citadelbrulee
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As I wrote in my review of *Kid A*, “Radiohead’s strength seems to lie in harder rock.” Unfortunately, what *In Rainbows* delivers instead is a haze of atmospheric inertia: very little tension and release, very little setup or payoff, and too many songs that simply drift until they end.
“15 Step,” “Nude,” and “Reckoner” feel less like full compositions than elongated verses, circling the same half-asleep grooves without building toward ... read more
If I had to choose one word to describe Radiohead’s fourth studio album, it would be “meandering.” The album attempts to establish a cold, negative atmosphere, but it comes across as apathetic through its plain chord progressions, slow instrumental layering, and general lack of change-ups. “How to Disappear Completely” and “Idioteque” in particular suffer from the first two problems, while “Morning Bell” offers a pleasant exception to the ... read more
Captain Beefheart’s third studio album eschews traditional notions of consonance and rhythm in favor of unrelenting, abrasive chaos. Dissonance and syncopation work when they create tension and release, but here, that release never comes. “China Pig” is the closest the album comes to a coherent song, although it sounds like it was recorded in a tin can.
The lyrics, at least, are undeniably creative. “The Dust Blows Forward ’n the Dust Blows Back” and ... read more
About
My Album Rating System:
For each track:
Hard Skip = 0 Points
Soft Skip = 40 Points
Like = 80 Points
Love = 100 Points
Favorite = 120 Points
Rating = Total Points / Track Total, Rounded to Nearest Multiple of 10, Capped at 100
Tracks that are noticeably shorter than most on an album, and skits and interludes < 1:30, are only included if Liked, Loved, or Favorited.
Adjoining tracks may be grouped when they function better as a continuous passage than as separate pieces.
For each track:
Hard Skip = 0 Points
Soft Skip = 40 Points
Like = 80 Points
Love = 100 Points
Favorite = 120 Points
Rating = Total Points / Track Total, Rounded to Nearest Multiple of 10, Capped at 100
Tracks that are noticeably shorter than most on an album, and skits and interludes < 1:30, are only included if Liked, Loved, or Favorited.
Adjoining tracks may be grouped when they function better as a continuous passage than as separate pieces.
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Member since March 20, 2026