The Bends

Release type:What's this?
studio album
First released:
Mar 13 1995

Overview Edit

The Bends is the second album by the British alternative rock band Radiohead, released on 13 March 1995. The Bends was produced by John Leckie at EMI's studios in London, and engineered by Nigel Godrich, who would go on to produce future albums with the band. Featuring five charting singles, the album also marked the beginning of a shift in aesthetics and themes for the band, with greater use of keyboards, and more abrasive guitar tracks balancing subtler ones. The introspective post-grunge Radiohead style of Pablo Honey evolved toward more multilayered rock with cryptic lyrics and larger ideas, as the band and singer Thom Yorke reacted against the rigours of near-constant world tours. "Street Spirit (Fade Out)", the final single and last song, became their first top five UK hit. The Bends was ranked number 110 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and number 2 on Q's 100 Greatest Albums Ever.

The album was subject to greater critical acclaim than their debut Pablo Honey (1993), receiving a generally enthusiastic critical reception, and it reached number four in the UK Albums Chart. However, it failed to build on the commercial success of their single "Creep" outside the United Kingdom, and it peaked on the American charts at number 88. Although it lacked the instant success of later Radiohead albums, The Bends achieved triple platinum sales certifications in the UK and Canada and platinum sales in the US and the EU.

The Overview appearing in this section is attributed to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bends. Portions of this Overview may be available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, version 3.0 or any later version, available at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Additional terms may apply. See Wikipedia Terms of Use for details.

This particular version Edit

Record label:
unknown
Catalog number:
29626
Release dates:
  • Apr 4 1995 in United States

Genres

Indie, Rock, Alternative, Alternative Rock, Britpop. Vote on Genres

What do Amazon.com customers think?

5 stars There's a reason the average review is 5 stars on amazon
The Bends. Radiohead's most accessible album. Radiohead's most underappreciated album at the time of its release. Dare I say Radiohead's BEST album?

I dare.

Yes, OK Computer purists may find my statement inaccurate, but let me just ask you this, Radiohead fanatics... If you were to loan any Radiohead cd to someone who never heard their music before, which would it be?

Personally, The Bends was my introduction to the band in 1999... and I'm glad it was. Maybe 4 years too late, but hey - it's n…
Written by Levi Stofer "_leon_"
3 stars Only a good album
First of all, I'd like to start my review on this album by saying that I am not a Radiohead fan. For this reason, I am really sure that I will be completely objective.

This band is without any doubt one of the most important in the last 15 years, it is a strange case in rock music, because they dare to explore new directions without having

fear to fail or to succeed.

Nevertheless, not all of their albums are masterpieces.

The bends is really a good album, but is just the beginning of an evol…
Written by Ricardo Cardoso

Track listing Edit

Credits Edit

  1. arranger

    1. Jonny Greenwood [string]
    2. Thom Yorke [string]
  2. composer

  3. design

    1. Stanley Donwood [Illustrations]
  4. engineer

    1. Chris Blair [mastering]
    2. Chris Blair [Digital Editing, Mastering]
    3. John Leckie [mix]
    4. Sean Slade [mix]
  5. performer

    1. Colin Greenwood [bass guitar]
    2. Ed O'Brien [guitar]
    3. Ed O'Brien [vocals]
    4. John Matthias [violin]
    5. John Matthias [viola]
    6. Jonny Greenwood [guitar]
    7. Jonny Greenwood [organ]
    8. Jonny Greenwood [synthesizer]
    9. Jonny Greenwood [piano]
    10. Jonny Greenwood [recorder]
    11. Phil Selway [drums]
    12. Thom Yorke [vocals]
    13. Thom Yorke [guitar]
    14. Thom Yorke [piano]
  1. producer

  2. writer

Other versions Edit

The Bends 12 tracks format: 1 x CD
catalog number: 29626
release dates: Mar 13 1995 in United Kingdom
view details
The Bends 14 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Toshiba-EMI
catalog number: TOCP-8489
release dates: 1995 in Japan
view details
The Bends 13 tracks format: 1 x CD
catalog number: 29626
release dates: 1995 in United Kingdom
view details
The Bends 12 tracks format: 1 x CD
release dates: Sep 2 2008
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The Bends 52 tracks Special Collector's Edition - 2 CDs / DVD
format: 3 x CD
release dates: Mar 24 2009
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Trivia Edit

  • Recorded in August–November 1994 at Abbey Road Studios, London, England

Websites Edit

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