King of Limbs

4 years since their album "In Rainbows", Radiohead unexpectedly released their 7th studio album King of Limbs.  This album offers enough diversity to keep the interest of fans and new listeners alike.  The album opens with "Bloom", "Morning Mr. Magpie", "Little by Little", and "Feral".  On first listen, you might think you picked up a Flying Lotus or Prefuse 73 cd.  Thom Yorke's new interest in techno and dub step shines through with intricate syncopations that layer over Phil Selway's trademark beats.  "Feral", which sounds more like an African tribal rave than an english rock band, fades out as the album takes a drastic turn for the second half.  The last four songs are "Lotus Flower", "Codex", "Give up the Ghost", and "Separator".  Radiohead begins to leave behind the heavy bass and intricate beats and make it's way to an optimistic end to the album.  Even if you are not a fan of Radiohead's experimental music, anyone can appreciate the beauty of "Codex" or "Give Up the Ghost".  Simple acoustic chord progressions, with a bass drum, and echoed vocals that ring out like a voice from above, begin to build up the trunk of a tree, reaching to the top of this album.  "Separator" ends with a feathery guitar riff, decorated with trills and accompanied by Yorke's soprano voice singing "and if you think it is over, then you're wrong".  And as though to complete the analogy, the album ends on the optimistic, sunlit note, not unlike the top of the tree.  By the time "Separator" fades out, one is left with a smile, encouraged by the last three songs' surprisingly uplifting tone.  This optimism is in high contrast to albums such as The Bends and Amnesiac, which leave you with a bittersweet taste of the most beautiful depression imaginable.  And although this album seems only a transitional album, not necessarily on par with masterpieces such as Kid A and Ok Computer, this band has surprised us over and over by developing and revolutionizing a new sound.  We should all be "Optimistic" in excitement for what is yet to come from this influential band.  And to put it in Yorke's own words, "if you think this is over, then you're wrong".