THE BENDS

It really begins here, radiohead shook off the nirvana-ness of thier debut album and found their true sound here. It is evident from the very opening of "Planet Telex", a brilliant album with extraordinary lyrics and musical arrangement. This is a chilling introduction that pulls the listner in and suggests a brilliant ride. I must have heard this album a million times and it is always an incredible piece. Planet Telex is a great welcome to pure radiohead and immense music.

The guitar opening of the bends doesn't really suggest prog or experimentalism but the album follows on to a lot of unique sounds which are truely "out there". This recognised radiohead as a truely different rock act to come out of britain and take everyone by storm. "High and Dry" is a beautiful acoustic piece of music. Thoms voice has this sort of boring British depressing touch to it, which fits perfectly with the music. This is what makes Thom such a great vocalist even if he is far from being a Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice or Matt Bellamy, though that kind of vocal power isn't neccessary.

Jonny Greenwoods guitar manages to create the perfect soundtrack to a dull british depressing life mixed with angst, rock and energy. This albums lyrics, vocals and musical atmosphere provide a great release from it all. The music is deep and complex yet manages to compete with the simpler mainstream competition. This band have inspired so many and it all began here. "Fake Plastic Trees" carries on the beauty of misery with Thom hitting the high and emotional voice at the end of the song, providing one of Radioheads standout moments.

This depressing anarchy continues till album stunner "Just", delivering great guitar work, quirky experimentalism that was welcomed well into the britpop movement of the time. "My Iron Lung" serves as a great anthemic, Radiohead rock song. "Black Star" continues the power and emotion whilst "Sulk" is a standout outlook on being bummed out.

The album closer, "Street Spirit" really pushes the band and is a perfect prelude to what they became with OK Computer, this is truly the begining phase of all the qualities that brought Radiohead onto this site. This album is not prog per sey but in a weird and ironic way it brings all of the things that make a good prog and anti-mainsteam band into the mainstream. Introducing the world to a much more challenging and complex way of making music.