Radiohead's 'rainbow' of sound

Radiohead – In Rainbows (Inrainbows.com): During the opening track, "15 Step," a jazzy guitar progression gives way to a maypole swirl of sound – its spasmodic beats barely contained by the musical centrifugal force – when, suddenly, a group of schoolchildren joyfully shout, "yaaaay!" It'll make you grin, something no Radiohead track has done before. The most unexpected aspect of "In Rainbows" isn't the British band's paradigm-altering decision to allow each fan to choose how much to pay for a download of the album – it's the music itself. On a good day, vocalist Thom Yorke tends to sound as miserable as a November rainstorm. On a bad day, he seems to channel the paranoia of a man who has crammed selected works of Franz Kafka, William S. Burroughs, and Philip K. Dick into an all-nighter. But on "In Rainbows," it's a surprise to hear Yorke sounded euphoric on some songs. There are still moments of the quintet's trademark gloom ("Bodysnatchers"), and "In Rainbows" is still recognizably Radiohead: Dada-esque arrangements, no discernible choruses, and moments when the guitarists Ed O'Brien and Jonny Greenwood crackle like a Van Der Graaf Generator. But, for the most part, there's an emphasis on graceful arcs, romantic sighs, and celestial harmonies on dreamy pieces such as "Arpeggi/Weird Fishes," "All I Need," and "House of Cards." It's their most unashamedly melodic material in a decade, and they've managed to lighten up without forgoing their musical gravitas. On the album closer, "Videotape," Yorke even declares, "Today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen." Grade: A – Stephen Humphries