Review Summary: "The Bends" is one of the best alternative rock albums of the 90's.
For me, Radiohead's "The Bends" didn't come across as great the first time I listened to it. It just seemed to be a mere expansion of its predecessor "Pablo Honey". But after a few spins, I realized that it was a big improvement over that debut record. In fact, the album is so good that I'd rank it up with the great defining rock records of the 1990's. And while "The Bends" never reaches the creative heights of "OK Computer" (arguably the best album of that decade), it did place Radiohead on the map as one of the era's great emerging talents.
As for the record itself, if Nirvana and The Pixies were the influences behind "Pablo", then R.E.M. and U2 would be the inspirations behind this one. Lead singer Thom Yorke and company really upped their game considerably with this second LP effort. Compared to their debut, this album contains better songwriting, a fuller sound and much improved singing by Yorke. While it has a similar sound to Michael Stipes' band, a few songs also seem to be right out of "Pablo" particularly Planet Telex, Bones and My Iron Lung. However, the tracks are longer and more fully-fleshed giving "The Bends" a more epic feel. It's also a bit more emotional than record # 1 thanks to the greater range Yorke displays.
"The Bends" is one of those alternative classics that you can easily relax to. Like Pearl Jam's "Ten" and The Smashing Pumpkins' "Siamese Dream", it's filled with rocking peaks and quiet valleys. The various songs cover everything from depression to alienation. Yet, it's not grungy, but more comparable to indie art rock. Although it's not the band's best, this is the record newcomers should listen to first. Far more accessible than the electronic works of "Kid A" and "OK Computer", it is art rock that also ranks up with the best of David Bowie and Pink Floyd. Anotherwords, it is a classic.
