So... do you like "In Rainbows"???? (New Radiohead album)

[alfredpunkjazz]

I mean... with all this talking about paying for the album, downloading it for free, and what good and bad on the industry of selling albums...

Do you like the album?

I like it, a lot... I'm still getting there, Radiohead albums have never been easy for me, but they reach some deeper levels inside my soul within some time, and this album it's going fast!

[dancehallclasher]

Yep. This is up there with Kid A as far as how hard it is to get into... I've immediately liked all their albums except those two. With In Rainbows it took me about 4 listens before I was feeling it, but now I'm digging it hard. What I like about this one is that they've somewhat stepped away from electronics and studio weirdness and made it with pretty much guitar, bass, drums, piano... but it still feels bizarre and otherworldly. What a unique band.

[Taylor Livingston]

You know, it's interesting that some bands have such a devoted following that people will keep listening to their records over and over until they like them, and invariably, they "reach deeper levels within our souls". I'm not making fun of you, by the way, I have the same experience all the time, I've pretty much never liked an Autechre album until I've listened to it many, many times, at which point it becomes fantastic.

It makes me wonder what would happen if I just kept listening to "Hard to Swallow", Vanilla Ice's late 90s metal-rap album, over and over. Would I eventually find it to be an insightful tour-de-force? Perhaps repeated listens would reveal Hard to Swallow as the intense exploration of Jungian archetypes that Vanilla Ice intended it to be?

To answer your question, I'm not in love with In Rainbows yet, but in time, well, you know.

[alfredpunkjazz]

It could be, that you like Vanilla Ice's albums over the time...

Thing over here, and that's just like a comment, it's that for me, Radiohead's music it's elaborated stuff, I mean, a lot of levels you can hear within the time.

This happens to me all the time at school (Music school, composition), Brahms, Mahler and Bártok have been a true challenge to my ears, not in the same level with Radiohead, but that's more what I mean with having to listen to some stuff.

On the other hand, a melody that you listen to many times will stick in your mind, that's something the music industry does to perpetuate certain stuff that otherwise wouldn't have a larger impact on people's taste.

[mattq]

i really liked "in rainbows" on the first listen actually. and i still really like it, which is exciting. i think it's one of their best and i love how this band continues to surprise me. after all these years the last thing i expected was the verse of a song comprised of a clean electric guitar and drums

[markjazzbassist]

love it. go radiohead.

[dancehallclasher]

Originally Posted by conical johnson

You know, it's interesting that some bands have such a devoted following that people will keep listening to their records over and over until they like them, and invariably, they "reach deeper levels within our souls". I'm not making fun of you, by the way, I have the same experience all the time, I've pretty much never liked an Autechre album until I've listened to it many, many times, at which point it becomes fantastic.

It makes me wonder what would happen if I just kept listening to "Hard to Swallow", Vanilla Ice's late 90s metal-rap album, over and over. Would I eventually find it to be an insightful tour-de-force? Perhaps repeated listens would reveal Hard to Swallow as the intense exploration of Jungian archetypes that Vanilla Ice intended it to be?

To answer your question, I'm not in love with In Rainbows yet, but in time, well, you know.

I think there are some albums you can tell are crap on the first listen, and some that, while you don't quite like them on the first try, you know there's something there that your brain is not putting together yet.

More albums like this, for me:
The Pixies - Doolittle
The Smiths - Louder than Bombs
Fugazi - Red Medicine
Operation Ivy - s/t

man, am I glad I gave them all a few more chances.

[baba]

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

I think there are some albums you can tell are crap on the first listen, and some that, while you don't quite like them on the first try, you know there's something there that your brain is not putting together yet.

More albums like this, for me:
The Pixies - Doolittle
The Smiths - Louder than Bombs
Fugazi - Red Medicine
Operation Ivy - s/t

man, am I glad I gave them all a few more chances.

Wilco-Sky Blue Sky was like that for me. After listen three it got its hooks into me and won't let go. Amazing album.

Speaking of Radiohead, OK Computer and Kid A also took a few listens to "get".

[Spoiled Grape]

I dug it.

[Barkless Dog]

I think there are some albums you can tell are crap on the first listen, and some that, while you don't quite like them on the first try, you know there's something there that your brain is not putting together yet.

some of the best albums or bands I like it takes several listens - to get it. XTC was like that for me as well as Wilco.

Bands like Wolf Mother, while sound great, first listen, got old really quick, disposable really.

[Taylor Livingston]

Well, but the thing is that you give more weight to albums by bands you like, so you're willing to keep listening until you like them. Most of us would listen to something like Vanilla Ice and be so turned off at the first listen that we would never bother to keep listening, but maybe there are hidden layers of Freudian imagery that we're missing.

[B.C.]

On first listen I loved this album. The Bends was my favorite, but I think this is their best IMHO.

[Barkless Dog]

so you're willing to keep listening until you like them

No, they have to sound better with each listen, there has to be quality in it somewhere. Where's the quality with Vanilla Ice?

For example a band can have a strange sounding singer (XTC, Lou Reed, etc) but, feature either well written songs or great instrumentation. You can get by a so-so singer or start to like their strange style. They usually are not first listen, love it bands.
I remember that was true with Roxy Music. Their first two LPs' could be considered a difficult listen, but well worth the reward once you got use or understood their style of music. Bryan Ferry's early singing was strange at the time.

[Deluge Of Sound]

I loved it, but I really wish they'd get back to writing songs one of these days.

[jenderfazz]

I like it, but I haven't fully appreciated it yet. I've only listened through it 3 or 4 times, but the more I do the more I think I'll like it. I like the fact that they've gone for a more traditional rock approach/instrumentation, even though I'm a huge fan (bigger than most) of their Kid A/Amnesiac/Hail to the Thief albums (as it relates to The Bends/Pablo Honey).

[alfredpunkjazz]

Cool.

Keep the comments coming.