I don't think that I've ever had to write a music review quite like this before.
You see, first there we're records. Twelve-inch slabs of vinyl that you put on a turntable, and then laid back in your "stereo chair" — conveniently centered between a pair of speakers of course. From there, you usually cracked a cold one, lit up a fat one — or whatever your chosen mode of attitude adjustment might be — and then flipped open the jacket to pour over the lyric sheet and the liner notes.
Then there was the CD. Smaller, cleaner — if not exactly warmer sounding. But pretty much the same deal, even though you might need a pair of glasses to read the lyrics cause the print was so much tinier on those damn little booklets.
The thing is, writing a review was something made easy because what you were writing about was something tangible. Something you could actually hold in your hands. You could look at the artwork, read about who played what on which track, and take down your necessary notes while going about the joyful task of giving your chosen subject a critical listen.
So at this point, I should probably interject that it is not my intention to open up a debate about the merits — or lack thereof — of today's music delivery systems. The MP3 download is here to stay whether I personally like it or not — and there are a number of reasons that I don't, which I won't go into here. It has its obvious advantages — the most notable of which are accessibility and mobility in use. It also has its drawbacks, which include the ability to hold a piece of art in your hands the same way you would hold the Mona Lisa, or say, a copy of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Another drawback though, would be making writing a review the simple, enjoyable task that it used to be. But here goes anyway. The new Radiohead album, In Rainbows, is the first album I have ever written about that — at least at this moment — is available only as a download.
So here is the story so far.
Article comments
1 - Greeny
"But before I get to that, just one more thing about the format. I personally find it frustrating the way that once you unzip the download file, it breaks into ten tracks that have to be played seperately. Yeah, I know I'm eventually just going to burn a CD anyway. But for now, having to refresh my Windows Media Player to play each track while I try to write about the album is just plain annoying. Now that I've got that off my chest..."
Hmmm..? If I got right what your trying to say here, I'm really kind of shocked, kind of amused. There's no way what your saying could be true. No matter which ever music player you choose to use there is no way that you would be forced to listen in pieces. If the windows media player seem to be too complicated then get winamp or some other real audio player.
2 - danny
erm you can load all ten tracks in media player if you want. then it'll play them. in order. without all that pesky having to get up and turn the record over that used to blight our lives back in the days of vinyl... ;-)
3 - Mark Saleski
nice review glen. i haven't gotten to this yet, but i think i will.
(p.s. dude, windows media player? screw that! get winamp. seriously. that's what i use, and you know how much tolerance i have for quirky software (none!))
4 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"it breaks into ten tracks that have to be played seperately."
Great stuff...*Smirk*
1.Select your favorite music files(ctrl+left-click or highlight with the "lasso").
2.Right-click any one of those files.
3.Choose "Add to my Now Playing list"
Voila.. Now you can have fond memories of that crackle & hiss(160kbps) without the worry of scratching your favorite vinyl.
Anyways, Good Review.
5 - Sumanto
Heh heh heh. Experienced reviewer, mp3 newbie. Playlist?
I wish Jammie Thomas had gotten in touch with you before the judgement.
6 - Nick
Really? You sit down and write a review of an album (a Radiohead album, no less) after listening to it twice? I wish I could have read that infromation before I gave any credence to the remainder of this review. Incredible.
7 - Glen Boyd
It's called a deadline Nick (albeit in this case a self-imposed one). Reviweers usually don't have the luxury of living with the release for a month or too before they write about it, because by then the public will have moved on.
As to the other comments, as you may have noticed I am somewhat of an "old school" type guy, as far as "techology" goes. Guilty as charged. But I'll get this whole computer business one of these days I suppose...
Thanx all for the comments.
-Glen
P.S. I do love the actual album.
8 - Tom Johnson
I feel pretty much the same way - a great album, and it grows on me with each listen the way a great album should.
As for Windows Media Player, just drag the 10 files into it and they'll all play the way you want them to. But, yeah, Winamp is probably the best choice, although I really don't have any problems with WMP.
9 - neil g
In time this album will become as recognised and celebrated as Dark Side of the Moon and Sgt. Peppers. Lonely Hearts Club Band.
With the release of In Rainbows RadioHead has published 10 tracks that are completely relevant to the world 21st century man has built for himself. The music immediately strikes the human soul and makes one recognise the intimacy with which we are involved with all that happens in and around us.
Just listen to this album, while you are working, on the train, at home with your family, alone in the dark, while running on the treadmill - it is so close to being, that it is like listening to something familiar that you heard while incubating in the womb, but at the same time you struggle to to hear what is being said and have to listen to it again. STUNNING TERRIFIC BEAUTIFUL EVOCATIVE!!!!
10 - Kara Boo
Is the album for Radiohead fans only?
11 - Glen Boyd
No Kara, it's for anyone who wants to download it. I recommend you do so immediately.
-Glen
12 - Paul Browne - People and Technology
Doing a quick survey on how much people paid for Radiohead in Rainbos. Current Survey results and prices paid are here.
BTW , I thought the album was good, but not great (compared to The Bends).
13 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
So far, this is the only Radiohead album I have enjoyed thoroughly.I definitely appreciate their translations of trip-hop,jazz,etc.. This is kinda like Beck's best song(ever) from the movie,"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and, for me, sits right up there with NIN's latest.