In a vague (and capital letter free) note to a Radiohead fan club on May 12, lead singer Thom Yorke announced his first solo album with the words "this is just a note to say that something has been kicking around in the background that i have not told you about. its called The Eraser ... i wrote it and played it." Although intentionally ambiguous about the nature of the project, Yorke attempted to assuage the inevitable questions about the future of Radiohead as a group, saying "i want no crap about me being a traitor or whatever splitting up blah blah ... this was all done with their blessing." With this issue addressed, Radio-heads (shut up, I like this joke), were able to look past the possible earth-shaking demise of Radiohead to a less drastic, but similarly concerning question: Will it be good? Thankfully the answer is a resounding, although cryptic, "Yes!"
Without a doubt, solo albums are a tricky game to play. Talk to Dave Matthews, frontman of perhaps the most popular summer circuit band around, whose "Some Devil" was met with lukewarm response. Or ask Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, who sold under 70,000 copies of his solo debut "TheFutureEmbrace," despite making the title all futuristic and stuff without spaces.
Sting, Eric Clapton and Beyonc might sing a different song regarding solo albums, having enjoyed success both alone and with The Police, Cream and Destiny's Child respectively but they are the exceptions that prove the rule and the reality remains that an artist going it alone rarely produces anything exceptional and often burns bridges with the artist's compatriots.
Never one to adhere to the norm (see his first name), Thom Yorke has disregarded the dubious precedent set by solo acts and launched himself full speed ahead into his own project while continuing to wow audiences at Radiohead shows across the country. As if acknowledging the rarity of his endeavors, in his original announcement Yorke also stated "i don't wanna hear that word solo. doesn't sound right." No matter what you call it, "The Eraser" is a fantastic production that highlights Yorke's best qualities.
On the album his voice shines, uncovered and exposed without the loops and riffs of Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien and company, creating a new environment around ideas that would not sound out of place on Radiohead's "Kid A" or "OK Computer."
Yorke himself realized the unavoidable difference in instrumentation between Radiohead and this band-less excursion, saying, "inevitably it is more beats & electronics," but "The Eraser" does not suffer from its thinner surroundings. Luckily, Yorke, who in the past has professed to dislike his own voice, doesn't shy away from using it as his most powerful weapon, carrying tracks with his vocal chords for the duration of the album.
Nowhere is Yorke's voice more evident than on the album's standout track, "Atoms for Peace." Slotted sixth on the record, the track consists of a minimalist background while Thom's voice soars above, part human, part instrumental loop. This theme is found throughout the album with an emptier sonic landscape fixing the spotlight firmly on Yorke and his words.
In general, "The Eraser" reveals a less driving and more ambient Yorke, making the album at times extremely listenable and at other points ultimately forgettable. Tracks like "The Eraser," "And It Rained All Night," and "Atoms for Peace" capture the best elements of Yorke's new equation, mixing poignant lyrics, interesting melodies and rather sparse instrumentation to find a balance that allows the songs to shine.
Others, like "Analyse" and "The Clock," sound similar to older Radiohead albums, although Yorke does allow his ideas to flesh out further and his voices wanders more than on "Hail To The Thief" or "Amnesiac," Radiohead's two most recent releases. Not all of the album's songs are problem free with "Skip Divided" and the closing track "Cymbal Rush," losing power and flow amongst synthesized beeps, synthesized boops and non-synthesized but still overly ambient vocals. All tracks considered, however, "The Eraser" is an outstanding record.
In "Atoms For Peace," Yorke sings "Peel all of your layers off, I want to eat your artichoke heart," instructing his audience to open up and get rid of the "so many lies" that plague them. You're probably thinking, "Wait, artichoke heart?" Yes, artichoke heart. I don't know what it means either. I'm not sure Thom even knows what it means. The reality remains, however, that the line serves as a great summary of "The Eraser" as a whole.
On the album, Yorke has peeled away the dense waves of loops, chords and layered vocals that give Radiohead its lush sound, leaving him at his most exposed. This distilling has not resulted in clichd pop songs. Yorke maintains his enigmatic lyrics and quirky style throughout "The Eraser."
The end result is an interesting blend of accessible, thought provoking, emotional music that will stick with you long past the first listen.
Grade: A-.
