Radiohead, a band formed in 1985 in Oxfordshire, is most commonly known for their hit song “Creep.” The members of the band went to school together at Abingdon School. The band first called themselves “On a Friday” and would rehearse on Fridays in their school’s music room.
One of nine studio albums, “The Bends” is a musical masterpiece that defined a new genre of rock music and created an influence that is still prevalent in modern music.
Overall I would give “The Bends” a nine out of ten. In my opinion, this album is almost perfect, but there are a few issues that don’t quite get it to a ten.
The first thing I like about this album is how different every track is. For example, there is a stark sound difference between the tracks “Planet Telex” and “Fake Plastic Trees.”
One of my favorite aspects of “The Bends” is its lyrical depth. Thom Yorke speaks on themes of alienation, identity, and the human condition and manages to relate to listeners over the years.
“The Bends” was Radiohead’s second album so it is not as experimental and is much easier to listen to compared to things created later in their career such as “Kid A.” I would recommend this album if one is looking to delve into Radiohead deeper than just knowing their hits.
While no album is perfect, “The Bends” comes close. The only reason it is not a ten out of ten for me is that some of the tracks feel like they could be a little more exciting. The tracks on other albums and have more depth and do not hit the same as some of my other favorite Radiohead songs like the ones seen on ¨OK Computer” or ¨In Rainbows.¨
Overall, this is a near-perfect album and will most likely go into the Rock Hall of Fame sometime in the future.