[.ca] Eraser

From Amazon.com:
Some writers and fans have taken to calling this album Kid B, the (obvious) implication that it's the companion piece to Radiohead's masterpiece of electronic rock. And while The Eraser does compare favorably to that work, it's no longer ahead of its time, just simply of its time. We can't all be visionaries all the time, however, and it's understandable that Yorke wants to play with his computer more than he gets to with his rock and roll band. Looped bubbly bloops, sleight drones, and curious bleeps complement Yorke's distinctive vocals throughout. The album at times sounds like demo versions, as if they were an update of the way Pete Townshend used to do solo versions of all his songs for the Who. It's tough not to expect the rest of the band to come in and "complete" a particular song. But once you get used to the fact that this isn't going to happen, the album reveals itself as a delightful, occasionally brave work that's as playful as it is melancholic. --Mike McGonigal

Absolutely Perfect:
Wow. You can hear clips of most of these tracks on the UK released only DVD "The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth Of All Time". I have been fortunate enough to hear the album before its release and this is everything you would expect and more from Thom Yorke. You can't compare this to a Radiohead album because the only thing Radiohead about it is the vocals. It is a very relaxed experience and really takes a second listen (as does most good music) to really appreciate it.

Mr. Yorke's Opus:
On 'The Eraser', Thom Yorke does not stray as far from Radiohead-esque sounds of late, but has nonetheless created something wonderful. 'The Eraser' lacks the robust, full-jacket feel of a Radiohead production, but of course, this isn't Radiohead. Yorke's abilities to allow is personality to filter into his songs is highly evident, as many of them carry lyrics attributed to Yorke's personal politics. The theme of global warming is highly audible, especially on tracks such as "It Rained All Night", and "The Clock", where he sings of the impending doom that nobody seems to want to address. On "Harrowdown Hill", (arguably the song that will be the most popular), Yorke expresses his distaste over the circumstances of the death of Dr. David Kelly, the British weapons inspector in Iraq who was found dead shortly after testifying that there were no weapons of mass destruction prior to the invasion in 2003. The events surrounding Kelly's death/suicide are suspicious, and Yorke rails against those who he believes are truly responsible - all from the point of view of the dead doctor. Thom Yorke's sound is stripped down, and yet at the same time he manages to form beautiful melodies, even if the bleeps and blops of electronic rythyms sometimes almost overpower his talent. All in all, a solid record, and recommended for anyone who has enjoyed Radiohead since Kid A.

Erase me:
It's hard to be objective about the solo work of a brilliant musician like Thom Yorke, who is part of the equally brilliant band Radiohead. It's even harder when you can hear echoes of the band's "sound" going through the solo work. But that doesn't seem to be a problem with Yorke's solo debut, "The Eraser." Laced with delicate electronica, slow keyboard and Yorke's soulful voice, this is a solo debut that shines both as an individual album, and as a side project to his band. It's a complex, seductive piece of work, and bodes well for future solo work from Yorke. It opens with a halting piano solo and subtle electronic beats that build up to a quiet, soaring melody. Then Yorke murmurs, "Please excuse me but I got to ask/Are you only being nice/Because you want something/My fairy tale arrow pierces/Be careful how you respond /'Cause you'd not end up in this song ...." But the meditative sound changes with the dancey, sparkling electronica of "Analyse" (despite the downer songwriting) and the guitar-driven, eerie sound of "The Clock." Yorke fills the songs with different bits of experimentation -- the ominous spoken-word song, Aphex Twin-style electronica, eerie shimmering keyboard balladry, and finishing off with the delicate, enchanting "Cymbal Rush." There are only nine songs on "The Eraser." But Yorke crams each one with creativity, haunting sounds and beautiful songwriting, until there's no room left. Many of the songs vaguely resemble Radiohead's last few albums, with the heavy reliance on electronica. But the sound is uniquely Yorke's. Yorke loads down "Eraser" with plenty of atmosphere -- menacing, ominous, dreamy and even upbeat. "Skip Divided" is somewhat weaker than the other songs, but the remaining songs make up for that. They're full of electronic soundscapes, shimmering keyboards and even a bit of guitar and bass, but the heart of each song lies in the electronic beats and shimmers. It's like wandering through a cave of ice and sunlight. Yorke's distinctive voice stands out in the eerie "Atoms for Peace," where he sounds confident and slightly off-key. But in other songs like "It Rained All Night," he lets his voice blend in with the walls of electronica, until it's drowned out. And the lyrics fit him well, full of drowned cities, tormented people and wishing wells. Thom Yorke created a near-masterpiece with "The Eraser," with its eerie electronica and beautiful songwriting. Definitely a keeper.

Brilliant work from Yorke:
Thom Yorke has created a really brilliant piece of work. The melodies and guitars are really indicative of what you've come to expect from him through Radiohead. It is clear that this is not the work of the whole band and the CD is reminiscent of Pablo Honey in the way it's put together and the way it sounds. If you like Radiohead you will love this CD as well.

Good enough.:
Any attempt here to say "Please listen...", or, "Important", is really of no avail, since most of the people who will purchase Eraser will do so with the certainty coming from Thom Yorke's performance with Radiohead. Track 2, Analyse, is nothing short of excellent. Track 4, Black Swan, is less powerful, yet one smooth chill-out song. I removed a star since many of some songs have a tone that could be described as "dismal churning", but 4 out of 5 stars = 80% solid.

• The Eraser
• Analyse
• The Clock
• Black Swan
• Skip Divided
• Atoms For Peace
• And It Rained All Night
• Harrowdown Hill
• Cymbal Rush