#276 Radiohead, 'The Bends' (1995)

Previously #110

Following the success of breakout single, ‘Creep,’ there was pressure on Radiohead to deliver something even better. After an arduous tour of the USA, the band cancelled their upcoming performance at Reading Festival. Thom Yorke had taken ill. Physically and mentally he was done. Their label, EMI, allegedly told the band that they had 6 months to get themselves sorted or they would be dropped from the label. They entered the studio with John Leckie, the producer behind Stone Roses’ eponymous debut album (#319). Leckie brought with him an engineer named Nigel Godrich, a man who would go on to produce every single Radiohead album following this one, a man who significantly shaped their sound.

The album marked the first turning point in their sound. They had evolved from a post-grunge band into a more experimental, alternative band. It’s a sound different to their debut, but also not quite like follow up record, ‘OK Computer.’ Six songs were released from the record as singles; ‘My Iron Lung,’ ‘High and Dry / Planet Telex,’ ‘Fake Plastic Trees,’ ‘Just,’ ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’ and ‘The Bends.’ In my opinion, ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ features one of Yorke’s most stunning vocal performances. Song still gives me chills. Love the guitar riffs on ‘My Iron Lung’ and ‘Just.’ In fact, all the above mentioned singles were central to the development of alternative music in the mid-‘90s. This album would go on to influence artists like Coldplay, Muse, Travis, and others. A whole generation of British artists, really. ‘The Bends’ was the first real classic Radiohead album.

#rs500albums