Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Really enjoy the quieter songs not so much a fun of their louder stuff.
Good radiohead
Love those 90’s drums and guitar. Radiohead was, without me knowing (or understanding), such a huge part of my teen years. Thom Yorke is always a win. Straight up nostalgia. Fake plastic Trees is delightful. Sad sack music is honestly a jam. Hellooo Bones. Oh shit Just is on this. There is a a nice flow through the tracks. There are times where the instruments overpower his voice but it really only adds to the overarching feeling of the album. I have missed songs longer than 2 minutes 30. Released in 1995… fuck my life I am old.
A good album, I liked Pla et Telex and Just the most.
þori ekki að gefa henni 5 en hun er up there, fyrsta skipti sem eg hlusta almennilega a hana. cover fær 5/5 samt
Nostalgic. Slow. Not as great as I remember
I like my 90s sad boys.
Not as good as Paranoid Android. But still great.
Love the general feeling, not their best work but surely a great one
I’m new to Radiohead. I have sampled in the past but nothing has stuck. 1001 has gave me two now and I’m enjoying it! Excited to get one of the more popular albums
Finally, a Radiohead album I can get behind. This was good.
When I was young and had never listened to Radiohead I remember seeing an indie compilation album called ‘The Bands’ that had a pastiche of this artwork as its cover, but I’ve just googled and can’t find any trace. Did I imagine it? There’s an opportunity there for someone if so. Anyway, great album, but I feel I have give it a nominal deduction to differentiate it from their even better ones. 4.5
What a solid album. This feels like an accessible album for Radiohead and has a great energy and sound. I can see how this helped their career and how this was a kicking off point for them to get more experimental.
This might be my favorite Radiohead album so far, but I stand by what I said every other time. I'd like to hear it with the vocals replaced by a trumpet. If no one ever makes it for me I either need to learn to play the trumpet to karaoke tracks or use AI.
Good guitar tracks
You simply have to hand it to them. I'm trying to think of another musician or band that experienced such a dramatic step-up from the first album to the second and the only one that readily comes to mind is, well, Bob Dylan. Not that I equate Bob Dylan and Radiohead in terms of aesthetic and artistic quality, though each offered ready-made anthems for the youth of their respective generations and then distanced themselves from such a responsibility. When push comes to shove, I have to admit that 'The Bends' could be the Radiohead album I've listened to the most out of pure pleasure. The height of my listening occurred when I was 14 or 15 years old, not long after the release of 'In Rainbows.' Truthfully, when I come across Radiohead fans, I feel an instant scepticism (at best) and distrust (at worst) when I hear people dismiss this album and not give it the time of day. It's easy to assume that, as a transitional record, it's filled with uneven ideas and awkward growth, but repeated listens have shown me it's anything but. There are flourishes of grander aims and a burgeoning interest in adopting an expansive sound, even if it's buoyed by tunes with typical song structures. But even those songs still strike at the emotional depths the band would explore later on through more complicated means. I used to consider "Planet Telex" as my all-time favourite album opener. True to its name, there is an otherworldly quality to the opening 20 seconds. From the whoosh and whirr of a spaceship landing to the echoed chords that always reminded me of walking in slow-motion, there is already a sense that this is not the same band that produced "Creep." But like "20th Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson or "Zoo Station" by U2, this opening track is not necessarily an indication of what the rest of the album would sound like. Not that 'The Bends' falls short of the expectations set by the opener, at least not for me. For example, I love the way the guitars absolutely crush your eardrums in the opening chord for the title track, which really feels like a rapid pressure change in your brain. Radiohead too were students of The Pixies and utilized the soft-loud dynamic incredibly well in their sound. If we're being honest with ourselves, the dirty, crunchy guitar tone by Jonny Greenwood before launching into the chorus in "Creep" was the first indication that this band may have way more tricks up their sleeve. More than any of their other albums, 'The Bends' would take this idea and push it to its logical extremes on "The Bends," but also on "Just," "Nice Dream," and "My Iron Lung." And yet, they would sound so ethereal and pretty on "High and Dry," "Fake Plastic Trees," and "Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was." This brings us to the album closer, "Street Spirit (Fade Out)." If you listen to 'The Bends' for clues as to what the band would later become, then "Street Spirit" could be the clearest link to the mood found in later albums. A mounting tension, layered sound, and soaring vocals from Thom Yorke with lyrics that are evocative about death and modern life, where technology has a role to play with damaging results: "This machine will, will not communicate/these thoughts and the strain I am under." 'The Bends' is as accessible (if not more so) than 'In Rainbows' and hints at an innovation that would be explored in greater detail on 'OK Computer' and 'Kid A' without as cold and bleak of an atmosphere. If you're looking for some observations about the role technology would have on our ability to form relationships and construct a better world, I'd argue that Radiohead was already offering that on 'The Bends.' I mean, look at the album cover. A-
4 good radiohead
Solid angsty album
I really enjoy Radiohead, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood for their more experimental work and want something a little more easygoing. That’s where “The Bends” comes in. While their first album is, to be honest, kind of sleazy, “The Bends” has a more straightforward alternative and Britpop sound. At the same time, it also shows a lot of characteristics that indicate the band’s evolving style. Overall, I think this album captures that sweet transitional period where you get the best of both worlds.
Early Radiohead is great, lyrically and musically differnet from a lot that was going on at the time. As time went on I found them harder to get into. Anyway The Bends is amazing: Stand out tracks: - Planet Telex - The Bends - High and Dry - Fake Plastic Tress - Just - My Iron Lung
better than i expected
I have a hard time deciding if this falls at 2 or 3 in my list of Radiohead albums, just depends on the day. It is a great album top to bottom. Doesn't quite push its way to a 5 for me, but I hold this album in very high regard!
Levyn viba alusta jonnekin keskipaikkeille niiku aurinkoinen sunnuntaiaamu.
Almost a 5. Very good
Some really full and romantic sounds on this thing… obviously less futuristic than many of Radiohead’s successive albums, but even if it’s less ambitious, it doesn’t strike me as any less cohesive.
I always think of this as the most dated sounded Radiohead album because of a lot of the production sounds very 90s but man does that not take away from this. Really strong start with some front-loaded banger singles but it stays pretty consistent throughout. Love me some bends
Sorta a mixed bag of feelings on this one. For a long time it was my fav radiohead album and I think that’s mostly cuz Planet Telex was the theme song to Q on CBC radio... anyways - sorta their most successful ‘alternative rock’ album? And the britpop vibes really work on me, but i ultimately think it can be a bit tedious at times.
nice, but repetitive
Levels above the guff we've been served up by this lot before
Finally. A Radiohead album I liked.
Baby’s got depends… oh no…
Great album, one of my favorites by these fellas.
Pre-listening thoughts: Uh oh. My first Radiohead album. I was wondering when it would finally show up since there's like 8 of them on this list! The album cover is... unsettling. And do I really need to explain whether I know Radiohead or not? Either I've been living in the darkest hole under the deepest rock or I've heard of them. Take a guess. Post/during listening thoughts: It is exactly what I thought it would sound like. British alt rock. Is it bad? No. It's extremely well produced, and Thom Yorke's voice fits the sound here really well. Title track is kinda fire. I find myself craving vocal harmonies though. A track like "High and Dry" would be so fire with vocal harmonies. Overall it's a lot more mellow than I was expecting - lots more acoustic guitar and subdued vocal performance than I thought would be on here. But that buildup on "Fake Plastic Trees" is so seamless! "Just" is that perfect burst of energy after some of these slower tracks. The distortion in "My Iron Lung" is not my fav choice but whatever. Fade in on "Black Star" is kinda weird, like you never really hear songs fade in. Ok vocals on "Street Spirit (Fade Out)"! Overall I am shocked at how much I enjoyed this album. Will I ever speak about it in public? No. 8.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR IT BEFORE I DIE: Not necessarily but I'm glad I did Fav tracks: The Bends, Fake Plastic Trees, (Nice Dream), Black Star, Street Spirit (Fade Out) Least favs: My Iron Lung
meh good for its genre but not my taste rlly
Mid 90s angst!
Other than Creep from the first album and High and Dry from this album I’m not very familiar with the band musically. I knew Thom as a kook but I’ve changed my mind. Good album and looking forward to paying more attention going forward.
8/10 I like radiohead. this album is great but nowhere near their best. That said I had a good time listening. 7-22-2024
Nice and grungy
4 out of 5. Having always had trouble getting into Radiohead I appreciate when their albums are more conventional. This was probably the most melodic album of theirs I listened to so far. Favorite song: Fake Plastic Trees
i must need to listen to a *lot* more by these guys, because i don't understand why people say they're such geniuses. i assume they are, i just don't get it. i particularly like high and dry & iron lung off this album; humorously enough, i first knew high and dry from jamie cullum's cover of it - see: https://open.spotify.com/track/4fOwKPYZUkIlFOzDNlp3RL anyway, this was, you know, fine.
This made me want to listen to more Radiohead. It’s difficult to be this consistently gloomy without being boring
Good stuff, not very cheery but a decent album, would listen to again if in the right mood. Recognised Street Spirit (Fade Out) from somewhere, turns out it was from a cover by the Darkness, shout out to that tune.
Love Street Spirit
freaking great, and weird only in the best areas, thom's voice sounds extrordinary, its young, bolstry, angry, melodramatic, guitars screech loud, but not every song is as magical as they would later get for the band
Solid album with some really great stand-out tracks. The Bends (the song) was a gem from the ones I hadn't heard as much. Well worth a listen and likely a 4.5 (but probably on the 4 side).
I've listened to this album for years and have liked it. Most of the songs are phenomenal but there are a few underwhelming moments. 4/5.
90's alt rack can often feel bland to me, but this album is definitely not that. Great album that they will still somehow surpass it multiple times.
Never knew I liked Radiohead as much as I do. Best win from this project for sure.
So. Very. Conflicted............... Radiohead now feel like the band that "superior" music people challenge you with. If you don't like Kid A / OK Computer then you're either stupid or not trying hard enough. So when this popped up, I was fully prepared to go all out snark and dish out 1 or 2 stars. But. BUT. My word this was a fabulous album. "High and Dry", "Just", "Sulk" all glorious soundtracks to my teenage angst and misery before the ultimate finale to the "staring into a bottle of Bells / Southern Comfort wondering why girls won't talk to me" era with "Street Spirit" and it's howling into the void "fade out again". 4 stars, should probably be 5, whilst hating myself for not rating it a 2. Which is probably exactly how it should be.
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
УУУУУУУ. Это первый Радиохэд в этом списке для меня. Всё ок, начинаем с самого начала. Величайшая группа в истории. Величайшая музыка. Возможно (и только возможно) пиковый Том Йорк с точки зрения исполнения именно здесь, на главных хитах Street Spirit (Fade Out) и Fake Plastic Trees. Прекрасный альбом и начало чего-то просто Невероятного. Лучшая песня - Fake Plastic Trees.
Grows on you. I've only heard the singles before but the overall album is very well crafted
Used to be my favourite Radiohead album, and I listened to it a lot at the time of its release. I still like the album, especially its highlights (such as Street Spirit), but the vocals are a little too much, and some of the songs I have heard enough. score in 1995: 10/10 score in 2024: 8/10
Un muy buen disco que de cierta forma continúa y expande el sonido del debut de la banda "Pablo Honey". Mucho más sofisticado y complejo, "The Bends" empieza a esbozar la experimentación por la que la banda alcanzaría su estatus de "alt darling". "My Iron Lung" es una divertida crítica a "Creep", mientras que "Fake Plastic Trees" y "High & Dry", enriquecen el catálogo de singles radiales de la banda liderada por Thom Yorke y Jonny Greenwood. En mi opinión, la mejor canción del LP es "Street Spirit (Fade Out)". Si bien este es un muy buen disco, no creo que sea un indispensable del inventario de la banda. De todas formas, sumamente recomendable.
Nostalgia probably plays a small factor but this was great to revisit. These songs, while not all their best in my opinion, have rightfully been engraved in my subconscious, and works really well as a whole. Interesting transitional album.
I only knew about creep and 2 other famous songs. It was a really nice discovery, which reminded me some early work from muse, at least for the beginning of the album. The end is more calm and I enjoyed it less
3.8
Radiohead’s first great album influenced a generation of wannabe edgy rock musicians (including some of my favorite bands like Muse). For me, the only thing that doesn’t elevate this album from the level of great to masterpiece is the production. Which is interesting because starting with OK Computer, Radiohead and Nigel Godrich are often the absolute pinnacle of what production can accomplish. “Planet Telex” and “Karma Police” (from OK Computer) were really the two songs which got me into Radiohead, and the rest of The Bends followed, particularly “Fake Plastic Trees” and “Just” which I always forget how much I like.
#37 - incredible how many songs in this album have become classics. Radiohead's angst defined a generation!
Great album. Great peaks and the album flowed nicely. Favorite Song: High and Dry Rating: 4.1/5
blame it on the blackstar duh
The verge of stadium status. Some bloody great songs.
Day 34 of listening to 1001 albums, one day at a time. The Bends by Radiohead as a whole is the band really trying to show they are more than just a one hit wonder with Creep. I’ve have mixed emotions about this album it’s a bit all over the place but I think that lends towards the album. This an album that in my mind is trying to prove something by showing the world they can do so much more. So while this album has a pretty wide variety of sounds from track to track, Radiohead is ultimately giving that iconic Radiohead sound that would become so beloved. Not only would this album be a pretty big inspiration for a lot of other artist to come, it would lead the band into making albums that pretty would call perfect and a masterpiece. The Bends sets out to prove Radiohead is more than Creep and I think it does more than just prove they are more, it’s shows they are a band that will be remembered for a long time.
Not a band I'd listened to before but they weren't bad!
Good stuff! I've only heard maybe 3 or 4 of these before. Not their best (Kid A), but still holds up and marks their blowup from PH to OC
Good good
Liked it better than the first one
One of the better radiohead albums.
I really enjoy Radiohead, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood for their more experimental work and want something a little more easygoing. That’s where “The Bends” comes in. While their first album is, to be honest, kind of sleazy, “The Bends” has a more straightforward alternative and Britpop sound. At the same time, it also shows a lot of characteristics that indicate the band’s evolving style. Overall, I think this album captures that sweet transitional period where you get the best of both worlds.
I wanted so bad to roast Radiohead. Unfortunately, it's ok. Street Spirit (Fade Out) is the best one, but in general I think their more active songs are better. There were definitely points where it put me in mind of an awkward car ride, and wondered why someone would put Muse in a blender, strain it and only keep the soggy parts. But that's just me looking for creative insults, and I honestly can't give it less than 4 overall lol
Liked it a lot
Classic, not their best album 8
Another great from radiohead
sicklyy
O primeiro 1/3 de “The Bends” me desceu com tantas ressalvas que já estava preparado para falar dele aqui pisando em ovos. Entretanto, de “(Nice Dream)” em diante, ele engatou de tal maneira comigo que se tornou um grande disco. A influência do grunge é notável (afinal, é um disco de rock de 1995), é um alt-rock de altíssima qualidade. Destaco “My Iron Lung”, “Just” e minha favorita, “Bullet Proof… I Wish I Was”.
I like this more than In Rainbows but not as much as OK Computer. I really love Fake Plastic Trees and like Planet Telex and High and Dry quite a bit. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard this album. Knew the tracks High and Dry, as well as Just. Although I prefer the quirkier Kid A and OK Computer, this is a great collection of fairly straightforward songs. Quite enjoyed Fake Plastic Trees and Bullet Proof. Have always loved Greenwood’s guitar work and there is a lot of good examples of it here (Sulk). I should probably try Pablo Honey…
I never got in to Radiohead, and really not sure why. A lot of the elements seem perfect, but it just ends up a bit boring. Maybe that boringness is part of the perfection. Another band that is stuck in my friend zone in a similar way is Muse. So much is good, but it's almost like I'm getekeeping myself. I know I'll never be a T-shirt owner of theirs. In terms of this specific album, I liked the opener and the main two tracks, and at least another near the end. I wasn't able to keep track as it played. Solid enough for a 4 star. Favorite track "High and Dry" ( nostalgia) 4/5
Out of the unnecessarily numerous Radiohead albums on this list, this one is my favorite by far.
This is by far my favorite Radiohead album, and it's held up well.
Haven’t listened to a ton of Radiohead, but I liked this album.
It’s good but kinda boring Very alt rock compared to later Radiohead High and dry bangs
4/5. I could definitely listen to this again. It's got some of their most popular songs and even the deeper cuts are really good. 90s rock is best rock.
Not the best Radiohead album by any means, it’s can get a bit repetitive but this still had good tracks. Pretty cool!
Never listened to radiohead before, however this was surprisingly great
I prefer later Radiohead, but this is still a great album
With this being my first Radiohead album, I am pleased to say that this one lived up to the hype. I particularly enjoyed "Just", which I have added to my playlist. Aside from that, the albums flows really well throughout, with some epic guitar parts. I'm not 100% keen on the vocals but they are nice enough and the album is good enough to warrant a 4/5.
As far as Radiohead goes, this is their most palatable attempt. The most grounded in reality, while also exploring the expanse of music. Thom lets loose his creativity, and the music complements it nicely. The angelic vocals and spacey arpeggio guitar are a match made in heaven. There are some truly incredible tracks here that speak to me, and I go back and forth on the rating here, I think it’s simply that I don’t fully appreciate the majesty here. I know it is there, and other feel so strongly about it, and maybe one day I will, or maybe that day has passed. It deserves the chance, and is a record I would own. This is a revisit 4 and likely my favorite Radiohead.
High and Dry is one of my favorite songs. Haven't found a Radiohead album I dislike yet. 4/5
First time I have listened to a full album of theirs. I like their sound overall. His voice does wear on me a little though.
great way to begin the week. really solid album. love the blend & layering of guitar with heavier bass, drums, & synth. High & Dry and Fake Plastic Trees-excellent tracks
holy fuck, i was a bit drunk, but overall since i first saw the album cover i was like nahhh. But bro... say no more holy fck 4.2/5
Yes yes
Pretty good, no real duds. Was considering giving it a 5 but feel like some of the tracks kind of stood out as louder and more pop than others, which took me out of the vibe. But still great album, I liked the album cover too.
Quite enjoyable, easy listening but not boring. 8/10
8/10 - This album is quite good. My friend is a huge fan of radiohead and I get it now. Each song is different and super enjoyable. Some of them are really vibey while others are more energetic. I feel like grunge music like this can be quite hit or miss for me but most of these songs hit.
Kinda a vibe. Didn't particular love any one song but it was all solid
I always was a fan of the earlier Radiohead albums, this stepped away from their grunge style at the time but still felt raw enough to feel rocky, while showing hints of the experimentation that was to define their later years. Sick band.
Quite great. This ought to be the first radiohead album to listen to. Radiohead had it dialed in, its moody, moany, and slow building. This is why radiohead fans are like no other. Its a genre of its own.
Pretentious, overblown, awesome.
A great Radiohead album, and yet probably my 5th or 6th favorite Radiohead album.
Incredible album. Mellow without being boring. Sad without being depressing. A little repetitive and as I’ve said in other Radiohead reviews, I think this would be much better live than on recording but that’s a small knock on a masterpiece. 4.5 stars
Generous 4, some of it is obviously great but there's plenty that hasn't dated well.
I do in fact love me some Radiohead. I love the unique vocals and difference in style of music that differs from other artists. Personally, I’m more of a fan of late Radiohead, with more electronic instruments and less acoustic, but The Bends does a good job of blending the two together and acting as a transition into the “new Radiohead”.
Not a single bad song. Not quite as unique as their later music, but they're getting there, you can feel it. Really liked the second half, from Just to the (amazing) last song
I felt as if some songs didnt transition well into other ones, as if they werent meant to be listened to consecutively like an album is but rather individually but they were still good enough on their own
It's Radiohead. It's good
A genuine black swan. I have discovered a Radiohead album I *actually* like. And it's really, really good. The rare sophomore album that's better than the debut. I might even listen to this again. The problem comes in the rating. It's not among my favorite albums. BUT it's the best Radiohead album I've heard. And it IS still Radiohead in the end.... 4. Seems fair.
Una sola canción de su álbum de debut (The Creep) abrió grandes expectativas sobre Radiohead y en su segundo largo, The Bend, las confirmaron sobradamente con un sonido épico y contundente que, sin embargo, está permanentemente acunado en una música texturizada. Thom Yorke mantiene letras introspectivas, a veces melancólicas y de alto voltaje intelectual, en las que permanente sobrevuela la angustia juvenil e incluso la desesperación. Con este disco, en el que destacan canciones como "The Bends", "High and Dry" (una de las que más me gustan del disco aunque el grupo haya renegado de ella), "Fake Pastic Trees" (sobre la hipocresía y el desgaste de mantener una imagen perfecta), "(Nice Dream)" (sobre la necesidad de pertenencia, de ser aceptado por quienes nos rodean y dar un sentido a tu vida) o "Just" (un temazo sobre la responsabilidad de las decisiones que uno toma que son las que realmente nos dan forma), Radiohead da un vuelta de tuerca y reimpulsa el 'anthemic rock' (rock emblemático o de himnos). Especial mención me merece la canción que cierra el álbum, "Street Spirit (Fade Out)", un toque de esperanza ante un mundo oscuro y complejo, impulsado por las voces corales y el verso repetido "sumerge tu alma en el amor".
Much more accessible than some of their later efforts, this album boasts some fantastic electric guitar bits and adds up to something greater than its parts. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: The Bends, Just
Beautifully constructed and recorded. So much to entertain the ears. Thom Yorke's voice urges you to rail along with him against all the bad things in the universe... Which is great if that's how you are feeling. It's tougher if you are feeling okay with the world and just want a good tune.
thom yorke holds an emotional note while guitars play. sometimes the guitars are sad, sometimes they are angry. but the notes sound nice and i like them
I've never really given this album a chance before, it's really really good.maybe not my favorite of theirs but you can see the seeds of everything else they grow into.
I'm not sorry that I prefer this era of Radiohead to the latter, more experimental era.
Planet Telex 4 The Bends 4.2 High and Dry 4.3 Fake Plastic Trees 4.4 Bones 4.2 (Nice Dream) 3.8 Just 3.5 My Iron Lung 4 Bullet Proof… I Wish I Was 3.3 Black Star 3.4 Sulk 3 Street Spirit (Fade Out) 4 Score: 3.841666667
Rushed because I left this too late Planet Telex - 4/5 The Bends - 3.5/5 High and Dry - 3.5/5 Fake Plastic Trees - 4.5/5 Bones - 4/5 (Nice Dream) - 4/5 Just - 4.5/5 My Iron Lung - 4/5 Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was - 3.5/5 Black Star - 4/5 Sulk - 3/5 Street Spirit - 4.5/5 This is good, probably not Radiohead's best but still really strong.
Solid album. New to me but familiar. Good chill album
great album.
It is an excellent album - I def need to listen to this some more
This is such a great album
Highly enjoyed
I'm not a huge Radiohead fan. In general I think the are Overratediohead. This album is the exception. It's fantastic. It misses a 5 for me just because it's a bit too dour for regular re-listens. It is a very strong 4 though.
Really good album liked it a a lot 7/10
I loved this record when it came out. I think I had it on tape and the CD singles, at least the ones for High & Dry and My Iron Lung. I had Seven Television Commercials, a compilation of music videos from The Bends and OK Computer, on VHS. To my knowledge, this is Radiohead's only true good rock album before they went full prog with OK Computer. It was a huge step up from Pablo Honey. In fact, I was so obsessed with The Bends for so long that I didn't get into any of their other albums for years, no matter how good they were. Listening again now, it's obvious to me that this record isn't as mature as their later efforts. It rocks out, and it does that excellently, but it doesn't have sonic and musical depth of the albums that came after. It also feels that it wasn't mastered as well either. It's loud. The dynamic range is pretty limited, but it helps that this is a distorted album already. Of course it's still an awesome record and a personal favorite. I still get goosebumps when Thom harmonizes with himself on Black Star. But it's just not Radiohead's best, no matter how much I love it. Four stars.
Sad
The Bends was one of the first CDs that I bought when I was 13. I loved the gritty garage rock sing-along style of it and I still know every inch of these songs. It doesn't compete in my mind with the more complex albums that were to come, but it was the beginning. It was raw and different.
everything you would expect from early radiohead… crunchy guitars, ethereal sometimes indecipherable vocals. good mix of quieter songs and guitar driven songs. a masterful album. highlights: “the bends” “high and dry” “bones” “just”
There are huge leaps and bounds that radiohead is making during this period and especially leading into ok computer. Thom has begun changing his vocal style, with a stronger focus on amplifying his sweet vocals. Even before I knew that Godrich was on this album I could feel his influence. The mixes are much more subtle compared to Pablo Honey and the vocals can get tastefully surrounded by the other tracks. The drums are much more subdued and everything is pulled back. I enjoyed this album despite its place near the bottom of the radiohead discography."
Before they head got up they ass. It's innovative enough to create catchy songs with structure and climax and tension and shit, no need for the faux innovation that made their later years dreary. Always struck me as innovative music for people who don't listen to innovative music. There are some dirty good songs on this one, good hooks, and good lyrics. J. Greenwood still gets to pull weird solos and riffs off. If only they stuck with this line of thinking.
Probably one of my favorite Radiohead albums. Favorite songs: Planet Telex, High and Dry, (Nice Dream), Just, Bullet Proof… I Wish I Was, Black Star, Sulk
Really good album.
Day102 - i was ready to judge this one before i listened. i’m not a radiohead fan but this is a good one
Really like Guitar-Radiohead a little more than Experimental-Ambient-Radiohead, and this peak Guitar-Radiohead. SO EMOTIONAL though, fakeplastictrees kills me every time. High and Dry is a great pop song on an album is chock full of great songs, I don't care if Thomm doesn't like it. Not an easy or casual listen, but as deep as anything the band ever did. Not for everyone. It was always odd to me how popular this band was, hoping someone can explain it to me some day.
I love this album, but I can never get through this album in one listening session.
Chill 4/5
one of my favourites, 4 stars only to leave some space open for my favourite albums of Radiohead.
7/10
Great album once again by Radiohead. 4 stars
4.4 - a mix of nearly great and great songs.
Nearly 5 stars. 9/10
- This feels like the most 4-star of albums. Easy to get immersed in Radiohead's mesmerizing soundscape and the musicianship is incredibly clear, but I also have difficulty pointing out specifics that truly garbbed me. - Love the start...first two tracks ("The Bends" in particular) are extremely solid. - Radiohead has a weird ability to lull me into an absolutely acceptable, slightly more than fine track, and then insert a funky, jarring guitar jam element into the back third to wake me back up. This is often very pleasing (looking at you, "(Nice Dreams)" and "Just"). However, sometimes you are liking the vibe of the song a lot and the shift is very unwelcome because it harshes your musical buzz ("Iron Lung").
A nice mix of depressing and blissful
There were moments I enjoyed very much. There were also moments that put me to sleep. Overall I liked it more than I thought I would.
Can’t get the stink off … holy cow
I'm one of those losers who sometimes buys Best Of/Greatest Hits compilation albums and sometimes I wonder if I'm missing out by not buying the albums (one of the reasons I'm doing this project). I have the Radiohead: Best Of album, but I don't have that strong feeling that I missed out. It is overall definitely a high quality album though.
There must be at least 10 or 20 great debut albums for each great SECOND album. For me, The Bends transformed Radiohead from near-novelty one hit wonders ("Creep") into A Band To Be Taken Very Seriously. This album still sounds powerful but at the same time there are a couple of odd songwriting choices that don't work as well for me, and a couple of borrowed cliches, too. So while this album showed huge growth, their best was yet to come. Come to think of it, it's staggering to follow the growth of this band's artistry across their first three albums (or 5-6 albums if you're so inclined). I've seen them play a couple of times and the first time they were in their prime and I remember thinking "if I was a teenager I would be weeping with awe right now and possibly for the next few days." Pre-girlfriend teenager, if I'm honest. Are they an incel band? If so, they are one of the very best.
This is one I liked better then expected. Personally I never really understood the appeal of Radiohead. I only ever listened to what they played on the radio and those songs to me are whiny, creepy, dissonant and just blah. They left me very underwhelmed and didn't ever make me want to seek out more. I really liked The Bends and Bones. As an album it was much better then a stand alone song on the radio. Not anything magical or transcendent to me, but it was better then I expected.
"The Bends" has a lot of great singles including "Fake Plastic Trees". It's not as amazing as "OK Computer" in my opinion but it's solid. This was the album that made Radiohead superstars. Thom Yorke is at his best here. "The Bends" is another reason why Radiohead is one of my favourite bands. I'll give it 4 stars.
Early Radiohead is always my favorite but I forgot just how many great songs this album has
Awesome
En af de mindst gode Radiohead plader! Pissegod!!
pretty great stuff
Know of Radiohead but not crazy familiar worth many songs. Pretty good album, from my musically-formative years so a bit of nostalgia rates this up. Not seeking this out but enjoyed listening throughout. 4/5
There's something about the engineering/production/etc of this album that's always bothered me. But it's still Radiohead and has street spirit on it.
Hypnotic
Pretty good.
As a product of the 90s, I love early Radiohead more than a non-biased listener should. The Bends lacks the depth and maturity of ALL of their followup albums, but it's just a fun listen and it itches my 90s alt rock scratch. Even a 2nd rate Radiohead album deserves a 4.
Kind of dreamy, he sounds half asleep at times, but it's enjoyable. Stand-out: Black Star
I mean what can i say… I love radiohead and this isn’t their best album but it’s still great and I still bop and cry whilst i listen.
Very good alt indie rock
It is a great album, but I think compared to other radiohead albums I still think they weren't at their peak. It's still great a solid 4/5. Stand Out Songs: High and Dry Just Black Star
Radiohead is one of those bands that I really like but for some reason never became one whose career I follow closely or buy ever album. The Bends is a great album and about half of the songs would be in my favorite songs playlist.
I really liked this album. It rocked - it seduced - it mesmerized - it delivered a satisfying experience. The electric guitar could be fierce, then a nice acoustic follow up, or even a blend. The words, often (and probably intentionally) blurred together and were hard to understand, but the singing was very effective and frequently beautiful. Excellent album.
Solid grunge. Had heard before - Radiohead brilliance always there from the beginning
Standouts: Planet Telex, The Bends, Bones, Black Star. Lost me towards the end a bit but liked it WAYY more than Amnesiac.
Ooh baby. Not as experimental as their later work, but still enough to give it an original and unique feel. I enjoyed myself throughout and expect to listen again someday. 4/5
My favorite Radiohead album, even if it shows its age a bit more than OK Computer. High and Dry is everything a rock ballad should be. Some amazing guitar riffs on this album, which is saying something, since I don’t care much for guitar riffs. A classic. 4.6
Didn't think I liked Radiohear but turns out I knew more tracks on here than I thought. Listening front to back it makes a lot more sense than the mopey melancholia of an isolated track. Captures a dark depressive mood very well.
It's the best of "this". I remember listening to High and Dry by a bonfire summer after high school and being very moved. Karma Police (though not on this album) was a top 10 song for me for a long time. But as an entire album it all becomes a bit samey. Maybe it's because its 72 and sunny in February here and I'm about to leave for vacation.
.
I always WANT to be able to get into Radiohead, even if I never do.
Gets better with every song
Hard to detach these guys from their Image and Reputation among my peers. I don’t believe they’re the greatest band on earth, but I do believe they’re a good band with some rip-ass guitars, and the guitars are especially rip-ass on this album. Rounding up on this one, if only to create a reasonable curve for future Radiohead picks.
9/10 Held up way better than I expected, this has forced me to slightly reevaluate my opinion on the album A band finding their place as one of the best in the world, confident and brash Much more interesting than the concurrent grunge sound The first half is so stacked that the second half can’t help but suffer a bit Takes me straight back to school lunchtime hanging with friends Best: Fake Plastic Trees/Street Spirit
4 At the end of the day, Radiohead’s best album, despite what the Internet music nerds will tell you. Yeah, it may not be their most unique-sounding or adventurous, but it’s their catchiest and least pretentious by far (though still a little pretentious - I mean, come on, it’s Radiohead). But I gotta give credit where credit is due - this album is really solid and contains some of the band’s best work. In particular, I have to shoutout the three-track run of The Bends, High and Dry, and Fake Plastic Trees, which is an absolutely insane trio of songs. I mean, you’re hit with an amazing, high-energy alternative rock track with a catchy chorus and killer guitar work to it, followed by an enchanting and transcending ballad about a relationship gone stale, finally followed by what is the single best song of the band’s career. Look, for as much shit as I give Radiohead, I have to admit that Fake Plastic Trees is one of the most beautiful and profound songs I’ve heard. I can never help but get sucked into the buildup, especially when it hits at an emotional and musical high with the lyric “She looks like the real thing/She tastes like the real thing/My fake plastic love” and its follow-up into the mellow “If I could be who you wanted” section, with the tender, organ-esque keyboard outro being icing on the cake for me. Fantastic song, and for me, probably the only true argument for Radiohead as an all-time great band. But even outside of the three songs mentioned above, there are a lot of just really solid tracks across the board here, with Bones, Just, and Sulk also being heavy hitters through their own merits. There’s really nothing to dislike here, and I think a lot of that has to do with how fantastic the production and flow of this album is - after having a couple that felt overly long, it was nice to have something with a great sense of pace. So there you have it folks, probably the best review I’ll ever give Radiohead - I suppose a broken clock is right twice a day after all. Though, that to say, Thom Yorke apparently hates this album (as he does their song Creep), so maybe it was just a happy accident. Speaking of Thom having bad takes, I’m going to end this with a quote from Wikipedia that I enjoyed: “Yorke held contempt for the style of rock The Bends popularised, feeling other acts had copied him. He said in 2006: ‘I was really, really upset about it, and I tried my absolute best not to be, but yeah, it was kind of like— that sort of thing of missing the point completely.’ Godrich [their producer] felt Yorke was oversensitive and told him he did not invent ‘guys singing in falsetto with an acoustic guitar’”
listened so much in highschool. had the vinyl.
great
I'm not sure which is more baffling, the fact that these fellas still aren't in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame; or that the music press somehow hasn't lost their collective shit over how Radiohead is seemingly never even considered for enshrinement.
underrated by the radiohead fanboys The Bends >>>>>>>>>>>> In rainbows. facts.
Classic
Finally gave it a proper go - did not disappoint. Bangers.com
This band has potential, maybe they’ll make the best album of all time after this :p
Very good but still a long shot from their best imo.
Some of my favorite guitar work from Radiohead on this album. Still has that Britpop vibe before they branched off into more electronic elements.
Not their best, but an essential part of their catalog. 4.1
To have an album like The Bends in your discography and it still not be considered among your best is pretty impressive. Or maybe it is among their best? I don't know. Either way, this album is a stone cold stunner from start to finish. I think the biggest detriment is that a few tracks are sort of stuck in the 90s, but even then, there's enough that sets this band apart from what so many peers were doing at the time to leave a mark. And you can hear the direct inspiration this would go on to have on major, major bands like Muse, Coldplay or any anthemic rock groups to come from the later aughts.
Good!
Großartiges Album. Noch viel Britpop, aber schon wie Radiohead.
Good!
Hyvä levy. Pari kovaakin biisiä ja ehkä tunnetummasta poiketen jaksoi viihdyttää koko albumin läpi
I've always been more of a fan of Radiohead's later output - OK Computer, Kid A etc., rather than the earlier indie stuff. That said, there are some amazing songs here. And I have to give at least four stars for the incredible end track. Favourite tracks: Planet Telex, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, My Iron Lung, Street Spirit (Fade Out).
It's good. MY favourite of Radiohead so far. Will I listen to again: 80%
I keep thinking I don’t like Radiohead, but then I listen to this album again and change my mind, at least temporarily.
SUBLIME
Real good. Not my favorite of their albums but the second half really gets cooking
Sort of felt like a tale of two albums, really. The first half is loud, gritty, and at times more accessible than I expected any Radiohead to be. Then it sort of starts to dial back the energy near the end and it just didn’t work quite as well for me. Was going to give it 5 stars but it just ended so counter to how it started and it kind of threw me. I lost a little bit of interest. Overall it’s quite an artistic statement, especially knowing that this isn’t even their peak. Standout tracks: The Bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Bones, Just
El mejor tema Black Star
Great
liked a lot more on the second listen, really solid sounds throughout although personally one didn't stand out as truly unforgettable. excellent lyrics
Feels a little odd to hear The Bends right after OK Computer - but this album seems a little more straightforward guitar-oriented pieces, with a dabbling of experimentation. Comparing Creep from their previous album, Thom Yorke's voice seems more developed, with more falsetto and vibrato, but for me OK Computer is the stronger album more tight, more developed, more experimentation, tho this has many very good tracks such as Fake Plastic Trees, High and Dry, and Street Spirit (Fade Out). Despite my favoring OK Computer, I'm rating it the same at 4 stars.
Pretty good but don't really get all the hype.
Fun as hell. Coming off the back off the new smile album, and having never listened to this one before, it's really interesting. Never gone this far back in the radiohead discography, it's rock and roll baybeee. No max/msp patches in this one, just pedals, amps and microphones. I like it, but it's not perfect. Some kinda yuck moments in here (thinking about the doodoodoodooo bit in the bends title track). High and dry hits different because of the Jamie Cullum CD my parents had in rotation back in the day.
After listening to OK Computer a couple of times and just not getting the band, this album helped me understand why people like Radiohead. Chill album.
Where it all changed for Radiohead. I thought Pablo Honey was pretty poor whereas OK Computer is one of the greatest albums ever written, so this is a lovely stepping stone to get there. The Pablo-esque songs are the weaker points (Bones, Just, Sulk). The stronger points are when they begin to explore the elements of their sound that would shortly propel them to the echelons of music. Solid 4*
Ver
Amazing album, not quite as good as OK Computer. Excellent songwriting. 4.5
I’m not a fan of Radiohead and quite frankly I don’t know how they’re so big. About a week ago my daily album was Hail To The Thief and thought it sucked. The Bends however was less whiny and had crunchy riffs so that was a plus for me.
One day I'll figure out what's preventing me from REALLY getting into Radiohead. I don't not like them! It's fine! They're good! It just hasn't clicked yet. Will this be the countdown that clicks me?? Not yet! I'll keep at it!
This is an amazing 90s rock record. It sounds like the other music of the time, but it has a certain quality that’s hard to describe, but is distinctly Radiohead. It’s. It my favorite Radiohead record, but it’s a damn good album.
I really liked it actually. Definitely worth another listen
Much more chill than i thought it would be.
This is a tad unrefined compared to the greatness of the album that followed it, but still a big improvement over Pablo, some indication of where Radiohead saw themselves in the 90s grunge-ish rock scene. The album itself doesn't have nearly the thematic depth that OKC would show, but makes a decent-enough comment on fame to justify its existence as an album.
A brilliant second album after an eminently forgettable debut.
What a great album. Not quite as consistent and quirky as OK Computer - but very strong. Great songs. Great sound. Especially The Bends and Bones.
Not the best Radiohead at all. No true identity yet but still amazing
Great late 90’s rock band. Good songs, good sound.
Is it great? Well maybe... Do I want to listen to it lots? Well maybe, but I'm never sure when
I can see why the reviews for this are so good. This is a classic and holds up very well to this day. I loved every track.
Found a new song I liked, plus the usual hits. Good background music.
catchy, brooding, and sad teenage Radiohead angst in a more traditional alt-rock band package. excellent stuff 4.5/5
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A less techno-sounding album but no less outstanding.
(Nice Album)
Amazing album with some 5 start songs on it.
The Bends can be thought of as an interim or transitional album between the mainstream Alternative Rock of Pablo Honey and the more esoteric psychedelia of Ok Computer. The only radio hit from the album, Fake Plastic Trees, fit well with the mainstream of Alternative and could well have been an outtake from Pablo Honey. Other songs, including High and Dry, point to what Radiohead would become. That said, it is more accessible than later albums to listeners who are not Radiohead fans, and yet, still will satisfy the hardcore fanbase.
ovo cu slusat na nocnim voznjama s poluotvorenim prozorom, jako lipo!!
Uz popodnevnu kavu. Top. Mislim da mi je prva pisma najbolja
Zapravo 3,5 ali ajde. Sviđa mi se, slušala ga dosta kroz dan i ima par pjesama koje su mi se basss svidjele. Ali bolji mi je “In rainbows” koji sam slušala nedavno.
A fucking classic
Hated the singles from this at the time. But grew to realise my mistake and embrace this excellent original but still firmly rock and pop album.
My first listen since 2010, definitely enjoyed it more now than I did then, especially the first three tracks
Good album, would listen again. Probably not my favourite Radiohead, but very cool and a bit more raw than other albums.
Had you asked me to review this a year or so ago it would have gotten a 2. But recently i’ve become RadioPilled and am really understanding their music. This isn’t my favorite by them but god damn it’s a good one. Honestly listening to fake plastic trees randomly on shuffle last year fueled my newfound love for RH. so thank you bends
A little slow to start but then Just comes in and hits like a brick.
•own, 3-4 times over •This is the first record on this that I’ve listened to a million times but I’m going to focus on how it sounds as an album—as compared to an article from my life. That said, I hear the filler that people complain about, even RH fans. It’s a formative record—you can pick which songs came from the Pablo Honey sessions, which ones lead them to OK Computer—and it still contains some of their greatest songs (Street Spirit, Just, Fake Plastic Trees) and some of Thom’s best lyrics (“Drying up in conversation/ You will be the one who cannot talk. / All your insides fall to pieces/ You just sit there wishing you could still make love.”) And yes, that also includes comparing a lover to Coca Cola. •4/5
Album 271 of 1001 Radiohead - The Bends Rating : 4 / 5 Good album. Did me well as I made breakfast this morning. A little less grunge than their first album. One to keep.
3.8/5 Best Track: High and Dry
Stones, U2 - and the paindriven voice of Thom Yorke …
Radiohead’s sophomore work is a massive step up from their debut in all aspects; while still far from their best work, The Bends is 90s alternative essential, which helps to establish the distinctive Radiohead sound which is further consolidated in their coming magnum opus. Stacked full of underrated tracks like Planet Telex, Just, Black Star to name a few, The Bends is always a reliably great listen.
it was really good i liked it a lot 4.5 stars
I know why people are into them now. Everyone took a page from these guy's book.
Some solid Radiohead. My first Radiohead album, in fact. Not 5 stars because I'm not sure it's aged that well.
Day 2- Expectations on what songs would be like were averted.
Disco muito bom, ajudou a derrubar boa parte dos estereótipos que tinha em torno da banda. Não é meu estilo favorito de rock, mas mesmo assim é um disco incrível. Bati cabeça em umas 5 músicas. 4/5
Very good
Great radiohead album with some great tracks but one of my leest favourites compared to their others
Multi-layered, if one-song-overlong listen. Heard it years ago and it sounds much better now than it did then.
Väkevä bändi. Tämäkin varsin eheä kokonaisuus! 4/5
Vähän liian balladia mun makuun ollakseen 5 tähteä, mutta kyllähän radiohead kelpaa.
Kova levy ja etenkin alkupuoli aika ikoninen. Raskaammat rock-hetket tuntuu tässä vähän päälle liimatuilta eikä ole ihme, että bändi niistä pian luopui.
Tykkään kyllä tästä alkupään Radioheadin suoraviivaisemmasta rock-ilmaisusta myös! Tällä levyllä maistuu erityisesti menevämmät biisit ja kitaravallit. 4/5
Classic
I prefer the Scroobius Pip version of Planet Telex tbh. Nah actually its kinda an underrated Radiohead song in my book. Chorus is nice. The Bends is a very 90s tune, perhaps the most Britpop-y Radiohead. It's still a tune also though. High and Dry is also just such a beautiful song, same for Fake Plastic Trees. The Bends starts so hot. Bones I guess sounds quite derivative of much other 90s alt rock. Bassline sounds a bit like Green Day, echoes of Oasis. Nice Dream sounds much more like a Radiohead song. Just is both a bit overplayed and underappreciated to me. The guitar lines have some of the first murmurings of what OK Computer would do - like the passage at 2:08 or in the verse along the line "One day he'll get to you And teach you how to be a holy cow". I'm not a big fan of the My Iron Lung chorus - if you can call it a chorus. I can give or take Bullet Proof. Blackstar is a bit of a ditty. Sulk is kinda boring to me. Street Spirit is haunting. The Bends is still a very decent mainstream rock album to me. 4.1/5
The Bends is obviously great but presumably we have at least 3 more radiohead albums to come, so I have to leave myself somewhere to go and my knob doesn't go to eleven. My ratings are a mess anyway.
Great reminder of the power of Radiohead
The soundtrack of my teens. I remember listening to the line "Talking to my girlfriend, waiting for something to happen," and thinking I'll never have a girlfriend. Now all I do is talk to my girlfriend and wait for something to happen. Radiohead were the band for the weird kids who didn't dig Oasis. A little trite in places, but the crazy arrangements hide so much. "Just," "My Iron Lung," and "Street Spirit" are still incredible, and not quite like anything else at the time, almost grunge, semi-Britpop, 90s prog, but something else also. Better than OK Computer in terms of consistency.
Rock Radiohead is best Radiohead.
Radiohead is one of my favorite bands, but this album has always left me a little cold. Not that I have thought it was bad, just that it doesn't compare to the magnificence of their other albums (though I have always found it to be better than Pablo Honey). Since I generally skip this one when I'm in a Radiohead mood, it was fun to listen to this with a "fresh" perspective. While I don't think it's a timeless classic like most of the rest of their catalogue, I still think it's a very goddamned good 90s rock album. I'm comfortable with 4 stars here.
Not bad whatsoever, a solid 4. I love the variety in styles and chord progressions and rhythms. My only criticism is the lyrics aren’t really clear which is fair given the time this was recorded
good
I've never quite been on the same Radiohead worship level as others, but I do think it's pretty enjoyable
Yea I can admit it's pretty damn good
fave tracks: high and dry, fake plastic trees, just, bullet proof, black star I enjoyed this album more than OK Computer, but my opinion could change
What an album!
Radiohead is a band that, for some reason, I've largely ignored over the years. Looking over my Last.FM profile, I've only ever spun 5 tracks from The Bends over the past decade, never the full album. I was impressed by its two strong openers, Planet Telex and the title track, leading me nicely into a state of sonic familiarity with High and Dry and Fake Plastic Trees, both of which I enjoy and are true 90's classics. From here on, I was engaged and invested. I relished in this album more than I thought I would. A solid 4/5.
I don't know what to make of Radiohead - they capture the atmosphere of the UK in the 1990s and can sometimes sound depressing, but the overall sound and feel of the album is one that I like.
I thought this was really great actually; my favorite was probably "Bones". 8/10
4/5. An interesting and depressing collection of songs with great guitarwork. Yorke is still finding his voice in this one but on the songs he got it figured out, it really stands out. The first half of the album is the highlight with some okay songs near the end. Overall though, a surprisingly good album that I wasn't expecting and gets better with each listen.
Sad boi soundtrack
Transfered me back to being a sad and angsty 16 years old.
My Iron Lung is still one of my favourite Radiohead songs. Having moved beyond this album preferring their newer output, it was great to listen again to it with fresh ears. It sounds more under-produced than I remember - perhaps 'less-well' produced is more accurate - but I love this album more than I remember. It is fresh and the songwriting holds up extremely well to this day. Nothing sounded like it at the time of its release, and I remember being unnerved by its unusualness in a great way - much like listening to the Pumpkins when they first arrived on my headphones. It's a fantastic album that isn't as cutting edge as their subsequent offerings but paved the way for OK Computer perfectly. A banger.
Tunes. Tunes. Tunes.
Redux review: This seems to be a lot of people’s favourite Radiohead record which I understand - it's certainly their most direct alt-rock/almost britpop album and fits nicely with some other acclaimed British albums of the mid 90s. However it's only maybe my 4th favourite Radiohead album, which says more about the consistency of their catalogue than the quality of this record While I would ordinarily give this a 5, considering every album here is regarded as one of the best of all time I'm being a bit harsher with my ratings, as there shouldn't be too many absolute stinkers [side note - this comment hasn’t aged too well, but on the whole I still agree. There is also the run of tracks of Bulletproof - Sulk towards the end which, while still good, isn’t quite as strong as the rest of the album] Therefore 5s are going to be relatively sparse, and The Bends can make do with a comfortable 4
Favorite songs: high and Dry; fake plastic trees; bullet proof….I wish Melodic. Understated. Really solid.
An album for a time
I wanted to hate this, but I didn't. I still hate their later records. Favorite song: Bones
It’s a pretty good album with some beautiful songs on it. Didn’t know much about Radiohead going in but was pleasantly surprised
Known before: Yes Standouts: Just, Fake Plastic Trees, Planet Telex, My Iron Lung, Street Spirit (Fade out) 8/10
Known Before: band, album Standouts: High and Dry; Fake Plastic Trees; Just; Street Spirit (Fade Out) 8.5
Known before: Yes, everything. Standouts: 03. High and Dry 04. Fake Plastic Trees 09. Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was Rating: 8.5
Known Before: Band/Lot of the songs Standouts: 3. High and Dry 4. Fake Plastic Trees 12. Street Spirit (Fade Out) 8.5
Finally another masterpiece of music yet this is only My 3rd or 4th favorite album by Radiohead depending on how I’m feeling. This one has a stronger alternative rock sound and fits that mold of 90s music. It’s probably one of the better 90s alternative albums. This is the album that made Radiohead great and showed they were going to do some interesting things. I could listen to this one any day it’s very consistent. 8.5/10
Mostly like their hits
NOT a radiohead fan. Most overrated band in history. That being said, I had never really dug into this record. This album actually made me forget why I stray away from them. Okcomp and KidA get all the hype but this is a clean concise effort that delivers from the jump
Ok, je sais pas si je deviens lentement un fan de Radiohead, mais cet album là était vraiment meilleur que les autres. Moins de chignage et plus de rockage
Forgot how great this album is.
Excellent 90s alt rock album. The vocal stylings and musicality on both the bass and guitar are superb. Fav tracks: Black Star, Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was, My Iron Lung
I really like Radiohead
Starts off a little flat, but builds to something really beautiful. I don't know if Radiohead has made anything less than an excellent album, but this one is gorgeously crafted and highly listenable. I would recommend this as a nice entry point into the band. Fave Songs: High and Dry, Black Star, My Iron Lung, (Nice Dream), Fake Plastic Trees, Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was
I liked it quite a lot - not as much though as other Radiohead albums early favorites: Fade Out, Just, The Bends
This a pretty solid album with a lot of interesting songs. I was familiar with songs like High and Dry and Fake Plastic Trees and they kinda turned me off a little bit from this album because they were a little too soft/empty sounding for me. My favorite song was definitely Black Star. I also liked The Bends, Bones, and Just.
Great album! Some very brash songs, but many beautiful ones.
One of the great albums by one of the great bands. This is the last "guitar" album that Radiohead made, and what a sendoff.
I'll admit that I have very little familiarity with this band though I have been led to understand by friends and by the press that I might like it. I heard a playthrough of "In Rainbows" at the Dead & Co shows in Boulder in 2023 during set break and it reminded me that I needed to check these guys out. Fade to now, definitely interesting stuff. I suspect that Wilco, Beck and Radiohead are some of the only enduring music to come out of this era.
Really enjoyed the vibe. No skips and cohesive enough where you can just play it through w/o stopping. Listened to it quite a bit. Lacking any standout song which demands I keep going back to a particular track. Kind of reminds me of coldplay a little bit but less pop-ish/contrived (?)
I’ll admit there’s a strong nostalgia factor here but I do just love this album
More generic rock than their layer experimental albums but this album really showcases Thom Yorkes fantastic voice. “(Nice dream)” into “just” is probably my favorite part of the album
I expected to like it as much as I have in the past but something this time around didn’t hit me the way that it had in prior listens. Still, too many gems, and the songs flow so beautifully from one to the next, to rate it below a four.
1. Musical Style: "The Bends" represents a significant shift in Radiohead's sound from their debut album "Pablo Honey." While the earlier album had a more straightforward alternative rock and grunge style, "The Bends" showcases the band's evolution towards a more complex and experimental sound. It incorporates elements of alternative rock, post-punk, and hints of electronic experimentation, setting the stage for their groundbreaking work in later albums. 2. Songwriting: The album is renowned for its thought-provoking and emotionally charged lyrics. Thom Yorke's songwriting on "The Bends" explores themes of alienation, disillusionment, and personal introspection. The lyrics are often introspective and emotionally intense, resonating with many listeners. 3. Notable Tracks: "Street Spirit (Fade Out)": This haunting and melancholic track is one of the album's standouts, featuring Yorke's ethereal vocals and evocative lyrics. "Fake Plastic Trees": Known for its poetic and slightly surreal lyrics, this song is a moving commentary on consumerism and urban life. "High and Dry": A beautifully melodic and accessible song with memorable guitar work and Yorke's emotive vocals. "Just": An uptempo, edgy track that reflects Radiohead's ability to create intense, rocking moments. 4. Production and Sound: Nigel Godrich, who would later become a crucial collaborator for Radiohead, played a significant role in the album's production. The soundscapes are rich and layered, featuring a blend of electric and acoustic instrumentation. The mix of Jonny Greenwood's inventive guitar work, Colin Greenwood's basslines, Phil Selway's drumming, Ed O'Brien's guitar contributions, and Thom Yorke's distinct vocals created a unique sonic palette that set them apart from their contemporaries. 5. Impact: "The Bends" was a critical and commercial success upon its release and marked a turning point in Radiohead's career. It's often seen as a bridge between the band's early rock-oriented work and the more experimental sound they'd explore on "OK Computer" and subsequent albums. The album's success helped Radiohead gain a devoted fanbase and established them as a force to be reckoned with in the alternative music scene. 6. Legacy: "The Bends" is regarded as one of the greatest albums of the 1990s and a classic of the alternative rock genre. Its influence can be heard in the work of numerous bands that followed. The emotional depth and musical innovation on display in this album set the stage for Radiohead's continued evolution as a band. In conclusion, "The Bends" is a timeless album that showcases Radiohead's growth and artistic maturity. Its combination of introspective lyrics, innovative sound, and memorable melodies makes it a must-listen for fans of alternative and rock music, and it remains a cornerstone of Radiohead's discography.