Eraser

In 2006, with little advance word, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke unveiled his first solo album, THE ERASER, much to the surprise of many of the band's fans. Given that Yorke is the literal voice of the beloved British rock ensemble, these nine songs, produced by Nigel Godrich, don't depart too much from Radiohead's moody, electronica-tinged sound (i.e. KID A, AMNESIAC, HAIL TO THE THIEF), but they do prove to be more intimate, sometimes recalling the hauntingly spare "Rabbit in Your Headlights," Yorke's collaboration with DJ Shadow on U.N.K.L.E.'s PSYENCE FICTION. Like that tune, much of THE ERASER is awash in somber piano lines and minimal beats, as on the dreamy opening title track, while "The Clock" runs on skittering, tightly wound loops. Though there are up-tempo moments on the record, the overall atmosphere is melancholy and sometimes flat-out ominous, qualities that are hand-in-glove with Yorke's achingly plaintive voice and often bleak lyrics. Enhanced by the beautifully illustrated artwork of Stanley Donwood, THE ERASER isn't just music for a rainy day, it's the perfect counterpoint to a thunderstorm.