends (5/5)
3. High and Dry (5/5)
4. Fake Plastic Trees (5/5)
5. Bones (5/5)
6. (nice dream) (5/5)
7. Just (5/5)
8. My Iron Lung (5/5)
9. (I Wish I Was) Bulletproof (5/5)
10. Black Star (5/5)
11. Sulk (5/5)
12. Street Spirit (Fade Out) (5/5).


Classic Radiohead
To me personally, The Bends doesn't stand out amongst the albums released after it, but much like Pablo Honey, that's just because it is their earlier sound. I am a diehard Radiohead fan, so singling out any one album is a little difficult. The Bend's style is in between the early Alt Rock of Pablo Honey and the dramatic change OK Computer brought. I think of it as a Pablo Honey 2. If you've listened to Pablo Honey, and you liked it at all, you will be pleased with the band's progression in this album.

In any case, Radiohead is Radiohead--great, no matter what they do.


Best of the best
"The Bends" is by far one of the best that ever was! A masterpiece for certain, not to be compared in any way with the self indulgent crap that Radiohead has been churning out album after album for the past umpteen years! It's kind of like the "Black" Album for Metallica where everything thereafter is just sub par. We can all think of those handful of albums that we consider untouchable, having attained a type of heaven sent status.


You can see a complete list of all Radiohead discography, or go back to the Radiohead tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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