Review rated by 15 Ciao members on average: very helpful
The Bends. As well as being a bloody awful thing that happens if you come up too fast from a dive, it is also one of the most genre-creating, important albums of the 90s. Along with Oasis' (Whats the Story?) album and Nevermind by Nirvana, this is going to be on the 90's most important albums lists, not Robbie Williams and Destiny's Child!! 1995's most important rock album. One of this century's most important rock albums!
The Bends is Radiohead's 2nd album, before the masterpiece that was OK Computer, and the just as great Kid A / Amnesiac pair. Before The Bends was the heavily rocky Pablo Honey. There has also been a sneaky few releases, like My Iron Lung EP, and some wierd Japanese titles which I intend to hunt down sometime...
Radiohead and Co. decided on including 12 fine tracks on this album. They are all superb, fantastic and brilliant rock anthems. The album got the band nominated for a Brit award a few years ago, 1996 I think? And, even though they didn't get it, they deserved it. This album goes through everything from screaming electronic humms and whirrs on 'Planet Telex' through to undistorted acoustic guitar on 'High and Dry' and the greatness that is Street Spirit (fade out).
Like most of the Radiohead albums (I dunno about Pablo...) this album is quite hard and difficult to access. It has taken me multiple listens to fully comprehend how brilliant this album is. It's
not quite as hard to get in to as Kid A, which made getting in to a tight-fitting rubber outfit, while wearing a blindfold and having your arms tied together seem accessible, or OK Computer, but still will tax even the most record-wise listener. And your average Britney 'n' Viccy Beckham listener will probably go to the last inch of their musical taste and push straight through it!
01. Planet Telex One of the most important albums starts with a rolling electronic disc sound, and then the jumpy piano starts. Heavily processed guitars and FX kick in with a brilliant drum sound grinding away in the background.
02. The Bends Another great track? Now ain't that a suprise!
03. High and Dry This is one of those emotionally draining songs that is so brilliant. The first really dramatic moment of the album comes when Thom wails out "don't leave me high / don't leave me dry". This was actually recorded before Pablo Honey, but wasn't deemed right for that record, but perfect for this LP. To quote Ms Jo Whiley: "its one of those songs which can be covered in any style and still be great"
04. Fake Plastic Trees A song about how 'tacky' our culture is becoming, with it's 'fake plastic trees' and 'green plastic walls'. One of the most accessible, lyrically, songs on the album. This kicks ass!
05. Bones Wierd reversed, bouncing, phasing sort of introduction. Which. Stops. And bounces in to a guitary sorta track. Strange guitar effects continues, with great lyrics by Mr Yorke. This proves that they are like Oasis with brains!
06. (Nice Dreams) The lyrics would make it seem like it was from Kid A, with it's weird dreams of being protected, helped out by an answerphone and not being strong enough. Acoustic ramblings at the start, with almost Turin Brakes style. Then the wierd effects start to take over, and Thoms voice kicks in, with more quality.
07. Just My earliest Radiohead memory is the video for this track! Crisp production and jumpy sounds, with great interludes. The video is amazing, the band are amazing, the song is amazing. This is rock on a A* basis. The most accessible track on the album, yet remains totally intelligible and brilliant. Add fanatical acousticness, to almost-Nirvana-like grunge, in moderation of course, and it's 'Just' about right. Throw in Thom's whiny-but-great vocal skills. "You do it to yourself, you do, that's why it really it hurts, you do it to yourself, just you, you and no-one else" Perhaps it's about drug addiction? Perhaps it's about self-harm? God, and Thom Yorke, only know WHAT it's about. But I know WHY it's about. Because it's brilliant!
08. My Iron Lung Goes in to a much more evil song, but with some great sounds. What do I say? Buy this album, it's the best CD ever released...
09. Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was A really quiet track, in comparison to My Iron Lung and Just. Simple strummings and 'far-out' vocals top this track in to a masterpiece. About 1:45, when the guitar fully kicks in is one of the best parts of the album, emotionally-draining. Listen to this, it's highly reccomended.
10. Black Star Another great track. Pumps in all the right places, and jumps in all the right faces this one does. A much rockier track than say, Bullet Proof, and still great! Rock on down to this track.
11. Sulk Somebody else described this as 'infinitely forgettable', but I'd probably disagree. It makes a nice part of the album, before the final killer, Street Spirit! It isn't a lot like the rest of the album (listen to it and find out...), but still great anyway.
12. Street Spirit (fade out) A very slow, subtle track, with sweeping vocals and simplicity. The song slowly builds up, both in terms of speed and loudness. This is one of te best climaxes ever on a rock album. Your left, tensed, yet calm, happy, yet confused. That's how off-your-feet-out-of-your-mind this album is. 'It blows you away'. And you can quote me on that.
Is this the best Radiohead album? I'd say YES! Followed closely by OK. I am not going to talk about Kid A or Amnesiac, because they're almost a different band on, say, Pulk Pull Revolving Doors, than on say Just. The Bends is an essential addition to any rock fans collection. Download, or maybe buy it now!
WHAT ELSE? Of course OK Computer is the next step in the chain. If you like this, you'll probably also really like OK Computer. But give the following a go... Muse - Origin of Symmetry Placebo Mr Jeff Buckley Or anything played by Steve Lamacq on Radio 1.
NOTES AND QUOTES: Q Magazine February '98: The Bends got to number 6 in their '100 Greatest Albums in the Universe' poll. One of the Q Readers writes: "A powerful, bruised, majestically desperate record of frighteningly good songs."
And in Q's recent Top 50 albums of the last 15 years, The Bends got to Number 4. Of course in both of the two Q-mag top listings, OK Computer got to number 1, but, that's another time another day.
'Best Albums in the World' Number 1.
Question from Shift mag: In general you don't seem to have a particularly cheerful outlook on life. Thom Yorke: It's just that I'm surrounded by a world of grinning idiots and I don't think I want to be another one.
eep"--had made them a household name, most had written Radiohead off as one-hit wonders. That they could return with an album as awesome and monumental as The Bends, therefo...
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01.10.2001 09:16
A fine review ~ Thanks Versatile :O)