Courtesy of Creative Commons license (flickr/yosshi)
Since Radiohead left Capitol, the label has taken every chance they could to exploit the back catalogue (From Pablo Honey to Hail to the Thief). From a box set with no unreleased tracks to "collector's editions" of the first three albums to vinyl reissues, Capitol has pressured the fans to buy the same material again and again (to be fair, the recent vinyl Radiohead EP series provides the best Radiohead fidelity ever). Now Radiohead strikes back with a digital store of their own on their w.a.s.t.e site. Of course, it only contains non-Capitol material. Of most immediate interest will be the In Rainbows Disc 2 previously only found in the super-expensive Discbox of In Rainbows (currently going for $200+ on eBay). Most Radiohead fans have already copped torrents of these songs long ago, but it's nice to finally have an official outlet. While Disc 2 doesn't hold up as an album on its own, it contains a strong selection of rockers ("Bangers and Mash") and soulful numbers ("Go Slowly).
In addition to Disc 2, fans can purchase Thom Yorke's The Eraser, Johnny Greenwood's There Will Be Blood (OST), and In Rainbows. Disc 2 is the best "bargain" at 6 pounds. For 28 minutes of music, that's not quite a bargain but it beats the 7.50 pounds that the other three records will cost you. While the pickings are slim, one can hope that Radiohead soon use the space to release rarities, live shows and more.
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