Thom Yorke: The Eraser

[sprunkner]

What does everyone think?

It ain't Radiohead-- I really, really, really love Johnny Greenwood's guitar work-- but it was pretty good. I could see how Thom's sense of well-constructed songery pulls together the disparate elements of the rest of the band. It felt like an album of the better beat tracks off the last three albums-- like Everything in its Right Place, Where I End and You Begin, and Idioteque. I found most of the songs more interesting than some similar stuff on Hail to the Thief, like Backdrifters. I really liked "Black Swan," if only for the subtle use of the word [composite word including 'f*ck'].

Generally, it's pretty much what I expected-- too much of the same thing, but a good thing nonetheless.

[spiderfrommars]

Thom's got all the electronica stuff out of his system - expect more guitars on future Radiohead stuff now.

It really shows Thom's genius IMO, the way the catchy melodies stand up against such stark instrumentalism. I really like The Eraser, Analyse and Harrowdown Hill (about the death of weapons inspector Kelly).

If you miss Radiohead you could do worse than Muse's new album. Another good solo album is James Dean Bradfield's from the Manics, which really does the opposite of this one - commercial and catchy sounding just like his band.

[KingMob]

Generally, it's pretty much what I expected-- too much of the same thing, but a good thing nonetheless.

This is pretty much it for me; despite the warp-stylings of Kid A and Amnesiac being my favourite things from those albums, I was kind of hoping the Eraser would have a more different sound.
It doesn't, but like you say, no bad thing. Just not muc to get excited by, tbh.
I do like the fact that it rewards intent listening.

(The newest Muse album I really quite like, despite not really being a fan of them before. I like the cheeky fun the huge sci-fi sounds and complete steals littering it bring, daring you to have a problem with them.)