The Eraser
by Thom Yorke
  • Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: Jul 11, 2006
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 219 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 188 out of 219
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 219
  3. Negative: 8 out of 219

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  1. PH
    Nov 7, 2007
    10
    The album is amazing, the texture manages to be both lush and sparse at the same time, leading to a unique aural experience. A complete triumph.
  2. TheMan
    Aug 5, 2006
    0
    my bro likes him and radiohead but they suck so dont buy this cd it sucks like crap
  3. j30
    Mar 22, 2012
    8
    The Eraser sounds much better than an afterthought, as reported prior to Thom Yorke's solo release. Although the album does come across cold and distant, there's a art behind the mysteriousness about it that makes you want more.
  4. davea
    Jul 11, 2006
    3
    if you thought kid a and amnesiac were a bit too weird, don't bother. this is more of the same strange sounds and noises lacking actual songs. please thom, focus on radiohead, cause this is not really working for you...
  5. flameme
    Jul 11, 2006
    3
    nine tunes that sound like bastard children of "the gloaming" and "backdrifts" (contrary to opinions in several professional reviews i have read, nothing comes close to the manic energy of "idioteque"). the truth is that most rabid radiohead fans will adore it while berating the rest of us for not understanding thom's "beautiful artistic vision", blah blah blah... i've tried to nine tunes that sound like bastard children of "the gloaming" and "backdrifts" (contrary to opinions in several professional reviews i have read, nothing comes close to the manic energy of "idioteque"). the truth is that most rabid radiohead fans will adore it while berating the rest of us for not understanding thom's "beautiful artistic vision", blah blah blah... i've tried to absorb "the eraser" about six or seven times, but the record's really rather painful to sit through.… Expand
  6. bernlin2000
    Oct 5, 2010
    5
    The album harkens back to some of the mediocre songs on Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief", like "The Gloaming". What this album does is take melodies and lyrics that are quite beautiful and buries them underneath layers of digital synthesizers, which don't serve the songs well. I heard songs like "The Eraser", "Black Swan", and especially "Atoms for Peace" live, and they were absolutelyThe album harkens back to some of the mediocre songs on Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief", like "The Gloaming". What this album does is take melodies and lyrics that are quite beautiful and buries them underneath layers of digital synthesizers, which don't serve the songs well. I heard songs like "The Eraser", "Black Swan", and especially "Atoms for Peace" live, and they were absolutely gorgeous. They also sounded nothing like the album versions (being driven more acoustically). Harrowdown Hill stands out as a song that mostly made it through the digital obfuscation, but this would have been a much better album if the songs had been left alone, without adding all the extra loops. I loved Kid A, but Yorke has distanced the music so far from its heart on this album that everything is too abstract for me to love.… Expand
  7. jonl
    Sep 4, 2006
    9
    I came to this one not expecting too much, having heard the style was similiar to Radiohead songs like "The Gloaming" (i.e. rubbish). Was very pleasantly suprised - yes the music is fairly bare electronica - but the songs have hooks and choruses (suprise, suprise), the lyrics are some of the best Yorke's written and there's a great feel to it throughout. At 9 songs it's I came to this one not expecting too much, having heard the style was similiar to Radiohead songs like "The Gloaming" (i.e. rubbish). Was very pleasantly suprised - yes the music is fairly bare electronica - but the songs have hooks and choruses (suprise, suprise), the lyrics are some of the best Yorke's written and there's a great feel to it throughout. At 9 songs it's just the right length - he doesn't overdo it. The album probably won't get the kudos it deserves but its great stuff nonetheless.… Expand
  8. KarelJ
    Jul 11, 2006
    10
    it´s Thom Yorke, what else can I say... (maybe fantastic)
  9. mykles
    Jul 10, 2006
    9
    thom had two choices: make a distilled radiohead album, complete with hundreds of "wow" moments, or make a solid, out-of-left field solo album. he chose the second option. the eraser stands alone brilliantly, i just wish he had put a bit more frenzied emotion into it. listen a few times before judging -- it's a creeper!
  10. KA
    Jul 11, 2006
    7
    Diehard Radiohead fans will love this CD but for casual fans, these tracks will sound even more cold and icy remote than radiohead's most recent full-length CD. To call it a masterpiece is really praising it too highly.
  11. DavidB
    Jul 10, 2006
    6
    Lets be realistic here. Its seems that metacritic users have a tendancy to rate things with either a "10" or a "1", however the numbers in between these are very important and seem to be quite neglected. This sometimes leads to mediocre albums being ranked at say "9.3". For all Radiohead fans here, if you were to give Kid A or OKC say, a "10" - does this mean that The Eraser is every bit Lets be realistic here. Its seems that metacritic users have a tendancy to rate things with either a "10" or a "1", however the numbers in between these are very important and seem to be quite neglected. This sometimes leads to mediocre albums being ranked at say "9.3". For all Radiohead fans here, if you were to give Kid A or OKC say, a "10" - does this mean that The Eraser is every bit as good as those albums? Some of you might even think so, but for those of you who would answer no to this question- please use common sense and use the 1-10 rating system like it was ment to be used. I realize I should probably be taking this time to write an actual review about this album, but I felt this needed to be said.… Expand
  12. st-arno
    Aug 13, 2006
    8
    This album has the perfect title. Take radiohead, erase the apport of other members, keep the bleeps and the magnificient claustrophobic voice of one of the moste intelligent singer of the rock and roll scene! Defenitly one of the most original album of the year!
  13. StevenG
    Sep 6, 2006
    10
    Already being a huge fan of Radiohead, and knowing that Thom Yorke had wanted to release a solo album for quite some time, I was concerned that these songs would feel like they had been sitting around for years collecting dust. However, I am very pleased to say that The Eraser finds Thom Yorke very much in the moment, creating a hypnotic, cohesive album that has made me fall in love with Already being a huge fan of Radiohead, and knowing that Thom Yorke had wanted to release a solo album for quite some time, I was concerned that these songs would feel like they had been sitting around for years collecting dust. However, I am very pleased to say that The Eraser finds Thom Yorke very much in the moment, creating a hypnotic, cohesive album that has made me fall in love with his songwriting style all over again. This is one of the very best albums of the year.… Expand
  14. RoyR
    Sep 8, 2006
    10
    Thom's unique talent has always been to draw you into his head. He sings from the soul ..... to the soul. On first hearing this album, my anticipation turned to niggling disappointment. It sounded so thin and there was even a black Judas moment when I thought this should have been called Thom's Rambling Musings in his Room with a Mic and Sound-making Thing. Then, the penny Thom's unique talent has always been to draw you into his head. He sings from the soul ..... to the soul. On first hearing this album, my anticipation turned to niggling disappointment. It sounded so thin and there was even a black Judas moment when I thought this should have been called Thom's Rambling Musings in his Room with a Mic and Sound-making Thing. Then, the penny dropped - as it does with so many of those albums you love forever after the 4th listen. And with Thom and his ilk, it usually drops with a resounding clang. Minimalist, yet enigmatically complex, structure that makes you focus on the melody - and, to all you detractors, Thom is beautific as a songwriter. This is what Thom hears while he walks down the road, hangs out at home, alone or in a crowd, sitting on the bog, basking in the afterglow, agonising when it occasionally goes wrong. In the absence of adequate superlatives, I will simply restate what so many have said before me - the man is a genius.… Expand
  15. jjp
    Sep 8, 2006
    4
    i loved kid a, etc... this album is boring. it did nothing to me.
  16. jenb
    Oct 18, 2006
    10
    I love this album... in fact I think I'm addicted to it. Best album of the year for me so far.
  17. DartVayder
    Dec 21, 2006
    10
    Best in 2006
  18. StefanP.
    Jul 10, 2006
    10
    I can't believe this masterpiece isn't rated higher. For me its so far one of the best albums of 2006. Dark, emotional songs, perfectly crafted. Just 40 minutes of goose-bumps. As a whole i like it more than every Radiohead album. Definetly needs listening to on headphones and a few times to really get into it. My favourites so far: "And it rained all night" and "Analyse"
  19. RH
    Jul 10, 2006
    9
    This is the album that fanatics of Kid A, like myself, have been waiting for. Your nervous system will instantly connect with these "pitter patter" electronic tracks, and there's no nonsense like the last two Radiohead albums. Definitely a nice surprise, and one of my favorites of 2006.
  20. DanielH
    Jul 12, 2006
    8
    Good work here. The only problem I have with the album is that a lot of the stuff starts to get repetitive. But none the less, good work.
  21. mick
    Jul 12, 2006
    9
    I must admit that I'm a bit of a Radiohead 'fanboy' and think that everything they do is top draw, but as a 'fanboy' I can recognise this album isn't for everyone. However, outstanding tunes include; The Eraser, Black Swan & Harrowdown Hill.
  22. SukjinH
    Jul 12, 2006
    10
    Please, if you've been paying attention to what's been going on, it is painfully obvious that this record is not supposed to be cheery or full of energy. Thom is not trying to show off or prove that he can make music without his bandmates. This is something that he could have easily thrown away in the trash on his laptop, which would have been a huge disappointment. I'm Please, if you've been paying attention to what's been going on, it is painfully obvious that this record is not supposed to be cheery or full of energy. Thom is not trying to show off or prove that he can make music without his bandmates. This is something that he could have easily thrown away in the trash on his laptop, which would have been a huge disappointment. I'm glad to hear what he's been playing around with... Btw, the new songs Radiohead played in the recent tour were fantastic. Looking forward to next year's LP release..… Expand
  23. MMcK
    Jul 12, 2006
    7
    Strong, haunting record that grows on you. It feels like a something he needed to make before Radiohead could move on in an new direction.
  24. JeffW
    Jul 12, 2006
    4
    Why are people comparing this to Kid A? Radiohead has been my favorite band since OK, but this is self-indulgent audio Nyquil. If you are having problems sleeping, buy this album! The title track and Harrowdownhill seem cool on the first listen, but this CD is just boring. I can
  25. BenJ
    Jul 13, 2006
    7
    A good enough record. Perhaps the most encouraging thing about it though is that without the rest of the band, Thom Yorke fails to match much from the Radiohead cannon. Clearly Radiohead are a band, not just "Thom Yokre + Hired Hands".
  26. danm
    Jul 13, 2006
    9
    I don't understand the lukewarm and negative reviews of this CD; are the critics comparing it to all other music that's out there now, or are they comparing it to OK Computer? Thom Yorke, in my opinion, has more talent than any other alt musician out there now...this is the man mainly responsible for The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief. Who else has I don't understand the lukewarm and negative reviews of this CD; are the critics comparing it to all other music that's out there now, or are they comparing it to OK Computer? Thom Yorke, in my opinion, has more talent than any other alt musician out there now...this is the man mainly responsible for The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief. Who else has such bona fides? This is a very personal CD, and not a "radio friendly unit shifter." His use of his voice as an instrument is amazing. Once critic said that this is just Thom Yorke clearing his throat...well Thom Yorke clearing his throat is better that 99% of the crap that's being produced right now...… Expand
  27. JD
    Jul 14, 2006
    9
    Quite good. Only one really dissapointing song (Cymbal) Better that I had expected.
  28. MeirK
    Jul 15, 2006
    10
    I just love this CD, Thom Is the Best
  29. aLck
    Jul 10, 2006
    9
    Brilliant!!!
  30. jeff
    Jul 10, 2006
    10
    best album of the year so far.
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2006
44
#44 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Prefix Magazine
    90
    What makes it breathe, what allows it to flourish above its glitchy techno, its processed wizardry... what untangles it from a mess of circuitry and power strips and anti-virus pop-up warnings, is Yorke's incredible, distinctive voice.
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  2. Stylus Magazine
    91
    The Eraser is a triumph.
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  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    Nigel's production and arrangements leave very little room for the songs to breathe... However, the emphasis on Thom's lyrics illuminates The Eraser's strongest asset: its content.
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