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Radiohead: worth it?

We want your reviews

10 October 07 - So you’ve chosen what to pay, downloaded your album, and had a quick listen; now we want to know what you make of it? Is In Rainbows worth the amount you chose to pay? How does it compare to Radiohead’s past records? Is the 160kbs rate good enough quality for you?

The new system of downloading the record looks to have been a success so far this morning, with hundreds of thousands of fans downloading a copy of the In Rainbows which has been released in digital format only.

It’s a concept that has courted huge publicity since it was announced - with many industry experts claiming this will change the way music is sold forever.

Music lovers have been able to pre-order the album at the price they want to pay, 6 Music listener Phil from Bramley got up early to get his copy, and he said it worked perfectly well:

“It’s nice that it’s slick and it’s quick, and you get it into your ipod or your computer quickly, it’s pretty basic though there’s no art work, but then again you are not paying a new price.”

While this is not the first time an artist has opted to charge nothing for an album, the move is significant because of Radiohead's prominence in the industry.

In Rainbows is Radiohead's first album since Hail to the Thief, which was released in 2003, after which the band's contract with EMI/Capitol expired.

Paul Williams the editor of industry publication Music Week says although they have been maverick in releasing the album online today, they are going back to basics with the physical release:

“Come early next year they will go back to a record company and then there will be a CD released in the normal way.”

According to Radiohead's spokesman, 6 Music secured the world exclusive first play of a track from In Rainbows this morning, and we will be playing songs all day.

"It’s nice that it’s slick and it’s quick, and you get it into your ipod or your computer quickly" - Phil in Bramley

The debate is raging about the quality of the album download. Is 160 kps enough quality to fully appreciate a Radiohead album? The standard industry download rate is128kps, although i-Tunes have just started offering a higher rate of 256kps. We spoke to Joe Cox, the news editor at What Hi Fi? Magazine and he told us what difference all this makes:

"Typical things you will notice is the music will sound thinner, or harsher. You will lose the fullness or richness of a CD track, you will lose the level of detail on the track, the level of emotion on a vocal or different instruments. Compressing the music will have an effect on the music as a whole."

Vinyl purists may say that CD quality isn't a great standard to aim for anyway, but Joe adds that this is different:

"People originally said that CD was the poor relation of vinyl, with mp3 it's clear that information is being lost, and that the sound will be weaker. Whereas with vinyl and CD it's an emotive argument, with mp3 it's very clear that some of the information is not on the track, it's not up for debate that it will sound worse - it most definitely will."

You can post your reviews of the album as part of this week's Agenda. We'll aim to feature as many as we can on the Music Week this Sunday.
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Adrian Larkin

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Comments so far

Paul Norwich
I love Radioheads music and was very worried indeed that they would not able to match the heights reached by their other work.Now im depressed about having a shelf stacked with Raidohead CDs I will probably never play again after listening to what I consider to be the most perfectly produced, beautiful brilliant addictive Radiohead Album I have EVER HEARD! They have raised the bar yet again.Pay the full price for this you tight B###s##ds!

Sleeves. Sheffield
Definatly worth the �3.68 I paid for it. Radiohead never cease to amaze me, idont care abouyt bit rate or sound quality, to quote another fan as far as Im concerned good = good, simple as that.

Leanna - Lincoln
I am a rather recent Radiohead fan of only a year. I found that some songs I have loved for a long time where by these artists. However, I have downloaded the album for nothing. I am going to buy the CD they will release early next year and I don't want to pay for it twice! The downloaded version will keep me satisfied until I have a beautiful hardcopy which I can hold and has some artwork on it. I like to get the CDs of all the albums I really like, not a few files from the internet. But I think it was an interesting move for Radiohead, and their music is well worth paying for.

pete, bordeaux FR
paid a fiver...after several listens I'm feeling guilty for not paying more, it's that good!!!

Alex Macleod - Oxford
It is true; audiophiles are able to tell the difference between 160, 320 and full CD quality. However, it only really makes a difference on certain songs (typically songs with more distortion, for example the song 15 step on In Rainbows).But how can anybody, audiophile or not, complain about the fact that Radiohead have released their latest album straight to the internet, essentially for free?I'm almost certain that this release is a trend-setter, and that an increasing number of artists will choose to release their music this way, though I'm not sure the honesty box option is viable except for such superbands as Radiohead and their cult-like following.

Roger - Kuala Lumpur
Been a huge radiohead fan since the 90s! Absolutely love this album. Bodysnatchers, Jigsaws, Faust Arp are all highlights of a band finally settling in into what I think is now their signature sound. The best �5.00 purchase I could ever ask for!

Trevor; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
As far as the sound is concerned I've listened to a CD burned from the downloaded tracks, and on with my sony cd player, technics receiver and 4 large woofer/tweeter speaker boxes, I think it sounds awesome. Although, if and when I have the money I do plan on purchasing the vinyl being released later this year.

Tim - Sheffield
Just for a second forget the 'how'- cd, vinyl, mp3, self released, is it 192kb etc. Radiohead are by a videotaped mile the best band of the last 25 years - they prove it again and again. In Rainbows only enhances their singular place in the music terrain. And that is true at 128, 256 or whatever kilobyte you choose....

David Garvin, Loughbrough
I paid �2 for the album as I love their old stuff and still dubious about their new material, so I didn't want to pay full whack and hate it. As I listen to it more it is indeed growing on me and liking it more with each further listen. I think the way music is going now, is you have a listen first then make up your mind if you want to buy it (music will be cheaper too) and then they hike up the cost to see them live, thats where the main money will be made! So only good live bands like U2 and Muse will survive!

Djonko, The Hague
mp3s sound bad, it's as simple as that. people used to say there was no difference between an LP and an audio cassette copy. i guess for those people, there is no difference. the album sounds very under produced. i'm guessing that the musicians produced themselves on this one. it's either a very amateurish attempt with almost every rule broken in the cannon of good production practice, or a work of considerable naive genius. typically radiohead then. aside from the production, the album is very strong, good writing and performances. i paid as much for my download as i am being paid to write this review...

Simmo in Somerset
I cant get past 'Weird Fishes' to take in any more of the tracks, its such a work of wonderous beauty, reminiscent of 'Let down'.

Matt in Ipswich
I loved this album, I downloaded it this morning (paid a tenner) and have been listening to it all day. It was a relief to find Thom Yorke back on top form once more, as I was extremely disapointed with his solo album. All in all, great stuff. The download rate is irrelevant.

Phil, Selkirk
I'm a big Radiohead fan, and downloaded the album on wednesday. Paid �12 for it too, the best �12 I'll probably ever spend. Videotape's brilliant, can't stop listening to it.

Daniel Shropshire
I paid �4.00 and would have paid more if I had known how good the overall tracks were. very pleased good work, regarding quality nothing will ever beat vinyl maybe they should release inrainbows on vinyl with a beautiful cover and fold out sleeve. Then if people want quick easy music they can download, if they want the beauty of the sound in better quality then purcahse the vinyl

Dave/Manchester
Again, they have left me speechless with how good they actually are, it's sometimes easy to forget. I paid �6.00 and is probably the best money I have ever spent

Ben in London
I am a huge Radiohead fan but I haven't downloaded the album because I do not want to listen to it through my high end system at 160Kbps because it will sound poor. Even at 320Kbps on a standard system, anyone who plays a musical instrument to a reasonable standard or has experience of production processes can hear the difference between 160, 320 and a CD. Given the quality that this recording will undoubtedly have been produced to, it seems a shame to have it delivered at what is, irrefutably, lower quality than necessary.

Ani from Ipswich
I don't understand the debate regarding the downloadable version only being 160 kbs, it sounds as good as a CD, also to say "The standard industry download rate is 128kps" is a misnomer as there is no industry standard and you can't equate sound quality to kbs between the different formats.

Jay - Leeds
It's beautiful, unique and uplifting. After all the "next best thing" acts of the last two years, Radiohead make an avante garde yet accessible thrilling album which wipes the floor with all of them. Many more listens required but already every new listen uncovers greater depth. And there I was happy with Maps - now the runner up album of the year.

Max London
What can i say. They are the most important band of the last 25 years. Listening to their music makes you realize even more how poor,commercialized,dull the music scene has become nowadays. Respect,Respect,Respect to the only musicians we can call really call ARTISTS today. Reckoner is the best song ever recorded.

Graham, Manchester
I'm really disappointed with the website - it's really really slow to let me pay for the download, and seems to take ages to load very basic pages, some of which don't even work! i expected more. songs are good though!

Jeff Elbel, Wheaton
I prefer the uptempo songs like Bodysnatchers, Arpeggi, and Jigsaw. The 160 kbps quality would be frustrating to me if that was all I was ever going to hear, but it's great to have the mp3s in advance of the full-bandwidth CD version. I do consider �40 a high price, but I'm interested to support the band. Given a choice, I'd have bought either the CDs or the vinyl, but not both.

sach sofia
This album is brilliant and I think It's the musical event of the year. Music in this record is more important than the quality of mp3 160 kbs. In rainbows is the greatest adventure of the band. I think this album is the album of the year.The more you listening it the more you like it

Gerard, Castlederg
Had a few listens now and absolutely loving it. I paid �5.07 for the album which is worth a lot more but it has convinced that getting the boxset is definitely the right thing to do so they will get an extra �40 out of me. Loving Jigsaw and Bodysnatchers. But I know that the "beautiful" songs on the album will probably become my favourites over time - 'Nude', 'Weird Fish', 'House of Cards'. I have tried to be objective and unbiased and I still thinks it pure class. Now all I need are tour dates!!!

Owen, Penrith
It should have been higher than 160kbps but saying that it is still a sonically beautiful album. The whole concept was a fantastic idea, made waiting for the album all the more exciting. Next time, higher quality audio and some artwork would be nice. Maybe even a short time period to assess the album before paying what you think it�s worth.

PS/Calgary, Canada
The download became available after midnight my time and I stayed up very late listening to it. Its great! I can't wait for the discbox.

Matt Wales
Brilliant. I wished I Payed more.

Kevin,Reading
Weird Fishes is a fantastic track,this first Radiohead album i have "bought"

John, Derby
I'm on my first listen and its sounding good.I don't think anyone can give a proper verdict on a radiohead album on the first day. They are all growers in my opinion.Radiohead are my favorite band and I can't wait to have this peace of music knocking around my head in the coming months.And I can't wait for the bonus CD with the diskbox :p

Robin, Edinburgh
Maria, I'm at work - will give it a listen tonight. Glad you're impressed.

Hernan / London
yes, worth all the waiting. My impression well it goes like this (track by track):15 step: how could we ended sounding so happy?Bodysnatchers: Probably a bit too Pearl Jammy, but very good.Nude: we know how to smooch.Weird fishes: Icelandic nod.All I need: Melancholic and romantic.Faust Arp: Beautiful and sweet with reminiscences of The Beatles via RHCP "Road Trippin" sounds.Reckoner: Great structure, reminding me of RHCP "Soul to squeeze" era (Bends era).House of Cards: Ethereal beauty, the sound that R.E.M should've aimed lately.Jigsaw: The sound of "the Bends" done better.Videotape: Adieu a la "Neon Bible"Sorry to sound over simplistic with such utterly original work, but it helps me to make sense of it all at first listenings.An album to enjoy rather than to contemplate.

Thomas, Belfast
Fantastic album, listened twice, but still haven't reached the track on the album I was most looking forward to hearing a studio version of, "Videotape", I will later on my third listen through. There's a few real standout tracks - "Nude" and "Bodysnatchers" off hand.That said, the biggest disappointment is that the other tracks they played live that were really good ("Up on the Ladder" and "4 Minute Warning"), I won't get to hear until I get my Discbox. Based on track listings, the second disc is a far more interesting collection. In fact, if "Videotape", "Nude" and "Bodysnatchers" had been added to disc 2, it would have been a contender for best Radiohead album.Overall, this sounds more like a follow up to Amnesiac than Hail to the Thief did, while not sounding like either. Like Amnesiac, there's no clear singles that could be taken from this. It's some beautiful music, nothing more and certainly nothing less. I have trouble sleeping, so I often listen to Amnesiac to try and lull myself to sleep - I can see an Amnesiac/In Rainbows playlist being on the cards for future bouts of inability to sleep. It has that kind of feel, sleepy, but not in a bad way.

Paul, Maidenhead
havent heard it yet, but i cant wait. disagree with adrian though, there must be a significant amount of people who want better than 160kbps sound quality, considering their music's texure as beefy said. also disappointed with no artwork.radiohead seem to have a good idea of what they can get away with because they know were lucky to have them at all

Lorrie
Sounds good to so far - worth 3 quid that's what i chucked in.

Adrian, London
I download this album for 1�, and I would have paid much more for it. The fact that the quality is only 160kps is negligible to 99 percent of the population. The music is much different from the last album, from the general textures to the way it was recorded. Some tracks are reminiscent of Phil Spector, and after a single listen, I am already enthralled with every last tune.

Beefy, Manchester
160kbps MP3's? Why not 320's, or at least 192's? A band as layored and textured as Radiohead surely can't be appreciated at 160. I applaud the idea, but not impressed with the delivery.

Maria, Exeter
Hi Robin in Edinburgh - am loving the album.haven't you downloaded yet?

Chris, Shrivenham
Had a single listen to In Rainbows when I downloaded it this morning. In short, there's nothing that gripped me - and my favourite Radiohead album is Amnesiac, not music you'd call unchallenging. Now, I'll give it a another go later but it's not love-at-first-sight.As for the "Pay What You Like"... for me it was �1. For �10, I want a CD having heard a few tracks on the radio before I buy. I reckon a quid gives plenty considering there's now manufacture, distribution and limited marketing costs. And the below CD quality audioSo 3 stars out of 5. And one of those if for imaginative marketing.

Robin, Edinburgh
Maria in Exeter. It's DRM free, so you should be able to email it to a PC with I-Tunes on it. Is it any good?

Tom, Exeter
Stories about Radiohead's 'digital only' release should probably include a note that the band is also selling a 40-quid box set! And a download version saves a huge amount of money on production, marketing and distribution costs. 'Good nature' my ar*e! Good publicity though. And a tad cooler than giving your CD away with the Daily Mail...

Maria, Exeter
I can't get the music to burn onto a cd and have downloaded to a pc which does not have my itunes on it....argh!Anyone know how to get round this without downloading again from site?

Gaz, london
I cant think of any other band that has the same global fan base to be able do this. I think most fans like myself will by the boxset. They push the boudaries in their music aswell as anything else. Most radiohead fans I think will buy the boxset....making the band a lot of money. so what. I would rather the band get it then some music exec. Thing is about radioheads albums is that its not just about the music, there is the artwork, the packaging and everything else that goes with it. You get so much more for your money than from any other band. They are worth every penny.

Jason, Worcester
What would the band normally get for a CD sale? I'd like to know I'm not selling them short. Not that they need the money, but nor do I need to get a cheap album on the back of someone's good nature.