The Bends - Radiohead

Remember when Radiohead were a normal alt-rock band? No me neither. It was probably a time pre-decimilisation, when England won at cricket and when the sun never set on the British empire. A lifetime ago.

It was also a time when I was managing several site jobs for Leeds City Council; travelling from one side of the city to the next - normally crawling through traffic. But it didn't matter. As one wise Site Agent told me "When you're marching you can't be fighting". Wise words indeed. And I had 'The Bends' for company on many of those cross town trips; window down, shades on. What a great way to pass the day and get paid for it! Well it wasn't my idea to give me jobs at the opposite end of the city. Blame the management. It always helps.

It all seems so long ago but Radiohead were once a U2 busting, Nirvana bettering band. Remember yet? A quick listen to 'The Bends' should help bring those memories flooding back. A monster of an alt-rock album; powerful, loud when it needs to be, quiet when it is appropriate and with storming songs.

This is very much a guitarists album. There can't be a more explosive start to a song than 'The Bends' with a crescendoing distorted guitar chord. Then there is the solo on 'Just'. All tangled notes and screeching harmonics. Johnny Greenwood has never sounded so good.

'The Bends' is as straightforward as Radiohead ever got. And it was a blast whilst it lasted. Little did we know that the band were already programming their computer for alien territories. Boldly going where no other rock band dared to go. Life would never be the same again.....