The Bends

The sophomore LP from British rock band Radiohead, released in 1995. In many ways, The Bends is very similar to their debut, Pablo Honey, albeit more inventive. Rather than relying so much on rock cliches, Radiohead began to delve into more advanced songwriting. Although they had not yet entirely embraced their reliance on the studio for their sound, there is clearly more studio usage with this album as can be seen on songs like "Planet Telex," "Fake Plastic Trees," and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)." Generally speaking, The Bends is Radiohead's most immediately accessible album. Though the songs are not as blatantly simple as those on Pablo Honey, they are still firmly within the parameters of rock. It did, however, serve as a brilliant transition between their heavily R.E.M.-influenced music and the more post-rock style of their 1997 release, OK Computer. The Bends has since earned a reputation as one of the best albums of the 1990s.