The Two Day Evolution

It's just after midnight on the night between September 30 and October 1, and I have just moved into my new (slanty, of course) house in Jersey City. I am just about to get into bed when some force of the Almighty drives me to check Pitchforkmedia one last time before bed. Do I have ESP? Do I know how this moment will change my life before I even act? Maybe. But one thing is certain...I have only 10 days to prepare for the greatest music moment of the last three years since the last Radiohead album was released.

I was only in high school then and, to be completely honest, Hail To The Thief scared the living shit out of me. I had never heard Radiohead before, only heard their name and knew of their revered status, but I assumed it was worth a try. I simply couldn't hand it. Never before had an album ignited an emotion other than sadness or happiness or love. Fear in music was relegated to those outcasts, those Slayers and Marylin Mansons and Nine Inch Nails. We John Mayers and Dave Matthews and Billy Joels were all love and longing, not death and anger.

When I heard the song "A Wolf at the Door (It Girl. Rag Doll)" for the first time I nearly shat myself. For at least a year, until I met one Patricia Mara, I was not able to appreciate the album. With her encouragement I delved into my Radioheadaphobia (yes, that is the clinical term), and slowly built my library with their catalog.

In my senior year at GW I wrote a twenty page paper on the advent of the concept album, with the majority of my paper revolving around the modern classic album OK Computer. And, while HTTT might still scare the living hell out of me, I respect it and even love that it can still reach into me and pull something different out than any other album.

It was with this unique perspective and hopeful ear that I unwrapped (or downloaded from a link in my e-mail, whatever) my free copy (yes, I paid nothing because I don't have a paying job and Radiohead does...it's only fair) of the four-years-in-the-making, seventh Radiohead album In Rainbows at about 1:30 on the early morning of October 10. Over the past two days I have listened to the album no less than six times in its entirety, and at least two more in bits and pieces. My reactions and their evolution over the past 72 hours are chronicled in the following passages:

Day 1: I fell asleep with In Rainbows on because I was so tired from sitting up and waiting. Upon waking and leaving the house, I immediately started from the top. The album opens with "15-step" and immediately sounds great. As my walk to the train station continued and the album went on, I can't help but feel decidedly underwhelmed by my current Radiohead experience. I make it through the album on the way to work and arrive pleased with what I've heard, but altogether disappointed that I wasn't touched like I still am by HTTT and Kid A.

At that point, I had several thoughts (in general and about the album). "Am I being too hard on them?" No, I decide. If they are indeed the second coming, they should be able to deliver as they have in their previous three consecutive efforts. To their credit, though, Kid A, OK Computer, and HTTT are three "this is the best album we will ever make" albums, and they were all released one after the other by the same band. So what if Radiohead's precedent of constantly one-upping themselves is broken? In Rainbows is still a valiant effort and, if released by another band, would be a beautiful piece of music. Besides, at least they're not forcing themselves to create insanely complex works in an effort to imitate early success. Overall, after three listens on Day 1, I was still not convinced that this was at all worth the wait.

Day 2: October 11 was a day of discovery and open minded reassessment. After the previous day's disappointments, I really needed the album to come through in a big way. I didn't want to overdo it, so I resolved to online listen once all day. I found it on my boss's iTunes and listened through the new album, as well as the previous three albums (see above) for good measure.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "What the hell is wrong with him? When did he start liking Radiohead this much?" Normally, I couldn't agree more. Ever since the Dave Matthews Band fiasco of 2000 - 2004 I have been cautious about riding a band into the ground with an obsession. But, after my one listen during Day 2 and the subsequent listens to the other albums, the tide began to turn for In Rainbows. The songs all started to work together and, by the end of listen number four and Day 2, I was officially 180'd my opinion of the album. It is, after all, a worthy addition to their illustrious collection (and mine). The strongest track is, hands down, "15 Step," the album's opening song, with its closer "Videotape" as a close second. The least inspiring "House of Cards" and "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" (Tracks 8 and 9, respectively), but by the end of Day 3 (today) I will have probably changed my mind between six and twenty times.

In fact, I feel almost ashamed that I couldn't see the immense value of this album for over 24 hours. I admit it...I was far too quick to judge. But, like most Radiohead, In Rainbows has grown on me. And, if my experience with HTTT is any sort of predictor, it will mostly likely continue to do so until their next album takes its place.