In Rainbows
In Rainbows is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was self-released on 10 October 2007 as a pay-what-you-want download, followed by a physical release internationally through XL Recordings in December 2007 and in North America through TBD Records on 1 January 2008. It was Radiohead's first release after their recording contract with EMI ended with their previous album Hail to the Thief (2003).
In Rainbows | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 10 October 2007 | |||
Recorded | February 2005 – June 2007 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:39 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer | Nigel Godrich | |||
Radiohead chronology | ||||
| ||||
Radiohead studio album chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from In Rainbows | ||||
|
Radiohead began work on In Rainbows in early 2005. In 2006, after initial recording sessions with new producer Spike Stent proved fruitless, the band toured Europe and North America, performing the new material. After re-enlisting longtime producer Nigel Godrich, Radiohead recorded in the country houses Halswell House and Tottenham House, Godrich's London studio, and Radiohead's Oxfordshire studio. In Rainbows is more personal than previous Radiohead albums, with singer Thom Yorke describing it as "seduction songs".[1] Radiohead incorporated a variety of styles and instruments, using electronic instruments, strings, piano, and the ondes Martenot.
The pay-what-you-want release, the first for a major act, made headlines around the world and sparked debate about implications for the music industry. Radiohead promoted In Rainbows with webcasts, remix and music video competitions, a worldwide tour, and videos for the singles "Jigsaw Falling into Place", "Nude", "House of Cards" and "Reckoner". The retail release topped the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, and by October 2008 In Rainbows had sold over three million copies worldwide. It received critical acclaim, winning Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, and was ranked one of the best albums of the year and the decade by various publications. In 2012, Rolling Stone placed In Rainbows at number 336 on its updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[2]
Background
In 2004, after finishing the world tour for their sixth studio album Hail to the Thief (2003), Radiohead went on hiatus. As Hail to the Thief was the last album released under their six-album contract with EMI, the band had no contractual obligation to release new material. According to the New York Times, in 2006, Radiohead were "by far the world's most popular unsigned band".[3]
Drummer Philip Selway said: "It was definitely time to take a break. There was still a desire amongst us to make music, but also a realisation that other aspects of our lives were being neglected. And we'd come to the end of our contract, which gives you a natural point to look back over at what you've achieved as a band."[4] Singer and songwriter Thom Yorke recorded his first solo album, The Eraser (2006), and multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood composed his first solo works, the soundtracks Bodysong (2004) and There Will Be Blood (2007).[4]
Recording
In March 2005, Radiohead began writing and recording new music in their Oxfordshire studio. Guitarist Ed O'Brien said they chose to work without their longtime producer Nigel Godrich to "get out of the comfort zone ... We've been working together for 10 years, and we all love one another too much."[5] Bassist Colin Greenwood later denied this, saying Godrich had been busy working with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck.[6] At the Ether Festival in July 2005, Greenwood and Yorke performed a version of the future In Rainbows track "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" with the London Sinfonietta orchestra and the Arab Orchestra of Nazareth.[7]
Regular recording sessions began in August 2005, with Radiohead updating fans on their progress intermittently on their new blog, Dead Air Space. The sessions were slow, and the band struggled to regain confidence; according to Yorke, "we spent a long time in the studio just not going anywhere, wasting our time, and that was really, really frustrating."[8] They attributed their slow progress to a lack of momentum after their break[8] and the lack of deadline and producer.[4] O'Brien said the band considered splitting up, but kept working "because when you got beyond all the shit and the bollocks, the core of these songs were really good".[4]
In December 2005, Radiohead hired producer Spike Stent, who had worked with artists including U2 and Björk, to help them work through their material. O'Brien told Mojo: "Spike listened to the stuff we'd been self-producing. These weren't demos, they’d been recorded in proper studios, and he said, 'The sounds aren't good enough.'"[4] However, the collaboration with Stent was unsuccessful.[9]
In an effort to break the deadlock, Radiohead decided to tour for the first time since 2004. They performed in Europe and North America in May and June 2006, and returned to Europe for several festivals in August, performing many new songs.[8] According to Yorke, "We basically had all these half-formed songs, and we just had to get it together. And rather than it being a nightmare, it was really, really good fun, because suddenly everyone is being spontaneous and no one's self-conscious because you're not in the studio ... It felt like being 16 again."[8]
After the tour, Radiohead scrapped their work and re-enlisted Godrich,[9] who, according to Yorke, "gave us a walloping kick up the arse".[10] In October 2006, recording started at Tottenham House in Marlborough, Wiltshire, a country house scouted by Godrich where Radiohead worked for three weeks. The band members lived in caravans, as the building was in a state of disrepair;[4] Yorke described it as "derelict in the stricter sense of the word, where there's holes in the floor, rain coming through the ceilings, half the window panes missing ... There were places you just basically didn't go. It definitely had an effect. It had some pretty strange vibes."[10] The sessions were productive, and the band recorded "Jigsaw Falling into Place" and "Bodysnatchers".[11] In October, Yorke wrote on Dead Air Space that Radiohead had "started the record properly now ... starting to get somewhere I think. Finally."[12]
In December 2006, sessions took place at Halswell House, Taunton, and Godrich's Hospital Studios in Covent Garden, where the band recorded "Videotape" and "Nude".[4] In January 2007, Radiohead resumed recording in their Oxfordshire studio and started to post photos, lyrics, videos and samples of new songs on Dead Air Space.[13] In June, having wrapped up recording, Godrich posted clips of songs on Dead Air Space.[14][15]
Excluding "Last Flowers", which Yorke recorded in the Eraser sessions,[16] the In Rainbows sessions produced 16 songs.[17] Feeling Hail to the Thief had been overlong, Radiohead wanted their seventh album to be concise.[17] Yorke said: "I believe in the rock album as an artistic form of expression. In Rainbows is a conscious return to this form of 45-minute statement ... Our aim was to describe in 45 minutes, as coherently and conclusively as possible, what moves us."[18] They settled on 10 songs, saving the rest for a bonus disc included in the limited edition.[19] The album was mastered by Bob Ludwig in July 2007 at Gateway Mastering, New York City.[20]
Music
In Rainbows incorporates elements of art rock,[21] experimental rock,[21][22] art pop,[23] and electronica.[24] The opening track, "15 Step", features a handclap rhythm inspired by "Fuck the Pain Away" by Peaches.[25] Radiohead planned to record handclaps by a group of children from the Matrix Music School & Arts Centre in Oxford;[26] when the clapping proved "not quite good enough", they recorded the children cheering instead.[1]
Radiohead recorded a version of "Nude" during the OK Computer sessions, but discarded it. The OK Computer version was inspired by Al Green, and featured a Hammond organ, a "straighter" feel, and different lyrics.[27] During the early sessions for In Rainbows, Colin Greenwood wrote a new bassline for the song, which, according to Godrich, "transformed it from something very straight into something that had much more of a rhythmic flow".[27]
Radiohead performed a song with the working title "Reckoner" in 2001. During the In Rainbows sessions, they abandoned the original "Reckoner" and created a new song with the same name.[17] Yorke released the original song as a solo single, "Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses", in 2009.[28]
"Bodysnatchers", a song Yorke described as sounding like Wolfmother and "Neu! meets dodgy hippy rock",[4] was recorded when he was in a period of "hyperactive mania".[1] On "All I Need", Jonny Greenwood wanted to capture the white noise generated by a band playing loudly in a room, a sound which never occurs in the studio. His solution was to have a string section play every note of the scale, blanketing the frequencies.[29]
Yorke described the process of composing "Videotape" as "absolute agony", stating that the song "went through every possible parameter". One day, Yorke left the studio, and returned to find that Godrich and Jonny Greenwood had stripped the song down to a minimal piano ballad.[30]
Lyrics
Yorke said that the In Rainbows lyrics are based on "that anonymous fear thing, sitting in traffic, thinking, 'I'm sure I'm supposed to be doing something else' ... it's similar to OK Computer in a way. It's much more terrifying."[31] He said that whereas Hail to the Thief was a "very angry" record, there was "very little anger in In Rainbows. It's in no way political, or, at least, doesn't feel that way to me. It very much explores the ideas of transience. It starts in one place and ends somewhere completely different."[32] In another interview, Yorke said the album was "about the fucking panic of realising you're going to die! And that any time soon [I could] possibly [have] a heart attack when I next go for a run."[33]
O'Brien described the lyrics as "universal. There wasn't a political agenda. It's being human".[17] The song "Bodysnatchers" is inspired by Victorian ghost stories, the 1972 novel The Stepford Wives and Yorke's feeling of "your physical consciousness trapped without being able to connect fully with anything else."[29] "Jigsaw Falling into Place" is about a set of observations and different experiences, partly of the chaos witnessed by Yorke when he used to go out on the weekend in Oxford. Yorke said "The lyrics are quite caustic—the idea of 'before you're comatose' or whatever, drinking yourself into oblivion and getting fucked-up to forget ... [there] is partly this elation. But there's a much darker side."[1]
Artwork
The In Rainbows artwork was designed by longtime Radiohead collaborator Stanley Donwood.[34] Donwood worked in the studio while Radiohead worked on the album, allowing the artwork to convey the mood of the music.[32] He displayed images in the studio and on the studio computer for the band to interact with and comment on. He also posted images daily on the Radiohead website, though none were used in the final artwork.[35]
Donwood experimented with photographic etching, putting prints into acid baths[36] and throwing wax at paper, creating images influenced by NASA space photography.[32] He originally planned to explore suburban life, but realised it did not fit the album, saying "it's a sensual record and I wanted to do something more organic". He described the final artwork as "very colourful ... It's a rainbow but it is very toxic, it's more like the sort of one you'd see in a puddle."[37] Radiohead did not release the cover for the digital release, preferring to hold it back for the physical release.[37] The limited edition includes a booklet containing additional artwork by Donwood.[36]
Release
On 1 October 2007, Jonny Greenwood announced Radiohead's seventh album on Radiohead's blog, writing: "Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days; we've called it In Rainbows."[38] The post contained a link to inrainbows.com, where users could pre-order an MP3 version of the album for any amount they wanted, including £0—a landmark use of the pay-what-you-want model for music sales.[38]
Colin Greenwood explained the internet release as a way of avoiding the "regulated playlists" and "straitened formats" of radio and TV, ensuring listeners around the world would experience the music at the same time, and preventing leaks in advance of a physical release.[39] Yorke told the BBC: "We have a moral justification in what we did in the sense that the majors and the big infrastructure of the music business has not addressed the way artists communicate directly with their fans ... Not only do they get in the way, but they take all the cash."[40]
Formats and distribution
For the In Rainbows download, Radiohead employed the network provider PacketExchange to bypass public internet servers, using a less-trafficked private network.[41] The download was packaged as a ZIP file containing the album's ten tracks encoded in a 160 kbit/s DRM-free MP3 format.[42] The staggered online release began at about 5:30am GMT on 10 October 2007. On 10 December, the download was removed.[43]
Fans could also order a limited "discbox" edition from inrainbows.com, containing the album on CD and two 12" heavyweight 45 rpm vinyl records with artwork and lyric booklets, plus an enhanced CD with eight additional tracks, digital photos and artwork, packaged in a hardcover book and slipcase. The limited edition was shipped from December 2007.[44] In June 2009, Radiohead made the second In Rainbows disc available for download on their website for £6.[45]
Radiohead ruled out an internet-only distribution, saying that 80% of people still bought physical releases and that it was important for the band to have "an object".[40] In Rainbows was released on CD and vinyl in Japan by BMG on 26 December 2007,[46] in Australia on 29 December 2007 by Remote Control Records,[47] and in the United States and Canada on 1 January 2008 by ATO imprint TBD Records and MapleMusic/Fontana respectively.[48][49] Elsewhere, the album was released on 31 December 2007 by independent record label XL Recordings,[50] which had released Yorke's solo album The Eraser.[51] The CD release came in a cardboard package containing the CD, lyric booklet, and several stickers that could be placed on the blank jewel case to create cover art.[52] In Rainbows was the first Radiohead album available for download in several digital music stores, such as the iTunes Store and Amazon MP3.[53] On 10 June 2016, it was added to the free streaming service Spotify.[54]
Radiohead retained ownership of the recordings and compositions for In Rainbows. The download and limited editions of the album were self-released; for the physical release, Radiohead licensed the music to record labels.[55] Licensing agreements for all releases were managed by the band's publisher, Warner Chappell Music Publishing.[55]
Reaction
The pay-what-you-want release, the first for a major act, attracted international media attention and sparked debate about the implications for the music industry.[29] According to Mojo, the release was "hailed as a revolution in the way major bands sell their music", and the media's reaction was "almost overwhelmingly positive".[11] Time called it "easily the most important release in the recent history of the music business"[56] and Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that "for the beleaguered recording business Radiohead has put in motion the most audacious experiment in years".[29] The NME wrote that "the music world seemed to judder several rimes off its axis", and praised the fact that everyone, from fans to critics, had access to the album at the same time on release day: "the kind of moment of togetherness you don't get very often".[57] U2 singer Bono praised Radiohead as "courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience".[58]
The release also drew criticism. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails thought it did not go far enough, and accused Radiohead of using a compressed digital release as a bait-and-switch to promote a traditional record sale. Reznor independently released his sixth album Ghosts I–IV under a Creative Commons licence the following year.[59] Singer Lily Allen said the release was "arrogant" and sent a bad message to less successful acts, saying: "You don't choose how to pay for eggs. Why should it be different for music?"[60] Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon said the release "seemed really community-oriented, but it wasn't catered towards their musician brothers and sisters, who don’t sell as many records [as Radiohead]. It makes everyone else look bad for not offering their music for whatever."[61] Guardian journalist Will Hodgkinson argued that Radiohead had made it impossible for less successful musicians to make a living from their music.[62]
U2 manager Paul McGuinness said that 60 to 70 per cent of Radiohead fans had pirated the album, and saw this as an indication that Radiohead's strategy had failed.[63] However, media measurement company BigChampagne concluded that the music industry should not think of torrented music as lost sales, as Radiohead had shown that even releasing music free had not deterred it.[64] Based on the BigChampagne report, Wired concluded that "by 'losing' the battle for the email addresses of those who downloaded their album via bit torrent, [Radiohead] actually won the overall war for the public's attention – no easy feat, these days".[64] In a retrospective article, the NME argued that Radiohead had demonstrated that the best response to piracy was to explore alternative ways to connect with fans, offering content at different price points: "The pay-what-you-want aspect isn't something to be followed slavishly ... it's the willingness to try it and the connection with fans that made it successful that should be an inspiration."[65]
Radiohead's managers defended the release as "a solution for Radiohead, not the industry", and doubted "it would work the same way [for Radiohead] ever again".[66] Radiohead have not used the pay-what-you-want system for subsequent releases.[67] In February 2013, Yorke told the Guardian that though Radiohead had hoped to subvert the corporate music industry with In Rainbows, he feared they had instead played into the hands of content providers such as Apple and Google: "They have to keep commodifying things to keep the share price up, but in doing so they have made all content, including music and newspapers, worthless, in order to make their billions. And this is what we want?"[68]
Dispute with EMI
As Radiohead's recording contract with EMI ended after the 2003 release of Hail to the Thief, Radiohead recorded In Rainbows without a record label. In 2005, Yorke told Time: "I like the people at our record company, but the time is at hand when you have to ask why anyone needs one. And, yes, it probably would give us some perverse pleasure to say 'fuck you' to this decaying business model."[56]
In August 2007, as Radiohead were finishing In Rainbows, EMI was acquired by the private equity firm Terra Firma for US$6.4 billion (£4.7 billion), and financier Guy Hands became the new owner.[69][70] EMI executives including Keith Wozencroft, who had signed Radiohead to EMI, travelled regularly to Radiohead's Oxfordshire studio in hopes of negotiating a new contract.[51] The executives were "devastated" when Radiohead's team informed them of their self-release plan a day before the album was announced.[51] O'Brien later said he had not realised the band's importance to EMI: "That probably sounds really naive. But there weren't people going, 'You're so important.' We were just one of the bands on their roster."[71] Hands believed that Radiohead would only have canceled their self-release plan with a "really big" offer.[51] According to Eamonn Forde, author of The Final Days of EMI, Radiohead had lost faith in EMI and thought the new ownership would be a "bloodbath".[51] O'Brien said: "It was really sad to leave all the people [we'd worked with] ... But Terra Firma don't understand the music industry."[33]
An EMI spokesperson stated that Radiohead had demanded "an extraordinary amount of money" for a new contract.[72] Radiohead's management and Yorke released statements denying that they had asked for a large advance, but instead wanted control over their back catalogue,[72][73] which Hands refused.[51] According to Hands: "They wanted a lot of money ... And they wanted their masters back, which we valued even more. At our valuation, it was millions and millions that they wanted."[51] Responding to Hands's statement, Yorke told an interviewer: "It fucking pissed me off. We could have taken them [Terra Firma] to court. The idea that we were after so much money was stretching the truth to breaking point. That was his PR company briefing against us and I'll tell you what, it fucking ruined my Christmas."[51]
Days after Radiohead signed to XL, EMI announced a box set of Radiohead material recorded before In Rainbows, released in the same week as the In Rainbows special edition. Radiohead were reportedly "incensed" at the release;[51] commentators including the Guardian saw it as retaliation for the band choosing not to sign with EMI.[74] Hands defended the reissues as necessary to boost EMI's revenues, and said that "we don't have a huge amount of reasons to be nice [to Radiohead]".[51] The box set was promoted on Google Ads with an advert falsely claiming that In Rainbows was included; EMI removed it, citing a "data source glitch". A spokesperson for Radiohead said they accepted it was an error.[75]
Promotion
Following the album release, Radiohead recorded two webcasts in their Oxfordshire studio: "Thumbs Down", broadcast on their website in November 2007, and "Scotch Mist", broadcast on New Year's Eve. In the US, "Scotch Mist" was also broadcast on Current TV. The webcasts featured performances of In Rainbows songs, plus cover songs, poetry, and videos created with comedian Adam Buxton and filmmaker Garth Jennings.[76][77] Colin Greenwood described the webcasts as spontaneous and liberating: "It was so cool because we didn't have to go through three weeks of video commissioning and receiving dodgy scripts set on abandoned skyscrapers in downtown LA or something."[77]
On 16 January 2008, a surprise performance at the London record shop Rough Trade East was relocated to a nearby club after police raised safety concerns.[78] Radiohead toured North America, Europe, South America and Japan from May 2008 until March 2009.[79][80] To determine how they could reduce carbon emissions for the tour, Radiohead commissioned the environmental group Best Foot Forward.[81] Based on the findings, Radiohead played in amphitheatres in city centres to reduce reliance on flights for attendees,[82] and used a carbon-neutral "forest" of LEDs on stage.[83]
In March 2008, Radiohead partnered with animation company Aniboom to create a contest whereby entrants submitted concepts for an animated music video for an In Rainbows song. Semifinalists would be chosen by TBD Records and the Cartoon Network programming block Adult Swim, with the winner, chosen by Radiohead, receiving $10,000 to make a full-length video.[84] Unable to choose only one winner, Radiohead awarded $10,000 each to four semifinalists.[85] In July, Radiohead released a video for the promotional single "House of Cards", made with lidar technology instead of cameras.[86]
The first single from In Rainbows, "Jigsaw Falling into Place", was released in January 2008.[87] It was followed by "Nude" on 31 March,[88] which debuted at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was Radiohead's first song to enter the chart since "High and Dry" (1995) and their first US top 40 since "Creep".[89] "House of Cards" and "Bodysnatchers" were released to radio. In September, Radiohead released the final single, "Reckoner",[90] using the music video created by one of the Aniboom competition winners.[91] Radiohead held remix competitions for "Nude" and "Reckoner", releasing the separated stems for fans to remix.[92]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 88/100[93] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
The A.V. Club | A−[95] |
Entertainment Weekly | A[96] |
The Guardian | |
Mojo | |
Pitchfork | 9.3/10[99] |
Q | |
Rolling Stone | |
Spin | |
The Times |
On the review aggregate site Metacritic, In Rainbows earned a rating of 88 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim".[93] Various reviewers, such as The Guardian's Alexis Petridis, attributed the album's quality to Radiohead's performance in the studio and that the band sounded like they were enjoying themselves.[97] Others, such as Billboard's Jonathan Cohen, commended the album for not being overshadowed by its marketing hype.[104] Andy Kellman of AllMusic wrote that In Rainbows "will hopefully be remembered as Radiohead's most stimulating synthesis of accessible songs and abstract sounds, rather than their first pick-your-price download".[94]
The NME described the album as "Radiohead reconnecting with their human sides, realising you [can] embrace pop melodies and proper instruments while still sounding like paranoid androids ... this [is] otherworldly music, alright."[105] Will Hermes, writing in Entertainment Weekly, called In Rainbows "the gentlest, prettiest Radiohead set yet" and stated that it "uses the full musical and emotional spectra to conjure breathtaking beauty".[96] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone praised its "vividly collaborative sonic touches" and concluded: "No wasted moments, no weak tracks: just primo Radiohead."[101] In 2011, The Rolling Stone Album Guide described it as Radiohead's "most expansive and seductive album, possibly their all-time high".[106]
Jon Dolan of Blender called In Rainbows a "far more pensive and reflective" album than Hail to the Thief, writing that it "formulates a lush, sensualized ideal out of vague, layered discomfort."[107] Spin's Mikael Wood felt that the album "succeeds because all of that cold, clinical lab work hasn't eliminated the warmth from their music",[102] while Pitchfork's Mark Pytlik dubbed it a more "human" album that "represents the sound of Radiohead coming back to earth."[99] Robert Christgau, writing for MSN Music, gave In Rainbows a two-star honourable mention and noted that the album, having been developed in concert, was "more jammy, less songy and less Yorkey, which is good".[108] The Wire was more critical, finding "a sense here of a group magisterially marking time, shying away ... from any grand, rhetorical, countercultural purpose".[109]
Accolades
In Rainbows was ranked among the best albums of 2007 by many music publications.[110] It was ranked number one by Billboard, Mojo and PopMatters, third by the NME and The A.V. Club, fourth by Pitchfork and Q, and sixth by Rolling Stone and Spin.[110] It was also ranked one of the best albums of the decade by several publications: the NME ranked it 10th,[111] Paste 45th,[112] Rolling Stone 30th,[113] and the Guardian 22nd,[114] while Newsweek fifth.[115] Rolling Stone ranked In Rainbows number 336 on their updated 2012 version of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[2] It was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[116] In 2019, the Guardian named it the 11th greatest album of the 21st century so far.[117] In 2020, Rolling Stone named In Rainbows one of the 40 most groundbreaking albums for its pay-what-you want release, influencing acts such as Beyoncé and U2.[118]
In Rainbows was nominated for the short list of the 2008 Mercury Prize[119] and nominated for several awards at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (for Nigel Godrich), with three Grammy nominations also for "House of Cards" for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Song and Best Music Video.[120] In Rainbows won awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package.[121]
Sales
Digital
In early October 2007, a Radiohead spokesperson reported that most downloaders paid "a normal retail price" for the download version, and that most fans had pre-ordered the limited edition.[122] Citing a source close to the band, Gigwise reported that the album had sold 1.2 million digital copies before its retail release;[123] this was dismissed by Radiohead manager Bryce Edge as "exaggerated".[124]
According to research released in November 2007 by the market research firm Comscore, downloaders paid an average of $2.26 per download globally, and 62% of downloaders paid nothing.[125] Of those who paid, the average paid was $6 globally, with 12% paying between $8 and $12, around the typical cost of an album on iTunes.[125] Radiohead dismissed the report as "wholly inaccurate".[126] In December 2007, Yorke stated that Radiohead had made more money from digital sales of In Rainbows than the digital sales of all previous Radiohead albums combined.[30]
In October 2008, one year after the release, Warner Chappell reported that although most people paid nothing for the download, prerelease sales for In Rainbows had been more profitable than the total sales of Hail to the Thief, and that the limited edition had sold 100,000 copies.[127] In 2009, Wired reported that Radiohead had made an "instantaneous" £3 million from the album.[128] Pitchfork saw this as proof that, thanks to their fans, "Radiohead could release a record on the most secretive terms, basically for free, and still be wildly successful, even as industry profits continued to plummet".[129]
According to the media measurement company BigChampagne, on the day of release, around 400,000 copies of In Rainbows were pirated via torrent. It had been shared 2.3 million times by 3 November 2007. At its peak, it was shared many times more than the second-most shared album released in the same period. Some piracy came from users driven to torrents after the official website overloaded.[64]
Retail
Because inrainbows.com is not a chart-registered retailer, In Rainbows download and limited edition sales were not eligible for inclusion in the UK Albums Chart.[130] On the week of its retail release, In Rainbows reached number one on the UK Albums Chart,[131] with first-week sales of 44,602 copies.[132] In the US, after some record stores broke street date agreements, it entered the Billboard 200 at number 156. However, in the first week of official release, it became the 10th independently distributed album to reach number one on the Billboard 200,[133] selling 122,000 copies.[134] In October 2008, Warner Chappell reported that In Rainbows had sold three million copies worldwide, including 1.75 million physical sales,[135] since its retail release.[136] The vinyl edition was the bestselling vinyl album of 2008.[137]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Radiohead.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "15 Step" | 3:58 |
2. | "Bodysnatchers" | 4:02 |
3. | "Nude" | 4:15 |
4. | "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" | 5:18 |
5. | "All I Need" | 3:49 |
6. | "Faust Arp" | 2:10 |
7. | "Reckoner" | 4:50 |
8. | "House of Cards" | 5:28 |
9. | "Jigsaw Falling into Place" | 4:09 |
10. | "Videotape" | 4:40 |
Total length: | 42:39 |
In Rainbows Disk 2
In Rainbows Disk 2 | |
---|---|
EP by | |
Released | 3 December 2007 |
Genre | |
Length | 26:49 |
Label | Self-released |
The special edition of In Rainbows included a second disc, In Rainbows Disk 2, which contains eight additional tracks. In 2009, Radiohead made Disk 2 available to purchase as downloads on their website,[138] and in October 2016 it was released on streaming and digital services.[19]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Pitchfork | 6.2/10[139] |
Rolling Stone | |
Stereogum | Positive[141] |
Pitchfork's Chris Dahlen wrote that "a lesser band might have crammed some bootlegs and demo takes in here, but when Radiohead put something on disc, they want it to count". However, he criticised Yorke's vocals: "The cynical/alienated rut into which he grinds himself has the persistence of a toothache ... Yorke sounds like neither a post-millennial prophet nor an uncanny empathist, so much as a crank."[139]
David Frickle of Rolling Stone wrote that "If you bought the deluxe box edition of In Rainbows just for the session leftovers, you did not get your eighty dollars' worth" but conceded that it did "deserve to be on record".[140] Stereogum wrote "the most impressive thing about In Rainbows CD2 is how effortless it all seems".[141]
All tracks are written by Radiohead.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "MK 1" | 1:03 |
2. | "Down Is the New Up" | 4:59 |
3. | "Go Slowly" | 3:48 |
4. | "MK 2" | 0:53 |
5. | "Last Flowers" | 4:26 |
6. | "Up on the Ladder" | 4:17 |
7. | "Bangers + Mash" | 3:19 |
8. | "4 Minute Warning" | 4:04 |
Total length: | 26:49 |
Personnel
Radiohead Additional musicians
|
Production
Artwork
|
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[142] | 2 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[143] | 12 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[144] | 2 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[145] | 5 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[146] | 1 |
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[147] | 7 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[148] | 7 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[149] | 2 |
French Albums (SNEP)[150] | 1 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[151] | 8 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[152] | 1 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[153] | 7 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[154] | 11 |
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[155] | 50 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[156] | 2 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[157] | 6 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[158] | 7 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[159] | 19 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[160] | 6 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[155] | 2 |
UK Albums (OCC)[161] | 1 |
US Billboard 200[162] | 1 |
Yearly charts
Chart (2007) | Rank |
---|---|
US Alternative Albums[163] | 14 |
Chart (2008) | Rank |
UK Albums (OCC)[164] | 76 |
US Billboard 200[165] | 60 |
US Alternative Albums[166] | 14 |
US Independent Albums[167] | 4 |
US Top Rock Albums[168] | 19 |
Chart (2009) | Rank |
US Independent Albums[169] | 33 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Belgium (BEA)[170] | Gold | 15,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[171] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[172] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[173] | Platinum | 300,000 |
United States (RIAA)[174] | Platinum | 1,020,000[175] |
Summaries | ||
Europe | — | 500,000[176] |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
References
- Marshall, Julian (8 December 2007). "Rainbow Warriors". NME.
- "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- Pareles, Jon (2 July 2006). "With Radiohead, and Alone, the Sweet Malaise of Thom Yorke". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- Kent, Nick (1 August 2006). "Ghost in the Machine". Mojo. pp. 74–77.
- "Radiohead album – the band speak – NME". NME. 22 December 2005. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- "Radiohead | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
It wasn't about being too safe with him, he just wasn't around because he was working with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck. It wasn't like he was twiddling his thumbs and we were like, 'Ah well, we won't give him a ring.'
- "BBC – (none) – Hear And Now – Ether Festival". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- Pareles, Jon (2 July 2006). "With Radiohead, and Alone, the Sweet Malaise of Thom Yorke". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2007.
- Vozick-Levinson, Simon (27 April 2012). "The Making of Radiohead's 'In Rainbows'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- "Radiohead on In Rainbows". XFM. 28 January 2008. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- Paytress, Mark (1 January 2008). "Chasing Rainbows". Mojo.
- Yorke, Thom (15 October 2006). "if you are concerned about climate change". Dead Air Space. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
- Yorke, Thom (19 January 2007). "back at werk". Dead Air Space. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2007.
- Godrich, Nigel (15 June 2007). "a bit of tape from the studio". Dead Air Space. Archived from the original on 18 June 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
- "Radiohead's "In Rainbows": Track-By-Track Preview". Rolling Stone. 1 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2007.
- Paytress, Mark (February 2008). "CHASING RAIN_BOWS". Mojo. pp. 75–85.
- "Ed O'Brien & Thom Yorke at BBC 6Music". BBC 6 Music. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
- "Thom Yorke: Why he's glad to have made such a big noise". The Independent. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- "Radiohead Release In Rainbows Bonus Disc for Streaming: Listen | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- "Radiohead mastering seventh album in New York". NME. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
- Malitz, David (11 October 2007). "Radiohead's 'Rainbows': Is Free Release A Potential Pot of Gold?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- Mendelsohn, Jason and Eric Klinger (3 May 2013). "Counterbalance No. 127: Radiohead's 'In Rainbows'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- Hyman, Dan (9 December 2011). "The Ten Most Disappointing Albums of 2011: #5 – #1". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- Waniata, Ryan (23 April 2017). "Radiohead started a sonic revolution 25 years ago, and is still leading it". Digital Trends. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- Kent, Nick (August 2006). "Ghost in the Machine". Mojo (153): 74–83.
- "Matrix students record with Radiohead March 2007". Matrix Music School & Arts Centre. 2007. Archived from the original on 14 January 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
- "The Music Producers: Nigel Godrich On NUDE by Radiohead (2007)". Word Magazine. 14 June 2008. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- "Radiohead's Thom Yorke confirms new single release". NME. 3 September 2009. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- Pareles, Jon (9 December 2007). "Pay What You Want for This Article". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
- Byrne, David (18 December 2007). "David Byrne and Thom Yorke on the Real Value of Music". Wired. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2007.
- "Radiohead reveal 'terrifying' new album". NME. 3 April 2006. Archived from the original on 26 February 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
- Chris Mincher (1 July 2007). "Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Ed O'Brien". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- McLean, Craig (9 December 2007). "Caught in the flash". The Observer. London. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- "Stanley Donwood: Bio". Eyestorm. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- Elize (10 October 2007). "Stanley Donwood on In Rainbows". Creative Review. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
- Smyth, David (5 October 2007). "Off the Record – Radiohead are right on the money". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
- "Radiohead artist reveals secret 'In Rainbows' cover art". NME. 24 October 2007. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
- Greenwood, Jonny (1 October 2007). "In Rainbows". Dead Air Space. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2007.
- Greenwood, Colin (13 September 2010), "Set Yourself Free Archived 5 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine", Index on Censorship. Retrieved 31 October 2010
- "Web-only album 'mad', says Yorke". BBC News. 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- "PacketExchange Brings New Radiohead Album to Fans around the Globe in Record Time". StreamingMedia.com. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
- Eliot Van Buskirk (9 October 2007). "Will Radiohead's Servers Be Able to Handle All Tomorrow's Downloads?". Wired. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- "The End of The Beginning". Dead Air Space. 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
- "Discbox: Details". inrainbows.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
- "Radiohead Open Digital Store, Sell In Rainbows CD 2". Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- Barrett, Christopher (8 November 2007). "Radiohead ink North America and Japan deals". Music Week. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
- "Radiohead 'In Rainbows' CD Release Date Announced". Remote Control Records. 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
- Cohen, Jonathan (12 November 2007). "Radiohead Sets U.S. Deal For New Album Release". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
- "Maple/Fontana To Release Radiohead's Rainbows In Canada". Chart. 10 December 2007. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
- Leeds, Jeff (23 October 2007). "Radiohead Said to Shun Major Labels in Next Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
- Forde, Eamonn (18 February 2019). "Chasing rainbows: inside the battle between Radiohead and EMI's Guy Hands". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- Radiohead (14 December 2007). "Radiohead – In Rainbows – In Stores 1 January 2008". Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2007 – via YouTube.
- Brandle, Lars (2 January 2008). "Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' Looms For U.K. No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
- Monroe, Jazz (10 June 2016). "Radiohead's In Rainbows Is Now on Spotify". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- Brandle, Lars (9 October 2007). "Radiohead In Direct-Licensing Deal For New CD". Billboard. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2007.
- Tyrangiel, Josh (1 October 2007). "Radiohead Says: Pay What You Want". Time. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
- Martin, Dan (22 December 2007). "Radiohead release 'In Rainbows'. The music industry shudders". NME.
- "Did Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' Honesty Box Actually Damage the Music Industry?". NME. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
- "Trent Reznor: Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' promotion was 'insincere'". CNET. 15 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- Kreps, Daniel (14 November 2007). "Lily Allen, Oasis, Gene Simmons Criticize Radiohead's 'Rainbows'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
- Thill, Scott (8 July 2009). "Sonic Youth Slams Radiohead's In Rainbows Model". Wired. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- Hodkingson, Will (19 October 2007). "Thanks, Radiohead, for making it ever harder for new acts to survive". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
- "Radiohead album idea "backfired"". BBC News. 10 June 2008. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- Buskirk, Eliot Van (31 July 2008). "New In Rainbows numbers offer lessons for music industry". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- "Did Radiohead's In Rainbows honesty box actually damage the music industry?". NME. 9 October 2017. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (11 October 2007). "Radiohead MP3 release a tactic to lift CD sales". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
- "Radiohead Embraces Spotify With 'In Rainbows'". Inverse. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- Adams, Tim. "Thom Yorke: 'If I can't enjoy this now, when do I start?'". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- EMI Accepts $4.7 Billion Bid From Terra Firma Archived 25 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. New York Times, 21 May 2007
- $4.7 Billion Private Equity Buyout Wins Support at EMI Archived 26 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. New York Times, 22 May 2007
- Doyle, Patrick (30 March 2019). "Radiohead Talk Rock Hall Induction: 'It's a Big F-cking Deal'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- "EMI split blamed on Radiohead's £10m advance demands". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- "'Nude' Radiohead Video Hits Web, EMI Airs Dirty Laundry". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- Nestruck, Kelly (8 November 2007). "EMI stab Radiohead in the back catalogue". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- "Radiohead speak out about box set mix-up". NME. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- Empire, Kitty (6 January 2008). "Kitty Empire on Radiohead's online celebration of their latest album". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- Ryan, Dombal (28 March 2008). "Radiohead". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- "Radiohead abandon record shop gig". BBC. 17 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- Brandle, Lars (18 October 2007). "Radiohead Returning to the Road in 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2007.
- "Radiohead Live Tour dates". Dead Air Space. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
- "Not a carbon copy band". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- Budgen, Simon Hayes (21 December 2007). "Radiohead seek to reduce global impact". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- Fischer, Jonathan L. (14 March 2011). "Strobe Lights and Blown Speakers". T Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- Eliot Van Buskirk (17 March 2008). "Radiohead Launches In Rainbows Video Contest". Wired. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
- "Radiohead Selects Four Winners of the aniBoom Animated Video Competition". businesswire.com. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- Michaels, Sean (14 July 2008). "Radiohead's camera trick". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- "Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' to be released on CD this year". NME. 8 November 2007. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
- "Radiohead announce new single details". NME. 12 March 2008. Archived from the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
- "Radiohead Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Radiohead add 'Reckoner' to fan remix website". NME. 23 September 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- "Radiohead choose fan video as official 'Reckoner' video". NME. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- "Radiohead Launches Easier, Less Expensive Remix Contest". Wired. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- "Reviews for In Rainbows by Radiohead". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- Kellman, Andy. "In Rainbows – Radiohead". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- Modell, Josh (16 October 2007). "Radiohead: In Rainbows". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- Hermes, Will (6 October 2007). "In Rainbows". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- Petridis, Alexis (10 October 2007). "Radiohead's In Rainbows — a five-star review". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
- Paytress, Mark (December 2007). "Everything must go". Mojo (169): 96.
- Pytlik, Mark (15 October 2007). "Radiohead: In Rainbows". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 21 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- "Radiohead: In Rainbows". Q (257): 107. December 2007.
- Sheffield, Rob (1 November 2007). "In Rainbows". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- Wood, Mikael (December 2007). "After the Revolution". Spin. 23 (12): 111. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- Paphides, Pete (10 October 2007). "Radiohead: In Rainbows". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- Cohen, Jonathan (October 2007). "In Rainbows". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
- "Radiohead: In Rainbows". NME. 14 December 2007. Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
- "Radiohead: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- Dolan, Jon (10 October 2007). "Radiohead: In Rainbows". Blender. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- Christgau, Robert. "Radiohead: In Rainbows". RobertChristgau.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- Dale, Jon (1 December 2007). "Radiohead – In Rainbows". The Wire.
- "Metacritic: Best Albums of 2007". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2007.
- "The Top 100 Greatest Albums Of The Decade". NME. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- "The 50 Best Albums of the Decade (2000–2009)". Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- "100 Best Albums of the 2000s: Radiohead, 'In Rainbows'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- "OMM's Top 50 Albums of the Decade". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- Colter, Seth. "In Rainbows Radiohead – Best Albums – Newsweek 2010". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (2014). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 0-7893-2074-6.
- "The 100 best albums of the 21st century". The Guardian. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- "40 Most Groundbreaking Albums of All Time". Roling Stone. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- "Radiohead News – 2008 Mercury Music Prize Nominees Announced". idiomag. 24 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2 January 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
- "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List". Grammy.com. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
- "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winner List". Grammy.com. 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- "Fans crash Radiohead album site". BBC News. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2007.
- Colothan, Scott (11 October 2007). "Exclusive: Radiohead Sell 1.2million Copies Of 'In Rainbows'". Gigwise.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
- Brandle, Lars (18 October 2007). "Radiohead Returning to the Road In 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2007.
- Andrews, Robert (6 November 2007). "Data On Radiohead Experiment: 38 Percent Of Downloaders Choose To Pay". gigaom.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- Schofield, Jack (9 November 2007). "Radiohead rubbishes ComScore download numbers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- "Radiohead reveal how successful 'In Rainbows' download really was". NME. 15 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
- "Sonic Youth Slams Radiohead's In Rainbows Model". Wired. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- "Internet Explorers: The Curious Case of Radiohead's Online Fandom | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- Brown, Jonathan (11 October 2007). "Radiohead album goes live on the internet". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 19 May 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2007.
- "Radiohead CD tops UK album chart". BBC News. 6 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
- Armstrong, Stephen. "The Revolution Will Be Digitised". Q. April 2008
- "Ask Billboard: Indies, No. 2 Hits & Teddy Pendergrass". Billboard. 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
- Cohen, Jonathan (9 January 2008). "Radiohead Nudges Blige From Atop Album Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
- Thompson, Paul. "Radiohead's In Rainbows Successes Revealed". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- Kreps, Daniel (15 October 2008). "Radiohead Publishers Reveal 'In Rainbows' Numbers". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
- Kreps, Daniel (8 January 2009). "Radiohead, Neutral Milk Hotel Help Vinyl Sales Almost Double In 2008". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
- "w.a.s.t.e. merchandise :: radiohead :: DIGITAL :: IN RAINBOWS DISK 2". waste.uk.com. 2009. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- "Radiohead: In Rainbows [CD 2] Album Review – Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- Fricke, David (24 January 2008). "'In Rainbows' Bonus Disc". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- "Premature Evaluation: Radiohead – In Rainbows CD2". Stereogum. 4 December 2007. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- "Australiancharts.com – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Austriancharts.at – Radiohead – In Rainbows" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Radiohead – In Rainbows" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Radiohead – In Rainbows" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Radiohead Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Danishcharts.dk – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Radiohead – In Rainbows" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Radiohead: In Rainbows" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Lescharts.com – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Radiohead – In Rainbows" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Irish-charts.com – Discography Radiohead". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Italiancharts.com – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "レディオヘッドの売上ランキング". Oricon. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Charts.nz – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Spanishcharts.com – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Radiohead Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Alternative Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Alternative Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Independent Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Independent Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2008". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- "Canadian album certifications – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Music Canada. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- "Japanese album certifications – Radiohead – In Rainbows" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 5 October 2018. Select 2007年12月 on the drop-down menu
- "British album certifications – Radiohead – In Rainbows". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 October 2017. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type In Rainbows in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- "American album certifications – Radiohead – In Rainbows". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 November 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- DeSantis, Nick. "Radiohead's Digital Album Sales, Visualized". Forbes. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- "Impala Sales Award Winner June 2005 – January 2008" (PDF). Impala. 3 December 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2019.