Radiohead - 15 Step

In Rainbows has finally gotten its hooks into me. Little by little, song by song, it’s won me over, much to my delight actually. I’m kinda tired of being enslaved to OK Computer sometimes. To all those people who say it’s a grower, you’re so right. It’s like this album was made by people who know the nuances of music so well, almost like they invented it, that they don’t have to lay it on so thick anymore…the beauty is in the details here, not the lush guitar journeys from Mars to which I’m used to giving myself over. Maybe it’s akin to that girl or guy you never really noticed in your classes at school, until one day you just really looked, and all their loveliness hit you in the face.

I think the failed, miserable experience of the local Radiohead concert this weekend has also lured me into the album some more to be honest–it’s now romanticized and holds strange images of torrential rain and opportunities lost.

On that note, “15 Step” is my new favorite song. It is so understatedly nice. It’s also just very tight. I’m not really sure how to describe it or what to say, but the sly introduction of each bit over/into the melody and crunchy beat as the song goes on is so captivating. From the subtle roll in of the guitar after the intro, to the sexy bass groove that Colin starts in on later…it’s just hard not to get sucked in. It’s like a bunch of cogs you get to watch all working together to form a gorgeous aural machine. And the key shifts are lovely at the end; I’m always such a sucker for those.

My other favorite is “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi“…good in a similar but different way. It’s got much more classic pretty in it, I think.

Tags: 15 step, in rainbows, radiohead, song of the day