Critic's Notebook

Thom Yorke

Thom Yorke's first individual outing is about what you'd expect — a glitchy, primarily electronic excursion that mirrors Radiohead's most recent work. The Eraser's dour compositions conjure the icy, detached vibe of Kid A and Amnesiac, and were it not for Yorke's beguiling melodies and consistently compelling fey falsetto, it...
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Thom Yorke’s first individual outing is about what you’d expect — a glitchy, primarily electronic excursion that mirrors Radiohead’s most recent work. The Eraser‘s dour compositions conjure the icy, detached vibe of Kid A and Amnesiac, and were it not for Yorke’s beguiling melodies and consistently compelling fey falsetto, it would be easy to peg The Eraser as a regurgitation of the band’s back catalogue. But a closer listen reveals sparser renderings that offer a glimpse at Yorke’s sketch pad, and what the front man’s songs must sound like before they become Radio-ready. Amid a backdrop of assorted arcade noises and claustrophobic frequencies, Yorke delivers dependably pithy, neurotic musings on such standout tracks as “Skip Divided,” in which he croons in a noticeably deeper timbre, and “Black Swan” and “Harrowdown Hill,” whose slinky bass lines and jazzy backbeats provide a welcome contrast to the album’s overall mechanical tone. The Eraser is no masterpiece, but it’s worth seeking out.

GET MORE COVERAGE LIKE THIS

Sign up for the Music newsletter to get the latest stories delivered to your inbox

Loading latest posts...