Radiohead/AmpLive: Rainydayz Remixes

This free EP almost never saw the light of day. You may recall that AmpLive originally intended to offer this set of remixes free to anyone who had legitimately downloaded In Rainbows. A cease-and-desist letter from Radiohead derailed his plans, but luckily they were able to reach an amicable agreement to release it to everyone. A project of this sort was guaranteed to be either a coup or a disaster. The anticipation of something as crazy as hip-hop remixes of Radiohead featuring the likes of Too $hort and Del Tha Funky Homosapien had me simultaneously salivating and bracing for the worst. Fortunately, the results are wonderful, for the most part. The remixes range from decent to excellent. And did I mention it's free?

Radiohead: In Rainbows

Okay, I know this is review is very, very late. Everyone who likes Radiohead, and many who are just now joining the party, already have In Rainbows. So this review may only be useful to future fans not yet conceived. Nonetheless, it's one of my favorite releases of the past year and I want to comment on it.

Almost every Radiohead album since OK Computer has become my favorite within a week of acquiring it. In Rainbows is no exception. This album seems to integrate everything they've learned in the past fourteen years. Fairly straightforward rockers and ballads like those from The Bends rub shoulders with the spastic electronic experiments typical of later albums. Above all, Radiohead communicate with an air of authority and integrity. Rather than posturing and reveling in how cool they are, they just are. In Rainbows works because Radiohead agonizes over every detail, struggling to meet their own nearly impossible standards, rather than trying to guess what their audience will like. Subsequently, every new album alienates some fans, strengthens the devotion of others, and intiates more acolytes into their world.