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. sratomasfer
    Feb 28, 2017
    8
    The first full length Thom Yorke effort is just as weird and glitchy as someone could expect from him. The programmed beats are crisp and sweet as Nigel Godrich contributes the programming. A few underwhelming moments however. The title track, which features a piano contributing from fellow Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood, doesn't stand up sonically to the others on the record. Atoms forThe first full length Thom Yorke effort is just as weird and glitchy as someone could expect from him. The programmed beats are crisp and sweet as Nigel Godrich contributes the programming. A few underwhelming moments however. The title track, which features a piano contributing from fellow Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood, doesn't stand up sonically to the others on the record. Atoms for Peace seems to lack direction. At the end of the day, this is a thoroughly enjoyable record especially for fans of glitch IDM looking for a fresh take on that 90's Warp style.… Expand
  2. ClueingLooks
    May 29, 2016
    10
    I love Radiohead, but this album is totally different from what you're used to. It's brilliant, it's haunting, addicting, it sticks with you for weeks. Every single song creates a different atmosphere with its beats, lyrics, synths. It's pure perfection, Thom is a genius.
  3. moslegend34
    Dec 21, 2014
    9
    Chilling. I listened to this album as a naïve first year uni student and it certainly opened my eyes to the ways of the world. This album, while ambient and soft, is by no means for the faint hearted. ‘Analyse’ is a truly beautiful and delicately crafted piece, although I wish Yorke had included a live piano version of the song as well.
    At times the album, particularly some of the riffs,    Chilling. I listened to this album as a naïve first year uni student and it certainly opened my eyes to the ways of the world. This album, while ambient and soft, is by no means for the faint hearted. ‘Analyse’ is a truly beautiful and delicately crafted piece, although I wish Yorke had included a live piano version of the song as well.
    At times the album, particularly some of the riffs, melodies and drum beats feel a tad overproduced. The Eraser might well suffice with an acoustic guitar, analyse with a piano and Harrowdown Hill without so much guitar amplification. Despite this, I truly believe that this is Thom Yorke’s best work outside of Radiohead; ‘Ingenue’ in Atoms for Peace is up there, but in terms of commentary music and dark variety, this takes the cake.
    An essential listen for Radiohead and/or alternative rock fans.    … Expand
  4. julybish
    May 25, 2013
    10
    I can't stop listening to it ....maybe it's because after listening to its live version played by The Atoms for peace I started to appreciate every single song! Worth give it a chance!
  5. EddieHokie
    Mar 2, 2013
    8
    Thom Yorke comes at us with a surprise solo album but the sound is not surprising. The Eraser sounds like a less abstract Kid-A with just as many beeps and bloops combined with clear song structure. Every song on here is enjoyable except for Skip Divided which is a total dud. Lyrically, Thom Yorke is usually undecipherable and cryptic which is the case here too. He is excellentThom Yorke comes at us with a surprise solo album but the sound is not surprising. The Eraser sounds like a less abstract Kid-A with just as many beeps and bloops combined with clear song structure. Every song on here is enjoyable except for Skip Divided which is a total dud. Lyrically, Thom Yorke is usually undecipherable and cryptic which is the case here too. He is excellent at painting visuals however and the Eraser fits the bill as strongly as any Radiohead effort. His voice is the forefront for probably the first time and its a great artistic choice as his angelic voice simultaneously contradicts and combines with his dark lyrics. This album is as good as Radiohead's 3rd or 4th best album which is an achievement. Grade Time in order
    "A" Songs- Analyze, The Eraser, Black Swan, Harrowdown Hill
    "B" Songs- Atoms for Peace
    "C" Songs- And it Rained All Night, The Clock, Cymbal Rush
    "F" Songs- Skip Divided

    Overall Album Score: 84 out of 100    … Expand
  6. Ricko
    Jun 8, 2012
    8
    An interesting debut solo outing for the Radiohead frontman. Because of the voice, you will automatically think of Radiohead when you hear this record but overall it's a departure from Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows, the albums between which the Eraser lives. The opening title track,Black Swan and Analyse are the only tracks that you would expect to find on a Radiohead album. While IAn interesting debut solo outing for the Radiohead frontman. Because of the voice, you will automatically think of Radiohead when you hear this record but overall it's a departure from Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows, the albums between which the Eraser lives. The opening title track,Black Swan and Analyse are the only tracks that you would expect to find on a Radiohead album. While I feel the first half of the record is outstanding, the second half drops a bit. Overall it's a very good album with several very strong songs, lots of good ideas and a couple of idea's that don't quite work out as well as you would have hoped. Doesn't match his parent bands output but the Erasers high points make this well worth having.… Expand
  7. Chaziltasm
    Apr 12, 2012
    9
    Thom Yorke, a beautiful lyricist, the beating heart of Radiohead now with a solo album. At first I was worried, it felt a little too cold, slightly hard to approach, however when you look into it deeper, feel the music, you feel the emotion behind every song and every word sounds so beautiful. Lyrics like poetry, with the buzz of synths to guide you through. But i find comfort within theThom Yorke, a beautiful lyricist, the beating heart of Radiohead now with a solo album. At first I was worried, it felt a little too cold, slightly hard to approach, however when you look into it deeper, feel the music, you feel the emotion behind every song and every word sounds so beautiful. Lyrics like poetry, with the buzz of synths to guide you through. But i find comfort within the cold dark electronic beauty of The Eraser. My only wish would be that it was longer.… Expand
  8. 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.
  9. dude
    Oct 17, 2010
    8
    Maybe it isnt a masterpiece but it is a real deep and unique electronica album and its not another useless frontman single album. there are somethings that he couldnt release with radiohead...lyrics are more private and based on his own personal experiments....and if can say to some tracks like analyse and Black Swan i think you are just acting defensive about the album. Thom YorkesMaybe it isnt a masterpiece but it is a real deep and unique electronica album and its not another useless frontman single album. there are somethings that he couldnt release with radiohead...lyrics are more private and based on his own personal experiments....and if can say to some tracks like analyse and Black Swan i think you are just acting defensive about the album. Thom Yorkes single album is just like his voice,vocal style , personality & lyrics......it is orginal ,deep and dark.… Expand
  10. OsianL.
    Mar 6, 2009
    7
    Mesmerising, interesting, but sometimes weak, this album shows that Radiohead isn't all Thom Yorke's imput. An intruiging album, and one of the better solo projects I've listened to.
  11. 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.
  12. RezaM.
    Oct 21, 2007
    9
    It's music from another planet. No one can sing or write songs like this in the earth.
  13. MaxM.
    Jun 21, 2007
    9
    Thom Yorke just keeps getting better and better. Some of the sound effects in songs like Harrowdown Hill and Black Swan sound really cheap like they came straight off of GarageBand or something, but otherwise, it is Thom Yorke at his best. I can't wait to see how demented the 2007 Radiohead album is gonna be.
  14. dyzc_
    Feb 28, 2007
    9
    The Eraser is a one of a kind album. Its a very concentrated and focused sound. I believe this album fits the year 2006 and 2007, 2008, 2009.... For me, OK Computer is the best Radiohead album because the album 'in total', i think, is better. But the Eraser is a different sound. I hope Radiohead will continue this road...and then in this sound the best is yet to come....
  15. GregN.
    Feb 16, 2007
    10
    Easily the best album of 2006.
  16. MikeR
    Feb 8, 2007
    8
    I think this album is a success. I think most of the songs are a creative accomplishment. I've been a radiohead fan for years and hearing The Eraser makes me feel like I'm getting a little more into the mind of Mr. Yorke. I think "Atoms for Peace" is absolutely gorgeous and Thom's voice has never sounded better. I do have a few problems. "Skip Divided" is a song that I I think this album is a success. I think most of the songs are a creative accomplishment. I've been a radiohead fan for years and hearing The Eraser makes me feel like I'm getting a little more into the mind of Mr. Yorke. I think "Atoms for Peace" is absolutely gorgeous and Thom's voice has never sounded better. I do have a few problems. "Skip Divided" is a song that I could do without completely. Also, it seems like a few of these songs want to crescendo into something amazing but then just fall flat and it can be disappointing at times. Despite this, I enjoy the tracks thoroughly. I wanted to comment on a previous post. "Dan" mentioned that Amnesiac and Kid A were Thom's "Solo" albums. This is incorrect. Those were both efforts by Radiohead collectively.… Expand
  17. SimonO
    Dec 29, 2006
    9
    Stronger, and more consistent, than recent Radiohead records. Though there are points of comparison, the constant tag of KidA 2 does not do justice to The Eraser's scope.
  18. DartVayder
    Dec 21, 2006
    10
    Best in 2006
  19. Dan
    Nov 30, 2006
    7
    Quite nice album to listen, but not a great piece. How can there be so many people giving it a 10? Don't let yourself go blind for Radiohead's shadow. This is not Radiohead, this is Thom Yorke putting out some devils. There are 3 or 4 great tracks -I specially love Cymbal Rush- but they are not enough to hold the hold album too high. As I said: Very nice to listen, but it Quite nice album to listen, but not a great piece. How can there be so many people giving it a 10? Don't let yourself go blind for Radiohead's shadow. This is not Radiohead, this is Thom Yorke putting out some devils. There are 3 or 4 great tracks -I specially love Cymbal Rush- but they are not enough to hold the hold album too high. As I said: Very nice to listen, but it won't change your life and we won't be thinking of it in 10 (5?) years.… Expand
  20. MIke
    Nov 1, 2006
    10
    Didnt like it the first time I played it. But the more i listened to it, the more I noticed how brilliant it is! and now its one of my favorite vinyls!! Excellent!
  21. ColbyS
    Oct 23, 2006
    9
    Simply put, and thinkingly independently of Radiohead, this is an amazing album. Thom Yorke's haunting musical genius shines through the ever-present gloom of his manic mind. Of course this isn't Radiohead, and as such shouldn't be compared to it. Don't take the piss out of him for marching to his own beat for nine tracks, especially with them being the gems that they Simply put, and thinkingly independently of Radiohead, this is an amazing album. Thom Yorke's haunting musical genius shines through the ever-present gloom of his manic mind. Of course this isn't Radiohead, and as such shouldn't be compared to it. Don't take the piss out of him for marching to his own beat for nine tracks, especially with them being the gems that they are. Obvious standouts include "Black Swan", "Harrowdown Hill", "Atoms For Peace", "The Clock", and the underrated "Skip Divided." I couldn't find a song I didn't particularly like, and was especially impressed by those aforementioned, due mainly to his incredibly haunting, soaring vocals. Simply put: it sparkles with ingenuity. Go buy it. Now.… Expand
  22. 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.
  23. jackiez
    Sep 25, 2006
    10
    Inspiring...
  24. GasparL
    Sep 23, 2006
    8
    Thom's always been at the forefront of good music, but this record does two things for me. One, it makes me understand Thom's part of the Radiohead whole, and two, it really makes me appreciate Colin, Johnny, Ed, and Phil, and how they all complete one another. (You're going to hear almost no reviews without "Radiohead" in there somewhere, so get over it.) If you want to Thom's always been at the forefront of good music, but this record does two things for me. One, it makes me understand Thom's part of the Radiohead whole, and two, it really makes me appreciate Colin, Johnny, Ed, and Phil, and how they all complete one another. (You're going to hear almost no reviews without "Radiohead" in there somewhere, so get over it.) If you want to get inside Thom's taste and style, isolated from the rest The-R-Word's underpinnings, look no further. "And It Rained All Night", "Harrowdown Hill" and "Black Swan", and "The Clock" are all absolutely amazing, "Skip Divided" warrants a balk, and the rest are from passable to just regular good. And that's the album to me: good. Half amazing, half good, and one failed experiment. Honestly, I think this is well more of a 7.5, but I'd rather be more lavish in scoring than stingy. Worth the money? That's debatable, with only 9 songs at under 40 minutes; consider "Atoms for Peace" and your reaction as a litmus test. Worth a listen? Not a doubt in my mind.… Expand
  25. ToddW
    Sep 21, 2006
    8
    First, let's get one thing straight. Bim B. should change his or her name to Bimbo. A zero? He or she is obviously commenting on his or her musical acumen. Just because it's not "Kid A" or "O.K. Computer" people are unfairly denigrating Yorke. (Go for your dictionary Bimbo.) If anyone else put this album out it would be hailed as a masterpiece. Let's not forget that he First, let's get one thing straight. Bim B. should change his or her name to Bimbo. A zero? He or she is obviously commenting on his or her musical acumen. Just because it's not "Kid A" or "O.K. Computer" people are unfairly denigrating Yorke. (Go for your dictionary Bimbo.) If anyone else put this album out it would be hailed as a masterpiece. Let's not forget that he purposely avoided any hype by announcing this album's existence a month before its release and by signing to an independent label. I'd like to see anyone else in the so-called mainstream (sewerstream?) emerge from his house with something possessing even a fraction of the complexity of this album.… Expand
  26. AlexF
    Sep 20, 2006
    9
    I've never been a particularly big Radiohead fan, which makes me a pariah amongst many of my music-loving friends. However, I developed more of a soft spot for them with the one-two punch of Kid A and Amnesiac. I liked the direction they appeared to be going in with those albums, and this solo effort seems to be the culmation of the foray into glitchy electronica. As a result, I find I've never been a particularly big Radiohead fan, which makes me a pariah amongst many of my music-loving friends. However, I developed more of a soft spot for them with the one-two punch of Kid A and Amnesiac. I liked the direction they appeared to be going in with those albums, and this solo effort seems to be the culmation of the foray into glitchy electronica. As a result, I find this to be superior to anything in Radiohead's catalogue. Great outing. I look forward to hearing more Thom Yorke solo material.… Expand
  27. DavidH
    Sep 14, 2006
    9
    The music press have used terms such as "desolate dreamscape" and "alien landscapes" to describe the soundscapes on this album. I think they make a good call. In my opinion, this is an incredible album, with incredible sounds, and quite frankly what I call
  28. Jjt
    Sep 11, 2006
    10
    'Skip Divided' sums up the creative possibilities Thom can tease out of and squeeze into the straits, skips and divisions of electronica.
  29. 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
  30. 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
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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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