In Rainbows  by Radiohead

In Rainbows by Radiohead is not just an album; it is the moment when the music industry looked to the future and felt dizzy. It was released in 2007. The most significant peculiarity of the album was the way it was distributed. On October 10, 2007, the band released it digitally through their official website, allowing fans to set their own purchase price (pay-what-you-want), even to download it for free. This move bypassed the record companies and caused a global shock, proving that trust in the audience can be profitable.

In Rainbows features an ethereal, spare yet at the same time richly orchestrated sound. It ranges from the hypnotic beats of 15 Step and the guitar intensity of Bodysnatchers to the lyrical melancholy of Nude and the otherworldly serenity of Videotape. The recordings spanned over two years (2005-2007) in various locations across England, such as Halswell Park and Tottenham House, buildings that gave the sound a unique sense of "space." At the helm of production was the "sixth Radiohead," producer Nigel Godrich, who managed to harness the band's experimentation into a warmer and more immediate sound.

When the physical form of In Rainbows was released in 2008, it immediately climbed to No.1 on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. It is estimated that the band earned more from this self-release than from all their previous albums combined. The album won two Grammy Awards (Best Alternative Music Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package). In Rainbows is the sound of a band that stopped chasing perfection and finally found it in simplicity and sincerity.