Radiohead: In Rainbows [XL RECORDINGS]

*In Rainbows* is the seventh studio album by English rock band Radiohead. Released on October 10, 2007, as a pay-what-you-want download, it was subsequently released physically through XL Recordings internationally on December 3, 2007, and through TBD Records in North America on January 1, 2008. This marked Radiohead's first release following the end of their recording contract with EMI after their 2003 album, *Hail to the Thief*.

Work on *In Rainbows* began in early 2005. After unsuccessful sessions with producer Spike Stent in 2006, Radiohead turned back to their longtime producer, Nigel Godrich. The band recorded at Halswell House, Tottenham House, the Hospital Club in London, and their studio in Oxfordshire, using a mix of traditional rock instruments along with electronic instruments, strings, piano, and the ondes Martenot. The lyrics on this album are more personal and introspective compared to their previous politically charged work.

The album's online release allowed fans to choose their own price, a move that Radiohead described as freeing them from traditional promotional methods and breaking down barriers between the music and its audience. This innovative approach garnered significant media attention and praise for challenging existing distribution models, though some critics worried it might set a problematic precedent for less established artists.

Radiohead supported *In Rainbows* with webcasts, music videos, competitions, and a global tour. Singles "Jigsaw Falling into Place" and "Nude" were released, with "Nude" becoming Radiohead's first top-40 hit in the US since their debut single, "Creep" (1992). The physical release of *In Rainbows* topped both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, and by October 2008, it had sold over three million copies worldwide. It was the bestselling vinyl record of 2008 and is certified platinum in the UK and Canada, and gold in the US, Belgium, and Japan. The album won Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, and was widely recognized as one of the best albums of the year and decade. *In Rainbows* was also featured in Rolling Stone's updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.