The Bends

Description

A giant step forward. That is the lesson one takes away about “The Bends” in relation to Radiohead’s previous album, “Pablo Honey.” Right from the start, the band tolerates little competition with these twelve prestigious tracks and conveys a thrill to its listeners. From “Planet Telex” onward, Jonny Greenwood’s guitar unfurls all its ambition, going so far as to make history on “Fake Plastic Trees” or “My Iron Lung,” while Thom Yorke’s voice is at times gentle, at times raw throughout the album. The band has opened a melodic Pandora’s box and is seeking to stand out forever, a feeling conveyed by the final track, “Street Spirit,” a magnificent melancholic spiral.