 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
In Rainbows
- By Radiohead
- Genre: Indie Rock
Common Sense Media says
Moody, thought-provoking music best for teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although the music and vocals on this CD are haunting and sound depressing, the lyrics really aren't. Most of the songs are obscure, but don't talk about anything that's not safe for teens. "Videotape," however, is the one track that is open to interpretation: Is the subject of the song contemplating suicide or does he just realize that he's just had the most perfect day and couldn't imagine another one like it?
What's the story?
Radiohead does so many things well. They write wonderful poetic lyrics. They transform listeners into a powerful mood with every ebb and flow of their instruments. They're fronted by a haunting, yet somehow welcoming voice. And, they never just throw an album together to get something on the airwaves. All this remains true for the band's latest release, IN RAINBOWS, which fans were allowed to buy on the band's Web site for how ever much they wanted. No doubt the tracks will captivate diehard fans -- even if they can't decipher the mostly obscure lyrics ("Make a sound/Move back home/Get an invitation/With the edges/Sawn off").
Is it any good?
Each song is as intense as the next, both lyrically ("Your eyes/They turn me/Turn me on to phantoms/I follow to the edge of the earth/And fall off/Everybody leaves/If they get the chance") and musically (songs build force with guitar riffs, poignant string instrument solos appear with perfect timing, and Thom Yorke doesn't just sing, he pleads). Listeners will be left with a sense of calm, creativity, and contemplation.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the marketing behind Radiohead's new CD. Why do you think they allowed people to pay what they wanted for the songs? Do you think most people will pay as much as they would if they bought it somewhere that had it at a set price? Why was it only available through their Web site? Did all this create more of a buzz around the release? Was that intentional? Families can also talk about making something different. Why does Radiohead's music and songwriting stand out from other music out there? What is it about popular culture that makes so many artists try to sound the same? Do you think it's hard to be different?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
15 Step is my favorite.
I like 15 Step in this album only... the others are not as good in my opinion.
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AGE
One of my favourite albums ever.
Beautiful. Period. One of the best bands of our decade released one of the best albums of our decade. May not be better than
Kid A, or OK Computer, but it is still an excellent album. Not in everyone's tastes though, so be warned.
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AGE
A 2000s masterpiece, but perhaps a bit negative for younger listeners
A very brooding and engaging album from one of the best bands in existence today. For the most part, it's fine for kids, no swear words (except "hell" in the song Nude). Also some slightly negative imagery in the lyrics, assuming your kids can understand what Thom is saying in the first place.
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AGE
Simple yet Awesome
This is my favorite Radiohead album.
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AGE
Beautiful Beyond Expression.
Radiohead is a brilliant band, and this album really demonstrates this. This band is just... Breath-taking. The music is beautiful and thought-provoking and it is ORIGINAL. You just can't help but to love it!
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AGE
greeeeeeeeat
one of the most brilliant albums i have ever heard.
however, tip for the reviewers: when they are talking about the "most perfect day ever" it is reference to faust (earlier in the albm, there is also song called faust arp)
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AGE
Masterpiece pulls along dark and deep emotion that may overwhelm
I can't understand a four star rating on this album, being that I think its greatness can't even be captured in five. If you like Radiohead, you'll love this album. It is truly a sonic masterpiece.
The themes here are incredibly dark- Radiohead captures much harsher, scarier feelings and imagery than Eminem with no profanity and no sexual references. Be prepared that while some songs may fly by quite harmlessly, songs like All I Need and Videotape send chills that you won't find many other places.
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AGE
Gorgeous classic from the best band in the world right now
Gorgeous, thoughtful, innovative music. Radiohead are a bunch of geeky geniuses, prodigious skills on their instruments and with their songwriting. Very sharp, intelligent lyrics. Pretty songs and beautiful melodies mask strange time signatures and sometimes an improv-jazz feel -- very few of their songs are easy to learn to play. Radiohead tends to be on the cynical side, but it is cynicism mixed with hope. The over-arching theme of their music is to experience the range of human emotions and human experience without losing identity, sense of self, humanity. Many of their songs are very sad, and deeply cynical. The speaker in some of the songs is unhinged with fear, but on other songs, deeply appreciates the small, perfect moments that pepper our lives. On record the band can come off as chilly and mathematical. What is amazing is, the most chilly songs on their record are the most emotional and deep songs live. The band is even better live than on record. These guys are truly geniuses and the band is probably the best band in the world today. The music can be difficult and challenging but consistently rewards adventurous listeners. They have an almost cult like following -- good luck getting concert tickets. Live, they don't interact very much with the audience, forgoing even spotlights on the members, for disambiguated video images of their hands, faces, and other closeups, and abstracted free form computerized doodlings on the video screens, and LED light shows that are "green friendly" and low carbon footprints. The songs almost always transform live, and there are always two or three songs during a concert that will gut the entire audience and leave them in tears. In Rainbows is one of their most listener friendly and immediate records, with lush melodies for the ballads and thrashing fury for the barnstormers. What is freaky scary is how if you alternate the songs from 1997's OK computer with 2008's In Rainbows, and if you do the cross fade just right, you will notice that the two albums are very obviously meant to be played as one piece. The end of a OK Computer song being the lead in to an In Rainbows song. It's pretty jaw dropping and takes Radiohead to an entirely different level. They are scary good at what they do.
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| Artist: | Radiohead |
| Release date: | October 10, 2007 |
| Genre: | Indie Rock |
| Parental advisory: | No |
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