[improviduto]

Artist: Radiohead
Album: The Bends
Release: April 4, 1995
Label: Capitol





Summary


After their well received debut, Pablo Honey, Radiohead's follow up album, The Bends, was released to the public on April 4, 1995. Awaiting fans were not disappointed. The very "alternative" sound that emerged onto the rock scene in the early 1990s found itself in Pablo Honey. But the two years between releases created a more mature Radiohead, which culminated into more intelligent music on The Bends. The album catapulted Radiohead from musical followers to musical leaders. But what is it that makes The Bends so important? How is it that Radiohead has become influential juggernauts to so many musicians throughout the mid-1990s to the present?

For starters, The Bends shows itself as an advancement for the band. The general tone of the album is very cathartic, brooding and melancholic. The tone is delivered in a very driving and aggressive, yet seemingly wistful and easy manner leaving the idle listener from the first note of "Planet Telex" to the final ring of "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" in a very cerebral state. It's angry, it's sad, it's anthemic, impaled into each riff, each word. Pure human emotion is sent via music into the ears where it is received as perfectly as it was delivered. The album has a well engineered and full sound and the tracks are perfectly ordered.

The Bends's uniqueness was realized upon inception into the musical scene in 1995. There was nothing really like it and it turned a lot of heads in the music industry. It became an example not so much for the sound, but for the style and grace in which each tune is delivered to its audience. Radiohead had set almost a new standard for how rock music could be done. And to this day it still continues to influence young artists worldwide.

In a journey from first Radiohead album to the current release, any traveler will soon realize just how important this album is, especially when compared to Radiohead's third album, OK Computer. OKC proves for many that Radiohead is completely ahead of their time and dish up the album as quite possibly one of the best albums ever written and produced. However, the sound of Radiohead is a progressive one, to say the least, and requires much retrospective analysis to see exactly where the sound comes from. The Bends is the album that lead to great things for Radiohead, mainly because it was great, itself. This album is a must-have for any Radiohead fan and a must-listen-to for anyone trying to figure out just why rock music is where it's at today. Radiohead's The Bends serves as an example for all musicians as to how pure emotion can be written into something that evokes feelings so real that the listener receives all of which that has been spent for the creation of music and experiences it on a cerebral plane.


Trevor James Hawes
Nov. 14, 2003



Tracks

01. Planet Telex (Radiohead) - 4:18
02. The Bends (Radiohead) - 4:06
03. High and Dry (Radiohead) - 4:17
04. Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead) - 4:50
05. Bones (Radiohead) - 3:08
06. Nice Dream (Radiohead) - 3:53
07. Just (Radiohead) - 3:54
08. My Iron Lung (Radiohead) - 4:36
09. Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was (Radiohead) - 3:28
10. Black Star (Radiohead) - 4:07
11. Sulk (Radiohead) - 3:42
12. Street Spirit (Radiohead) - 4:14

People

Radiohead - Producer, Mixing
Chris Blair - Digital Editing, Mastering
Paul Q. Kolderie - Mixing
Caroline LaVelle - Cello
John Leckie - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Sean Slade - Mixing
Jim Warren - Producer, Engineer
Nigel Godrich - Producer, Engineer
Colin Greenwood - Bass
Jonny Greenwood - Organ, Synthesizer, Guitar, Piano, Recorder, String Arrangements
John Matthias - Violin, Viola
Ed O'Brien - Guitar, Vocals
Phil Selway - Drums
Thom Yorke - Guitar, Piano, Vocals, String Arrangements
Guy Massey - Assistant Engineer
Stanley Donwood - Illustrations
Chris Brown - Engineer



more info at www.allmusic.com

[hasek96]

this album kicks A$$!!!! I love it! I love Radiohead, I think this band is almost flawless. Kid A and Amnesiac, umm, well, they aren't as amazing as their others, but I guess they have their high points...Anyways, this one, OK Computer and Hail to the Theif are all incredible, everyone should give their new one a listen, its not the return to this style of music, but its so amazing, I recommend it to all Radiohead fans, and anyone who considers them a fan of real music in general.

[ben_bloggs]

Its definately the easiest way to get into radiohead.
Its an anthemic, melancholy, uplifting, hard-rocking, gentle album. OK computer is technically great but the bends has more "songs" on. Hail to the thief is also great in places but the bends is just one of the most happy albums ever I think, so dont anyone say they are depressing.

[egnot]

nice write up very well written i thought.
i love this album so much it's possibly my favourite album ever, i also love pablo honey (not as good as the bends but it's still great) and ok computer (save for fitter happier and exit music). it's a pity i feel so betrayed by my one time favourite band now though, they really went off on one for two albums and hail to the thief, while a step in the right (in my opinion) direction isn't yet back to how i'd like them to be. ah well, erm................yeah....good review

[kg815]

what can i say? Radiohead is the best and most important band in rock and roll today. The Bends is a brilliant album.

[itlof]

While OK Computer saw Radiohead putting musical talent to the test, but The Bends showed them evolve their songwriting












My old friend, Grant 1996 - 2002
You will be missed

[lyra14]

It's an excellent album, it suits me quite well. I'm not too crazy about all the songs on the album, even though I like all of them, but some stand out. First of all, Street Spirit is definitely one of the songs that really sticks out on that album. It's a very dark and nearly hopeless song, but there's something in it that always lifts me up a little when I listen to it. I don't know what it is, it's almost like it's saying "whatever will be will be" ("and fade out again"- we all will). But it's just a beautiful song anyways- I can play it on guitar too. And then there's Just- it's quite an agressive song, very hardcore, but they don't have to make it sound hardcore, like a metal song. Jonny Greenwood is incredible, the way he smashes his guitar on that one- especially after the 2nd chourus and middle 8- with those powerchords. And then the pitchshifting bit. It's incredible. Fake Plastic Trees is one of the most brutally honest songs I've ever heard, though it's all covered up, and elusive. Another incredible song though. The album is written from many points of view- some of the songs are simillar, but each song is different in it's own way. Some of my other favs from this album: High and Dry, Planet Telex, Bones, The Bends, Nice Dream, Bulletproof (I could go on and on and write an explanation on these songs, but I don't have the time).

Andrew


Funny science sayings:

-Energetic biologists are mitochondriacs.
-Wave if you've met Schrodinger
-Heisenburg may have slept here?

[alexparker]

Best Album Of All Time

This post has been edited by alexparker: 24 April 2005 - 09:24 AM

[alexparker]

No Song Can Be Better Than Just...

[Graeme! Yes, Graeme!]

Best Album Of All Time

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wouldn't say it's even the best Radiohead album, let alone the best album ever.

[hendrix_fan]

Best Album Of All Time

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wouldn't say it's even the best Radiohead album, let alone the best album ever.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Best Radiohead album.

[annleaha]

Starsailor – On The Outside – Hits Stores August 22nd!!

Have you guys ever heard of Starsailor? I have their first album and I am counting down the days until they release their new one On The Outside on August 22nd! They just released their digital EP with the tracks “In the Crossfire”, “Counterfeit Life”, and “Jeremiah”. EP’s are usually really cheap so if you wanna check them out you should get it. I’m sure it will be available on any music download site. If you do, let me know what you think!
If you are interested in checking Starsailor out you can visit http://www.starsailor.net/

[Nater11]

I'm lovin this album.