The Bends (Reissue)

RadioheadThe Bends (Expanded)Before Radiohead could finish out their long term contract with Capitol Records, the label made it a point to copywrite a significant number of unreleased and unheard Radiohead studio recordings. Once the band officially left the majors for the indie world, Capitol started cranking out Radiohead-related products (none of which feature any of those unheard tunes). First came the EP reissues for My Iron Lung, Airbag and Com Lag. Then a hits collection. DVD reissues and a box set for the Christmas rush. Before taking on their biggest reissue project yet - a major collection of 12” vinyl releases - Capitol decided to reissue the band’s first three studio albums (Pablo Honey, The Bends, OK Computer), each with new packaging and a second disc full of bonus material. (Note: there are also super-expensive versions available that come with slightly fancier packaging and a DVD with, ohh, 12 minutes or so of content.)

Anyone who shopped the “R” section at record stores circa 1995-01 will attest to one sure thing: Radiohead had a much larger selection of overpriced import singles and EPs than anyone - even Oasis. And for good reason, as proven by the tracklist for the recent reissue of the band’s 1995 classic, The Bends. Fourteen. That’s right, 14 proper Bends-era b-sides accompany the album’s 12 original tracks (not to mention seven choice live cuts). Not only will you get the recently reissued My Iron Long EP that bridged the major creative gap between The Bends and the band’s debut, Pablo Honey, but also eight songs from The Bends studio sessions - all previously available as overpriced B-sides.

If you don’t get know songs like “Just,” “Black Star,” “High and Dry,” “My Iron Lung” or “Fake Plastic Trees” and consider yourself a fan of British rock, get out and buy this reissue. It’s one of the best Brit-rock albums of its time and hinted at all the maturity and mastery that was to come on the band’s signature album, OK Computer. If you do have the disc and know these songs, but don’t have the EPs and singles, also be sure to pick up this reissue, as the B-sides included here are right on par with the album cuts. Sure, “Molasses” and “Bannana Co.” might drop in quality a bit, but “Killer Cars,” “Talk Show Host” and “How Can You Be Sure” are as good as any Radiohead tune you’ll find this side of OK Computer. Consider yourself a fan of Muse, Travis, Coldplay, Elbow, Pulp, Blur, Oasis, Pink Floyd and so on but don’t have The Bends? Foolish. The Bends, not more than ever, is a must-own rock n’ roll album.

Now a whopping 25 proper studio cuts deep, you’ll be hard pressed to find an era for any band in the 90s that can match up to Radiohead’s The Bends era (and don‘t gimme that Pumpkins/Mellon junk). This collection, poppy and layered with guitars and sonic ideas that hint of things to come, is the first classic album from the band many publications and critics have called “the best of their era.” Twenty-five songs, at least 22 of which are drop-dead killer. Do the right thing and spend some times getting to know (or, in most cases I‘d hope, reacquainting yourself with) the greatness of The Bends. It’s the best of the three reissues, though all three are worth looking into if you consider yourself a fan of the band.    10/10

Written by G. William Locke