Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Great listen!
Uma beleza, carrega comigo muito saudosismo. Baladas marcantes. produção impecável, como em todos discos deles.
Espetacular. Stellar. Radiohead como deveria ser até o fim.
1995: Planet Telex, High And Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, My Iron Lung, Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was
emily b very nice name now get back to work buddy
fatasss album dm me @pizzaupmynose on ig
5* if u include killer cars and maquiladora
I used to hate Radiohead but dang this album has some bangers
Lots of music critics like to refer to the sophomore slump, but just as often an artist will only find their sound after their debut. The Bends is an astronomical improvement on Pablo Honey, blending elements of Britpop, grunge (check out Thom basically doing a Billy Corgan impression on “Planet Telex”), and ‘80s alternative rock with weird, progressive chord changes that would come to define their writing. It’s those chord changes that give The Bends (and Radiohead by extension) such massive crossover appeal - they’re moody enough for the emo kids and technically interesting enough for the progheads, and everyone in between seems to love ‘em too. The Bends is not the sound of Radiohead at their peak, but it is the sound of Radiohead coming into their own. Most people will point to singles “High and Dry” or “Fake Plastic Trees” as highlights, but I’d rather direct your attention to the stunning closer “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” which foreshadows the rest of their catalogue more than anything else here with its softly crooned vocals, twinkly guitars, and understated drum groove. Coldplay probably owe their entire career to this record. It’s a good one, but the best is yet to come.
Radiohead were still finding their sound here. Much better than Pablo Honey, but still has a lot of straightforward, simple pop/rock like Fake Plastic Trees, High and Dry, and Bullet Proof alongside some more interesting and creative songs like Street Spirit, Planet Telex, and My Iron Lung. I think this is much better than a lot of the alternative rock of the 90s, but still nowhere near as good as OK Computer and their other later albums.
4.25. I need to listen to Radiohead more often.
No one is more surprised than me how much I enjoyed this. Of everything I’ve heard from Radiohead this is the best.
Fabulous album
Unfortunately I wasnt able to give my full attention to this album but i liked a lot of the songs
Call me an oldhead, but this is teenager music. That is not something bad though, while not being “Creep”, this is still a fantastic álbum which was just shadowed by it’s giant predecessor. Very consistent, with my personal favorite being Black Star and Nice Dream
Como radiohater me toca decir que este disco si es bueno la verdad, exceso de hits que dan fiaca escuchar pero eso no es culpa de los muchachos
Très belle découverte, les riffs sont tous géniaux, ça démarre très bien !
Listened to this in the library during my free period 23/06/26 One of my fav Radiohead Albums. All Bangers. Have listened to it a lot previously.
Today I think "High and Dry" is my favorite Radiohead song, although I know that's subject to change. Hard to believe this has been out for more than 30 years; it doesn't seem dated to me like some music from that same period — maybe because it's "music of Radiohead" rather than "music of the 1990s."
Depressive af
Notable Textzeile: I get on the train and I just stand about Now that I don't think of you I keep falling over, I keep passing out When I see a face like you Ist ja wirklich selten hier, das ich denke ein Album hätte länger sein können. Hier ist es der Fall. Daher direkt ein zweites Mal gehört und da hat mich dann einiges genervt. Aber ist ja eine gute Erkenntnis über mich selbst. Ab und zu mit Abstand Radiohead - The Bends super. Zu eng aneinander doof. Ich rate jetzt mal für super.
Das Album vergesse ich immer, was ein Zeichen für meine Vergesslichkeit und für die Qualität der folgenden Radiohead Alben ist. Starker, atmosphärischer Rock mit Hits und coolen Deep Cuts... Gleichzeitig auch irgendwie eine Band die nicht so richtig zu wissen scheint was sie sein will.
good
8/10
Fake Plastic Trees is such a great song. The album just works.
Good listen, but mainly for the "Hits" like Just, Planet Telex, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, My Iron Lung etc. Deeper cuts like the title track, which reminds me of Paradise City by GNR of all songs, are decidedly less memorable. That said, its much better than Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief that I've listened to previously on this journey. We don't really need to have every Radiohead-album on here, and if we just stuck to the holy trinity of OK Computer, Kid A and In Rainbows we'd have a lot more room for something else. The Bends can have a space in here, I guess, but there's a fair amount of Radiohead-burnout here when we could make room for something different.
Vh1 used to have an alt-rock side that made an impression on me in the 2000s, I was unaware how much of that aesthetic is a reference to this album. It's not the Radiohead I've grown to love, it's the Radiohead before that, I wasn't aware High and Dry was theirs, a lot of these songs felt like the DNA of an era. Points for that. It's a little more commercial than I'd appreciate, a bit on the soft rock side too, but then the actual composition of everything is pretty exquisite. I'd buy this record so I could spin it at reunions, it's a safe bet for most ears. 4.1/5
Love this album and knew so many of the songs but there were a couple I had never heard. Radiohead is the greatest.
This is Radiohead's second album, a departure from the pure rock first album, and more towards the real sound of the band. It's ethereal, introspective and easier to listen to. An essential amongst the plethora of Radiohead's albums, and a great one.
One of my all time faves. Hits a certain nostalgia button, but is also just a great example of 90s alt rock. So many timeless classics.
This is like the Yellow-crowned Night Heron I saw last night. It appears to be a bit fragile with a long neck and a delicate plume of feathers tilted back off its head. Long legs hold a unique, eggplant-shaped body. It catches me off guard because it doesn't quite fit into the local bird genre. Sometimes forgotten until it pops up and reminds me of how fascinating it is.
Not since the Beatles has a popular band made such great strides from album to album. This is the second step of 4. A quantum leap from the first outing. OKCpu and Kid A get more attention for their sonic leaps but I would argue this is where the band really reaches and find their voice. Excellent top to bottom.
It was way different than from what I had expected it to be. I liked it tho.
Great album, not my fav radiohead
I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this because I’ve not really been a fan of any Radiohead song I’ve ever heard.
Not a huge radiohead fan, but this is truly seminal.
베스트: High and Dry
Not favourite Radiohead. Like later albums better.
Excellent album. Four stars Thom York: distinctive voice Stripped down style Excellent songs: Planet Telex, High and Dry.
Not my favourite of their but still epic
4th best Radiohead album Standouts: High and Dry, Just, Fake Plastic Trees, My Iron Lung
Classic but my least favorite Radiohead album
Nadine’s album that I actually like for the most part. Will wonders never cease.
Le meilleur album de Radiohead à date, même avec la voix pénible de Yorke.
I wish I could dislike Radiohead from having a ex that was a mega fan and slightly pretentious about music, but I simply can’t. The Bends isn’t even my favourite album and yet they still manage to knock it out of the park, getting you in your feelings and each song has something to say. An artist is truly special when they manage to capture your attention with their music yet in an unpretentious way, discretely framing your life through their soundtrack. I can’t pick out a song, perhaps I’d say Iron Lung and the Street Spirit Fade Out are the weaker tracks as the others are brilliant.
First ever radiohead experience - it's great and I can see why the band has the hype it has.
Had to give it a second listen and liked it much more the second time around.
No skips. I don't care for the critics that glaze the group but I personally enjoy listening to Radiohead. Will revisit 4 sure.
Full of bangers
Radiohead's third best album. the only reason its not a 5 is because it sort of drones on in the middle...but there are a lot of bangers on this album.
Much better than Girls Against Boys album of the same time period and somewhat similar style that I received the day before. And generally a good work, although I'm not a fan.
7.5/10 - I would have sworn “Creep” was on this album.
One of my favorite 90's rock albums. Nearly every song on here is amazing. 9/10
230525 12:55 4
My favorite of the Radiohead albums we've had to date.
My personal choice for favorite Radiohead album
I feel like putting something less than a four is crime (?) just for the influence and popularity of the band, but its like OK computer, some good songs, the others didnt do it for me, just not my style.
First front to back Radiohead experience - This was a surprising project; I've never been keen on radiohead as it feels a lot like an acquired taste (no passing judgement of course) The quality of the composition and mixing of what feels like a million elements going on at once compliments the stage of life that listeners may have heard this album in that being young-late adolescence, where your entire existence is composed of the unknown and the fear that lingers as you make your way through it all Best song - Just
An album I listened to a lot when younger, but one I hadven't listened to in a while. Radiohead kept releaseing better albums (untilt the last 2). Still it is a great album, every song has something interesting about it. Just lacks the depth of the albums that follw! 4.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes. 75/297 (25%) Will I get: Already have
It’s a great 90s Brit rock album but I prefer what Radiohead turned in to
meio repetitivo 8/10
Soooo many amazing songs, had a few that were just “great/good” to me hence the four stars (at least on the first listen). My fav was “The Bends”!!!
4.4/5
Me gustó mucho mas de lo que pensé que me iba a gustar. High and Dry es un temazo. A nivel sonoro la experiencia es buena, y las letras tienen sentido.
Love this album. Solid almost all way through, and I like that you can hear them transitioning into the sounds of OK Computer.
Ok
So close to a 5, but I think it’s a 4.5…. Beautiful though
Good vibes, good guitar
Radio craniums
Great songs and a cohesive album but ultimately it’s Radiohead before Radiohead’s Radiohead so a shade too vanilla
This was a great Radiohead album as well. Liked it a lot. Some songs rocked some were super mellow. Maybe I’m starting to get Radiohead? Not sure there were a couple I listened to that just stunk, but this is the second one I liked.
I still really don’t get the love for Radiohead, but there’s no denying this is a pretty well conceived of and executed album
this album is when radiohead first starts to find their artistic footing and it shows. the songwriting is beautiful on songs like street spirit and fake plastic trees yet it’s so simple. i wouldn’t say this album does much to push boundaries like their later albums did but this is a lovely track list of songs. i loveee those strings on nice dream
This one's quite nice, more energy / less depressing than later radiohead albums IMO
If this had been Radiohead's first, with Creep snuck in, you could make an argument it'd be their best. Instead, it's their first great album. I don't love the post Britpop tinge - there are moments that Muse would ape, but that's thankfully fleeting
Me gustó, pero a medida que va avanzando, las ultimas las siento q están de relleno
90s Radiohead is probably my favourite Radiohead. I love all the avant-art-electroncia stuff too but that rarely makes good playlist music. The 90s alt-rock stuff is very accessible and singable and fun to hear pop up on a playlist. So The Bends is maybe not the best Radiohead record but it does have the best collection of songs that I'm excited to hear elsewhere.
I never really gave this album a chance, for no particular reason. But it’s worth the price of admission. Absolutely in the canon of 90s rock. It gets deep and heady and angsty, everything great about 90s rock is in this album. Glad to have given it a deeper look.
First Radiohead album I bought. I guess I already knew "creep" but this disc was a revelation. Great video for High and Dry too.
siento q son lentas para mmi gusto, pero aun asi las disfrute, algunas menos que otras pero la mayoria me gusto. So, album guardado.
I can listen to this all day, all month long. Sometimes I have. 4.5/5
It was a great album. Loved it.
Significant improvement over the Hail to Thief choice from earlier in the list. This is more the true Radiohead. Excellent work.
When to listen: Laying on the floor. I'd heard "High and Dry" and "My Iron Lung" before but really liked new-to-me songs "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Just"
Just and Street Spirit are 100% perfect. Everything else is meh
Great emotion and musicality. The whole album blends well together. Enjoyed thoroughly.
It's really impressive that an album as strong as this one is barely in their top 5. Granted, my top 5 is a little weird but I still think it's extraordinarily impressive that this album is as good as it is. These guys had only made one album before this, and the only way you'd hear their inexperience is in the youth in Thom Yorke's voice. They really figured out the formula for a good rock album here, it's just really impressive. Favorites: Planet Telex, High and Dry, Just
The early days of Radiohead are markedly different than their later stuff, but equally as good. Here they have a much more alternative rock sound, with distorted guitars, more radio friendly song structures and vocals, etc… but you can still hear the foreshadowing of what was to come. It’s there, just subtle and buried a bit. I like both ends of the Radiohead spectrum, and this is a great album.
No soy muy fan de radiohead pero me gusto el album la verdad, mi canción favorita es Planet Telex.
Bendy
It's hard to find any flaws in this. Just not something I would throw on very often.
I like their more experimental stuff but still good.
this album is fucking hard
I didn’t write too much about this album while I was listening to it considering a lot of my friends have been highly anticipating me actually listening to Radiohead stuff, so I took a very silent, attentive listen than what otherwise be a fun writing experience. “(Nice Dream)” was really good though. Liked this a lot! Can’t wait for the other albums.
My favorite Radiohead record. A few misses but mostly great tunes!
cool! not my favorite I guess, but it was interesting to listen to: I would love to bike to this music
Gostei
Best Songs: High and Dry Fake Plastic Trees
Great
2 for 2 on Radiohead
На этом альбоме пришло осознание,что альбомы нельзя слушать фоном. На первом прослушивании пропустил Nice Dream. Сколько таких бриллиантов я не собрал?
This album was seen as a huge creative leap for Radiohead on its release. Given what the band would do be doing just 2 years later on OK Computer or 6 years later on Kid A, The Bends now sounds downright conventional. But this is where Radiohead began to mature as a band and develop a sound distinctly their own. "Fake Plastic Trees" and "High and Dry" are probably responsible for people assuming they just make boring sad songs, but there are also some genuine rockers on "The Bends" and the incredible "Just." Radiohead's defiance of easy categorization and tendency to push themselves into new territory start in earnest here
Didn’t appreciate this enough when I first listened to it but coming back to it now it’s all started clicking properly Still kinda nuts that this is the same band that made pablo honey not that long before 4.5
A guitar driven exploration of sound. Some songs are better than others. A weird homage to classic rock.
Only good album they have done
This is a very good album. It just goes by so fast one song after another well played produced and sung.
Vind radiohead vaak echt kut maar deze is wel de beste
4.6 on this if we were allowed the decimal. Incredible album filled with great songs. All time favourite album ending track in Street Spirit, just utter misery in one song.
Banger
8/10 Highlight: Street Spirit Lowlight: Sulk
Le classique qu’il pense être mais est terrible à écouter quand on essaie d’aller bien mdr.
Very good
Favorite Track: Fake Plastic Trees Least Favorite Track: My Iron Lung
There are some absolute all time classics on this album, however for me there are some misses too. I never really want to listen to the full thing, but when it's good it's genre defining.
Góð lög. Góð heild.
Representa a la perfeccion el dolor interno por el que atraviesa el artista, genera emociones fuertes, pero despues de escucharlo tenes que ponerte a ver Family Guy para seguir en este plano y no pegartelo.
Not they're best album, but still decent and Street Spirit is one of my fav songs of theirs. I feel some of these songs are a bit basic compared to their other stuff. Still, you can't go wrong with a bit o Radiohead!
There’s a few good songs on here so it just about gets a 4, but there’s quite a few I’d skip
Ça fait plaisir de le retrouver. C’est pour ce genre d’album qu’on fait le défi. Un ou deux morceaux que je trouve un peu boring mais le reste est au top.
Radiohead is really creative. Each album has s different sound. I mostly like the sound here and want to listen again. A low 4, high 3. I’ll go with 4.
Pedazo de disco. Nostálgico, reflexivo, romántico. Te pone en sintonía desde el tema 1. Es crudo, un desgarro al pecho directamente. Pero lindisimo. Bien británico. Y la banda tiene un sonido muy marcado. Himno de disco: High and Dry
good, but a little bit boring. loved "planet telex"
I loved this entire album. Intense at times for sure, I think this is my favorite Radiohead album
rating: **** top 3: fake plastic trees high and dry bulletproof … i wish i was
planet tex is really just the intro the bends is more lyrical and with more action high and dry is more calm with the message being that quote on quote he killed himself for recognition i listened to the rest like only with half an ear but just is my favorite just from the vibe black star also sounds really cool i cant describe it i felt very sad throughout especially with the last song its as if i dont want to listen but i cant stop myself
8.5 / 10
I had Kid A earlier in the project and thought it was great. This is an earlier album, and it's very different. It has a more guitar-based sound reminiscent of the grunge movement and even some classic rock. However, there are definitely traces of the band that Radiohead eventually became in the lyrics and song structures. Many of the songs are more traditional rock songs, but some have more distinct structures. Lyrics are of varying quality, either being profound or nonsensical. At this point, they were still developing their trademark sound; I don't think this album is all that important to listen to except for fans of the band, as it's simply a turning point for Radiohead. It's still a good album, just not one I would call essential listening for everyone (for Radiohead fans, it's a must-listen).
I listened while painting. I hear the influence on later music with it's shoe gazing sound. I wouldn't mind revisiting it when I need something in the background. But nothing directly captured my attention but it set a good mood and headspace.
It was relax to be honest I think that i like it
buen álbum, me gusta escucharlo en días nublados
ultimate yearning experience
There's an interesting question here about how many absolutely classic songs are required in order for an album to be considered five-star. Two (Fake Plastic and High and Dry) is not quite enough. Street Spirit and Nice Dream push it even closer, but alas: 4 Stars. It hurts. I may change my mind.
I swear to god radioheads complete discography must be in this list. However, this album did actually slap, I will give them that. I would relisten. I don't think I actually saved that many songs mainly cause I was just vibing with the whole thing. Still, I can only hope I've seen my last radiohead album, it pisses me off every time i see i have one
Really good album. Waffling between 4 and 5 for me, but there were plenty of enjoyable tracks. I think I'll need to return to this one a few times, which might affect the rating in the future.
I am quite familiar with Radiohead, but I don't know this album as well, aside from High And Dry. It's a very good album, though I would say it is not anywhere near as groundbreaking as OK Computer. It still sounds very much like a rock album. I may not rate this album as highly as OK Computer, but I certainly would listen again.
8/10 It’s hard to assess this album knowing what would come after it, especially as it’s very much a transitional album between the Radiohead of Pablo Honey - talented Brit rockers, but very much one of the pack - and the art rock innovators they would become with OK Computer. There are hints that they were starting to pick at the seams of their songwriting and production efforts here, and there are some really standout moments; High and Dry into Fake Plastic Trees and, not long after that, Just, all of which showcase the burgeoning songwriting talents of the band. From the shifting guitar work of Ed O’Brien and Jonny Greenwood, who also started to push into his work with synths on this record, to the sparse but beautiful vocal melodies from Thom Yorke, the ingredients are starting to come together over the ever dependable rhythm section. But the real defining moment of this record comes with its final gasp. Street Spirit (Fade Out) is the perfect lead-in to Radiohead’s next chapter, with its slow build, restrained but effective production, impeccable performances and beautiful melodies. So how does one assess this album in 2026? It’s very good, but it also doesn’t always sound special in the way that Radiohead would in later albums, and there are a reasonable number of tracks that feel like they could have come out of the sessions from one of the other decent British rock bands that were around at the time (Yorke’s distinctive voice aside). But that might be a bit of a harsh judgement of a record that was part of quite an immense and significant journey in popular music. The band are great, they are starting to find their own unique voice and there are some killer moments. The production is also starting to lean towards the development of that Radiohead sound, so this does feel important, even if it’s not the most consistent or groundbreaking album in its entirety. But roll straight out of this into OK Computer and boy, it’s one hell of a journey. Planet Telex - This is a decent opener with a really good chorus. It’s a little lacking in dynamic range and nuance compared to their later work, but it starts to show some of the more experimental and production focus that they would develop across this and subsequent albums, particularly the use of effects chains to build musical soundscapes within which their songs can exist. It’s just a tiny bit of a one trick pony for me, even if it’s a pretty good trick. The Bends - A great riff to open us up here and there’s a lot more dynamic and tonal range across this track compared to the opener. That being said, this is a far more straightforward rock song and feels like the kind of thing a lot of other bands at the time could have put out, rather than having that unique Radiohead sound. It’s another good song though, and I’m already feeling like this album is more of a transition between being just “Radiohead, that 90s rock band” and “Art Rock pioneers, Radiohead”. High And Dry - There’s a good bit of nuance and subtlety to this as well as great vocal melodies from Thom Yorke. Again, it’s a really good song that is just a tiny bit ordinary from a production and development point of view when compared to their later work. I feel a bit harsh, because it’s another really good song, but I can’t help but hear it through the lens of what came next and while it’s enjoyable, it’s just a tiny bit safe. Fake Plastic Trees - This builds beautifully. The strings are so nicely arranged and sit far enough back, augmented by some really delicate synth work, to emphasise and add depth without overpowering. You can hear a touch of that experimentation coming in here with some really subtle pieces of instrumentation that add power but are only just audible, giving the main vocal and acoustic guitar the space and power they need. Great stuff. Bones - It’s a nice change of pace from the previous track into this. It’s got a nice bit of pace and punch to it and the descending line that they use as a lead-in to the chorus is delicious. There’s a decent groove to this one, and they don’t just hit on the obvious beats with a lot of the instruments, so it has a less rigid structural feel to it too. (Nice Dream) - This is a bit more pedestrian from a compositional point of view. It’s very nice, there are some good melodies and string arrangements, but it’s all a little bit too safe again and feels like the kind of thing that many bands of the time could have produced. There are moments here of there that prompt us towards something more, particularly the bridge, but it’s another enjoyable if unspectacular track. Just - The groove here is lush, there’s good weight to the riffs and it feels like they are pulling at the threads of their compositional chops here and there to pull it out of more traditional shape towards something more uniquely them, while still having a foot in the more standard rock music camp. Some of the production here is super lush and the bridge has some incredibly gorgeous guitar work in it. There are moments of pushing against the boundaries from both the performance and production sides in this, and it’s got a really compelling rhythm to it, particularly towards the end. My Iron Lung - There’s a nice blend of overdriven and clean sounds on this one and some interesting transitions between legato and staccato in the rhythm of the instrumentation. It’s got good vibe and the breakdown sections add some welcome range to proceedings. They don’t manage to conjure up any of their more infectious melodic moments in this one though and by the end it does sort of become a more run of the mill rock song. Bullet Proof..I Wish I Was - The reverb-soaked vocal and some of the soundscape creation on this one shows some more hints towards what was to come and this is a reasonable pleasant track that doesn’t really up its level or produce anything particularly standout. It feels a tiny bit muddled in their attempts to bring in that edge of production depth and it’s ultimately a little bland. Black Star - A great intro here with the 3 bar chord sequence. There’s a nice balance between the guitar and bass on this one, each arpeggiating nicely and pulling the feel of the track. There are some solid vocal melodies in there too. The groove is solid and they do quite a lot of work playing with the instrumental density to create an evolving push and pull to the track. Sulk - Back to something a little more on the safe side. It’s got a solid, toe tapping beat to it and the band are on great form. But as with much of the album, there are little hints at leaning into more experimental, arty territory, but it feels a little like they’re holding back, resulting in something that’s a little too routinely 90s British rock for my tastes. Again, good and hints of that next step, but it’s not quite there yet. Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Ah, what a way to end an album. It’s so well produced, sparse in the beginning and building in tension and intensity as it goes. They deal with this in such a restrained way and it’s beautiful because of it. The vocal melody is gorgeous and the guitar parts dance around each other expertly. It’s an incredibly evocative song, capturing the melancholy of a life passing by, with that persistent ticking of the rhythm driving relentlessly forward. Gorgeous.
J'aime bien quand ça chouine et que ça donne de la voix, j'aime moins quand ça dissone
⭐⭐⭐⭐Estaba acostumbrada a escuchar canciones virales de artista reconocidos, solo vivo en un mundo en el que las personas tratan de imitar lo de los demás, mis géneros siempre han sido el reguetón o canciones suaves. Pero para ser la primera vez que escucho algo completamente diferente a "mis gustos" no están mal, cada letra de cada canción tiene una historia diferente de contar.
🙃
Just beautiful. All the songs fit perfectly together and listening to them one by one is an experience of its own.
I listened to OK Computer a long time ago, but I never heard this one. This guy's vocals take some getting used to, so I see why people say he sounds like a whiney college kid. On the other hand, my ears loved the guitar tones and overall instrumentation on most of these songs. I agree with the hivemind that this is a solid 4/5.
already listened to this
El paso serio de la banda Melancolía, tensión emocional Identidad clara
Really good. High and Dry and (Nice Dream) are the standouts after a day of listening to this little number.
It's a vibe, me imagino que en vivo debe ser una experiencia increíble. Muchos instrumentos en distintas capas, pimpumpam, guitarra a lo loco y todo una locura bárbara. Difícil superar "High and dry" o "Fake Plastic Trees" quizás por una familiaridad y una predisposición a la escucha distinta a escuchar otras cosas por primera vez, pero "(Nice Dream)" y "Bullet Proof... I wish I was" me gustó mucho también. Creo que disfruto de sus canciones más tranquis que las más cargadas a nivel intensidad sonora, quizás por la forma de escucha, no sé. A veces no les entiendo qué dicen cuando cantan, no sé si soy yo o qué, pero por ahí siento esa desconexión con lo que quieren decir, igual gana por el lado de la sonoridad y ambiencia.
1/1001 (And what a start it is) The Bends - Radiohead (1995) The start of a sound that Radiohead would slowly transform and perfect over the next several albums. Despite being an early and less than fully-formed iteration of their sound, this album is still phenomenal, with absolutely no skips. Its coherence is a strength, but also in some ways a weakness, as it doesn't have the same experimental highs as Kid A or big dramatic moments of OK Computer. ★★★★½
I'd probably rank The Bends fourth out of Radiohead's big four but The Bends to High and Dry to Fake Plastic Trees is an unmatched song run
Awesome
a very good album all the way through. a exploration of the different sounds they want to portray.
Bueno , pero sirve para el salto posterior
MY FAKE PLASTIC LOVEEEEEEEEEEE
Loved it. So many good songs, and such a fun thing to return to as an older, wiser person:) I appreciated this album much more than I did when I originally encountered it.
one of the best/most impactful indie and rock albums of the 90s, probably in my top 25 albums oat. particular highlights: - the bends - black star - planet telex - my iron lung
This is not my favorite Radiohead album. I prefer what the band did after The Bends. But this is dang solid.
Love the voice and the music. Could do with some cheerier lyrics every once in awhile however. I added “High and Dry” to my Generator playlist.
Альбом как будто открыл дверь ,в которую потом многие вошли.
Something that I probably wouldn't listen to regularly, but I feel the music's emotions very heavily. I like it when things can invoke that kind of feeling in me. Good album.
High and dry is peak winnie the pooh's soul leaving his body. First track kind of lacks depth/dimension but overall quite good.
Pretty good but not my favorite Radiohead album
AGAIN one i know its also lovely plastic trees is beautiful “just” is weirdly cunty? its a very solid alt rock album but radiohead still isnt fuckin Radiohead at this point. love it tho
I don't listen to Radiohead as often as I should. I need to fix that.
I actually feally like this radiohead album. I didnt really like amnesiac or kid a. But this album definitely us missing that orchestral experumental edge of their later work. Song for song though they basically bat 1000
Solid 90’s melancholic gold right here. Love High And Dry & Fake Plastic Trees. 4.5⭐️ for 📻🗿
It doesn't have 'Creep' but it DOES have 'High and Dry', 'Fake Plastic Trees', and 'Just'
Probably my favorite Radiohead album. 4/5
A true classic!
scho sehr experimentell und paar lieder chli too much aber Radiohead-love bliebt Radiohead love und das laht mich ned under 4 UKW-Abschaltige gah.
Хороший рокерский альбом, мне зашел вайб и атмосфера!
Radiohead wants to get out of the shadow of Creep and creates the road map for future UK rock bands to follow in the next decade.
This sounds like 1994. The album cover is frightening & hilarious at the same time. Some jokes on said cover: Howdy Dowdy sure liked his happy endings. Sex dolls have come a long way.
Some incredibly beautiful songs but for whatever reason it didn’t 100% stick. Definitely on the revisit list because I can only see it growing in my estimation. RYM: Y (#134) Saved a song: Y
I love Radiohead, and think that almost every song they make falls on a spectrum of whiney to psychadelic and they usually find a beautiful sweet spot between the two, but this album leans more "whiney" than psychedelic. It's still really good, but probably not the Radiohead album I'll reach for when opuses like "In Rainbows" "KidA" and even "A Moon Shaped Pool" exist (I haven't head the other Radiohead albums yet so no thoughts on those).
One of my favorite Radiohead albums after first being exposed to them by their mainstream hit Creep. Three of my favorites...High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees and Black Star.
Its a good listen for studying but nothing that really moved me.
I like this one a lot more than OK Computer, but it’s just not quite hitting 5 star territory for me. Lots of great songs here though
Nowhere near Radiohead’s best but… it’s still Radiohead. Shortly before their prime for my tastes but you can still see how the foundations they laid here will grow and develop into records like OK Computer, Kid A and In Rainbows.
Good, but over-rated. 3.5 stars.
Excellent album. Mélancolique, dépressif, nostalgique d'une certaine génération ce qui cristallise complètement l'œuvre dans cette période où l'espoir était encore permis. Même si ce n'est pas du tout le parti pris de l'album. Un poil trop répétitif pour moi. Musique à écouter absolument : Fake Plastic Trees
Iconic work from an iconic band. Music is simultaneously haunting AND catchy. And to think it’s not even their best album
Good
The thing with these albums is sometimes there's backstory that makes the album listen better in context. Outside of that context, this is maybe a 3 for me. I like this album enough, but it's not as powerful as In Rainbows or OK Computer. Now here's some context: this grunge band had just released the song Creep a few years before in the early 90s. And if you comparatively listen to that to the Fade Out song at this album, their sound went from one hit wonder grunge band to... some entire other evolution. Radiohead started pushing introspection. Soft. Melancholy. Less raw. Now this wasn't THE album that revolutionized the grunge movement, but it had influenced it. But mostly, anyone who goes from the fairly basic sound of Creep to this album? Deserves an extra star.
Far better than I remember it. Never going to be my favourite band as I struggle with the vocals but this is far more than just that.
Stellar spacy 90s vibes
This one is pretty great. It's dark and moody, but isn't bogged down by that. I wasn't a fan of every track, but I would 100% listen again or put this album on my shelf. Favorite track(s): "Fake Plastic Trees," "Bullet Proof"
Radiohead em 2026??? Thom yorke tá sendo tão tonho, mas fake plastic trees...
8/10, definitely listen again
i liked the bends, high and dry, fake plastic trees, bones
I feel like this album is the start of Radiohead’s refinement. There’s no extra stuffing on the album with every song creating a picture so directly. Thom Yorke’s vocals are incomparably beautiful and I love that he really lets it all out here. And it’s not just the high notes he hits or the way it feels like he empties out everything when he’s belting out, it’s the totality of his versatility. And the instrumentation is very similar, with being able to swell and match big moments or stay softer and embrace a more somber tone. This isn’t Radiohead at their pinnacle, this is pre enlightenment, but this album does a great job of highlighting their strengths. Radiohead has been a very special band for a very long time. Faves: The Bends, Street Spirit (Fade Out), Planet Telex, Just, Fake Plastic Trees, High and Dry, (Nice Dream)
Thom Yorke’s voice is so soft and delicate giving Jeff Buckley giving babygirl. A more rock album and less experimental but still really good.
Amazingly, this album did not get ruined by the guy who really killed In Ranbows and beat Illinoise into a pulp. I think a lot of it sounds very sweet in all the melancholy in a way that keeps it from being just whiny sad boy music. I especially really like Fake Plastic Trees and the closing track.
can i just say that giving me this album on the day i broke up with a guy i'd been dating for a while who really loves Radiohead is, quite frankly, sick and twisted x anyway. this could have been a 5. i've never properly listened to Radiohead but had quite high expectations given how well-praised they are. i'd already heard a couple songs on this album which i knew i liked. some of the new tracks for me did really grab me ((Nice Dream) is fucking incredible). but i just didn't connect with a few too many of the others for this to be a 5. maybe it'll change with time. i do think it's a really great album - very cohesive and has a nice sound all the way through. but i guess i just found it a bit tame at times? i'm kinda blaming my high expectations there. i have seen others express the same sentiment and apparently this is their most accessible album, so perhaps i'll find their other albums more interesting.
Hated it at first but than it grew on me
Er jo megabra, bare ikke min favoritt
Consistently awesome album.
3 tracks I liked! Interesting mix of emotional tones throughout the album. I didn't recognize any songs
Top Songs: Planet Telex High and Dry Fake Plastic Trees Black Star Street Spirit
Dig this one
The bends although not a britpop album as such certainly is quintessentially british. The effected vocals of thom yorke are in full display here. High and dry is a beautiful song which goes on a minute too long. Just is an amazing and weird rock out that bears several repeats. Street spirit is another song which is staggeringly great in its breadth and scale. Not quite a 5 star album as there are parts that just aren't interesting. What happened next album wise is their zenith.
Love this album. They just kept (and keep) getting better!
already listened to this
Very good.
Good, not my music taste but some songs are amazing. High and Dry, Black Star are classics.
I’m so used to Radiohead making “fringe” music for lonely dudes that I almost can’t believe The Bends was a no-frills rock album this whole time! I regret not checking this one out before OK Computer and A Moon Shaped Pool because it’s so approachable – I would have probably been interested in digging deeper much sooner than I did. Great album overall! There were a few tracks that didn’t do much for me, but the quality is consistently up there and it’s never outright bad. I’ll certainly be coming back to The Bends – I enjoyed it a lot more than Amnesiac and I already felt like that one was a pretty decent LP. Very much looking forward to giving Radiohead’s remaining Book Albums a spin! Highlights: Planet Telex, The Bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, (Nice Dream), Just, My Iron Lung, Sulk, Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Great
Mis favoritas siguen siendo mis favs
This is my favourite Radiohead album, before they started believing their own press.
Voy a ir contra mis propias opiniones antes vertidas por aqui. Radiohead me ponen un poco de los nervios pero este disco lo he tolerado razonablemente bien. ¿Soy yo, o aqui están un poco más comedidos y simplemente intentan componer buenas canciones sin necesidad de epatar a cada dos minutos? Eso o el día que los escuché no estaba estresado (cosa rara últimamente). Este álbum contiene una de mis canciones favoritas de la banda, “Fake Plastic Trees”.
i already have listened to 3/12 songs from this album but i'm honestly excited to listen to the rest of the album. the songs i have saved from this album already are high and dry, fake plastic trees, and bullet proof... i wish i was okay so far really like planet telex and the bends high and dry "you'd kill yourself for recognition" "you're turning into something you're not" "the best thing you've had has gone away" i just love this song... fake plastic trees "it wears her out" "my fake plastic love" "if i could be who you wanted all the time" T-T might cry again... (nice dream) "they love me like I was a brother they protect me, listen to me they dug me my very own garden gave me sunshine, made me happy nice dream" oooh this hit a little too hard... my iron lung "suck your teenage thumb toilet trained and dumb" idk why but i like how black star fades in like that... okay 10/10 wtf
good
Planet Telex - Me gusta la batería de fondo, también la guitarra, te hace sentir como te hundes, como nada volverá a serlo, el problema es que todo lo que haces queda echo y nunca regresara a molderase como desearas, why can't you forget? Es un lamento. The Bends - Es el personaje dandose cuenta de su soledad que nunca nada volver a ser lo que desea lo que fantasea. High and Dry - DONT LEAVE HIGH, DONT LEAVE ME DRY, No me dejes por favor, si alguna vez existió algo tan personal para que en tu momento más bajo rogaras para que no acabara ¿es el momento donde sabes que no vale o la pena o en el que te das cuenta que vale toda la pena? Fake Plastic Threes - Todo es Sintético en una sociedad que te promete que ser atractivo para los otros te conseguira la felicidad. Bones - El dolor es tan sofocante que llega a tus huesos y te baja como gravedad, te vuelve su testigo (Nice Dream) - todo lo que deseas tus sueño más intimos todo lo que alguna te prometiste que lograrias, todo solo es un buen sueño y solo eso, no importa a quien llames a quien consultes a quien moleste todo solo será un buen sueño. Just - te lo haces a ti mismo y nadie más, eso es lo que verdaderamente te hace daño, las palabras no son lo que cortan tu piel ni las miradas, eres tu mismo, tu y nadie más. My Iron Lung - Puedes tener miedo Pero no me puedes dejar asi JSSJSJS AHH COMO ME MAMO LA GUITARRA DEL FINAL me gusta mucho como fusiona su voz con la guitarra. Bullet Proof .... I Wish I Was - Disparame para saber si esto vale la pena. Si se que si lo intento voy a poder con eso y mucho más si soy aprueba de todo, no solo de balas, que podre intentarlo otra vez. Black Star - Ahora que ya no pienso en ti, que ya no estas, pero cada que tu cara en alguien más me derrito y busco a quien culpar que no seas ni tu ni yo. Sulk - Eres como tu papá nunca cambiaras, todo corre por tus venas te quiero cuando estas dispuesta a hacerme feliz, pero y después? Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Intentalo, hazlo antes de que seas cenizas, que no quede nada de ti, hazlo, antes de que todo sea aburrido, antes de que te desvanezca. "Inmerse yourself in love". Jejeje q buen album un 8 d 10? 😜
Radiohead är ett band jag tycker är overrated. Inte för att deras musik är dålig, den är bara underwhelming med tanke på hur alla pratar om den. Jag tycker att album liknar The Verve som jag personligen gillar mer. Jag skulle nog inte sätta på Radiohead själv, men skulle inte bli arg om någon satte på det. Favoritlåtar: High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees. Minst favorit: My Iron Lung
Not Radiohead's best album, but definitely in the top four or five.
I have listened to a few tracks of Radiohead before this, and a few of them come from this album. I don't typically engage in music of this genre but Radiohead has been explained to me as one of the best bands ever. I do not have anything good or bad to say about this album but I do enjoy the vocals and the instruments. The first song is a really good opening and I think it definitely has me hooked going into this album.
strong. i still prefer their later work
Hey, we found a Radiohead album that I actually enjoyed! All things are possible! For my personal tastes, this was the perfect blend of Radiohead experimental sounds and alternative 90s rock. Favorites included ‘Planet Telex’, ‘The Bends’, ‘Just’, ‘My Iron Lung’, and ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’. A few songs didn’t hit for me, but the positives far outweighed the negatives. A very solid 4/5, good album.
Not my favorite Radiohead album but still a good one
Radiohead is my favorite band, and this album has a ton of great songs and I enjoy every one of them. 15+ years ago I’d consider this one of my top albums of all time, but listening to it today it hasn’t aged as well and has definitely been surpassed by some of the band’s other work.
"800 Albums and 500 Singles You Must Hear Before You Die" would be a better book.
After the pre-Britpop straightforwardness of 𝘗𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 is where Radiohead finally lock into the sound that would later strike some listeners as strange and others as quietly revolutionary. The guitars turn atmospheric, the emotions sharpen, and the songwriting becomes far more confident. It’s the first record where the band truly steps into its own identity. A strong 4/5 — not because it lacks anything, but because Radiohead’s most transformative work is still to come.
Not my favorite Radiohead album, but still really strong and solid early-era Radiohead.
Solid album underpinned by Just, High & Dry, the title track. A bit of filler in-between but I guess us time to be prepared for the next masterpiece. Street Spirit is just a perfect way to end an album
Man I forgot how good Radiohead is, I liked this quite a bit.
A nice album for the background
Amazing album. This era of Radiohead is like the opposite of the album I listened to yesterday. It's primarily artsy alternative rock, but is starting to bring in experimental effects and is a clear first step towards what they'll become. The difference is that these are still pop songs with choruses, so they actually have payoff and are enjoyable to listen to.
Perdy damn good, I'd never heard this one.
No entiendo ingles, así que me guio por lo que me haga sentir la musica y si me llega al corazon.
His voice kinda gets on my nerves a little but the actual music is amazing. I love the cinematic aspect of the songs too. I really like “fake plastic trees” and “just”
4.21
So I had this preformed opinion from my teens that I hate Radiohead. I remember one of my friends being obsessed with them and trying desperately to get me to listen to them, and I just didn't get along with their music at all. Slightly embarrassed to admit I enjoyed this quite a lot, to the point I'd happily listen to most of it again. Vocals are decent, largely quite tuneful, not overly whiny. There's the typical indie/alt fuzz, but it's not done to excess. The guitar riffs aren't overly droney or repetitive (in fact, some of them are pretty enjoyable). I definitely preferred the heavier tracks, but even the more atmospheric ones like "Street Spirit" were OK. Gives me Stereophonics x Muse vibes. Highlights: - "Planet Telex" - First track on the album, immediately broke my expectations and preconceptions. - "The Bends" - "High and Dry" - classic. Have to admit I didn't realise this one was Radiohead... Oops. - "Black Star" - "Sulk" - I liked the emotion in this one. It built up really nicely to quite a powerful rock track. Slightly-disgusted-with-myself 4.
i really liked this album
Hello my 90s teen years 👋 I remember this teen depression
7/10
I think I like this version of Radiohead more than what came later. The Bends feels rawer, more direct, and ultimately more accessible to me. The songs are still emotionally charged, but they’re anchored in guitars and melody rather than abstraction and icy distance. There’s an immediacy here that I miss in a lot of their later work. The angst feels human rather than conceptual, and while Thom Yorke’s voice is still very much that voice, it works better for me in this context. It sounds less mannered, more urgent, and more tied to the songs themselves. That’s not to say this is a perfect album or that it reinvents the genre, but it consistently holds my attention in a way later Radiohead often doesn’t. I can hear why people view this as a transitional record, but for my tastes, it lands in a sweet spot: ambitious without being alienating, expressive without feeling self-consciously clever. This is Radiohead when I actually want to keep listening, not just admire from a distance.
A classic of the genre.
--Planet Telex...standard britpop --The Bends...it's a decent song but it would eventually lead to Coldplay --High and Dry...I feel like this song used to hit harder. now seems like a generic radio hit. I might be falling victim to the classic Seinfeld-Isn't-Funny/Simpsons-Did-It problem --Fake Plastic Trees...perhaps slightly overdramatic but still a classic. Thom shines here --Bones...nice, chunky bass. feels like a band with songwriting abilities that exceed their musicianship at this point in their careers. I think that's a compliment --(Nice Dream)...enjoyable --Just...see "Bones" --My Iron Lung...see "Planet Telex" --Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was...I like the arpeggiated guitar and Thom's voice but otherwise meh --Black Star...we return the "the Bends" momentarily --Sulk...I feel like Thom does a lot of the heavy lifting on this record --Street Spirit (Fade Out)...haunting. classic
Hard to not appreciate this when it came out during my time in high school. And it still holds up.
Ya I like Radiohead. What're you gonna do about it
this is a-okay! is it a perfect album for me? no! that’s ok computer!
Good album, great artist.
I like this album a LOT. Much better than "In Rainbows" imo
This is tricky for me to grade. This album is choke full of incredible songs - High and Dry, Blackstar, Street Spirit, Just, Planet Telex, Fake Plastic Trees. If this wasn’t a Radiohead album then it’s an easy five stars. But this is Radiohead and we have to grade them on the Radiohead curve. This album shows the band really maturing from their first album, songwriting, soundscapes, everything. Thing is they really find one formula that works really well for them, this slow build up to a climax. And it’s fabulous it really is it’s just that they needed to expand their vocabulary some more to be really great. They did just that in their next album. Four stars.
didn't feel sad today tbh but the last song really got to me (fadeeeee outttttt)
I think I just liked a Radiohead album. I wonder what my life would have been like if I heard this album as my intro to them instead of Hail to the Thief.
So good.
Good stuff!!
It's all been said before. Tremendous album and not even their best It's on my shelves... Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★★ (9/10) Total reviewed : 205 Already owned : 46 Purchased : 8 To buy list : 6 Nope : 145
Penultimate Radiohead. Guess that means Amnesiac is gonna be the last album I roll from these guys. I suppose it's better to get this one out of the way sooner - I have more things to say about this album by a landslide. I'm pretty sure The Bends has held it's position as my favourite Radiohead album for the longest period of time. In my timeline of favourites, I'm pretty sure I went from The Bends (*) -> OK Computer (***) -> The Bends (*****) -> Long, murky period where I wasn't listening to the band or thinking about them that much -> The Bends (*) -> Hail to the Thief (*) -> Kid A (** -> present), where the asterisks are a vague measure of time that doesn't really mean anything. The Bends worked hard to wrestle its way to the top, but Kid A is just too good, sadly. OKC and HTTT correspond with the times where I felt the most social alienation and when I began to ritualistically distrust Western governance, for the record. I still hold HTTT dearly, but I've kind of soured on OKC in what can only be described as an act of musical sacrilege. So, The Bends. There are many people within the Radiohead fanbase that are locked in a perpetual bleak-measuring competition, where the involved parties desperate to assert their album of choice as the saddest and, therefore, the most emotionally mature. You see it a lot with the In Rainbows crowd, who are despondent about having their album typecast as the happy one. The Bends has always filled that niche for me. I really enjoy the recurring theme of persistence and how the songs are adequately linked under the decompression sickness moniker. Plus, it just helps that the music is incredibly solid. There aren't any moments on here which chafe, unlike with their bigger and better offerings. Anyways, time to hit play. Planet Telex is my favourite song from the album, and it has been for most of the time that I've been a fan. It just kicks so much ass. Obviously, the aspect I'm most in favour of is the guitar reverb. It's interesting how the backing guitars wrap around and engulf the piece, from the echoey verses to the more distorted sound they adopt during the chorus. Standing against the chaos are the resolute piano chords, which go a long way in giving the album a sense of balance and momentum. The drums accomplish this adequately as well. Thom's performance on this track is among his most unique. I struggle to think of another track that has this level of life or energy. Overall, it's one of those rare songs which are all build-up and all pay off, making for one of the best album openers ever. After the incredible first track, the title track comes as a bit of a let down. Initially alienating to me, I've come to appreciate it for the very reason that it's more stripped-back and unambitious. The Bends does a pretty good job of encapsulating decompression sickness, from the lyrics, to the songwriting, to the placement on the album. I don't have much to say about the two biggies, truth be told. I used to really like them when I was just getting into Radiohead, but my aged, more discerning ears don't get as much from listening to these songs anymore. They're pretty formulaic, even if the songs are built on an incredibly strong foundation. Anyways, enough with the cynicism. "High and Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees" feature Thom's most beautiful vocal performances. The acoustic guitar on "High and Dry" is uplifting and is underscored nicely by the growling guitars. The guitar solo is the best aspect of an incredibly tight song, with the thudding, muted percussion and clashing cymbals guiding the song delicately. "Fake Plastic Trees" is functionally the same track, albeit slower and more melancholic. The acoustic guitar has a deeper, more emotional sound and is underscored once again by those great, growling guitars. The parts of the song where the strings assume the role of the growling guitars trump it, however. Those moments are among my favourites of the song. Some of the background elements are good, too. The backing ambience is very nice, and so are the organs. The highlight of the song is, obviously, the "If I could be who you wanted" segment. Gorgeous vocals. For the longest time I used to mishear the chorus of "Bones" as "When you get to feel like alien bones", which I've always preferred to the actual lyric. I do be feeling like alien bones sometimes. Anyways, the song's good. I enjoyed the glorious return of those reverbed guitars, but the best aspects of the song are captured more effectively in the tracks which precede it. "Nice Dream" is equally nice, but is in the same boat as Bones. It does have the benefit of those fantastic leading strings, however. The chaotic second half is pretty cool, too. "Just" is solid. I know I'm sounding a little disaffected by these past few tracks, but it's glowing praise by my standards, trust me. Few albums have this level of consistency. The spiralling guitars work nicely with the subject matter of the song, and I like the balance between the aggression and sadism in Thom's vocals - they segue between one another in a very impressive way. The solo near the end of the track is pretty great, and I've always liked the music video, too. "My Iron Lung" was the first favourite song of mine on this album. I was desperate for daddy Thom's affection at the time, I'll be honest. I recall walking into the living room one time when my mum was watching television and hearing this song in the background of a program she was watching, which is among the more surreal music-related experiences I've had in my life. I was not expecting to encounter this song in the wild. Granted, it isn't even the strangest Radiohead song I've encountered outside of a music-listening context. That story can wait for the Amnesiac review. Anyways, great song. I've always enjoyed how this song takes the general theme of persistence and applies it to something more niche and specific. While it is an incredibly cynical and dour listen, what I enjoy most about it is the passion which shines through. It's cool to hear the general sound of Pablo Honey stomped, mangled and flogged into whatever freak show this song is. The second half of the track is my favourite part because of this. The raw, warbling, distorted sound is really cool. It almost sounds like a precursor to the sound of Paranoid Android, which I think is neat and contextually relevant. I've only vaguely touched on it to this point, but the lyrics are great, too. "Bullet Proof" is pretty good. My only gripe is it's placement on the album. While the material is solid, the second half of this album has an odd track listing. I've always thought Nice Dream was a better lead-in to Iron Lung, and that this song would have been a good lead-in to Street Spirit. In a perfect world, my Bends second half would go Just -> Nice Dream -> Iron Lung -> Sulk -> Black Star -> Bullet Proof -> Street Spirit. "Black Star" is a fantastic late-album track and my second favourite on the album. It's not as ambitious as Planet Telex, but it succeeds greatly at being tried and true, much like the rest of this album. Those thundering, all-encompassing guitars are really great, and the vocal delivery during the chorus is terrific. The stripped back, muted guitars during the verses are no slouch, either. The way that they blend and morph into the chorus is very impressive. Once again, the lyrics and songwriting are great. Nothing like a little vulnerable Radiohead every now and then. The "This is killing me" section is my favourite part of the song. "Sulk" is a bit of a swing and a miss in comparison to the rest of this album, but it's pretty good nonetheless. The vocals are among the most ambitious on the album, and admirably so. I just don't think the songwriting is as strong, and the instrumental doesn't stand out much in comparison to the rest of the album. In any case, it's still good. I think it would benefit greatly from being a lead-in to Black Star - those two songs go hand in hand. Since we're all gonna die, there's one more secret I feel I have to share with you. I did not care for "Street Spirit". Did not care for Street Spirit. Didn'-didn't like it. I-I. I-this is what everyone always says whenever it's-it's all-. I. Listen. I kn- I know- I. Fine. Fine lyrics. Did not like the song. Did not-couldn't get into it. It-it insists upon itself, hapless reader. It insists upon itself. It takes. It ta-. It takes forever getting in. You spend-you spend like two-and-a-half minutes, and then. You know, I can't even- I can't even get through it. I can't even finish the song. I have tried on three separate occasions to get through it and I-I get to the verse with the cracked eggs and the dead birds and- I- but it's not a great lyri- I have no idea what Thom's talking about. It's like he's speaking a different language. That's where I lose interest and hit skip. I love Treefingers. That is my answer to that statement. It's time for my favourite part of these belaboured reviews, and that's the B-sides. They've always been interesting to me as someone who grew up in the digital age of music. I first listened to The Bendsides about a year and a half ago, so these songs are relatively fresh to me. Thom was going nuts during this period of the band. Radiohead generally know what their best material is and appropriately relegate the weaker stuff to the B-sides, but their Bends catalogue is remarkably consistent - easily their best showing, which is made even more impressive by the fact that the Bends is their largest body of music. I'll start with my favourite of the B-sides - "Permanent Daylight", a B-side from My Iron Lung. Fantastic song, and the only one capable of dethroning Planet Telex as my favourite song of the era Those guitars are sublime and kick so much ass. I can't single out a single great moment of the song, as the momentum of the track is its strongest aspect. The way the song transitions from a sombre, atmospheric sound to something more aggressive and harsh is pretty cool, too. Thom's brief vocal section is neat. I like the effect on his voice, and this song marks one of the rare moments in Radiohead history where the percussion stands tall with the guitars. A great song through-and-through. "India Rubber" is the next stand-out B-side, this time a deep cut from the Fake Plastic Trees single. The song ties in excellently with the A-side, and I honestly think it supersedes it in quality. The bittersweet feel is what makes it an exceptional tune. The dour atmosphere which hangs over the track is contrasted nicely with the bouncy guitars and intricate percussion. Great lyrics, too. They add to the song in their own self-pitying way. The laughing at the end of the track bugged me at first, but I'm used to it now. That was from Johnny, if I'm not mistaken. "How Can You Be Sure?" is another great cut, once again from Fake Plastic Trees. It sounds like the lovechild of High and Dry/Fake Platic Trees, albeit stripped-back and unpretentious. For whatever reason, it took a few listens for me to notice that there's a female vocalist on this track. I was too used to Radiohead being a sausagefest, which I guess made my mind block out every instance of womanhood with surgical precision. It didn't stop me from holding the song up as one of my favourites from the Bends, but damn if Dianne Swann doesn't take it to the next level. The way that Thom and Dianne harmonise and overlap with one another during the chorus is gorgeous. The instrumental is by-the-numbers as far as Bends tracks go, but those numbers are primo. The acoustic guitar is especially nice. The last outstanding B-side is Talk Show Host from Street Spirit. One of the rare Radiohead songs with profanity. I'm dancing, fucker. I'm dancing, fucker. I dare. I dare. I dare. Flan at the table. There are fewer things to say about this track in comparison to the rest. It's just a cool tune. I like the nocturnal, low-energy feel of the track, and the drum breaks, distorted guitars and echoey ambience which is added to the song in the latter half is badass. I also like the venomous way that Thom Yorke lays down those accursed words. The Nellee Hooper remix of this song is pretty cool too, from what I recall. Truth be told, I was surprised at first to see that this album made the list. What makes this album great is one of the words I've been using at great length - consistency. There aren't any loose ends on here aside from Sulk, which is still pretty good. The formulaic nature of The Bends is what made me warm to it so early on, and is what made me initially downplay its importance within music history. I can see the merit now that I've been given a lot more time to reflect. There are few albums which get it right as regularly as this one does, and it's notable within Radiohead's discography for how vastly superior it is to their debut, and how it leads in to the greatness the band would achieve just one album later. I cosign this inclusion.
Brilliant but not their best
listened to this a lot in college, often because Nate played it on repeat, but its a great album. High and Dry is probably my favorite Radiohead song. but i also like black star and planet telex
While I'm a Radiohead fan and would consider them somewhere in my list of favorite bands of all time, I don't think this is quite an S-tier album. Some great songs to be sure - Fake Plastic Trees, Street Spirit, High and Dry (haters be damned) - but I just think I like Radiohead more in their "weird experimental" mode rather than "more straighforward rock" mode. This is starting to hint at where they'd start to take things on OK Computer, but I just don't think it's quite a masterpiece. Still a very good album, maybe just not a great one for me.
Still a good album even though they’ve become insufferable prog bores
Very good but only a stepping stone to better works. Still several classic songs.
I previously complained about the amount of Radiohead on this list. Album 5/6 and I can see why this one is here.
Caveat that I love Radiohead and they are one of my favorite bands so there isn't an unbiased thing I can say. In regards to this list I'm not seeking out what is on it ahead of time so I'm not sure what Radiohead albums are on here. If I had to pick only one of theirs for some reason to put on this list it would not be The Bends. The albums they did starting with OK Computer and ending with In Rainbows are where I would insist people spend time listening if they weren't already fans. The first two albums are good but they're fairly straight forward rock albums from that era
Radiohead's first signs of their later greatness. This is the first album in the project that I've heard before. Really love their touch on Britpop/90s alt rock.
10#1001 🇬🇧 Already on to my second Radiohead album of this project. I saw them touring their first album supporting Kingmaker and also reviewed their first album Pablo Honey for our college magazine - i remember giving it 6/10 and saying that whilst it was a bit of a duffer they might go on and be as big as U2 or The Pixies. Fast forward and they released this massive album. I listened to it to death at the time, but that has faded over time so it's been great to revisit it - i've gone through it 3 times today. Its a big fat 4, only because i've made a vow only to give 5s to those albums that blow my minds on a first listen or ones that stand the test of time and continue be my favourites. Best Tracks: Black Star, Just, High and Dry.
Enjoyable with a few stand out tracks
Чудесный альбом. Хочется прыгать под него... Из окна
As much as I dislike Radiohead, I actually like this one. I remember the first time I listened to this album, I was at the 9/11 memorial museum in New York City. Everyone around me was crying but I was more focused on this album than anything around me. Maybe that makes me a bad person, but 9/11 happened too long ago for me to really care about it. In all, this album was pretty good. Those Zionist freaks haven't topped it since.
Great instruments but too whiny
Ok. Well yeah. Obvi bussin. High & Dry and Nice Dream and Fake Plastic Trees are like the soundtrack to my 15 year old wannabe struggling emo girl history. HERstory. The bends also be SLAPPPINNNNN
It's like when Radiohead still enjoyed a solid guitar? I might like this one more than later albums. Less ether, more music. But still Radiohead.
I like his voice. Different than what I thought their other songs would sound like based on Creep. Had heard High and Dry before.
Meu álbum favorito do Radiohead. Canções belíssimas, arranjos primorosos e interpretações incríveis, que dão ao disco um clima soturno e belo.
ok
For some reason I assumed this album was a lot worse than the Radiohead albums I love; it’s actually great!
Very good
This is a great album. My dad would say it's Radiohead's best, but I still think it's OK Computer.
4/5 Radiohead are amazing! Favorite Songs were Fake Plastic Trees, Just and Street Spirit (Fade Out)
I love the early Radiohead era, and the Bends is great. The songs have structure and direction, but have some depth and take some sometimes unorthodox directions, which keeps the songs interesting. 4.3/5
I liked it a lot more than I was expecting, given I've listened to OK Computer and Kid A a couple of times each and thought they were pretty good albums but not as transformative as other people thought. Anyway, I really got into this one, I listened twice in a row and finally feel I got a taste of why for some Radiohead is the greatest band of their era.
Tämån tai minkään nuunkaan bändin riehumisrokki ei säväytä mutta Radioheadin rockballadit on kyllä jotain ihan omaa laatuaan. Street Spirittiä soitin junnuna viikkoja putkeen.
RADIOHEADDDD
4.5
Vibes, περιεργες συγχορδίες
Det var okay, men bliver nok aldrig helt noget, der rører mig. Gode hits indimellem.
jan 8, 2926. not a new listen. already like this album
I’ve heard some of the songs before but It was my first time listening to the whole album. it was a nice album overall but the songs were too repetitive and some were too long for no reason (in my opinion.) All of the songs got me either swinging side to side or bopping my head I really loved it but the lyrics weren’t relatable for me at all so I wasn’t really feeling it when I focused on them. “Just” became my favorite track in this album. I kind of get the hype after listening to it but I find some songs that doesn’t suit my taste so I would rate it a 4/5
Radiohead’s "The Bends" is a great record, and revisiting it after a long time was a real pleasure. I owned the original CD back in the day and still have a digital copy, which made returning to it especially enjoyable. Compared to their debut "Pablo Honey", it’s less grungy and far more refined, and you can clearly hear how it went on to influence bands like Coldplay and, in particular, Muse. I really enjoyed listening to it again.
Estoy confundidoRR… se repite Radiohead? Oye, que si, muy buen album, peró andan uds. cortos de música?
i’ve liked this it’s very nice
Excellent especially fake plastic trees
I never gave Radiohead much thought, but I really enjoyed my time with this album. Would absolutely give Radiohead more time.
I was prepared to hate this album because I was sure I didn't like Radiohead. To my surprise, I enjoyed it. "High and Dry" was the only song I knew. This album will be added to my rotation because I want to learn the other songs also. I'm glad I got over myself and started appreciating Radiohead.
very emotional and melancholy I would listen to this if I was in a sad mood best songs in album street spirit,bullterproof I wish I was and high and dry.My least favorites would probably be bone or (nice dream)
I like it l added most songs to playlist
love it
there's the occasional bit that stops it from a 5 but otherwise it's definitely a high 4 (9/10 if it existed)
Very much surprised I found a new Radiohead song to enjoy: nice dream. Otherwise, there are some real classics in here: High & Dry, Just, Street Spirit. Solid entry even if there are some duds here and there.
• The Bends is a good song, I love the way the instrumental built up throughout • I've heard High and Dry performed live before, though that was a very different arrangement of it. Both versions have sounded really nice • I really like the instrumental for Bones • My brother is a big fan of Just, and I've heard it a ton because of that (though I didn't know its name until now). I see why he likes it so much • It's interesting how Black Star starts with a fade-in while the band's already in full swing. The section they're playing honestly feels more like a bridge than an intro Favourite song: High and Dry
We start in familiar territory. Not their finest work, but definitely a leap forward in their sound and stood out from the crowd when released, standing out in the UK from their Britpop peers by bringing in elements of US alt-rock and post-grunge, building dynamic contrast with walls of sound and melodic intrigue. Early experimentation deep in the layers would come further into the foreground on later releases, but this is an extremely solid sophomore album, and went a long way to influencing the sound of the late 1990s and beyond.
did laundry to this. Pretty good but not life changing. i like iron lung.
very angsty and lots of moody guitar. made me want to stand on a cliff edge in the wind and rain.
Like a lot of people, I thought Radiohead might be a one-hit wonder. I adored "Creep" and liked the first side of Pablo Honey but didn't expect them to have a lot of staying power. I suspect if I had accepted a friend's invitation to go see them at a bar in Atlanta 1993 (and hadn't decided to play Sega hockey instead,) I might have had a better idea of what they could be. But I doubt I could have seen THIS coming from them. This album is fantastic and somewhat overshadowed now because of how amazingly they continued to change and expand on their sound. I would probably give this 4.5 or more but not quite 5.
i love radiohead but not quite a 5/5 i think
Big, emotional and full of beaut guitar noises. Easy to love and still hits hard
Nearly a 5!
The album that I most associate with Radiohead. It must have come out at the right time in my life. Given the above it is my favorite of their albums and a solid all around album.
Rating 8:10 I LOVE RADIOHEAD!! soo I’ve listened to this album before !! my favourite song song of all time is fake plastic trees AAH
The experimental production, different kind of energy but it all fits so well together. Lead vocals fit perfectly with the production and guitar. Build up is great, not every single hits as hard, but Generally a great album.