So, I've listened to In Rainbows by Radiohead. I'll start off by saying I liked it. It's definitely not a giant leap like Pablo Honey to The Bends or The Bends to OK Computer or OK Computer to Kid A. In fact I'd say it's an amalgamation of all their experience so far. All this said, it's my least favourite Radiohead album after Pablo Honey.

15 Step, Bodysnatchers and Reckoner are great but sound like B-sides from Amnesiac. The other songs sound like alternative takes to Hail To The Thief songs. And since when did Thom sing such inane things as "I don't want to be your friend, I want to be your lover"? Listen to Faust Arp and tell me it's not Blackbird by the Beatles with different lyrics. Before now, Radiohead haven't sounded like anyone else but themselves.

I'll give it some more listens (4 complete album listens so far on my day off), but it's not setting my heart on fire like the other albums. It's the first Radiohead album since Pablo that hasn't made me love every track, wonder how it's made and scrabble to learn how to play it in some way. Radiohead songs usually have at least 4 layers to them and at least one melody if not two or three totally unique to that song and so intoxicating that you can identify a song in under one bar. I don't believe this album has a single song that has these qualities. It's a good album, just not Radiohead level, after all the waiting we've done. I didn't see where Radiohead could go from Hail To The Thief and the answer is that they've not gone anywhere. It's alright but it disappoints me that they don't have another hyperjump in them for now.

Regarding the 'choose how much you want to give us' aspect of the album's purchase, I thought it was a clever one. One that was a difficult decision for me in what to give them. At the same time, other established bands have immediately jumped on the bandwagon. I see this as the beginning of the death of modern music. It's catalysed the descent of the album and the rise of the downloaded album or single further. Established acts getting paid by companies for their pulling power. Get the new Prince album for free if you buy The Mail on Sunday, get the new Charlatans album for free if you visit XFM.com. What next, the new Christina Aguilera album free if you spend a fiver at Anne Summers? If Nine Inch Nails, Oasis and Radiohead are giving their album away for free, what chance do new artists have? Unless they happen to sound like The Jam or Coldplay and debut their album free in a deal with McDonalds after being featured in advert for a new burger.


The Times - 'The Day The Music Industry Died' : "What looks like commercial suicide is, in today's reality, sound business sense. Records, CDs or downloads now have all become downgraded to the status of promotional tools, useful to sell concert tickets and fan paraphernalia. While there is still good money to be made in music, and particularly on the concert circuit, the record business (blame it on piracy, too many CD giveaways or the advent of the recordable CD) is a busted flush.

Now that live music rules, nobody bothers to complain about what it costs any more. Euphoria at the news earlier this year that the Police had reformed obliterated all concerns that it cost between £70 and £90 to see them play at Twickenham in September. I spoke to many fans at one of those gigs; not one complained about the ticket price."

My experience of large non-Radiohead gigs has been a horrible one. A ton of rude, drunk, inconsiderate animals who would seemingly rather be at the pub or on the street fighting or groping each other, despite the fact that they paid £70 to see the wonderful concert thats going on in front of them. Or it would be if the acoustics and the sound engineering didn't suck so much. It's the same at cinemas, although not drunk, the most ignorant arsehats seem to lurk there to ruin everyone's experience. I much prefer cds and dvds in the company of friends as a result, at 1/8 of the price unless a gig is invite only.