Wed, Feb. 25, 9pm EST - 'The Bends' by Radiohead

Released just shy of 20 years ago (13 March 1995), The Bends was the sophomoric effort of the UK group Radiohead.  Whereas their debut album Pablo Honey was definitively more straight forward alternative rock, The Bends began to meander towards something more experimental, more unique.  When looking at the group's discography, The Bends is the album that planted, or perhaps began sprouting, the seeds of brilliance that would usher them into unchartered territory with their subsequent albums.  I don't think a direct leap from Pablo Honey to Ok Computer (the highly touted follow up album to The Bends) would have been possible.  

But was The Bends merely a mediocre stepping stone, with no other usefulness?  Absolutely not!  Contained on The Bends are countless gems.  The gentle but beautiful "Fake Plastic Trees".  The ethereal presence of "Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was".  And the emotionally draining finale of "Street Spirit (Fade Out)".  Those are but a few of the highlights of this solid and well regarded album from the mid 90's.

So join "Album Night" on Wed, February 25 as we dive into Radiohead's The Bends.  Just don't come up too fast...

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