Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Coming in I was between a 4 and a 5. This isn’t as inventive as their later stuff. But I think I’m going to immerse my soul in love and give it a 5. Also, I’m a sucker for the niche genre of “snotty song on the album after the big hit that comments on the massive rise to fame of a grunge band”: Nirvana’s “rape me,” Local H’s “all the kids are right,” and “my iron lung” are part of this illustrious tradition. “my iron lung” and “rape me” even musically sound like the big hits before them. Fun!
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 not my go to Radiohead album but I enjoyed it. I think it’s the ballads that throw me off on this one.
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.
Interesting but vocals a little whiny at times.
Radiohead is always up there on "best albums of all time lists" for OK Computer and Kid A, but this album is great too! Thom Yorke, for all his dreary lyrics and melancholy singing, is an indie rock icon. Loved this album for a while and glad to see it on this list. I'm sure we will see Kid A and OK Computer on here too.
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.
Lovely.
Mid. Not my thing. No songs saved.
Not the best Radiohead album by any means, it’s can get a bit repetitive but this still had good tracks. Pretty cool!
Fell asleep listening to this at 4:30 in the afternoon on a Friday
Not the best Radiohead album I'd say.
9.5/10
Never listened to radiohead before, however this was surprisingly great
I thought I disliked Radiohead based on other songs I heard. This album totally changed my mind. Genuinely great stuff, and you can clearly hear the influence this album had on bands like Muse and Coldplay.
I prefer later Radiohead, but this is still a great album
Oh my fucking god. More Radiohead?!?! WHHYYYYYYY???? I’m so sick of how over-esteemed this crappy band is. I’m not listening to this record because I already know what’s on it and I hate Radiohead and they suck. But let’s get into shall we? They’re cold and disaffected and inaccessible in a way that isn’t cool or even mildly intimidating; there’s no danger. And their detachment isn’t felt in a hipster superiority way either. They just seem like they know intellectually what it is to feel, yet none of them have ever felt anything genuinely at all in their detached weirdo fuckhead lives. That’s why I hate them so much. Their music is cold and impersonal and I suspect made by aliens doing some kind of a 3rd Rock From the Sun anthropological project on our planet. Stop pretending you can feel and making gobs of money off of it! I can see through your shit, Radiohead. I don’t want this. I don’t want any more of this non-human soundscape crap.
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.
Interesting, I’d listen to more
Ho hum. Zzzzzz
Every song is exceptional. Not the coolest radiohead album to give 5 to, but I'm not the coolest person. They went on to be something else, but they were exceptional at this
Glimmers of what Radiohead would become are evident, but a lot of these songs fall flat for me. Bones sounds like it could be U2, which I dislike. Obviously, high and dry and fake plastic trees are classics.
Good sound something missing
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.
I love Kid A and OK Computer and Amnesiac is pretty great too. I've listened to The Bends six or seven times and don't find it at all compelling. After this listen I wondered, "Do I even like this band?" If Radiohead hate is based on this album then I kinda get it. The vocals drown out all the music, which seems compressed or smooshed down by distortion and makes it hard to notice anything interesting, if there's anything there. It's just boring.
High and Dry is one of my favorite songs. Haven't found a Radiohead album I dislike yet. 4/5
another fine album. begins with great energy, but kind of fades.
I've never gotten into Radiohead, and the only song I knew by them was Creep. I did however recognize this cover instantly which tells me how much it must be around despite me not being into the band. I'm not sure this is really a love for me, on first listen anyway. The only song that outright grabbed me was Just, but wow did I REALLY like that one. Overall the album has kind of a melancholy vibe that just manages to keep from being too depressing/whiny to me. Some great guitar work for sure. I saw another review comment that maybe listening to it in the middle of the day isn't the right time for it. I do wonder if I am having a similar issue. I could see me going for this more late night in my room or on a night drive and being a lot more into it potentially. Whenever I do my relisten I'll see if I can manage that.
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.
I am always a fan of them but this isn’t their best album however there are still great songs on it
I dunno I mean it’s okay. They sound good but honestly I prefer the sound and feel of “Creep”. I get it the band didn’t want to be pigeonholed but this album really didn’t do it for me. It sounded okay but just okay. I really don’t have any sort of real critiques of it it’s more like the songs just didn’t do it for me, there was no connection, nothing resonated with me. Also his voice starts to sound kinda whiny after a while so that didn’t help either. Don’t really get all the hype around Radiohead tbh.
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
Mg
Really chill with a few really good songs
A good album, but I still don’t really like it.
Y'know, this used to be the only Radiohead album I understood the hype for. As someone who was always more of a Muse fan (still am a Muse fan, fight me) at the time of listening, I got this one pretty quickly because it was definitively alt-rock. No gimmicks, no weird electronic stuff, and feeling like death was around every corner is more "subtle" in this one, perhaps not lyrically, but tonally. I love all those things about Radiohead now, and I'm obviously simplifying what makes them great, but nevertheless I was curious if returning to this album after all this time would make it hit different, or if I still consider it one of their best. After doing so, I can still confirm for myself that this is one of their best works, in my opinion. Sure, it is very straightforward, but because of that it feels like a perfected statement. Sure, there are lesser tracks here, but everything is at least solid, and oddly I didn't notice it before, but you start to get more of that stereotypical Radiohead vibe the longer the album goes on. Things get more dreary, more exhausting (in a good way), and overall I think it really wraps the package up into something that perfectly defines this era of their career. Sure, Fake Plastic Trees is great, but the melancholia of tracks like (Nice Dream) is far more what I'm looking for with an album like this, and it nails it. Guitar work is fantastic, as is Thom's singing, which feels less like trying to chase the coattails of his contemporaries, unlike the prior album. I think if you like pure 90s rock you will find yourself enjoying this above the others, as I did at one point, and no matter what it is a great gateway into something more, and while I don't consider this their best anywhere (not enough emotions stir within me, y'know) this is still a fantastic record with plenty of amazing songs to make it well worth the listen.
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
Last listened to this 18 months ago for the What is Music podcast but had forgotten much of what I learned then apart from Black Star being about early morning sex with bad breath. Bones- a surprisingly good and overlooked song that rocks while seemingly being about ageing (as is much of the album- FPT anyone?) with major glam rock leanings. FPT still needs to earn my respect which begrudgingly comes 2/3 of the way through as things kick off. Before then it's too crisp, too just so and has the gauchenesss of sixth form poetry. Pressure and ageing are the big themes through the album alongside diconnectedness and loss, like all good Radiohead projects. My Iron Lung describes what you need to survive the pressure. A box to put yourself in at a remove from others. Possibly drug use as a coping mechanism ('a scratch '). MIL feels like a dress rehersal for the pressured parts of Paranoid Android as it builds and distorts. Just remains great, nice and sharp and angular. Bulletproof remains an absolute beauty- play it in the car on a hot day with the air con and feel the goosebumps rise, just like in summer 1998.
This is a great album. It’s chill. It has upbeat moments. I enjoy listening to it.
I know it’s not Radiohead at their most artsy but this is just a perfect alternative rock record. Just showcases their great sensibility for songwriting and musicianship. High and dry and fake plastic trees are beautiful. Nice dream and street spirit fade out are haunting. The bends, planet telex, my iron lung and black star rock so hard. Give it a listen
Favourite song- Bullet proof I wish
Hey! This Radiohead album is all music and real songs! Wow
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.
10/10 An incredible album. I really like pretty much every song on here.
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
Peak virgin music
Just ok. Some nice melodies and musical bits.
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.
I was a bit late to the Radiohead party, but so glad I came!
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.
Another absolute classic from Radiohead. I don't enjoy it quite as much as OK Computer but every song is good. The moods change drastically and cover a wide range of emotions and sounds. I do find it weird that Street Spirit and High and Dry are among the most played songs off of this on Spotify as I think every other song is better. The intro to The Bends is one of my favorites, the vocal change in the chorus of Bullet proof is one of my favorites, the slow build of Fake Plastic Trees in its entirety is one of my favorites, etc, etc. Every song has a particular element that I really enjoy in addition to the song as whole. Just great.
Pretentious, overblown, awesome.
i hate Radiohead. It's so god damn whiny.
A great rock album. Some of my favs songs in there too
Whether or not you like the sound that Radiohead adopted and pretty much stuck with after the mid-90s, their album The Bends from 1995 is a straight-forward collection of astoundingly well-written rock tracks--and dozens (dozens!) of other well-known groups have cited The Bends This album is a masterpiece of 90s alternative rock. There isn't a skippable track to be found here. Some of these melodies will get stuck in my head at random every few weeks without me having listened to them recently (particularly "Black Star," one of my favorite songs on The Bends). I don't listen to this in full often anymore, but when I do I'm always reminded of how insanely GOOD it all is. I'm not the biggest Radiohead fan (maybe that'll change by the end of this listening project) but The Bends has been--and will continue to be--a 5/5 listening experience for me. I really enjoyed reading about each of these songs on Wikipedia and SongFacts.com, so I may have gone a bit overboard with adding them to my below notes but oh well. Ha! 5 stars!: The album needs to be on the list, full stop. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia *The sessions saw Radiohead's first collaboration with their future producer, Nigel Godrich, who engineered the RAK sessions. When Leckie left the studio to attend a social engagement, Godrich and the band stayed to record B-sides. One song, "Black Star", was included on the album. *While Pablo Honey was mostly written by (Thom) Yorke, The Bends saw greater collaboration. Previously, all three guitarists had often played identical parts, creating a "dense, fuzzy wall". Their Bends roles were more divided, with Yorke generally playing rhythm, (Jonny) Greenwood lead and Ed O'Brien providing effects. *For The Bends, Yorke and (artist Stanley) Donwood hired a cassette camera and filmed objects including road signs, packaging, and street lights. They entered a hospital to film an iron lung, but, according to Donwood, found that iron lungs "are not very interesting to look at". Instead, they filmed a CPR mannequin, which Donwood described as having "a facial expression like that of an android discovering for the first time the sensations of ecstasy and agony, simultaneously". To create the cover image, the pair displayed the footage on a television set and photographed the screen. *In 2000, in a vote of more than 200,000 music fans and journalists, The Bends was named the second-greatest album of all time behind Revolver (1966) by the Beatles. *Pitchfork Magazine credited "High and Dry" and another Bends song, "Fake Plastic Trees", for influencing the "airbrushed" post-Britpop of Coldplay and Travis. The Irish Times said that "High and Dry" had "essentially invented Coldplay." Interesting Factoids from SongFacts.com: *[On album opener "Planet Telex"]: Lead singer Thom Yorke was drunk and improvising when he recorded the vocals. The band came to the studio after drinking a lot of wine, and Yorke lied on the floor and sang. He did only one take. *[On "High and Dry"]: According to Q magazine April 2008, this delicate acoustic track, which mocks macho vanity, was never intended for the album. Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke dismissed it as "not bad... it's very bad." Eventually it was included on The Bends because of its presumed commercial appeal. *[On "Fake Plastic Trees"]: In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Yorke said that this was the song where he found his lyrical voice. He cut the vocal, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, in one take, then the band filled in its parts around him. Yorke said the song began as "A very nice melody which I had no idea what to do with, then you wake up and find your head singing some words to it."...The band were finding it difficult to nail this song and decided to take a break and catch a Jeff Buckley gig at Highbury. When they returned to the studio mesmerized by Buckley's set, Yorke sang the song twice before breaking down into tears. *[On "My Iron Lung"]: An "Iron Lung" is a cumbersome medical device often used to help sick people breathe in the '50s. The lyrics reflect how restrictive the band felt when they became known simply for their hit "Creep." The song was written the day they had to drop out of the Reading Festival because of Thom Yorke's strained vocal cords. *[On "Black Star"]: Lead singer Thom Yorke: "This is about sex in the morning. It's the best time to have it. Especially if you have brushed your teeth before." *[On "Sulk"]: "Sulk" was the last track on The Bends to be completed. According to Q magazine April 2008 this was mainly because of Yorke's concern that the song's original lyric, which contained the line "just shoot your gun," might be taken as a crude cash-in on the suicide of Kurt Cobain. *[On "Street Spirit (Fade Out)"]: Yorke insisted that he didn't really write this, that it wrote itself. He claimed the band was merely its messengers, for something he called "our purest, saddest song." Standout Tracks: The Bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, My Iron Lung, Black Star, Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Classic Radiohead
A great Radiohead album, and yet probably my 5th or 6th favorite Radiohead album.
Given my general dislike of the often frenetic, whiney Radiohead sound and particularly the vocalist, this doesn't all suck. I "liked" one track, and gave all of it a chance.
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”.
I know many like OK Computer more, but I think The Bends is Radiohead's best album. It's certainly my favourite. The album features Jonny Greenwood at his peak. How do you describe the perfect album? I'm not sure, but The Bends is pretty close. Liked songs added: - High and Dry - (Nice Dream) - Just - Black Star - Sulk
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
Fantastic album
Used to listen to this a bunch when I was younger and remember quite liking it. This time I'm not so sure... something about it dragged, something about felt whiny in a way it hadn't previously. I do think it's a good record, just not for me at this point in my life.
9/10 Moody, sad, but also very pretty. Even without being as exciting as OK Computer still a near perfect collection of songs. Highlights: Street Spirit Fake Plastic Trees Just Sulk Nice Dream Planet Telex My Iron Lung The Bends
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".
Layered highs and lows Pays homage and paves forward Mellow yet rocking
great album! i've heard some of these songs before. i ended up adding the entire album to my liked songs on spotify. i'm a big fan of Muse and one of their biggest influences is Radiohead, so i knew that i already enjoy this style. i've been meaning to listen to more Radiohead anyways. overall enjoyed, would listen again/add into my regular rotation of music.
droning guitar, whiny voice and hard to understand the words. same 'tic tic tok' hi hat pattern in like every song. ive skipped into 5 of the songs and they all sound like they could be the same song. classic rock in general but especially sad (emotion/energy) classic rock is not my vibe
#220. It's a perfect transitional album from their grungey radio rock sound of their first album moving into the truly weird that they become. Great songs start to finish. No misses here. 5/5: fantastic *this is the fifth album from this book that i already owned Song added to playlist: Fake Plastic Trees I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Straight up top end guitar rock.
Meh, never liked radiohead, a bit boring
I've tried before but I'm just not a Radiohead person.
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
det var okay nok, 3/5 eller 4/5
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.
My favorite Radiohead album. Great as a whole and not a bad song on it
Brian Eno turned them down for this album, which is funny because it’s the most complete and rewarding one they ever made. It’s a rare front-to-back experience—alienation, grandeur, plastic surgery panic—and enjoyable to listen to all the way through.
Masterpiece.
Classic record.
such an overrated band the bends black star street spirit (fade out)
The Bends is a decent Britpop album – a valid one to highlight, even, if you’re into the scene, though certainly not a subgenre masterpiece – but nothing more than that. It’s never bad, but it does feel distinctly derivative compared to its contemporaries, and I don’t really get how this kept Radiohead afloat long enough to get to their experimental phase, or even sow any seeds of good will. Most of this is very low-energy, and even if it’s not as sparse as the later releases I loathe, it really wears thin quick, especially after an otherwise strong start. And there’s brief moments of more grungy, loud energy that I like and I think they’re very good at creating as a band, but too much of this is just fine and coasting. But again, I don’t hate it. It definitely sits on the cusp of the Radiohead I traditionally hate, but it never crosses the line. I don’t know if I’d call it particularly essential, especially in a book filled to the brim with Britpop albums, but I’ll accept it as a Radiohead I can tolerate.
10/10 album. more rock n roll side of radiohead. fake plastic trees and black star are my favorite songs.
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
One of the best albums ever made
THE ABSOLUTE BEST X
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
If this album doesn't get five stars, nothing on here does.
Planet Telex Mysterious intro. Very odd instrument, I love it. Very psychadelic, nice bass line and drums.8.5 /10 The Bends Nice transition, nice guitar. Don’t really feel like going too in-depth with my review today. 9/10 High and dry So far worst Radiohead album but it’s not bad, it’s just the other 2(ok computer and in rainbows) are insanely good. 9/10 Fake Plastic Trees Nice acoustic guitar. Nice all round. Can’t really be fucked writing a review today. 9.5/10 Bones What the bum is this intro and why is it so good. What was that transition, why was it so good. 9/10 Nice Dream Nice acoustic guitar. 9/10 Just Pretty good. (Why can even I see the loss of motivation to write a review throughout this review) 9.5/10 My iron lung Very good. 9.5/10 Bullet Proof… I Wish I Was 9.5/10 Black Star 9/10 Sulk 9/10 Street Spirit 9.5/10 Overall 9/10 Best song: street spirit (there is not bad song) Worst song: Planet Telex
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.
Planet Telex - the guitar riffs with that echo sound otherworldly. the falling chord progression towards the chorus are nice. real tone setter for this album. the droning sounds at the end are similar to what they use on ok computer 8.8/10 The Bends - the titular track. guitar goes hard like usual. "the bends" refers to a sickness diver's get ad they rapidly arise, similar to the pressure Thom feels following up the success of creep 9/10 High and Dry - I wrote a lot for this but it didn't save 9.1/10 Fake Plastic Trees - talks about faking your emotions in life and particularly in relationships and how it isn't sustainable, comparing it to Styrofoam, an artificial material that when broken can't be fixed 9.3/10 Bones - nice transition. most punchy song so far. talks about the fear of aging. 8.8/10 (Nice Dream) - I really like the acoustic guitar and fret sliding to open this one. the grunge tone on the guitar is something they expand on in ok computer. the fact that the song title is in brackets implies that it's probably not real, and if we are to believe the narrative Thom puts forward that's probably true then that makes sense. lyrically this track is minimalist but it still paints a clear picture 9.5/10 Just - seems to be talking about a toxic influence, also self destructive behaviour talking about suicide. this is most likely the heaviest track on the record. 8.8/10 My Iron Lung - this could be my favourite track from the album which is ironic because it's about the immense pressure they feel due to creep. how they are grateful for it blowing up as it did, their 'Iron lung' but Wish to move elsewhere artistically. the don't want to be known as the creep band which is unfortunate. so they emulate a lot of creep stylistically here while trying to talk about their disdain for it, especially how at this point it is the only thing keeping them alive. an iron lung, while necessary for survival is very constraining to live in. much like how they feel about creep. (better than creep/10). Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was - I also really like this song. there isn't as much to say about the lyrics here, they aren't as cryptic. Thom wishes he was stronger emotionally. the harmonising vocals in the second chorus are a nice addition. they don't fully harmonise though which adds to the theme 9.4/10 Black Star - talks about dealing with someone who has depression. black Star is an intangible object, and the act of blaming it all on it reflects someone not taking accountability for their own actions. a scapegoat if you will. eventually the protagonist leaves this person but us unable to function himself and collapses into the same illness. the bass in this song is really cool, and Thom is always very passionate. this is another night time driving song, except you are on a train speeding through a subway. . 9.1/10 Sulk - another song about depression, we get the point Thom man you need therapy. apparently the lyrics refer to a mass shooting in England but some lines were removed to avoid relation to curt cobains suicide. 8.7/10 Street Spirit (Fade Out) - quote by Thom regarding this song. it hurts like hell every time I play it, looking out at thousands of people cheering and smiling, oblivious to the tragedy of its meaning, like when you’re going to have your dog put down and it’s wagging its tail on the way there. this is without a doubt radioheads darkest song, referring to the futility of life and the inevitability of death, however Thom offers one solution in the end... love. 9.35/10 Favourites: My Iron Lung, Fake Plastic Trees, bulletproof ... I Wish I was, (Nice Dream) Least Favourites: I genuinely don't think there is a bad song on this album but if I had to pick worst it's Sulk. 9.2/10
Solid album. New to me but familiar. Good chill album
One of THE best albums of all time. No contest.
great album.
It is an excellent album - I def need to listen to this some more
Good album, brought back memories
Meu favorito do radiohead. Gosto muito
This is such a great album
Never was a big Radiohead guy growing up for whatever reason. Always kind of felt like the schtick was more of less "what if my emotions were a computer," like Kraftwerk kind of but somehow less endearingly goofy about the whole thing. Anyways, this is a very different Radiohead and I think one I enjoy more. Some parts of it I don't like sound like Coldplay. Some parts I do like sound like the Pixies. Giving it 3* for now, will revisit at some point, might be closer to a 4* album on the whole.
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.
Not creepy at all
Really good album liked it a a lot 7/10
Nice blend of songs. I prefer their more guitar forward albums like this.
Dude I've been missing out. I thought Radiohead was annoying like how Nirvana is annoying to me but they aren't. Oh my god my eyes are opened.
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
good vibes but not anything special, at least at the first listen
Incredible album, nearly every song is a stand alone beauty. It’s like the aftertaste of a good oolong tea. Just soothe and sweet down the throat (ears). So wavy.
Banger
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”
A few ok songs early on but goddamn is this boring as fuck.
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."
in rainbows was it for me, now theres more YES!
slay!
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.
Uno de los mejores álbumes que me han salido, 90s 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🖤🖤🖤🖤
i love radiohead
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
Another one that's a perfectly nice vibe and not much else.
Superb.
Such a classic. Easy five stars.
one of my favourite albums of all time, perfect
Amazing album with some soft and hard rock
Probably my fav radiohead album, at least top 3! fking love it
Really good album.
I’ve heard the main Radiohead songs before but this was great! Loved sitting out back and listening to this.
Day102 - i was ready to judge this one before i listened. i’m not a radiohead fan but this is a good one
Love this album. It’s great.
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
Gear: Grado Hemp Album-Art: surreal, creepy VHS-Vibes und gleichzeitig irgendwie befremdlich erleichtert für die Stimmung des Albums Mix: Thom's Vocals fantastisch eingefangen auf "High and Dry", einfach perfekter Gitarren-Sound - ob mit oder ohne Strom ("Fake Plastic Teens", "Just"), grandioser Basslauf auf "Just" Musik: Klassiker. Mein liebstes "Gitarren-und-Keyboards"-Album von Radiohead Wertung: 😄😄😄😄😄/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
love Thease guys!
- 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
3.
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
Lame
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.
I haven't listened to much of Radiohead, so I'm not sure whether this album is typical or not for them (or at least typical for them in the mid-90s), but it's an interesting combination of very familiar-sounding mid-90s indie/alt-rock sort of stuff, yet without being at all distinctive beyond a song or two that might have made some air-time (like "High and Dry" or "My Iron Lung", I think, but then again it might just be very similar to some *other* mid-90s indie/alt-rock tune). I *was* a bit surprised that some of the songs were a little harder-edged (and a teensy bit less falsetto) than I expected of Radiohead. It kind of feels like this isn't really a great Radiohead album to include in the 1001 album collection, frankly, but maybe it was more influential than I appreciate, and certainly the "Influence" and "Legacy" sections of the Wikipedia article suggest I'm just ignorant of this album's majesty. Either way, entertaining enough, in a somewhat disappointingly generic way.
it was fine; none of Radiohead so far has ever gotten my attention. I didn't like the way they recorded it (or maybe it's my headphones?)--sounded deliberately hissy and fuzzy to me.
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.
Great album! One of their best.
Sigh. The first truly great Radiohead album. Many more to follow, but this captures the band at their rockinest, chunkiest best. Many people will tell you much later albums are better than this but they are wrong. Take a look at stone cold classic hit songs like “Fake Plastic Trees” and “High and Dry”. So much emotion, so sad, and yet thoroughly uplifting. “Just” is an exercise in cramming as many chords into a song as possible without it sounding even slightly off. “My Iron Lung” is a remake of “Creep”, and also a scathing commentary on the throwaway nature that the band felt that “Creep” was and the general public’s willingness to suck on whatever crap is thrown at them (even though Creep is in actuality a perfect, timeless song). It is also the beating, raging heart of this album. And if that wasn’t enough, they end the record with the terrifying “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”… a song that takes you on a guided tour of the horror of humanity, then ends it with the answer to ALL of it… “Immerse your soul in love”. It’s the only option to get through life without losing your fucking mind. Big BRAVO Radiohead. You’ve given me so so much in this life beginning with this album, and I thank you from the depths of my soul. PS. I spent a day in Ireland listening to this record while staring wistfully out at The Irish Sea. “(Nice Dream)” is now the permanent perfect soundtrack to that memory.
Ahh, this is more like it. Amnesiac was rough, but this is the Radiohead I know and love. It’s Radiohead, so it does still send me into a mild state of despair, but in the best way possible. It’s passionate and deep and hits me in my feels. Beautiful album from start to finish.
"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
As with most Radiohead, some of this is really good and some of this is mind numbingly boring.
Simply one of my favorite albums of all time. The end of high school / beginning of college. The 1990s at high tide. Hearing Planet Telex start brings me right back to that hopeful time. I love where Radiohead came from and where they went, but The Bends and OK Computer will always be my favorite albums of theirs. Awesome rock music with something a little scary lurking underneath. "I wish it was the 60s / I wish we could be happy / I wish I wish I wish that something would happen."
摇滚该有的样子
Det her var det eneste Radiohead jeg havde da jeg var yngre, så det er måske nostalgi der får den over kanten til en 5'er for mig. Ingen dårlige numre
En af de mindst gode Radiohead plader! Pissegod!!
Virkelig god plade. Dejligt at høre nogle gode rock numre, før meget blev elektronisk. Det er virkelig en banger-parade uden stop.
I get why people may like this album, but after listening to all tracks, it just didn't grab me. Maybe Radiohead take themselves too seriously and think they're better than they actually are. It's all a bit too pretentious
'With "The Bends", Radiohead found their voice ... No other contemporary band has managed to mix such a cocktail of rage, sarcasm, self-pity, exquisite tunefulness and braininess.' Nick Hornby - Radiohead Gets Farther Out (The New Yorker, 22nd October 2000) Highlights: Planet Telex, My Iron Lung, Just, Bones. Before you listen to this album, play "Anybody Can Play Guitar" and "Stop Whispering" from Pablo Honey. Now start The Bends. Can you hear the difference? I can. This is a band's charted growth in action. It's a classic for a reason. Each time I listen to this album and OK Computer I debate which of the two are my favourite. Overall: 9/10
This one gets better and better
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
One of my favs
Finally realize it's the vocals I don't care for
Liked: Planet Telex High and Dry Bones Also liked: Scratch guitar sound near the end of Just.
Ok
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.
2024-03-22... this is a 5-star!
I LOOOOVOEEEE
I mean, yeah
Pretty okay Radiohead album, five stars
Hypnotic
Good - just not something I'd listen to over and over. The songs with heavy guitars far better than the chill songs.
Pretty good.
This is amazingly amazing. I mean, top notch.
Masterpiece, so good
So so good. Radiohead’s most perfectly balanced album between their angsty, teenage albums like Pablo Honey and their maturing ones like Ok Computer. Punky and weird, proggy and alt. Very good stuff.
😍
Better than expected after hearing their whiny and shitty later work. They should have kept this energy
One of my favorite albums. I love every song and some are some of favorite songs. His album has so much energy, so much life and such a cry of anger and youth and rock and roll but in a new way (for the time). Love this album.
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.
Radiohead's sophomore effort, The Bends, is a clear sign of a band stepping out of the shadow of their debut. Where "Pablo Honey" might have been all "Creep" and angst, The Bends offers a wider palette of emotions and textures. Tracks like "Fake Plastic Trees" explore alienation with a haunting beauty, while "The Bends" itself thrums with a nervous energy that feels both relatable and unsettling (though, perhaps not as unsettling as Thom Yorke apparently finds awards shows). The album isn't without its stumbles. Some songs feel like they're searching for a direction, and there's a lack of the overall cohesion that would define Radiohead's later work. However, tracks like "High and Dry" and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" showcase a band with a depth and maturity well beyond their years. The Bends may not be Radiohead at their absolute best, but it's a fascinating document of a band finding its voice. For that, it deserves a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. **Fun Fact:** Did you know that Radiohead drummer Phil Selway once played cricket for a local team? Maybe that explains all the drumming breaks... **Bonus North American Tree Frog Fact:** The Gray Tree Frog, found throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada, can change its skin color from gray to green to brown depending on its environment! So next time you're out for a walk in the woods, keep an eye out – you never know what color you might see!
SON OF A BISCUIT. One of the best records ever made?? Oh inDEED. I could write an entire dissertation on this record. When I was a wee bairn I bought this record the day it came out. What can be said about this record that a million other reviews haven’t? Five stars out the gate.
Not as bad as I was bracing for, but not something I'm going back to anytime soon.
Been critical of this band for a long time. I can admit that I've judged them on their known hits and probably disregarded them based solely on their popularity. This one starts off great. the sort of weird psychedelic sound of Planet Telex was a very nice surprise. Definitely made me realize this wasn't a release I could totally disregard. I think they are at their best when they play slower, more melodic pieces meant to stir up your emotions. Unfortunately, I hate that shit. They do it well, and I can appreciate it from a musical standpoint, but I hate it. There are a few points where they sort of try to "rock" and it almost works, but just feels awkward somehow. First half of the album seemed to bounce some in tempo where the back half seemed to fall into a comfortable plodding pace that seemed a little too "samesy" to hold my interest. I assume it's some metaphor that went over my head. Closing track was depressing as a motherfucker and I can't believe any band would want to end that way. Sounds like the soundtrack for a slow suicide. All in all, I can respect the songwriting and talent here. I can understand why they are so loved, but it's just not what I reach for when I want to listen to music... ever.
Interesante pero no me pone en pie.
I avoided Radiohead for the longest time, I think out of some contrarian streak to resist the hype, since I never really got why they were so beloved based off the singles I'd heard. I finally started listening to them over the last year, and I can admit I was wrong. I still have most of their discography left to explore, including some of their most famous stuff. But I really enjoy earlier Radiohead, and I think The Bends might be my favorite of their albums (or at least of what I've heard so far). There really isn't a bad song on this album. The melodies are great, and the sound is way more energetic than what I associated with them based off songs like Creep. Lyrically, this album is heavy, but it doesn't feel as heavy as it is because of the music (except for the last song). There's a lot about depression, loneliness, and trying to cope with the pressures of newfound fame. It's very personal but relatable at the same time. Mea culpa. This band is good. Really good. 5/5
some nice songs
So whiny. 2.42 per track.
Kind of dreamy, he sounds half asleep at times, but it's enjoyable. Stand-out: Black Star
hadn't really listened to this one much before. I started out not really liking it but it really grew on me.
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.
I was going to do a hipster review about how I prefer later period weirder Radiohead, and this gets a 4 in comparison. But then I put Planet Telex on and remembered that this is perfect just like all their albums are. God what an unbelievable band.
Very good alt indie rock
Not my favorite from Radiohead, but for the most part it has what it needs. A heavier tone and some unexpected chord changes keep things interesting even though most of the songs are pretty laid-back.
Great listen. In my Radiohead top 5 albums.
Hlaut að koma að því ....
4.6 There's better Radiohead but still a very very solid Radiohead album Fave songs: High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Nice Dream, Black Star, Street Spirit
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
I actually made time to listen to this on my way home from work and found myself zoning out, with only a couple of songs striking me as listen-worthy. This can't be the Radiohead that everyone raves about. Planet Telex lyrics are vague and open ended at best. allowing the listener to draw and put their own meaning into the nonsense lyrics. I feel that it's hard to capture what he is actually saying over the instruments, a sentiment I carry throughout the entire album. Who the hell produced this album? Again, What the hell is he saying in the bend? The guitar in the middle there is a great attention grabber probably to make up for the unintelligible nonsense song that Thomas Yorke just put us through. High and Dry gives Yorke a chance to redeem himself by showing off his vocal range on those high notes, along with a kind reminder that he is capable of writing something that can provide the listener some sort of personal significance. I think it's funny that he doesn't like playing this song since it's one of the few redeeming ones from this entire album. Well, I zoned out again and Just happened to catch my attention once again. The mix of soft instrumentals in the back, a catchy chorus. I am actually a big fan of the guitar in Iron lung as well. Wow, Black Star started off so strong. He is an amazing vocalist with a pretty great range, but damn why does it sound like I am listening to music for mice? Why is it so low, why is there so much mumbling. Why shy away from your high and dawn out notes that seem to be your forte. Why did you choose this genre that doesn't fit what you seem to be be capable of doing?! I can't say that I am a fan of this album, although I do enjoy Radiohead, and have a lot of nicer things to say about them when listening to OK computer. The Bends just fell so short of my expectations for the band
I studiously avoid Radiohead for reasons. I recognize that this is an important band but I’m not going to start listening to them. I’ll give a tip of the hat to High and Dry and Fake Plastic Trees as I go.
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.
im just not really a radio head fan i guess lol
Nope
Solid grunge. Had heard before - Radiohead brilliance always there from the beginning
Man, Radiohead should've stuck with this sound. The heavier guitars and the beauty of the vulnerable tracks, this might be the band's peak. Because sometimes, experimentation isn't all it's cracked out to be. Without the self-indulgence of their later albums, you get an amazing alt-rock record that stands so well alongside grunge and Britpop. This is what '90s music was all about, baby! Standouts are Fake Plastic Trees, Bones, Just, and Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was.
Standouts: Planet Telex, The Bends, Bones, Black Star. Lost me towards the end a bit but liked it WAYY more than Amnesiac.
More whiny alt rock. Just can’t get into it
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
I wish this generator would give multiple albums from the same band in chronological order so you can hear their development. From what I recall, this sounds like a precursor to "OK Computer". Some of the grungy songs are little dated, but overall pretty good. Again, I can't understand most of the lyrics but that suits his voice. It's good, but from what I can tell on the wiki, would have been better to discover it in '95. 3.8
It’s Radiohead. I normally do my best to do an in-depth review but I can’t see the screen through my tears so I guess this’ll do.
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
Not really my style of music but I could certainly see the appeal. It was a good casual listen but don’t see myself playing it again.
Not a big Radiohead fan however musically they are interesting.
I like Radiohead - but a song at a time on the radio - not a whole album in one sitting
There's something inescapably adolescent about Radiohead and this album is the most undisguised about it. There's a few songs that are about as good as you can do for their thing, turning college rock into highly polished hits. Just about everything on High and Dry sounds great, the atmospheric guitar accents in the verse, the rumbly power chords underneath that come in. The ascending melody hook in the chorus is instantly memorable in the way of timeless classics. But there's something a little hollow about it, and it isn't gonna be a timeless classic - too structured? Whatever it is, it's not a "oh yeah, that one!", it's a "ok sure, but enough of it already" or a "yeah it's cringey but I love it". Conflicted about how to rate this. I think it's very good at being what it was, mass market music for moody teenagers. If you look at it only in the context of the mainstream where 90s rock was dominated by grunge and Britpop, it's refreshing. When you get more into the rest of what was going on in the 80s/90s it's kinda unremarkable. When you learn how to deal with your emotions in a way that's not moping you don't need this music so much anymore. I think there should be good music for moody teenagers going through an especially moody phase, but I feel weird about it being made by adults. If you still feel the mood of these songs throughout your 20s, you are stuck in a way that's concerning. but then also adults have to be the ones make this because teenagers don't know fuck all about making anything yet. a predicament. 5 stars minus one star for every 10 years you are past 16.
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.
Superb album?
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
3rd Radiohead album I've gotten (after Kid A, and Amnesiac). This albums is earlier in their catalog, and I can tell it doesn't quite have the amount of experimentation as those other ones I've gotten. Still good though. I can hear they probably helped influence bands like Coldplay or even Muse.
There's just something about this guy's voice that wears on me after a few songs. I will say this album was much better than the the first one I saw on this list, but it still doesn't make it very good to the listener. There were a few songs I thought were decent, like Planet Telex, The Bends, High $ Dry and Bones. But or the most part, nothing that was exciting or made me want to relisten. Nothing terrible. Just not my taste. 3
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’”
pov tu me croises dans le train en train d'écouter the bends (la pochette)
listened so much in highschool. had the vinyl.
Another great effort!
It is a noisy, grim album that will leave an impression.
great album, #2 radiohead just behind rainbows IMO
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.
Meh
underrated by the radiohead fanboys The Bends >>>>>>>>>>>> In rainbows. facts.
Classic all around
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.
Thom Yorke’s voice never sounded better and there’s a lot of classic tunes on this album. I see this album as their Rubber Soul. Starting to flirt with some experimentation but the amazing songwriting is still at the forefront.
Excellent sophomore album full of classics
After hearing Planet Telex I thought I was finally in for a good Radiohead album. But then they followed that track up with more pretentious rock.
Im a fan of Radiohead - particularly how an album comes together not just individual songs, I think they are one of the best in this regard. That been said - I was only 11 when this was releases and hadn’t experienced it as an album before just the hits for their earlier works. Didn’t let me down when I listened to this but will not be everyone’s cup of tea.
It's my perfect album. The album is sublime, with no fillers. Highlights are definitely Fake Plastic Trees and Street Spirit (Fade Out). This would be one of my Desert Island Discs (google it millennials). ❤️
Radiohead is my second favourite band of all time - I love them and I'm pretty much always in the mood for them! I was so excited to finally have an album from them pop up in this challenge - although this isn't my favourite album, its solid, atmospheric and immersive. I love Thom Yorke's vocals and feel like this album he had really started to develop his unique sound. Previously my fave track of this album was 'High and Dry' but in this listen through I was really captivated by 'Street Spirit (fade out)' and ended up listening to it on repeat for most of the day. So good.
Absolutely baffling that a band can put out this masterpiece of an album, and then put out trash like the other albums of theirs that I’ve been served thus far. It’s like at some point they forgot how to write melody, how to sing, how to write chord changes, it’s just insane. Every song here is excellent.
Some of my favorite guitar work from Radiohead on this album. Still has that Britpop vibe before they branched off into more electronic elements.
Probably my favourite from Radiohead, their least pretentious.
I love Radiohead and I love this album!
Not their best, but an essential part of their catalog. 4.1
Previously rated: In Rainbows (1/5) Hail To the Thief (1/5) Kid A (1/5) ************************* Since this album was five years before any Radiohead album I've listened to previously, I had hope it would be better than the others. And it is! Does that mean I like it? No. It has a few moments where it starts to rock. The singer does ruin it most of the time. But this album actually has melody, something I usually prefer to hear in music. And for that, I'll give it an extra star.
Not sure why Radiohead has so many albums on this list it was ok
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.
The first perfect album from a band primarily concerned with one-upping themselves by finding new ways to make a perfect album.
Awesome!
Good!
Großartiges Album. Noch viel Britpop, aber schon wie Radiohead.
Ich will ja nicht wie ein Lehrer sein, der grundsätzliche keine 1 gibt, da eine Arbeit niemals perfekt sein kann. Gefällt mr sehr gut, das Album.
dont like the voice tbh
Ik dacht altijd dat Radiohead vreselijk was. Dat valt dus ontzettend mee. Prettig album dat sterk start. Maar het blijft niet echt hangen.
Good!
Rehellistä pop-rockia ja omaan makuun liian taiteellinen virittely loistaa poissaolollaan, tykkäsin. Selkeästi päivän tunnelma vaikuttaa arvosanaan kun ensimmäisen kuuntelukerran fiilis oli niukka nelonen ja tätä arvostelua ennen kuuntelin vielä kerran, ja fiilis painu vahvaan kolmoseen. Joka tapauksessa hyvä levy.
Hyvä levy. Pari kovaakin biisiä ja ehkä tunnetummasta poiketen jaksoi viihdyttää koko albumin läpi
not my fav
I know it's no longer the cool pick, but this is my favourite Radiohead album. It does the 90s alt rock so we'll that it makes the careers of bands like Coldplay and Elbow look totally irrelevant. The singles are great, the deeper cuts may even be better, and it's rare for me to have so many songs already liked on Spotify from just one album. If OK Computer reminds me of the depressing work commute in the city, then this is like driving home after being away for so long, a hint of melancholy in otherwise poppy, anthemic 90s rock. 12/02/24
Not a big Radiohead fan, but can appreciate the artistic quality of the album
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 found this quite boring and repetitive in style and content.
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
Not super impressed by this album. I’m noticing a pattern with Radiohead, that is the lyric writing is generally pretty weak. Like there are some good moments, but mostly they’re mediocre. Nor is Thom York a particularly good singer. Definitely detracts from the listening experience. All that said, Radiohead is very good at getting the vibes. The layered instrumentals probably help with that. A solid 3
I have tried so very hard to enjoy listening to Radiohead and have failed yet again
Sublime.
It kind of feels like proto-sensitive scumbag music. I like later Radiohead better
Not weird enough yet.
Radiohead has always been a band who's existance I was aware of but I would never be able to name any of their songs. Listening to this album has not changed this. While I didn't hate any of the tracks I didn't love any of them either. The chance of me listening to any of the tracks on this album in the future is slim at best. Rated 3 stars as that is the midpoint between "hated it" and "loved it"
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