Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’ first anniversary

by on October 10, 2008 with 88 Comments in Radiohead News

It’s October 10th 2008. Exactly 1 year since Radiohead ‘leaked’ their own record online. On October 1st the band’s announced that their seventh album, ‘In Rainbows’, would be available online, surprising their fans and the press.

I remember being in a New York City, waking up to see if the download link was already in my inbox. It’s a weird thing having nothing else but Radiohead for breakfast on that October day. Ten new tracks, or at least one new track (‘Faust Arp’) and one completely different from the original version (‘Reckoner’) and then eight others which we’ve all heard in their early versions on the 2006 tour. That day, the online media were fighting to get the first review of the album out there, with most of them rating the album with 8 out 10 to 5 out 5. But of course not only the music was important; the release of ‘In Rainbows’ shook up the music world when it comes distributing music and was the discussion of the day for many months to come. Not just because the album was released online for the first time and not on a physical cd or vinyl, but the more revolutionary ‘Pay-what-you-like-model‘. The question ‘What did you pay for ‘In Rainbows?’ was asked more often than ‘What’s your favourite ‘In Rainbows’ track?’… Now, after an extensive World Tour (and more dates to follow in 2009) it’s all about the music for Radiohead and their fans. And hopefully there’s lots more to come very soon.

But looking back. Where were you on October 10th 2007? Where did you play the album and what did you think of ‘In Rainbows’. Or were you waiting for the physical release? We’d love to know…


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  • ken

    i paid 15 pounds for the album thinking that i was paying in euros. i figured that i would be paying like 20 dollars when i actually paid 30 dollars. glad i did though since it turned out to be the best album i ever bought.

  • Morgan

    I remember staying up until it was released really early in the morning Pacific time and listening to it into the wee hours. One of the best times I’ve ever had. I was exhausted the next day, but it was easy to get up knowing that I could listen to it again.

    Luckily I didn’t have to decide how much to pay, as I pre-ordered the discbox, which came with the download. ;)

    I still listen to it almost every day and I haven’t gotten bored with it. I can’t believe it’s been a year already. In Rainbows has grown with me. It’s one of the best albums, if not THE best, I have ever heard.

  • http://www.johngalantini.com JOHN

    I remember 10.10.07 as though it were yesterday. I booked the day off work, went to the spar, bought some beer and came home to check if my download had arrived. After discovering NME had got theirs I wrote an abusive message to waste and was instantly replied to with my overdue download link.

    I recall seeing the “% of download” status, as i paced around my landing, sipping beer. When the album finally arrived, I set up my best speakers to the laptop and sat on my baed for 40 minutes – mostly gazing out of the window listening to in rainbows. i remember telling my best mate, by text, that the production was a little unusual. When i listen to in rainbows now – i cant identify what made me think this at the time.I must have listened to In Rainbows twice everyday thereafter for about 3 months at least. Of course, come mid December, I had the discbox, and CD2. : )

    John

  • Your Mom

    it was my birthday on the release day of “In Rainbows”, I paid full price, money well spent!!

  • Sam

    I awoke, crawled out of bed, downloaded the files half asleep, then took my laptop back to bed with me and listened to the album all the way through. My very first impression, I have to say, was not completly favourable. I was waiting for Thom to really blast out the opening lines to 15 Step, whereas he seemed only to murmur them. But now I’m used to it, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

  • Nasoor2k

    I remember downloading it around 5 am then i put it on cd and went for a drive tilli heard the whole album it was amazing just dirving when the sun comes up listening to it, i had a midterm that day and i missed it , lol.

  • stu

    I ordered the Disc box and didn’t listen until November sometime, because I forgot you get a free download with it. I don’t remember where I was on the 10th though. . .probably on here.

  • Jack

    I waited up for most of the night – went to bed and got up at seven to find it waiting for me – I made myself hold off listening to it until I got back from college that afternoon – it deserved better than my crappy ipod headphones

  • Nolan

    I live in South Africa.
    Around the time of October 2007 our country was experiencing random power blackouts. On the 10th i began to download In Rainbows.( i had paid for the disc box)

    While i was downloading, the power cut and internet connection was lost. Luckily my laptops battery was fully charged. Those where the longest hours(probably 3 or 4) of my life, waiting for the power to come back on,with nothing to do or think about in the house, hoping that the battery would last till internet connection was restored.

    The stress, panic and wait was worth it.the power eventually came back on, and the download was succesful.
    from the moment i heard the first few bars of 15 step i knew i was experiencing something special.
    It is an amazing feeling to listen to a radiohead album for the first time. I cant believe it has been a year. I still think it is the most beautiful collection of songs i have ever heard.

  • Matt

    I was in Potsdam, NY, and my friend came into my room at 3 am, while I was sleeping, and told me the album was out. I tried to wake myself up but I gave up. The night before I set my alarm for 6 am, so I decided to wait until then. Once 6 am came, I put myself together, made some breakfast, and listened to the album.

    The moment I remembered most clearly is when Reckoner started. I thought, wow, this is the song that Radiohead was meant to make but never did until then. I had class at 9 that morning, so I burned a copy and then put it on my ipod. I had nothing but In Rainbows for awhile, as, I assume, everyone else.

    Now I am no longer in Potsdam, but Buffalo. That album and all that surrounds it will forever remind me of my time in Potsdam.

  • Bob

    I bought the discbox, downloaded the album and listened to it in my room on my pc. I thought it was great, except Videotape didn’t live up to my expectations. From hearing it on ‘in the basement’ I thought it would be better. It has grown on me somewhat though. Favorite track that day would be Nude. Favorite track today is Bodysnatchers first, Nude second.

  • buttercup

    I paid for the discbox and never has money been better spent.Couldn’t download straight away, so great patience was needed till it would work – all that waiting then more waiting – then bliss…

  • Gabs

    I was at work… I checked DAS as part of my morning routine and there I saw the link. I couldn’t buy at work so I called the hubs to check it out. After having the crappiest day, I came home late, only to hear something blasting from my speakers. The hubs had already purchased the discbox and was already blasting the in rainbows free d/l. I still have the dvd copy of that download in my car and play it all the time. I also remember visiting family and friends in mexico in December and right before Xmas as I was about to go back home, my hubby called me and told me the “dickbox” had arrived. The best present ever!

  • Gabs

    Sorry–meant to say I still carry the CD rip of that d/l we got with the purchase of the discbox!

  • ricardo

    Hahahaha. Wow, a year already!!!! My, my, but time does fly! I woke up at five thirty in the morning; has to be early at the lab. I checked my email at around 6:00 am, and there it was! the download link! I remember hearing the first beats to 15 step. But the moment i realized it was a brilliant album was when i heard the intro to Weird fishes/Arpeggi.
    Happy birthday, lp7!!!!

  • http://theboywholikesto.blogspot.com Robbie

    Great post.
    I bought the Special Edition box set. Livining in the UK–at the time–I didn’t normally check my emails at 6 in the morning but on this day I decided to have a quick look and noticed the link to the download there.
    I was even more impressed that I was able to download the whole album before I got out of the shower and had the album on my phone before I left for work somewhere in London.

    Often when I listen to the album I get flash backs of cold morning journies in the snow scooting about London.

  • JamesN

    I was hanging out at my friend Chris’ house this day because my laptop had no internet at the time. After very long hours of consistent visits to the website, my brain began filling with thoughts of skepticism: “What if they got cold feet and decided to change something at the last minute?!” or “They’re probably going to push it back a few months!” Subsequently, I got a text message from one of my best friends and fellow Radiohead fan Jordan (Iwill)in all capital letters, that the album had finally been posted. Being confused by the layout of the site, I subconsciously kept thinking the album might have been in a limited quantity or something. It seemed to take forever.

    I immediately ripped it straight onto my Ipod and headed home and contacted Jordan. We headed to a park right by our houses with headphones and sat and listened to it on the swings with very few words. My Ipod ran out of juice and I bolted home to charge it and finish the album. Weird Fishes and Reckoner were definitely among my immediate favorites, while Videotape was a bit of a let down. Nonetheless, I still had more songs to look forward to as I waited for my discbox to arrive in the mail.

    Overall, it is still in my top 3 albums right below OK Computer and Kid A.

    =]

  • JamesN

    Oh, and I payed 5 pounds (about 10$).
    Normal price.

  • daniel

    i was in australia, other side of the world so one of the first ones to hear it
    heard it, awesom

  • Weepysheepy

    i bought the c.d in stores after downloading it for free i will never pay for mp3′s but i will always love c.ds and records. physical touch is something i fine important and i wish that c.ds will never go away (i know i live in a fictional world) as for cd2…. download ( im 17 and cant afford that)

  • http://rantingraving.wordpress.com Nikita

    I didn’t even hesitate and jumped on the chance to have the box set! It is soooo amazing!!

  • Gabriela

    I remember I was so afraid about if I would like the album or not, so I decided to download it 2 or 3 days after the release (and paid nothing), and I just loved it, I remember that I was screaming for the exitement. Then I bought the discbox, the best birthday present i’ve ever get =). Since I heard In Rainbows I’ve been in love with Radiohead.

  • http://www.myspace.com/roxy_loves Roxy Loves

    I got my In Rainbows the second it was released. I was at home sitting in my pjs. I paid a ridiculous amount compared to other fans!
    But hey, it’s RADIOHEAD after all!
    Roxy

  • http://www.fotolog.com/felipepac Felipe PAC

    I bought the Discbox, so, an e-mail was sent with a link to the download of the tracks. I was very excited, I woke up earlier to download it and to put the tracks in my iPod. Everything worked just fine. I heard it seated in front of my computer just after the download, while I had breakfast, during my drive to work, at work and almost every day until today. I clearly remember the feeling that throughout the world many people would be hearing the very same thing that I was hearing, It felt good, because it was comfortable and it made no difference among me and people from all the world’s different places. The song that surprised and pleased me the most was Reckoner, I didn’t expect that it would be a whole new song, my favorite song actually. In my opinion the deliver of “In Rainbows” was not remarkable for the pay what you want thing, the fact that it was available as a download for everyone in every city made it even more democratic.

  • Joy B

    I remember how exciting it was to see Jonny’s announcement on the day he posted it, then opening the link to preorder and being teased by the “?” at the price slot. Baffled, I though, okay, let’s try this again! In retrospect, I’m lucky that the “pay what you want” experience came as such a surprise to me, that I caught word of it via no other prior media stream than on WASTE itself.

    Oct. 10, early morning east coast hours, I kept crawling out of bed, checking for the link. Finally, that morning’s ritual cup of coffee was the most memorable ever, as I listened in simultaneous rapture and severe judgement of all these fresh takes on the old live versions I already grew to love, like Arpeggi and Nude. For a year I listened to it. Constantly. And in that time span, to me, In Rainbows has evolved in countless dimensions.

    Today, I celebrated in the early morning by listening to the original 160 kpbs. Ah, the bliss! Love it still, even more.

  • noripcord

    anytime the lads release a new album is one of the greatest days of our living lives. that said, i paid 4 lbs for in rainbows. some of the best money i ever spent

  • Mr. Meow

    Dreary, cloudy, rainy day in Wisconsin when I downloaded the link…and the weather proved to set the perfect ambiance. Best Radiohead album to date, and my favorite album ever. I still listen to it almost every other day, and “All I Need” is the finest song they have committed to a record. Utterly transcendental.

  • kellen

    I waited until i got home from class to download it. i got it off a torrent site. once downloaded, i put it on my ipod, went for a walk down to the ocean and listened to it three times in a row. i may have downloaded it for free, but since then i have bought a vinyl copy and paid to see them twice, so i think i’m off the hook.

  • Muldfeld

    I had bought the discbox on October 1st or 2nd and received the download link. I decided not to listen to it because I still had work to do, and I wanted to hold out the album as a kind of reward. Around Christmas time was when I first started listening to the tracks: House of Cards, Nude (which amazed me), 15 Step, Bodysnatchers, All I Need, the first 2 minutes of Reckoner (which amazed me, too), and “Down Is the New Up”, MKs 1 and 2, Bangers ‘n’ Mash, and Go Slowly. However, my brother put me in a bad mood by saying he didn’t want me listening to this stuff in the car on our hourlong drive. Since then, I’ve realized I want to pick a happy time to listen to music because I carry those emotional memories of first listening to a song with me every time I listen to them.

    It wasn’t until August — a week before I was about to see Radiohead live — that I pushed myself to listen to some more tracks like Faust ARP and Up on the Ladder; I must say having refrained from even listening to the early version was a disappointment. I also listened to the “Scotmist” version of Videotape, which quite upset me.

    I still have not listened to the album versions of Videotape, Arpeggi and 4 Minute Warning (which I’ve read is a vast improvement over the original) and haven’t heard the full version of Reckoner, which sounded so amazing in its first 2 minutes, I wanted to save it for later, and really sounded blissful in concert.

    I can’t wait to get this paper in at the end of this month and wait for a happy moment so I can enjoy “In Rainbows” CDs 1 and 2, Let alone the new Cure album “4:13 Dream”!

  • http://ruralcemetery.blogspot.com/ kr

    i stayed up as late as I could (in North Carolina) and ended up falling asleep on the couch at 4 or 5AM only to have the link emailed to me 10 minutes later… I woke up at 6AM, in total disarray (I never sleep on the couch) and listened for the first of many, many times on nice headphones, laying on couch, completely conscious, eyes closed. Paid 10 pounds (20 USD).

  • Bart D.

    I was at home when I saw Jonny´s post on DAS. I read everything that I could read, and started sending emails immediately, telephone calls, the whole works.

    I bought the discbox along with some friends that offered their credit cards and email adresses. I decided to bee calm and cool on October 10th and went to college as usual.

    I tried to organize a mini-listening party at my friend´s house but most people failed to attend. Some of us played the album in a quiet room, full speaker volume. I remember being a bit disappointed with 15 Step, as I remember the most listening to the first few bars of Reckoner and thinking: this doesn´t make any sense. When that song was over, I thought it was the best by far but had to give it some more listens.
    After it was over, I felt incredibly satisfied and went over to a Laurie Anderson concert.

    I bought the physical release of the album, and finally received the discbox.

    I listen to it the way I have always listened to the band: obsessively, but with much needed phases of silence and other artist research and experimentation.

    Although I have no definite answer as to how it ranks amongst the other albums – because each and every album could be their best, depending on the criteria chosen by each listener – I am sure In Rainbows will be praised as Radiohead´s most mature and focused album to date.

    Immensely beautiful.

  • Nitrostar

    Got the Box Set… OBVIOUSLY!

  • Andrea

    I remember coming back from work at ‘noon..get the code (I pre-ordered the discbox)..start downloading the album..then go back to work.. Later…a good dinner…a good bottle of wine..turning down the lights…pumping the volume…then relax and listening to (maybe)one of best Radiohead’ s album ever made!! (for three times in a row)

    What a great night!

    Thanks a lot!

  • Emilie

    My boyfriend and his mates play in a rock band, all fanatics of radiohead, and they were completely excited about the In rainbows issue, talking about how much they would pay, etc. They downloaded it and quickly the songs were played home. I didn’t like radiohead at all before i finally heard In Rainbows – for i did not know their work. But then, i turned to be the most fan of their music, my boyfriend has all the albums, so i started to listen to all of them from the last to the very first. Bought the discbox. Went to the concert. Had a nice chat with Colin.

    The In rainbows effect has been a very strong one – i didn’t know how to deal with the fact that this music was so good, i had to do something too. So i started to make my own music, and one year after, now, i’m starting a label and booking/managment thing, i’m in a band, i’m recording songs, they changed my life, they really did. they really did.

  • tatonka

    i spent the night hunting wild caribou with my creepy friend. ate by the fire all night….told stories, it was cold out. in the morn i pulled out my laptop (a toshiba maxima dual triple processor with fuel injected therma rings and a gigaton of ram), downloaded in rainbows, shot up some hashish…..and dahhhnced the forbidden dahhhnce. then i went home and cried in your mommys teet

  • Brad

    I ordered the box set, with some hesitation owing to the price, but then waited patiently for the 10th October to arrive to I could hear the album. I remember waking up an extra 20 minutes early, hoping the download link would arrive in my inbox. It had. I downloaded it, added it to my iPod and headed off to work. I put the album on and must have listened to it five times in a row. Reckoner blew me away, and still does to this day – it’s the pinnacle of an outstanding record.

  • the pick in the ice

    i recall always saying to myself that on the day the album came out i would pretend to be ill all day so i could miss school and spend the whole day smothered on radioheads new album. funnily enough i actually felt ill that day! i remember being a bit dissapointed at first with the album, due to being so used to the live bootlegs, but it grew on me pretty fast (much faster than kid a, allthough i spose thats needless to say!). good times…

  • perets2001

    I was working that day but when the link arrived and downloading finished I sabotaged for the rest of the day listening and exchanging reviews with my friends. I paid one pound for the link and also ordered the discbox which appeared very hard to be delivered. I waited for the parcel for three months, then wrote to waste, got a reply notifying that another copy had been sent. I waited for two more months, lost hope and faith in waste. In despair I looked for the options to get what everybody on Earth seemed to have got already. And to come to Amsterdam from where the discboxes were being sent appeared to be the most reliable method. So I did. The 1st of July 2008, the day of Radiohead concert in Amsterdam, was also the day I finally got “my precious”.
    But I must admit the album is worth such haunting.

  • Ben

    I bought myself the discbox, but on the morning of the download, my friend came over, we put some headphones in, and gave it a full listen through. It was amazing! Listening to Reckoner for the first time was one of those hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck moments!

  • http://nervesendings.blogspot.com/ Straw_peter

    I remember starying up untill abround 1am waiting for them to send me the download link despite having to get up at 6. So in the end i fell asleep head resting on laptop, woke up at 6 there it was, missed my train because I was busy downloading it onto my mp3 so I spent the next 2 hours on london underground listening to it on repeat.

  • spike

    I remember listening to it at 3a.m. – I was going to just skim through it and go to bed cos I had lectures the next morning – in fact, I ended up listening to it 3 times all the way through and forgetting about the lectures!

  • tim

    teaching, so i was up early, as usual. had download and burned a copy of the album by about 4:45 and then took my car out for a drive. i remember hitting the highway as bodysnatchers began and i kept driving through nude and weird fishees (being completely awe struck). i really wanted to pull over somewhere and listen but didn’t want to seem creepy so i pulled into a cemetery. i remember there was a really light rain faill, complete and utter darkness and then all i need came on; reckoner blew my mind, i remember feeling on the verge of tears but also completely overjoyed, goosebumps, and childlike excitement.

    the album came to a close, i remember the slight hint of disappointment that videotape brought, but, still, i listen to the album almost everday, try hopelessly to play the entire thing on the piano, and even more hopelessly to remix reckoner.

    thanks, radiohead.

  • http://www.seaholm.com Yickth Woovle

    My wife and I were visiting Paris and Amsterdam from Tokyo. I took my laptop specifically to download In Rainbows. We went to a cafe after the download, sat outside by a canal wearing our big ‘ol headphones, and proceeded to indulge. I still remember being kind of nervous just before I pushed play on my iPod – asking my wife, “are you ready?” Of course the rest of the trip was Radiohead.

  • http://www.904am.com Heath

    I actually hadn’t visited Dead Air, At Ease, or any Radiohead official or fan sites for a while, and I found out they were releasing the album via a regular news outlet. I was very excited, since they’re still my favorite band.

    I paid about $4 US, but I also got the Discbox a couple of months later. For some reason, I was excited but not AS excited as I thought I’d be. I was very busy with work, but I started listening and it grew on me.

    Only thing is, I couldn’t give it a proper listen until the night of the release. I fell in love. I hadn’t heard any of the songs beforehand, because I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.

    I’d say it’s the best album since OK Computer, and better than even The Bends. I love the band so much that I always thought Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief were as good as OK Computer. But they don’t hold a candle to that album, or In Rainbows and The Bends.

    Overall, it’s a masterpiece and all the songs are excellent, but I still get chills listening to Reckoner, House of Cards, Videotape and All I Need.

    heath

  • TheFloyd

    I got it right before I had to go to my college class. I listened to Nude first and was absolutely blown away. I then listened to it straight through and each track was so tight and had a little bit of a different vibe from the live tracks that I had listened to nonstop for months.

    I listened and I listened, and to this day, the album just hits a special chord with me. I love it!

  • nemo

    I took it to the harbour and to museums. to the city, walking around an old church with yellow falling autumn leaves to the sound of Nude. the harbour with the giant bricks and piles of sawdust to match those on images of Chris Jordan (who I knew had inspired the record) and knowing that we were all together that day- sharing the excitement. everything was a little more alive than usual. the weather meant something, the concrete meant something- everything was spoken through the record. the world was a comment and a question and the only answer.

  • RAF

    The website was flooded from massive amounts of ppl downloading. I had bought the boxset for about $80 US dollars. Well worth it imo. However I had to download it from a torrent on October 10th because it was faster.

    Later on (a few days later) I got the actual file from the official site which was identical to the torrent.

  • i suck young blood

    i put a loud alarm notification on my email inbox and slept with my laptop on my bed so I’d wake up when it arrived. and arrive it did, at about 6:30 on 10th October. I woke up pretty quickly, downloaded it and laid in bed with my headphones on, in awe. I remember Reckoner coming on, and praying that Thom wasn’t all of a sudden going to break into… “RECKONER BAH BAH BAHHHH! RECKONERRRR!!!” – all i can say is – thank god he didnt…

    doug.

  • alejandro

    i was in class and i couldnt focus. all i could think of was radiohead. so after clas i went to the library to try to download on one of the pods. couldnt do that i went home and skipped the rest of my classes

  • Chris

    I ended up getting the discbox so I got a “free” download. But I remember being in my room, somewhere around 3 AM when I got my download link. So I downloaded it, woke up my brother who is also a big Radiohead fan, and we both sat in my room and listened to it in the wee hours of the morning. Quite a cool experience. :D

  • Jesus

    Muldfeld, you’re going to die a virgin. Just thought I’d let you know.

  • Tez

    Let’s see; I was doing the graveyard shift at work and I had my laptop on me. After a lot of waiting around, 6am approached and I received an email stating I could now download In Rainbows after I ordered the spectacular boxset. I freak out though, as I didn’t have my iPod cable on me and had to rob one from a friend. It was the best day ever; leaving work at 7am and listening to the delightful In Rainbows.

  • http://www.youtube.com/skysaw73 SubSickAlien

    SSA woke-up EXTRA-early on that cool October morning. Still remember thinking of how many people were waiting for that e-mail (link) and anticipating the album which had been a buzz for the past ten days. By 12 noon that day I was already in love with ‘Reckoner’. A day in Radiohead history.

  • Grabriel

    That day was a long day at work, wanted to get home so I could d/l the cd, and fell in love with Reckoner, absolutely beautiful song, I purchased the discbox but if I had purchased just the digital d/l I guess I would have paid 10.00 usd.
    And at first I did not like the videotape version, they should of used the one they did at the 06 gigs, but anyways, I like it now.

  • http://cruithear.blogspot.com Cruithear

    Oh, I remember.

    I had to work that day, but I arrived in the office early so I could download the album to my work computer (I had purchased the discbox set so I had a code waiting for me). A co-worker insisted I play the album over the speakers as opposed to headphones, since I’d been ranting and raving about its release for a while by that time. We got through Nude before another co-worker insisted I put headphones on.

    I also remember getting home that afternoon and blaring the album on repeat for the rest of the night – at very least my roomie/friends are Radiohead fans, as well. Not so sure about my neighbors. :)

  • batman

    I came home and was really drunk, and randomly checked my email….got the link, i danced, i cried, and by some grace of god didn’t hurl

  • djonn

    my hook up at home is only a landline so I knew I’d have to wait till I got to work to download it (I ordered the disc box straight away). for a few minutes I thought about waiting to get home to hear it because the headphones at work were crap but I fina;;y relented and hit play.
    what I remember most about the event was how I’d been feeding a few other peeps at work the live 2006 versions and now they were coming up at random saying “well? well? how is it?” and I thought about what a microcosm of what was going on all over the world it was. people all over on websites, in forums all giving opinions and asking “well? well? what do you think?”
    my thought, brilliant. some things from the live versions I missed, new bits added I loved but it was exactly what I hoped for in that I couldn’t take it all in till after many many listenings. what a great day!

  • andrew

    I paid 15 and went out that day and went on a drive through the country side. it was pretty wild

  • Frroggyantbear roo

    Its been a year. Wow. Seems like a lifetime ago and yet in rainbows seem so fresh, like a fresh scar just carved into your flesh.

    I was working on my final designs for my degree when in rainbows came out. Doing architecture to the wee hours in the night and listening to in rainbows is such a tripped out experience. Possibly listened to it none stop literally without much sleep for three straight days, drinkin possibly 13 cups of redbull and many cups of coffee.

    An unforgettable experience. since now im a graduate.

  • http://www.astrolfo.com Xavier-Astolfo

    I paid for the download 3 times…my copy for $10, then I got my dad and a friend their own downloads for $5 each.

    I never got my download link so I ended up just downloading the album for free from a peer-to-peer program…which kinda sucked…but not really since I still got the album I paid for.

    I also got the diskbox for $80. =)

    I was in my couch when I first heard the full album and I loved it all until videotape came. I was expecting it to be the highlight of the album for me. As it started I was drooling with anticipation waiting for the drums from the live version to kick in…second verse came and went…and nothing…I waited some more thinking they just extended the song…nothing…no kick-ass drums, no intense beautiful guitar progression…no amazing guitar outro…I was so so disappointed and angry and sad…

    then, the girl I was with offered to give me a blow-job as we heard the song a second time.

    it sounded a lot better. =P

    I still sometimes dream about them releasing the live version as a b-side or something.

    =(

  • Treefingers

    I was sitting in my room on my laptop just browsing the web and here in the US it was about 12-1 am when Jonny posted the news on DAS. I like to believe I was one of the first people to find out. haha. It was just mind boggling that they released the record 10 days after announcing it. Brilliant!

  • lieutzip

    I was one of the Discbox orderers. Live in California, so it took ages for the thing to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. :-)

    Woke up a couple hours early on October 10th to check for the e-mail link, then proceeded to download between showering, brushing teeth, and fixing breakfast. Download finished fast. Dropped it in my iTunes, did an update, and then there it was, sitting on my iPod, ready to be listened to. I remember thinking it was so bizarre to have waited so long, sat through all the cyphers, listened to all the live recordings, and then in the space of about twenty minutes, have the album just BE there with a couple of keyboard clicks. I still haven’t gotten used to the idea.

    I was walking to work at the time, and the walk happened to take about forty minutes, so the first listen happened then. I was most immediately impressed by “Bodysnatchers” – still my favorite studio recording of any of the “In Rainbows” material – and “Nude”, which was a long time coming, but turned out beautifully. I’ve sinced warmed up to “Videotape”, but at the time I was disappointed by the translucent minimalist version they ended up choosing. (It’s still much better as a live performance.) “Reckoner” kind of shocked me – I was expecting something loud and jangly – but of course, it quickly became apparent that this version was far superior to the 2001 edition. It’s now a personal favorite.

    I listen to a ton of music, but even a year later, “In Rainbows” still gets a listen probably at least once a week. It will definitely go down as one of their finest records.

  • racso_452

    Unfortunatly on October 10th, I didn’t have internet in my house…I forget why. But on October 11th when I got to school with my laptop, I downloaded it during my first break, then during my last class, I put my headphones in my head, turned on my ipod, then spent the whole 3 hour class with my head down listening to it.

    It was pure bliss.

  • whatourdirtymindsRthinking

    I had to wait until gettiing back from work. A friend and I listened to it at his kitchen table – about 20 seconds from the end of nude (after ‘you’ll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking’) I burst into tears and thumped the table-top, syaing, in a wobbly voice: “They’re just so fucking talented!” And that’s the story of how I got my atease name.

    Then Arpeggi came on, and the both of us were slightly shell-shocked by its genius.

  • Remco

    I remember getting up early before going to school to listen to the album. A few friends of mine were also online and we started listening at the same time. It really felt like something special, listening to a new Radiohead record. I paid a few pounds cause I already ordered the package. Funny that it’s already one year ago.. Time is flying!

  • Matt

    waking up at dawn

    walking through the woods to my friend’s house

    listening before school in a holy silence

    then, that night, driving around my deserted down with the album blasting

    ecstasy

  • Magic

    incredible
    record
    5/5

  • boo boo

    i has dial-up internet at the time. i live in ohio. i was a senior in high school and woke up around 5 in the morning to start downloading, thinking by the time i got back from school it would be done. went to school, read reviews during my first class and then some kid asked me if i needed a copy. listened to it as soon as possible at school and then driving home. and then over and over a few thousand more times.

  • air_towel

    I was up early, downloaded it, sounded very fresh was great, then I listened to it on Xfm.
    bought it on the day it came out

  • Dapp

    I think my discbox is the single most special music item I own. Those cds haven’t seen the light after the day I ripped them (and maybe never will)

  • JD

    I remember staying up until 12 when it was released and listening to the entire this that night. Amazing

  • http://www.3dogz.com Dave

    I bought the boxset. No way I was going to miss out on a completely different disc with even MORE songs. I had seen them in Toronto in June and they played 4 minute warning which became a fave. Knowing it was on the 2nd disc of the boxset made it a no brainer. Plus, as a designer, I have an appreciation for everything RH does. I recall getting the album first thing before work, and the initial beat of 15 step. That next week it was in constant rotation and even now, I can’t listen to just one song.. I have to play the entire album.

  • Dan

    I ws in the Philippines, desperate to find an internet cafe where I could download and hear the new album. Now I’m back in Scotland and, yes, I’m still listening to it.

  • Stinky Beetle

    I received my link a little before midnight on 10/09/07. I downloaded the album, burned it to a cd and played it in my living room with my fiance.

    Initially I thought most of it was garbage. I hated the production and I thought the arrangements were sloppy. I couldn’t listen to the intro to Nude in particular.

    The first track I liked was Arpeggi/Weird Fishes and the album slowly grew on me. Honestly, I don’t think I truly liked the album until I heard Bodysnatchers during Thumbs Down and the rest of the album on New Year’s Eve. That live format really changed my perception of the album — now i can’t stop listening to it.

  • tanja

    i was at work – i could download IN RAINbows but couldn’t listen to it until i got home which was quite hard for me)))
    and i ordered a diskbox later.
    a year later it’s still my favourite album.

  • Bovgvin

    Woke up at 3 a.m. on Oct. 10th and 10 seconds later i was downloading the album

    ’twas a cold night (-:

  • karne

    What a beautiful sunrise that day!
    Loved it from the start, listening with my headphones so i didn’t wake anyone, and the discbox was my favourite purchase of last year (this year was the tickets).

  • ryan

    i paid 13.00 USD, and loved the album (still do) i was actaully sitting in the same seat i am now when i dl’d and listened to the album for the first time

  • victor

    I live in mexico so i had my doubts about buying de discbox, because of the shipment, i tought about it until the tenth, when, i finally decided to buy it and hope for it to come well, but the page wasn’t working, i tought i’ve lost my chance but the next day the download (free) worked fast and smooth, i almost broke into tears hearing it into my tv speakers for my stereo wasn’t workin’. i buyed the discbox the next day, and downloaded it again, the shipment took unil almost february but it was totaly worth it. fav song at the time: Jigsaw Falling into place. Nowadays: Reckoner

  • Elliott

    I got up at five AM to check if my email had come, thinking it probably wouldn’t until later that day and that I’d have to download the album at school. Alas, my email had come at 2:50. I downloaded it immediately, almost missing the bus as I waited for the cd to burn. I listened all the way to school and barely fit the entire record in before class started. I got a lot of odd looks as I walked around the school, shaking and on the verge of tears with my excitement. It felt so good to brag that I was the first person I know to hear In Rainbows!

  • Justin

    Bought in on eMusic to be quite honest. I’m from the US and quite unwilling to figure it out.

  • Joanna

    I payed $6 American dollars for In Rainbows and it was beyond worth it. I kept refreshing my inbox, and the minute it came, my boyfriend and I sat on my bed and listened to every second of it, and marveled at how beautiful it was. So memorable, so perfect!!

  • Jacques

    I’ve been having a good time watching In Rainbows videos while clicking through and discovering a bunch of things about the album @ http://www.evri.com/product/in-rainbows-0×26079.html

  • useless87

    I remember that day… and that period as well. I was in Liverpool, at LIPA (I remember we discussed the pay-what-you-like thing and the without-label-release choice in Music Production class that week), and there had been a problem with my order (I had ordered the discbox)… I had to re-submit my order… but I was too impatient so I had a friend of mine sendind me through msn messenger his digital copy of the album… I had a good first impression of it. I immediately sensed a unity of style which was the major lack in httt (hey, still a brilliant album of course)… but it took a couple of listenings to start really enjoying it. i’m really happy i got the discbox, i love vinyls and the artbook is great. Manchester’s gig this summer was great.
    I still listen to the album, it didn’t lose its charm. look forward to the next tour!

  • Joshua

    And they still haven’t said how much money they got from releasing it on a “pay as you wish” basis… have they?

    I don’t remember where I was though. I probably did my usual thing, went to work and whatnot, and then downloaded the album when I got home. It had less spirit than the live recordings, but then again, it’s hard to be fully inspired when you’re locked in a little room with no one else.

  • Miguel, CHILE

    When I First saw the “pay what you want” thing, I was completely shocked. After putting myself together, as a Joke, I put $0.
    Obviously, I get the d/l link, but I was afraid I couldn`t get the album.
    As a Radiohead Fan, I buy every release anyway.

    Now, I`m waiting for their first visit to Chile. I`ve already got my golden circle tickets!

  • Katia

    I didn’t pay anything for the cd. I just downloaded it because I couldn’t wait any more to listen to it. I bought the original cd though the first day of release in Greece. I was thrilled with the tracks -and still am-.. For weeks I heard it over and over again. You can never be bored of these guys..! RADIOHEAD RULE!!!

  • R.a.

    I bought the boxset, paid 0 for the digital download (since i already bought the boxset).

    I listened to it in my car, I remember hearing Thom’s vocal delivery on 15 step and getting the chills, it sounded so raw, and so good.

    The boxset was worth every penny.
    cheers!