), I just think they had developed alot more after as musicians/Thom as a writer etc after them. Of course it didn't exactly help their tag of being 'depressing' amongst alot of people xD For fans of OKC who don't have the Airbag/How Am I Driving EP I would very much recommend it, it's got some great songs on it such as Pearly and Polyethlene as well as their first proper instrumental.I really do think Amnesiac is under-rated, sure it's got things stuff like Pulk/Pull and Hunting Bears which can be harder to get into that other songs and the not-as-awesome-as-the-live-version Like Spining Plates. But it's also got absolute beauties like Pyramid Song, You And Whose Army?, Dollars And Cents (which as with other people, I did really get into till I saw them play it live after which I began adoring it) and the Jonny Greenwood written glory of Life In A Glasshouse with the amazing trumpet work of Humphrey Lyttelton. And on the more rocking side there's also Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box (although that really gets more rocking in the live situation with more emphasis on the brilliant bassline), I Might Be Wrong and Knives Out. Of course Kid A is even better which in my opinion Treefingers as the only weak track and I often put it up with the great musical changes, not quite as significant as Joshua Tree --> Achtung Baby obviously, but still great. Not to mention Morning Bell is way better than Morning Bell/Amnesiac
Hail To The Thief I would personally rank lower than OKC, Kid A and Amnesiac. I love pretty much all the songs on it (with Backdrifts being the one I still have trouble liking), I just think it all feels very rushed and yet feels like the album drags on a bit and has this slight sense of confusion as to whether they want it to make it a Rock album or more Alternative and electronic like the previous 2 which kind of makes it kind of a bit full on for my taste. But as songs I think they are great, even if The Gloaming could do with the extra bassline Colin plays when they play it live which really improves the song alot
And finally In Rainbows, which I agree with the consensus that it's great. I liked the download so much that I went out and bought the CD so I could hear it at a far nicer 320kb/s and as I think they need thanks for making such a good album which in this case was respresented by buying something I already had on my iTunes xD 15 Step has to be one of the coolest songs I've heard in a while and I just love how it feels almost sort of lighter hearted and cheerful which after HTTT I think was really needed. I see it like how ATYCLB was after Pop in a strange way. Not to mention it seems to be their most accessible album, it really seems to have made them alot more fans who found the other albums too daunting and dare I say it 'depressing'
So to finally get to an actual point, I'd say it depends on what sort of thing your into as to which album you download, with In Rainbows, Pablo Honey or The Bends being the safest bets in my opinion, or if you want to take the plunge and delve into the sort of song they can achieve and feelings they can create I'd say go for Kid A, Amnesiac or potentially Hail To The Thief which treads on the line inbetween the rockier, easier sound and the more experimental and dark sound. Of course this is all in my opinion and it could all be the opposite in your eyes (or ears in this case). Ok essay over I'll shut up now
