After much waiting and speculation, Radiohead has released the details about their seventh album, ‘In Rainbows’. Still under the guidance of superproducer Nigel Godrich (ever since ‘The Bends’)—but now label-free—after fulfilling their contractual obligation to their former boss, Capitol with 2004’s ‘Hail to the Thief’. Radiohead is now more indie rock than your favorite indie rock band.
Now, get a load of this; the part that’s important to you: Beginning October 10th, less than one week away, you can get the full retail album through Radiohead’s official site and pay what you think it’s worth (and/or what is feasible for you). The mp3 files are yours to keep, forever, DRM-free and ready to be listened to and loved.
Alternatively, there is a tangible and glorious ‘In Rainbows’ “DISCBOX” package for sale that will ship in December—it’s pictured above, costs £40.00 (approx. $81) and will appeal to those who value vinyl LPs, 1411kbps CD masters, package design and album art (put me down for one of those types). …and yet, another option, a regular CD package slated for early 2008 release. But, the pay-what-you-will download deal is what’s current.
Leave it to the best rock band in the world to give this a try. An experiment in “gift economy“! Upon checkout at InRainbows.com, if you’ve selected the “DOWNLOAD” option, you will see the payment field is blank and the only guidance is that “IT’S UP TO YOU“. No, really. $0.00 is perfectly acceptable (you bloody pinchfists!).
Can’t wait ’til October 10th? The blogisfear is teeming with recent concert recordings of ‘In Rainbows’ tracks. So, instead of doing that, I’m passing the baton to Rawkblog, which has a done a fantastic job at collecting these various live recordings right here.
What I really want to do instead is post the classics (one from each album) and some of my favorite bastardizations of classics (a.k.a. the remixes)!
The Classics:
MP3: Radiohead - Creep (1993)
MP3: Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out) (1995)
MP3: Radiohead - Paranoid Android (1997)
MP3: Radiohead - The National Anthem (2000)
MP3: Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong (2001)
MP3: Radiohead - Backdrifts. (Honeymoon is Over.) (2003)
The Bastardizations:
DJ Shadow remixed Radiohead in 2003, however the remix was rejected by Capitol because of the heavy sampling of George W. Bush speeches. DJ shadow pressed up some whitelabel 10″ singles of the track on die-cut vinyl that looks like a demonic Dick Cheney head (see it at Discogs). The limited run was given away with a purchase on his site some years back.
MP3: Radiohead - The Gloaming (DJ Shadow’s Would You Buy a War From This Man Remix) (2003)
An official remix by Four Tet that appeared on 2004’s ‘COM LAG (2plus2isfive)’ ep:
MP3: Radiohead - Skttrbrain (Four Tet Remix) (2004)
A pair of bootleg remixes from a pair of white label vinyls. House and breaks remixes from Phoreyz and Aquasky, respectively.
MP3: Radiohead - Everything in its Right Place (Phoreyz vs. Radiohead Remix) (2001)
MP3: Aquasky vs. Radiohead - Everything in its Right Place (2005)
Whet your appetite? Gobble up classic Radiohead at Amazon.com (CDs are not a dead format!). Get on Radiohead’s InRainbows.com to “pre-order” the download or discbox. It’s like desert, for your ears.
October 10th! We can’t hardly wait!
