If you've been living under a rock for the past month or so you may not have heard that Radiohead have had a new album out. What's that? You had no idea that one of the most influential Rock bands of this generation put out another record? Well then it's about time you stepped up to the digital age my friend because Radiohead sprung their new release as a digital-only download. Now before vinyl fossils get their panties all in a bunch take a deep breath and understand that the CD release will be sometime in January, but for all intents and purposes, In Rainbows will always be remembered as the album that you could name your own price for in October 2007. Oh that's right, I forgot to mention, if you go and download the new Radiohead album off their website you get to choose how much you want to pay for it. If you want it for free, well there you go it's yours for the taking. Call it a thank you to all the loyal fans who have downright worshiped this U.K. five-piece since their early 90's inception.

Now for the real and frankly more important question, does In Rainbows actually live up to all the crazy hype that goes into every Radiohead release? Thankfully, for the most part, yes it does. Surprisingly however, this album takes quite a few listens to grow on listeners; especially ones who have their ears set for unabashed Electronic squall and coldly introverted vocals and lyrics. The downright warmth of In Rainbows is actually what takes some getting used to. When Thom Yorke croons "I don't want to be your friend, I just wanna be your lover" on "House of Cards" it takes the brain a few clicks to process that Yorke isn't being cynical, morose or antagonistic, he's actually being…well, sweet. "All I Need" is fashioned in that sense as well. Even though it starts off with cold keyboard play, the uplifting piano and Yorke's soaring vocals make for a Radiohead song not pissed off and downtrodden, but hopeful and uplifting. That's not to say that In Rainbows is all sugar and spice and everything nice though. The one truly rocking track in the 10-song bunch here, "Bodysnatchers," finds Yorke bellowing the chorus "I have no idea what you're talking about!" over Johnny Greenwood's frantic guitar work. In Rainbows will have its detractors that'll complain it's nowhere as good as OK Computer or Kid A, but lets be realistic folks, what is? What In Rainbows IS however is an understated and dreamlike album from a band that seem to have finally started to sound like they're becoming comfortable in their own skin.