| Product: |
The Bends - Radiohead |
| Date: |
11.04.01 (135 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Unparalled, epic, defining, spectacular
Disadvantages: Only 12 tracks
Beautiful. Unhappy. Diverse. There's so many words that can be used to describe this never bettered album. A real modern day legend, this one will be remembered throughout the decades.
My favourite album of all time, "The Bends" is one of the the most original, searching, despairing and despondent records I have ever had the fortune to hear. After their often maligned debut album "Pablo Honey" (nowhere near as bad as everyone makes out), this album came from nowhere as a bolt from the blue.
Working on so many levels, this is a touching, sombre and moody affair, with so many original ideas and tortured angst, it's unfeasible.
The debut track "Planet Telex" is a fascinating affair, with the sound of sweeping gusts of wind culminating in pounding, hard and fast electronica. Tom Yorke's tortured, distorted vocal soon joins the proceedings, and a tale of undirected, softly spoke rage soon comes to bear against a backdrop of intense, superior guitar. This is moody, beautiful and a fantastic way to open this much loved album.
Next in line is the title track, "The Bends" a classic ballad with a intense, loud and fast hook that grabs ahold of your emotions and makes you shiver within. Tom is in fine form with his uber-depressed lyric against the muli-layered guitar background. Full of strange ideas, constantly readjusted distortion of said vocals, and changes of pace, this is quite frankly, stunning.
"High and Dry" in contrast, is a slow paced, adorable and quite beautiful affair. Tom Yorke's high pitched vocal compete with the gently pounding drums and softly strummed backing. Absolutely gorgeous, with angst-ridden content and a unforgettable chorus, this is one of the finest tracks on offer here.
"Fake Plastic Trees" is a hugely well known track, and is similarly slow paced and introspective. Again, beautiful doesen't begin to describe the
depth of content and the tortured, soul-searching lyrics. This is gentle, moving and tearful. I can't heap enough praise on this one. A much loved number.
"Bones" is different, with a warbling, bizarre introduction that proceeds the guitar hook. Full of kooky eccentricity, like every other track on this album, quite deep and dirty in its content, this again, is hugely impressive and full of great ideas.
"Nice Dream" is a slow paced, initially acoustic, tortured number. There are no happy tracks as such on this album, and there is a lot of misdirected hate, but you can't help to love this one. Pretty, vengeful and dark all at once, this is another track that will pull on your heartstrings. Very nice.
Track 7 is "Just", a fast paced, loud, rocking affair, that grabs you and won't let go. Simplistic and intelligent in content, this is a clever, original and experimental track, with more good ideas then is feasible to expect.
The next track is my personal favourite "My Iron Lung". A very bitter, and twisted, dare I say, evil track, this is sarcastic, biting and morose. The tune itself, while sweet and endearing, cleverly masks the dark and murderous nature of the song itself. A song of stark contrasts then. This one is intriguing and hurtful, sweet and morose. A true classic.
"Bullet Proof" is a completely different affair. High-pitched and melodious, this song gently draws you in with its intriguing soft warbling introduction and pained lyrics. The chorus has a great hook, and the vocals are clear and touching. A much loved track, and it's clear to see why.
Next up is "Black Star" a pounding, heavy rock affair with gentle Travis-esque vocal/lyrics. Alternating between gently sung interludes and powerful explosions of guitar, this is classic and intriguing.
"Sulk" is bizarre and a particularly pained, distraught and hugely
addictive song. A spark of real genius, this has a number of clever ideas and they all gel together pefectly. There are no bad songs on the album. Not even one.
Finally on the album is "Street Spirit" the most magnificent, epic and emotional song I have ever heard. I don't say this lightly, but this song really is one of the most gorgeous tracks I've ever had the good fortune to listen to. Airplayed more than any other Radiohead track, and with a fantastic, clever and fascinating video to go with it, surely everyone knows this one by now. Sweeping, intense and unsettling, this one will be remembered for years and years to come. A true classic, it would be ridiculous for anyone to dismiss this track outright.
The Bends is the best album I have ever heard, and I have no hesitation whatsoever in giving it five stars. This album belongs with classics like "Nevermind and Dark side of the moon" in terms of truely defining, unequalled albums. For goodness sake, if you haven't got this one already, you should beg, borrow or steal a copy. You geniunely don't know what you're missing :)
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