In Rainbows
by Radiohead
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 2281 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,078 out of 2281
  2. Mixed: 71 out of 2281
  3. Negative: 132 out of 2281

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  1. RufatR.
    Oct 19, 2007
    7
    Music is not so different, as in previous albums. But it's still Radiohead stylish, and Thom's voice is still one of the most sinsere ones.
  2. Justin
    Jan 6, 2008
    7
    As with OKC and Kid A, my inability to find words to describe their brilliance is countered by my inability to describe where In Rainbows lacks. The best I can do for our generation's Beatles: It's good enough.
  3. magnusmatstoms
    Oct 13, 2007
    7
    Decent but far from the high points of Ok Computer and The Bends
  4. MarkR.
    Oct 17, 2007
    7
    Yes you know, I like the record, but sometimes I just want a damn distorted electric guitar. That's what I feel sometimes Radiohead has lost, angriness.
  5. Jamess.
    Oct 17, 2007
    7
    I agree with the critic that said it had no climax. A good album that would have been excellent if it contained even one obvious single. I was left waiting for something to happen most of the album.
  6. Jeremy
    Oct 17, 2007
    7
    The songs here, as songs, are pretty good. They are made well and the instrumentation is top-notch. Skittish beats, whirring guitars, and soothing dream-like haziness litter this album with superbness. The production is also surprisingly good for a non-record-label release. I could say, with faith, that 15 STEP, NUDE, and VIDEOTAPE are three of the best songs in the past few months. The songs here, as songs, are pretty good. They are made well and the instrumentation is top-notch. Skittish beats, whirring guitars, and soothing dream-like haziness litter this album with superbness. The production is also surprisingly good for a non-record-label release. I could say, with faith, that 15 STEP, NUDE, and VIDEOTAPE are three of the best songs in the past few months. However, when I sit down and listen to this record as a whole, I find it to be quite plodding. While each song has a different feel, the general, overall effect doesn't drift too far from the same base. In other words: as a whole, this album tends to bore me. I see this as a mood piece. A nice album to play and sit down and relax, or a nice night-time car ride cd. But, I [usually] cannot sit and listen to the whole thing without stopping around FAUST ARP (not that it's a bad song, just 'cause I lose interest by then.) I admire Radiohead's musical ability, and they sure do have musical ability, but I have to say that, while not bad, at all, this album fails to please me completely. Far from perfect.… Expand
  7. Michael
    Oct 17, 2007
    7
    strong tracks: 15 step nude faust arp jigsaw falling into place videotape. arpeggi is ruined by a stupid drum beat, check out the orchestral version on youtube. that's quality right there. bodysnatchers sucks for the first half. all i need is good but the ending is super corny and lame. reckoner starts out well but turns completely generic and the breakdown sounds just like I Will, strong tracks: 15 step nude faust arp jigsaw falling into place videotape. arpeggi is ruined by a stupid drum beat, check out the orchestral version on youtube. that's quality right there. bodysnatchers sucks for the first half. all i need is good but the ending is super corny and lame. reckoner starts out well but turns completely generic and the breakdown sounds just like I Will, like just like it, shockingly apparently so. House of cards is boring and goes nowhere. That's all. in general, phil selway brings the album down a lot, and could've been improved by taking some of the more exemplary tracks off the eraser and fleshing them out a bit. because cymbal rush, analyse, and harrowdown hill are a whole lot better than a lot of the stuff here. Radiohead ooze potential and talent, but they make choices that I find disappointing.… Expand
  8. dj=riv
    Dec 12, 2007
    7
    5 out of 5 for the means, plus 4 out of 5 for my first few impressions, plus so very much respect and thanks from me equals 7/10?
  9. lawrenceh.
    Oct 22, 2007
    7
    Not bad, overhyped though. Aren't these songs outtakes from REM's Automatic for the People, recycled through laptop wizardry?
  10. JosephA.
    Oct 23, 2007
    7
    After much listening, I personally am torn between and 7 or a 6. It is quite lovely to see Radiohead back, in some cases I wonder what the f*** went on about the recording sessions. Most of the tracks seem quite much like filler if anything, lush depressing romantic filler (as opposed to lush depressing political filler from Hail to the Thief.) Nevertheless, it almost makes me believe After much listening, I personally am torn between and 7 or a 6. It is quite lovely to see Radiohead back, in some cases I wonder what the f*** went on about the recording sessions. Most of the tracks seem quite much like filler if anything, lush depressing romantic filler (as opposed to lush depressing political filler from Hail to the Thief.) Nevertheless, it almost makes me believe that I am listening to a Coldplay record, in a mehish way. As such, the winners here are Bodysnachers, Nude, and Videotape with their Radiohead-esque melancholy. Sadly, when this album suck, it sucks hard. Especially concerning some of the other lyrics ("I am the holidays you choose to ignore," Thom what have you been drinking.) seem childish, selfish, and in some cases (despite the album's claim of being more user-friendly) unintelligible thanks to horrible balancing of sounds, drowning out Yorke's vocals. Granted, thought at first I regretted being short of change when I downloaded the album. (Which I believe has led to some review whoring, and I am saying this as a fairly ardent Radiohead fan.) I don't feel as conflicted due to the quality (or lack there of.)… Expand
  11. AlexW.
    Feb 15, 2008
    7
    I think its very very very well recorded / performed - I mean they are great at using their instruments and creating tension etc - i think this album is fun and some songs are naff and some a brilliant - reckoner is by far my favourite song ever - doesn't mean I like the album haha - i think radiohead aren't as good as everyone has dug themselves into a hole with over praising I think its very very very well recorded / performed - I mean they are great at using their instruments and creating tension etc - i think this album is fun and some songs are naff and some a brilliant - reckoner is by far my favourite song ever - doesn't mean I like the album haha - i think radiohead aren't as good as everyone has dug themselves into a hole with over praising them - they were just lucky with the timing of their arrival onto the music scene - and everyone who think ok computer rocks - there is 2 good songs on it! what the hell are you on ... o_o ?… Expand
  12. mpshea28
    Sep 5, 2010
    7
    It's a great album, but I think Radiohead has done better. I like how it's much different from what they've done before, but I hope they go back to melting faces on the next record
  13. koalafalafel
    Mar 9, 2011
    7
    I'm a diehard fan, but even a few years later I am split on this album. In comparison to their prior work, this album doesn't do as much for me. The over-orchestration, the pointless Faust ARP, the mediocre guitar throwback of Bodysnatchers, this annoyingly paced Videotape, the excellent Go Slowly left to rot on a second disc of throwaways... Yet somehow, it all works. In the right mood,I'm a diehard fan, but even a few years later I am split on this album. In comparison to their prior work, this album doesn't do as much for me. The over-orchestration, the pointless Faust ARP, the mediocre guitar throwback of Bodysnatchers, this annoyingly paced Videotape, the excellent Go Slowly left to rot on a second disc of throwaways... Yet somehow, it all works. In the right mood, on a lovely day, this album is incredibly satisfying, even refreshing, and song after song send shivers down my spine. By far their most accessible album since The Bends, it's sometimes overly sentimental and downright gushy at points. The climaxes are almost annoyingly affective, like a cheap thrill ending up better than you anticipate. But so was "High & Dry", dammit. And that was the song that made me a fan. So maybe it isn't full of mind-bending experiments. It's still pretty great. It will never be my favorite, but despite my complaints, this album just works. Listen to it with the love of your life.… Expand
  14. OKAmnesiac
    Oct 13, 2012
    7
    Near the beginning I didn't really like it and felt that radiohead had begun to shy away from it's the bends/ok computer beginning(pablo honey didn't really count for most fans) but it started to grow on me as it progressed.
  15. Saihodonttop
    Jun 9, 2023
    7
    15 step is awsome

    although bodysnatcher has a great instrumental, i do think thom's vocals arent good. Nude sends you to heaven weird fishes is my fav track in this album, the drums nake it for me All i need is a gigatrack Faust arp is a nice little interlude Reckoner is my least favourite, something about the pairing of thoms vocals and the fast paced instrumental just makes the track    15 step is awsome

    although bodysnatcher has a great instrumental, i do think thom's vocals arent good. Nude sends you to heaven weird fishes is my fav track in this album, the drums nake it for me

    All i need is a gigatrack

    Faust arp is a nice little interlude Reckoner is my least favourite, something about the pairing of thoms vocals and the fast paced instrumental just makes the track less good than the rest of the tracklist

    House of cards is a great tune

    Jigsaw isnt falling into place

    And videotape is probably too minimalistic for me    … Expand
  16. IsaacAshe
    Nov 3, 2007
    6
    Ultimately fails to grab you by the scruff all the way through - a disappointment after all the plaudits I read before listening, and the genius solo work of Thom Yorke that proceeded this release.
  17. JeffW
    Oct 16, 2007
    6
    Anyone else bothered by the complete lack of coherence in the lyrics? You could take every line in the entire album, randomly arrange them, and each song would have just as much meaning or emotional punch as it does now (none). While these songs have a beauty to them musically, they have a complete emptiness to them because there is nothing to really sink your teeth in.
  18. AlexS.
    Oct 25, 2007
    6
    The Bends and OK Computer were great if a tad too pretentious. Kid A doesn't hold up even now and yet Aphex Twin does. Now there's this overly simple, horribly vague, and of course overrated record. The dynamic is almost never here on this record. The guitars are near generic most of the time. Sure House of Cards and other moments of some songs are pretty. But had they released The Bends and OK Computer were great if a tad too pretentious. Kid A doesn't hold up even now and yet Aphex Twin does. Now there's this overly simple, horribly vague, and of course overrated record. The dynamic is almost never here on this record. The guitars are near generic most of the time. Sure House of Cards and other moments of some songs are pretty. But had they released the album the Liars had this year, the reviews would've been even more acclaimed, I promise. And yet a more dynamic and well thought out record (like one by the Liars or something by Sigur Ros) gets much worse reviews. To see In Rainbows get reviews even better or close to that of The Knife's Silent Shout or M.I.A. is hilarious and inevitably seen to be as novelty.… Expand
  19. Joris
    Oct 20, 2007
    6
    In the critic's eye Radiohead can permit themselves even plain mediocre tracks as Jigsaw Falling Into Place and the uninspired one-riffbased track Bodysnatchers, but in the end the unearthly beauty of House of Playing Cards, All I Need, 15 Step, Reckoners, the haunting Nude and Arpeggi make up for a Decent Radiohead album. Not their best by far, and not by any means one of the better In the critic's eye Radiohead can permit themselves even plain mediocre tracks as Jigsaw Falling Into Place and the uninspired one-riffbased track Bodysnatchers, but in the end the unearthly beauty of House of Playing Cards, All I Need, 15 Step, Reckoners, the haunting Nude and Arpeggi make up for a Decent Radiohead album. Not their best by far, and not by any means one of the better albums to have come out in 2007, but still solid.… Expand
  20. CourtneyB
    Oct 4, 2008
    6
    I don't understand the proclamations that this is the best record since OKC. It's pretty good but unlike OKC or the albums released since, it is not surprising or deep... to me, it's mostly good but mostly boring and shallow.
  21. JTMoo
    Jun 10, 2010
    6
    Ok Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac are possibly the best three sequential albums I have ever listened to. In Rainbows, pretty but a bit boring. Bumped it up a notch for innovative marketing.
  22. allen
    Oct 16, 2007
    6
    I'm really suprised at all the gushing for this album! I'm a huge Radiohead fan, and I do think this is a good ablum. However, I'm slighlty perplexed by the "best album ever made" and "best radiohead album ever". Seriously? Please! Again, this is a good record, but better than OK Computer and/or Kid A? Not a chance.
  23. pierreb.
    Oct 16, 2007
    6
    not bad
  24. DavidH.
    Oct 24, 2007
    6
    It's not a bad album, but it's just not that exciting either. Why do they feel they owe it to the fans/public to regress to their conventional rock format. Fair enough, the Bends was great at the time, but they are capable of more than that these days, as was evident in the fantastic Kid A and Amnesiac. Sonically, In Rainbows is closer to OK Computer than they have been in a It's not a bad album, but it's just not that exciting either. Why do they feel they owe it to the fans/public to regress to their conventional rock format. Fair enough, the Bends was great at the time, but they are capable of more than that these days, as was evident in the fantastic Kid A and Amnesiac. Sonically, In Rainbows is closer to OK Computer than they have been in a decade, but none of these songs have the depth or classic songwriting of that great album. I don't think Radiohead have ever sounded so MOR.… Expand
  25. AshleyP
    Oct 26, 2007
    6
    I tried, I really tried to like this. Their last four albums have been masterful. But In Rainbows, with its uninspiring sounds/chords backed up with stale rhythms, and monotonous, emotionless vocals (with a few momentary exceptions), does nothing for me. The album shows no signs of cohesion; it is thread-less, and uninviting. It sounds perfunctory and cheap, barely a step up from The I tried, I really tried to like this. Their last four albums have been masterful. But In Rainbows, with its uninspiring sounds/chords backed up with stale rhythms, and monotonous, emotionless vocals (with a few momentary exceptions), does nothing for me. The album shows no signs of cohesion; it is thread-less, and uninviting. It sounds perfunctory and cheap, barely a step up from The Eraser. It's been amazing decade-long adventure, but, finally, and inevitably, I suppose, they have let me down. It is all down to taste, I appreciate. After reaching a peak within a genre with OK Computer, they moved on toa new style. Now, I suppose they had reached their limit with the next 'triplet'. So, on to a new style. It is not to my taste.… Expand
  26. ChrisP
    Dec 8, 2007
    6
    A pretty album, but ultimately unsatisfying. This is the sound of Radiohead in a comfortable groove, and it's more of an adult-alternative snooze than anything interesting.
  27. nickc
    Oct 31, 2007
    6
    The songs, while layered and beautiful, are indistinguishable and blend completely together. I've listened to this album 20 times, and I still can't remember a single moment afterwards except for bodysnatchers and nude. Best album of the decade, by radiohead, of all time? No. Just No. I'd put this one between Kid A and Amnesiac. Doesn't hold a candle to OK Computer, The songs, while layered and beautiful, are indistinguishable and blend completely together. I've listened to this album 20 times, and I still can't remember a single moment afterwards except for bodysnatchers and nude. Best album of the decade, by radiohead, of all time? No. Just No. I'd put this one between Kid A and Amnesiac. Doesn't hold a candle to OK Computer, Bends, or Hail to the Thief. And 15 step is the worst ablum opener Radiohead's ever written.… Expand
  28. GT
    Apr 28, 2008
    6
    I just don't get how people can call this "the best since OK Computer". If you prefer this over Kid A, Amnesiac or even Hail to the Thief (which I think is really good, despite the fact that so many people seem to dislike it), I think you've missed something. I can't really explain why, but this just sounds so polished and "clean". Poppy, maybe. All I need could have been a I just don't get how people can call this "the best since OK Computer". If you prefer this over Kid A, Amnesiac or even Hail to the Thief (which I think is really good, despite the fact that so many people seem to dislike it), I think you've missed something. I can't really explain why, but this just sounds so polished and "clean". Poppy, maybe. All I need could have been a Coldplay song... I'm quite disappointed to say it just doesn't do much for me.… Expand
  29. HT
    Nov 16, 2007
    6
    The album has 4, maybe 5 great songs, but, beeing honest, no more. That leaves more of the half of the album in the point of view of your fast-forward button. It´s a pity, Radiohead is a band that really cans doing much more better than this.
  30. claytons
    Oct 13, 2007
    6
    i hardly can understand these great reviews, and i can't help but think that this album would go virtually unnoticed if it wasn't Radiohead. the majority of the tracks seem to wander aimlessly, in all their duration making their way to a crescendo that never occurs. this sort of minimalistic ambiance simply reveals a dearth in instrumentation - far from an intriguing and i hardly can understand these great reviews, and i can't help but think that this album would go virtually unnoticed if it wasn't Radiohead. the majority of the tracks seem to wander aimlessly, in all their duration making their way to a crescendo that never occurs. this sort of minimalistic ambiance simply reveals a dearth in instrumentation - far from an intriguing and vulnerable nudity. and, if i recall correctly, many of these tracks are leftovers. do they not sound exactly as such? haven't we come to expect at least a little more from Radiohead? they're lucky i'm giving them a 6.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Album of 2007
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2007
1
#1 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. BBC collective
    90
    In Rainbows really does present Radiohead at their most full-blooded and confident.
    Read full review
  2. Billboard
    80
    Overall, the material feels more human, more honest, more assured.
    Read full review
  3. Dot Music
    80
    Happily, In Rainbows is pretty, pretty good.
    Read full review
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