In Rainbows

In 2004, after finishing the world tour for their sixth studio album, Hail to the Thief (2003), Radiohead went on hiatus. As Hail to the Thief was the final album released under their record contract with EMI, they had no contractual obligation to release new material. The drummer, Philip Selway, said Radiohead still wanted to create music, but took a break to focus on other areas of their lives, and that the end of their contract provided a natural point to pause and reflect.{{cite news |author=Kent, Nick |author-link = Nick Kent |title=Ghost in the Machine |work=Mojo |publisher=EMAP |pages=74–77 |date=1 August 2006}} The New York Times described Radiohead as "by far the world's most popular unsigned band".

In 2005, the singer and songwriter, Thom Yorke, appeared on the web series From the Basement, performing the future In Rainbows tracks "Videotape", "Down is the New Up" and "Last Flowers".{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Eric |date=2021-04-14 |title=Radiohead unearth Thom Yorke's 2005 From the Basement concert |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/radiohead-unearth-thom-yorkes-2005-from-the-basement-concert-watch/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} He released his first solo album, The Eraser, in 2006. The lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood, also composed his first solo works, the soundtracks Bodysong (2004) and There Will Be Blood (2007).

In March 2005, Radiohead began writing and recording in their Oxfordshire studio. They initially chose to work without their longtime producer, Nigel Godrich. According to the guitarist Ed O'Brien, "We were a little bit in the comfort zone ... We've been working together for 10 years, and we all love one another too much."{{Cite news |date=22 December 2005 |title=Radiohead album – the band speak |work=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-747-1360277|url-status=live|access-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012422/http://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-747-1360277|archive-date=26 January 2018}} The bassist, Colin Greenwood, later denied this, saying Godrich had been busy working with Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck. At the Ether festival in July 2005, Jonny Greenwood and Yorke performed a version of the future In Rainbows track "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" with the London Sinfonietta orchestra and the Arab Orchestra of Nazareth.{{Cite news |last=Pritchard |first=Stephen |date=2005-04-03 |title=Don't box them in |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/apr/03/classicalmusicandopera.radiohead |access-date=2024-03-06 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}

File:Radiohead Berkeley, California 23-6-2006.jpg, Berkeley, California, in 2006. Radiohead used the tour to test songs later recorded for In Rainbows.|alt=]]

Regular recording sessions began that August, with Radiohead updating fans on their progress intermittently on their new blog, Dead Air Space. The sessions were slow, and the band struggled to regain confidence. According to Yorke, "We spent a long time in the studio just not going anywhere, wasting our time, and that was really, really frustrating."{{cite news|author=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|date=2 July 2006|title=With Radiohead, and alone, the sweet malaise of Thom Yorke|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/arts/music/02pare.html?ex=1309492800&en=29a5622562355f76&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all|url-status=live|access-date=18 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129202245/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/02/arts/music/02pare.html?ex=1309492800&en=29a5622562355f76&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all|archive-date=29 January 2008}} They attributed their slow progress to a lack of momentum after their break, the lack of deadline and producer, and the fact that all the members had become fathers.{{Cite web |date=1 February 2006 |title=Radiohead speak from the studio |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-714-1356168|access-date=6 June 2021 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

In December 2005, Radiohead hired the producer Spike Stent, who had worked with artists including U2 and Björk, to help them work through their material. Stent listened to their self-produced work and agreed it was subpar. The collaboration with Stent was unsuccessful.

Concerned by the lack of progress, Radiohead's management suggested they break up. Brian Message, a partner at their management company, said later: "You have to be honest if it's not working. You have to have passion about what you do."{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=John |date=1 May 2009 |title=Working in harmony |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/working-in-harmony-1.757419 |access-date=2023-11-16 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} O'Brien said Radiohead decided to continue because "when you got beyond all the shit and the bollocks, the core of these songs were really good". He felt In Rainbows could be the final Radiohead record, and was motivated by a desire to secure their legacy as a great band.

In an effort to break the deadlock, Radiohead decided to tour for the first time since 2004. They performed in Europe and North America in May and June 2006, and returned to Europe for several festivals in August, performing many new songs. According to Yorke, the tour forced them to finish writing the songs. He said: "Rather than it being a nightmare, it was really, really good fun, because suddenly everyone is being spontaneous and no one's self-conscious because you're not in the studio ... It felt like being 16 again."

File:Tottenham House front.jpg, Wiltshire]]

After the tour, Radiohead discarded the recordings made with Stent and re-enlisted Godrich.{{Cite magazine |last=Vozick-Levinson |first=Simon |date=27 April 2012 |title=The making of Radiohead's In Rainbows' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-making-of-radioheads-in-rainbows-187534/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730031338/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-making-of-radioheads-in-rainbows-187534/|archive-date=30 July 2019|access-date=30 July 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} According to Yorke, Godrich gave them "a walloping kick up the arse".{{Cite web|date=28 January 2008|title=Radiohead on in Rainbows|url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/radiohead/interviews/in-rainbows/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621102640/http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/radiohead/interviews/in-rainbows/|archive-date=21 June 2015|access-date=30 January 2015|website=XFM|publisher=}} To focus them, Godrich transferred their rhythm tracks to a single track, where they could not be further altered. According to Colin, "The idea was to make us commit to something ... It was as if we were sampling ourselves. And when you mash sounds together like that they cross-pollinate, they marinade, they interact with each other... They have little sonic babies."{{cite web |date=7 May 2008 |title=Radiohead: The Escape Artists, Part Two |url=http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/radiohead-escape-artists-part-two |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207062918/http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/radiohead-escape-artists-part-two |archive-date=7 December 2008 |access-date=6 November 2008 |work=The Word}} Yorke said the band attempted to create "a sense of disembodiment" by using elements from different versions of songs. For example, "All I Need" was assembled from takes from four different versions.{{cite news |author=Marshall |first=Julian |date=8 December 2007 |title=Rainbow Warriors |page=8—11 |work=NME}}

File:Hospital_Club.JPG, London]]

For three weeks in October 2006, Radiohead worked at Tottenham House in Marlborough, Wiltshire, a country house scouted by Godrich. The band members lived in caravans, as the building was in a state of disrepair. Yorke described it as "derelict in the stricter sense of the word, where there's holes in the floor, rain coming through the ceilings, half the window panes missing ... There were places you just basically didn't go. It definitely had an effect. It had some pretty strange vibes." The sessions were productive and the band recorded "Jigsaw Falling into Place" and "Bodysnatchers".{{cite news |author=Paytress |first=Mark |date=1 January 2008 |title=Chasing Rainbows |work=Mojo}} Yorke wrote on Dead Air Space that Radiohead had "started the record properly now ... starting to get somewhere I think. Finally."{{cite web |url=http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/index.php?a=179 |title=if you are concerned about climate change |access-date = 14 October 2007 |author=Yorke, Thom |author-link = Thom Yorke |date=15 October 2006 |publisher=Dead Air Space |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013060527/http://radiohead.com/deadairspace/index.php?a=179 |archive-date = 13 October 2007}} Radiohead used several guitars borrowed from the guitarist Johnny Marr, including a 1957 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top and a 1964 Gibson SG.{{Cite book |last=Marr |first=Johnny |title=Marr's Guitars |publisher=Thames & Hudson |year=2023 |isbn=978-0500026328 |pages=146–149, 163, 285 |author-link=Johnny Marr}} Colin contracted temporary hearing loss and tinnitus brought upon by faulty headphones.{{Cite web |last= |date=2008-05-27 |title=Radiohead deafened during 'In Rainbows' sessions |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-448-1321385 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

In December 2006, sessions took place at Halswell House in Taunton, and Godrich's studio at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden, London, where Radiohead recorded "Videotape" and completed "Nude". In January, Radiohead resumed recording in their Oxfordshire studio and started to post photos, lyrics, videos and samples of new songs on Dead Air Space.{{cite web |url=http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/?a=196 |title=back at werk |access-date = 21 October 2007 |author=Yorke, Thom |date=19 January 2007 |publisher=Dead Air Space |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011111701/http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/?a=196 |archive-date = 11 October 2007 |url-status = dead}} In June, having wrapped up recording, Godrich posted clips of songs on Dead Air Space.{{cite web |url=http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/index.php?a=276 |title=a bit of tape from the studio |access-date = 15 June 2007 |author=Godrich, Nigel |author-link = Nigel Godrich |date=15 June 2007 |publisher=Dead Air Space |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070618153903/http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/index.php?a=276 |archive-date = 18 June 2007}}{{cite magazine |date=1 October 2007 |title=Radiohead's In Rainbows: track-by-track preview |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/16654550/radioheads_in_rainbows_trackbytrack_preview/9 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011005006/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/16654550/radioheads_in_rainbows_trackbytrack_preview/9 |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=10 October 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

Feeling Hail to the Thief was overlong, Radiohead wanted their next album to be concise.{{cite interview |last=Yorke |first=Thom |subject-link=Thom Yorke |interviewer=Steve Lamacq |title=Interview with Thom & Ed |last2=O'Brien |first2=Ed |url= |access-date= |work=BBC 6 Music |publisher=BBC |location= |date=19 November 2007 |subject-link2=Ed O'Brien}} Yorke said: "I believe in the rock album as an artistic form of expression. In Rainbows is a conscious return to this form of 45-minute statement ... Our aim was to describe in 45 minutes, as coherently and conclusively as possible, what moves us."{{Cite web |date=3 January 2008 |title=Thom Yorke: Why he's glad to have made such a big noise |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/thom-yorke-why-hes-glad-to-have-made-such-a-big-noise-767870.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109143139/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/thom-yorke-why-hes-glad-to-have-made-such-a-big-noise-767870.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2009|access-date=2 July 2020 |website=The Independent}} They settled on 10 songs, saving the rest for a bonus disc included in the limited edition.{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=14 October 2016 |title=Radiohead release In Rainbows bonus disc for streaming |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/68993-radiohead-release-in-rainbows-bonus-disc-for-streaming-listen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803133825/https://pitchfork.com/news/68993-radiohead-release-in-rainbows-bonus-disc-for-streaming-listen/ |archive-date=3 August 2018 |access-date=2 November 2016 |website=Pitchfork}} Yorke recorded "Last Flowers", included on the bonus disc, in the Eraser sessions. In Rainbows was mastered by Bob Ludwig in July 2007 at Gateway Mastering, New York City.{{cite web|date=16 July 2007|title=Radiohead mastering seventh album in New York|url=https://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/29715|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902233551/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/29715|archive-date=2 September 2007|access-date=22 July 2007|work=NME}}

In Rainbows incorporates elements of art rock,{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/10/AR2007101002442.html |title=Radiohead's 'Rainbows': Is Free Release A Potential Pot of Gold? |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=11 October 2007 | access-date=4 September 2015 |last=Malitz, David | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118212923/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/10/AR2007101002442.html | archive-date=18 January 2016 | url-status=live}} experimental rock,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.popmatters.com/post/170849-radiohead/ |title=Counterbalance No. 127: Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' |magazine=PopMatters |date=3 May 2013 | access-date=4 September 2015 |last=Mendelsohn, Jason and Eric Klinger | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527131557/http://www.popmatters.com/post/170849-radiohead/ | archive-date=27 May 2015 | url-status=live}} alternative rock,{{cite web | url=https://www.altpress.com/artists-who-completely-reinvented-their-sound-from-album-to-album/ | title=15 artists who completely reinvented their sound from album to album | website=Alternative Press | date=21 September 2021 }} art pop,{{cite web |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/music/the-ten-most-disappointing-albums-of-2011-5-1-6583489 |title=The Ten Most Disappointing Albums of 2011: #5 – #1 |website=OC Weekly |date=9 December 2011 | access-date=26 March 2016 |last=Hyman, Dan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002757/http://www.ocweekly.com/music/the-ten-most-disappointing-albums-of-2011-5-1-6583489 | archive-date=2 February 2017 | url-status=dead}} and electronica.{{cite web |last=Waniata |first=Ryan |date=23 April 2017 |title=Radiohead started a sonic revolution 25 years ago, and is still leading it |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/music/radiohead-tour-still-freshest-thing-in-music-2017/|access-date=12 June 2020 |website=Digital Trends}} O'Brien said Radiohead were hesitant to create an "epic" record, which they felt had negative associations of stadium rock. However, he conceded that "epic is also about beauty, like a majestic view, and what we did on this record was to allow the songs to be epic when they have to be". He cited "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" as an example of a song that was "obviously epic in scope". Yorke said Radiohead considered In Rainbows "our classic album, our Transformer, our Revolver, our Hunky Dory".

Yorke said that the lyrics were based on "that anonymous fear thing, sitting in traffic, thinking, 'I'm sure I'm supposed to be doing something else'." He likened them to Radiohead's 1997 album OK Computer, but "much more terrifying".{{cite web |date=3 April 2006 |title=Radiohead reveal 'terrifying' new album |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-666-1363735#:~:text=Thom%20Yorke%20has%20compared%20writing,will%20be%20even%20more%20terrifying. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226231443/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/22680 |archive-date=26 February 2007 |access-date=11 March 2007 |work=NME}} He said that, unlike Hail to the Thief, there was "very little anger" in In Rainbows: "It's in no way political, or, at least, doesn't feel that way to me. It very much explores the ideas of transience. It starts in one place and ends somewhere completely different."{{cite news |author=Chris Mincher |date=1 July 2007 |title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Ed O'Brien |url=https://www.avclub.com/radioheads-thom-yorke-and-ed-obrien-1798214319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321222138/http://www.avclub.com/articles/radioheads-thom-yorke-and-ed-obrien%2C14265/ |archive-date=21 March 2012 |access-date=12 November 2011 |newspaper=The A.V. Club}} In another interview, Yorke said the album was about mortality and the realisation that he could die at any moment.{{cite news |author=McLean |first=Craig |date=9 December 2007 |title=Caught in the flash |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2222276,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220030505/http://music.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2222276,00.html |archive-date=20 February 2008 |access-date=1 January 2008 |work=The Observer |location=London}} O'Brien described the lyrics as universal and about "being human", with no political agenda. The title In Rainbows was chosen because it was open-ended and not provocative or polarising, and reflected Donwood's artwork.{{Cite journal |last=Engelshoven |first=Tom |date=17 December 2007 |title=De prijs van Radiohead |journal=Oor |publisher=Argo Media}}

The opening track, "15 Step", features a quintuple meter and a handclap rhythm inspired by "Fuck the Pain Away" by Peaches.{{Cite web |last=Witmer |first=Phil |date=2018-02-22 |title=The first song on Radiohead's debut album predicted their future greatness |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/radiohead-you-pablo-honey-25th-anniversary-music-theory-essay/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Vice |language=en}} Radiohead recorded cheers by a group of children from the Matrix Music School & Arts Centre in Oxford.{{Cite journal |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=April 2008 |title=The Complete Radiohead |journal=Q |issue=261}} "Bodysnatchers", which Yorke described as a combination of Wolfmother, Neu! and "dodgy hippy rock", was recorded when he was in a period of "hyperactive mania". The lyrics were inspired by Victorian ghost stories, the 1972 novel The Stepford Wives and Yorke's feeling of "your physical consciousness trapped without being able to connect fully with anything else".

On "All I Need", Jonny Greenwood wanted to capture the white noise generated by a band playing loudly in a room, which never occurs in the studio. His solution was to have a string section play every note of the scale, blanketing the frequencies.{{cite news|author=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|date=9 December 2007|title=Pay what you want for this article|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/arts/music/09pare.html?ex=1354856400&en=ec2f1c29937292be&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all|url-status=live|access-date=30 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212152701/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/arts/music/09pare.html?ei=5090&en=ec2f1c29937292be&ex=1354856400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all|archive-date=12 December 2007}} Radiohead recorded a version of "Nude" during the OK Computer sessions, but discarded it. This version featured a Hammond organ, a "straighter" feel, and different lyrics. For In Rainbows, Colin Greenwood wrote a new bassline, which Godrich said "transformed it from something very straight into something that had much more of a rhythmic flow".{{Cite web|date=14 June 2008|title=The Music Producers: Nigel Godrich on 'Nude' by Radiohead (2007)|url=http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/music-producers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703005546/http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/music-producers|archive-date=3 July 2011|access-date=16 August 2016|website=Word Magazine}}

"Reckoner" developed while Radiohead were working on another song, "FeelingPulledApartByHorses". It features Yorke's falsetto, "frosty, clanging" percussion, a "meandering" guitar line, piano, and strings arranged by Jonny Greenwood.{{Cite web |last=Pytlik |first=Mark |date=15 October 2007 |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows Album Review |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10785-in-rainbows/ |access-date=16 August 2016 |website=Pitchfork}} Yorke described it as "a love song... sort of".{{Cite web |last=Maletsky |first=Kiernan |title=Radiohead at the Scottrade Center: Selections From Thom Yorke's Banter |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/musicblog/2012/03/10/radiohead-at-the-scottrade-center-selections-from-thom-yorkes-banter |access-date=13 September 2020 |website=Riverfront Times |language=en |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206131548/https://www.riverfronttimes.com/musicblog/2012/03/10/radiohead-at-the-scottrade-center-selections-from-thom-yorkes-banter |url-status=dead }} He said the line "because we separate like ripples on a blank shore" was the centre of In Rainbows, and that "everything's leading to that point and then going away from that point".{{cite episode |title= |episode-link= |url= |series=Steve Lamaq |series-link=Steve Lamacq |network=BBC |station=BBC 6 Music |date=19 November 2007 |season= |air-date=}} He described "House of Cards" as "mellow and summery", and likened it to the 1968 instrumental "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac. Mike Diver of Drowned in Sound described "Jigsaw Falling into Place" as a "bass-propelled pop-rock head-bobber".{{cite web |last=Diver, Mike |date=14 January 2008 |title=Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/12182/reviews/2795069- |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105163647/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/12182/reviews/2795069- |archive-date=5 January 2016 |access-date=28 December 2015 |website=Drowned in Sound}} The lyrics were inspired by the chaos witnessed by Yorke when drinking in Oxford, a combination of elation and "a much darker side".

Yorke said composing "Videotape" was "absolute agony", and that it "went through every possible parameter".{{cite magazine|author=Byrne, David|author-link=David Byrne (musician)|date=18 December 2007|title=David Byrne and Thom Yorke on the real value of music|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_yorke?currentPage=all|url-status=live|access-date=29 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226102617/http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_yorke?currentPage=all|archive-date=26 December 2008}} He initially wanted it to be a "post-rave trance track", similar to the music of Surgeon, and said Jonny Greenwood was "obsessed" with shifting the start of the bar. Radiohead performed "Videotape" in a more conventional rock arrangement on tour in 2006, with Selway's drums building to a climax.{{cite book|last=Randall|first=Mac|title=Exit Music: The Radiohead Story|publisher=Delta|year=2011|isbn=978-0-385-33393-1|pages=248, 249}} For the album, Godrich and Greenwood reduced the song to a minimal piano ballad with percussion from a Roland TR-909 drum machine.

The In Rainbows artwork was designed by Radiohead's longtime collaborator Stanley Donwood.{{cite web |url=https://www.eyestorm.com/stanley-donwood.html |title=Stanley Donwood: Bio|access-date=7 March 2008 |website=Eyestorm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318223149/http://www.eyestorm.com/stanley-donwood.html|archive-date=18 March 2011|url-status=live}} Donwood worked in the studio while Radiohead worked on the album, allowing the artwork to convey the mood of the music. He displayed images in the studio and on the studio computer for the band to interact with and comment on. He also posted images daily on the Radiohead website, though none were used in the final artwork.{{cite web |url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/crblog/donwood-on-in-rainbows/ |title=Stanley Donwood on in Rainbows |access-date = 5 November 2007 |author=Elize |date=10 October 2007 |work=Creative Review |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011162344/http://www.creativereview.co.uk/crblog/donwood-on-in-rainbows/ |archive-date = 11 October 2007}}

Donwood experimented with photographic etching, putting prints into acid baths{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/off-the-record-6687346.html |title=Off the Record – Radiohead are right on the money |access-date = 26 October 2007 |author=Smyth, David |date=5 October 2007 |work=Evening Standard |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141213022824/http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/off-the-record-6687346.html |archive-date = 13 December 2014 |url-status = dead}} and throwing wax at paper, creating images influenced by NASA space photography. He originally planned to explore suburban life, but realised it did not fit the album, saying: "The music took a different direction and became much more organic, sensual and sexual, so I started working with wax and syringes."{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Lucy |date=2013-09-27 |title=Stanley Donwood on the stories behind his Radiohead album covers |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/stanley-donwood-on-the-stories-behind-his-radiohead-album-covers-766325 |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} He described the final artwork as "very colourful ... It's a rainbow but it is very toxic, it's more like the sort of one you'd see in a puddle." Radiohead did not reveal the cover until the retail release.{{cite web |date=24 October 2007 |title=Radiohead artist reveals secret In Rainbows cover art |url=https://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/32012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028083753/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/32012 |archive-date=28 October 2007 |access-date=26 October 2007 |work=NME}} The limited edition includes a booklet containing additional artwork by Donwood.

On 1 October 2007, Jonny Greenwood announced the album on Radiohead's blog, writing: "Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days; we've called it In Rainbows."{{cite web |url=http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/070930/In-Rainbows |title=In Rainbows |access-date = 1 October 2007 |author=Greenwood, Jonny |author-link = Jonny Greenwood |date=1 October 2007 |publisher=Dead Air Space |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111106230128/http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/070930/In-Rainbows |archive-date = 6 November 2011}} The post contained a link to inrainbows.com, where users could pre-order an MP3 version of the album for any amount they wanted, including £0.

The release was a landmark use of the pay-what-you-want model for music sales. It was suggested by Radiohead's managers, Bryce Edge and Chris Hufford, in April 2007. According to Selway, "Because [the album] was taking quite long, our management were twiddling thumbs at points and they were just coming up with ideas. And this was one that really stuck." Brian Message, a partner at their management company, said they determined it would cost less than $0.03USD per copy to distribute In Rainbows digitally and would reach 173 countries.

Colin Greenwood explained the release as a way of avoiding the "regulated playlists" and "straitened formats" of radio and TV, ensuring listeners around the world would experience the music at the same time and preventing leaks in advance of a physical release.{{Cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Greenwood |date=2010-09-13 |title=Radiohead's Colin Greenwood: Set yourself free |url=https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2010/09/radiohead-copyright-freespeech-music/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Index on Censorship |language=en-GB}} He said the decision had not been made for financial gain, and that if money had been Radiohead's motivation they would have accepted an offer from Universal Records.

For the In Rainbows download, Radiohead employed the network provider PacketExchange to bypass public internet servers, using a less-trafficked private network.

{{cite web |url=http://www.streamingmedia.com/press/view.asp?id=7663 |title=PacketExchange Brings New Radiohead Album to Fans around the Globe in Record Time |access-date = 24 October 2007 |date=12 October 2007 |website=StreamingMedia.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071106125537/http://www.streamingmedia.com/press/view.asp?id=7663 |archive-date = 6 November 2007 |url-status = dead}} The download was packaged as a ZIP file containing the album's ten tracks encoded in a 160 kbit/s DRM-free MP3 format.{{cite magazine |url=http://blog.wired.com/music/2007/10/details-about-t.html#more |title=Will Radiohead's Servers Be Able to Handle All Tomorrow's Downloads? |access-date = 15 October 2007 |author=Eliot Van Buskirk |date=9 October 2007 |magazine=Wired |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081224022305/http://blog.wired.com/music/2007/10/details-about-t.html#more |archive-date = 24 December 2008 |url-status = live}} The staggered online release began at about 5:30am GMT on 10 October 2007. The download was removed on 10 December.{{cite web |url=http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/index.php?a=303 |title=The End of The Beginning |access-date = 6 December 2007 |date=5 December 2007 |publisher=Dead Air Space |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071207201624/http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/index.php?a=303 |archive-date = 7 December 2007}}

Radiohead also sold a limited "discbox" edition from their website. It contained the album on CD and two 12" heavyweight 45 rpm vinyl records with artwork and lyric booklets, plus In Rainbows Disk 2, a CD with eight additional tracks, digital photos and artwork, packaged in a hardcover book and slipcase. The limited edition was shipped from December 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.waste.uk.com/Store/waste-radiohead-dii-11-10023-discbox+audio.html |title=Discbox: Details |access-date=14 October 2007 |year=2007 |website=inrainbows.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212235109/http://www.waste.uk.com/Store/waste-radiohead-dii-11-10023-discbox%2Baudio.html |archive-date=12 December 2007}} In June 2009, Radiohead made the In Rainbows bonus disc available for download on their website for £6.{{Cite web|last=Breihan|first=Tom|date=9 June 2009|title=Radiohead open digital store, sell In Rainbows CD 2|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/35560-radiohead-open-digital-store-sell-in-rainbows-cd-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118155605/https://pitchfork.com/news/35560-radiohead-open-digital-store-sell-in-rainbows-cd-2/|archive-date=18 November 2018|access-date=27 August 2015|website=Pitchfork}}

Radiohead ruled out an internet-only distribution, saying that 80% of people still bought physical releases and that it was important to have an "artefact" or "object".{{Cite news|date=2 January 2008|title=Web-only album 'mad', says Yorke|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7167759.stm|url-status=live|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127092243/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7167759.stm|archive-date=27 January 2020}} For the retail release, Radiohead retained ownership of the recordings and compositions but licensed the music to record labels.{{cite magazine |author=Brandle, Lars |date=9 October 2007 |title=Radiohead in Direct-Licensing Deal For New CD |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048374/radiohead-in-direct-licensing-deal-for-new-cd |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214170133/http://billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003655864 |archive-date=14 February 2008 |access-date=17 October 2007}} Licensing agreements were managed by Radiohead's publisher, Warner Chappell Music Publishing. Radiohead formed a limited liability company, _Xurbia_Xendless Ltd, to deal with the income, a practice they have repeated for later releases.{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Alex |date=2016-04-29 |title=Radiohead's corporate empire: inside the band's dollars and cents |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/29/radiohead-corporate-structure-firms |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In Rainbows was released on CD and vinyl in Japan by BMG on 26 December 2007,{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1032235&c=1 |title=Radiohead ink North America and Japan deals |access-date = 11 November 2007 |author=Barrett, Christopher |date=8 November 2007 |work=Music Week |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521185927/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1032235&c=1 |archive-date = 21 May 2011 |url-status = live}} in Australia on 29 December 2007 by Remote Control Records,{{cite web |url=http://remotecontrolrecords.com/newsDetail.asp?NewsID=801 |title=Radiohead 'In Rainbows' CD Release Date Announced |access-date=18 November 2007 |date=13 November 2007 |publisher=Remote Control Records |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226014721/http://remotecontrolrecords.com/newsDetail.asp?NewsID=801 |archive-date=26 December 2007 |url-status=dead}} and in the United States by the ATO imprint TBD Records and in Canada by MapleMusic and Fontana on 1 January 2008.{{cite magazine |author=Cohen, Jonathan |date=12 November 2007 |title=Radiohead Sets U.S. Deal For New Album Release |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047345/radiohead-sets-us-deal-for-new-album-release |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202052425/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047345/radiohead-sets-us-deal-for-new-album-release |archive-date=2 February 2008 |access-date=12 November 2007}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/45035/maplefontana-to-release-radioheads-rainbows-in-canada |title=Maple/Fontana To Release Radiohead's Rainbows in Canada |access-date = 12 December 2007 |date=10 December 2007 |work=Chart |url-status = usurped |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090108070430/http://www.chartattack.com/news/45035/maplefontana-to-release-radioheads-rainbows-in-canada |archive-date = 8 January 2009}} Elsewhere, it was released on 31 December 2007 by the independent record label XL Recordings,{{cite news|last=Leeds|first=Jeff|date=23 October 2007|title=Radiohead said to shun major labels in next deal|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/business/media/23music.html|url-status=live|access-date=12 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031124527/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/business/media/23music.html|archive-date=31 October 2014}} which had released Yorke's solo album The Eraser.{{Cite news |last=Forde |first=Eamonn |date=18 February 2019 |title=Chasing rainbows: inside the battle between Radiohead and EMI's Guy Hands |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/18/chasing-rainbows-radiohead-emi-guy-hands-terra-firma |url-status=live |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219064558/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/18/chasing-rainbows-radiohead-emi-guy-hands-terra-firma |archive-date=19 February 2019 |issn=0261-3077}} The CD release came in a cardboard package containing the CD, lyric booklet, and several stickers that could be placed on the blank jewel case to create cover art.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGzhanFN9So |title=Radiohead – In Rainbows – In Stores 1 January 2008 |access-date = 15 December 2007 |author=Radiohead |date=14 December 2007 |via=YouTube |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221095222/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGzhanFN9So |archive-date = 21 December 2007 |url-status = live}} In Rainbows was the first Radiohead album available for download in several digital music stores, such as the iTunes Store and Amazon MP3.{{cite magazine|author=Brandle, Lars|date=2 January 2008|title=Radiohead's In Rainbows looms for UK No. 1|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046947/radioheads-in-rainbows-looms-for-uk-no-1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326032649/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046947/radioheads-in-rainbows-looms-for-uk-no-1|archive-date=26 March 2013|access-date=3 January 2008|magazine=Billboard}} On 10 June 2016, it was added to the streaming service Spotify.{{Cite web|last1=Monroe|first1=Jazz|date=10 June 2016|title=Radiohead's In Rainbows is now on Spotify|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/66032-radioheads-in-rainbows-is-now-on-spotify/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714081614/https://pitchfork.com/news/66032-radioheads-in-rainbows-is-now-on-spotify/|archive-date=14 July 2018|access-date=19 June 2016|website=Pitchfork}}

The pay-what-you-want release, the first for a major musical act, attracted international media attention and sparked debate about the implications for the music industry. According to Mojo, it was "hailed as a revolution in the way major bands sell their music", and the media's reaction was "almost overwhelmingly positive". Time called it "easily the most important release in the recent history of the music business".{{cite magazine|author=Tyrangiel|first=Josh|date=1 October 2007|title=Radiohead says: pay what you want|magazine=Time|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1666973,00.html|url-status=live|access-date=16 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827171043/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1666973,00.html|archive-date=27 August 2011}} Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that "for the beleaguered recording business Radiohead has put in motion the most audacious experiment in years". NME wrote that "the music world seemed to judder several rimes off its axis", and praised the fact that everyone, from fans to critics, had access to the album at the same time, calling it an unusual "moment of togetherness".{{cite journal |last=Martin |first=Dan |date=22 December 2007 |title=Radiohead release In Rainbows. The music industry shudders |journal=NME}}

The U2 singer Bono praised Radiohead as "courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience".{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/did-radioheads-in-rainbows-honesty-box-actually-damage-the-music-industry |title=Did Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' Honesty Box Actually Damage the Music Industry? |date=15 October 2012 |work=NME|access-date=14 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325173806/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/did-radioheads-in-rainbows-honesty-box-actually-damage-the-music-industry|archive-date=25 March 2014|url-status=live}} The rapper Jay-Z described the release as "genius", and the singer Courtney Love wrote on her blog: "The kamikaze pilot in me wants to do the same damn thing. I'm grateful for Radiohead for making the first move." In the 2010s, Gigwise and DIY credited In Rainbows as the first "surprise album" — a major album released without prior publicity — ahead of acts such as Beyoncé and U2.{{cite web |last=Finn |first=Rachel |date=25 March 2019 |title=Out of the blue: a brief history of the surprise album |url=https://diymag.com/2019/03/25/brief-history-of-surprise-albums |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=DIY}}{{cite web |last=Butler |first=Ben |date=20 May 2016 |title=The 10 greatest surprise album drops ever — ranked |url=https://www.gigwise.com/photos/107032/the-best-ever-surprise-album-drops---ranked |access-date=28 July 2020 |work=Gigwise}}

The release also drew criticism. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails thought it did not go far enough, and accused Radiohead of using a compressed digital release as a bait-and-switch to promote a traditional record sale. Reznor released his sixth album, Ghosts I–IV, under a Creative Commons licence the following year.{{Cite news|date=15 March 2008|title=Trent Reznor: Radiohead's In Rainbows promotion was 'insincere'|work=CNET|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/trent-reznor-radioheads-in-rainbows-promotion-was-insincere/|url-status=live|access-date=18 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018082645/https://www.cnet.com/news/trent-reznor-radioheads-in-rainbows-promotion-was-insincere/|archive-date=18 October 2018}} The singer Lily Allen said the release was "arrogant" and sent a bad message to less successful acts, saying: "You don't choose how to pay for eggs. Why should it be different for music?"{{cite magazine|author=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=14 November 2007|title=Lily Allen, Oasis, Gene Simmons criticise Radiohead's Rainbows|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lily-allen-oasis-gene-simmons-backlash-against-radioheads-rainbows-20071114|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425211901/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lily-allen-oasis-gene-simmons-backlash-against-radioheads-rainbows-20071114|archive-date=25 April 2014|access-date=14 March 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone}} The Sonic Youth bassist, Kim Gordon, said the release "seemed really community-oriented, but it wasn't catered towards their musician brothers and sisters, who don't sell as many records [as Radiohead]. It makes everyone else look bad for not offering their music for whatever."{{Cite magazine |last=Thill |first=Scott |date=8 July 2009 |title=Sonic Youth slams Radiohead's In Rainbows model |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/06/sonic-youth-slams-radioheads-in-rainbows-model/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152018/https://www.wired.com/2009/06/sonic-youth-slams-radioheads-in-rainbows-model/ |archive-date=5 October 2017 |access-date=4 June 2017 |magazine=Wired}} The Guardian journalist Will Hodgkinson argued that Radiohead had made it impossible for less successful musicians to make a living from their music.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/oct/19/thanksradioheadformakingit |title=Thanks, Radiohead, for making it ever harder for new acts to survive |author=Hodkingson, Will |date=19 October 2007 |work=The Guardian|access-date=14 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325173902/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/oct/19/thanksradioheadformakingit|archive-date=25 March 2014|url-status=live}}

Responding to criticisms, Jonny Greenwood said Radiohead were responding to the culture of downloading free music, which he likened to the legend of King Canute: "You can't pretend the flood isn't happening." Colin said the criticism was "worrying about all these ancillary questions and forgetting about the primal urge of people to share and enjoy music. And there's always going to be a way of finding money or livings to be made out of it." Yorke told the BBC: "We have a moral justification in what we did in the sense that the majors and the big infrastructure of the music business has not addressed the way artists communicate directly with their fans ... Not only do they get in the way, but they take all the cash."

Radiohead's management defended the release as "a solution for Radiohead, not the industry", and doubted "it would work the same way [for Radiohead] ever again".{{cite web |author=Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew |date=11 October 2007 |title=Radiohead MP3 release a tactic to lift CD sales |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0a9c779a-7797-11dc-9de8-0000779fd2ac.html#axzz2vxXPqWhh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117153110/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0a9c779a-7797-11dc-9de8-0000779fd2ac.html#axzz2vxXPqWhh |archive-date=17 November 2007 |access-date=23 November 2007 |work=Financial Times}} Radiohead have not used the pay-what-you-want system for subsequent releases.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Mike |date=10 June 2016 |title=Radiohead embraces Spotify with In Rainbows |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/16828-radiohead-embraces-spotify-with-in-rainbows-and-a-moon-shaped-pool |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624075437/https://www.inverse.com/article/16828-radiohead-embraces-spotify-with-in-rainbows-and-a-moon-shaped-pool |archive-date=24 June 2016 |access-date=11 June 2016 |website=Inverse}} In 2009, Message said he believed that peer-to-peer file sharing should be legal, and advocated for government intervention to force internet service providers to pay artists.

In February 2013, Yorke told the Guardian that though Radiohead had hoped to subvert the corporate music industry with In Rainbows, he feared they had instead played into the hands of content providers such as Apple and Google: "They have to keep commodifying things to keep the share price up, but in doing so they have made all content, including music and newspapers, worthless, in order to make their billions. And this is what we want?"{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=23 February 2013 |title=Thom Yorke: 'If I can't enjoy this now, when do I start?' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/23/thom-yorke-radiohead-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628075705/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/23/thom-yorke-radiohead-interview |archive-date=28 June 2015 |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=The Guardian}}

The release came at a time when CD sales were falling due to internet piracy.{{Cite web |date=2007-10-02 |title=Radiohead's bid to revive music industry: pay what you like to download albums |url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/oct/02/digitalmedia.musicnews |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} An unidentified executive at a major European label told Time: "This feels like yet another death knell. If the best band in the world doesn't want a part of us, I'm not sure what's left for this business." According to the media measurement company BigChampagne, on the day of release, around 400,000 copies of In Rainbows were pirated via torrent. By 3 November, it had been shared 2.3 million times. Some piracy came from listeners driven to torrents after the official website overloaded.

U2's manager, Paul McGuinness, said that 60 to 70 percent of Radiohead fans had pirated In Rainbows, and saw this as an indication that Radiohead's strategy had failed.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7445777.stm |title=Radiohead album idea "backfired" |date=10 June 2008 |work=BBC News|access-date=6 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214123823/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7445777.stm|archive-date=14 December 2018}} However, BigChampagne concluded that the music industry should not think of piracy as lost sales, as Radiohead had shown that even releasing music free had not deterred it.{{Cite magazine |last=Buskirk |first=Eliot Van |date=31 July 2008 |title=New In Rainbows numbers offer lessons for music industry |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/07/new-in-rainbows/|url-status=live|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409070620/https://www.wired.com/2008/07/new-in-rainbows/|archive-date=9 April 2017 |issn=1059-1028}} Based on this report, Wired concluded that "by 'losing' the battle for the email addresses of those who downloaded their album via bit torrent, [Radiohead] actually won the overall war for the public's attention – no easy feat, these days". In an article for the album's tenth anniversary, NME argued that Radiohead had demonstrated that the best response to piracy was to explore alternative ways to connect with fans, offering content at different price points: "The pay-what-you-want aspect isn't something to be followed slavishly ... It's the willingness to try it and the connection with fans that made it successful that should be an inspiration."{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/did-radioheads-in-rainbows-honesty-box-actually-damage-the-music-industry-765394 |title=Did Radiohead's In Rainbows honesty box actually damage the music industry? |date=9 October 2017 |website=NME|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427164933/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/did-radioheads-in-rainbows-honesty-box-actually-damage-the-music-industry-765394|archive-date=27 April 2020|access-date=6 January 2020}}

File:Guy Hands at AIC 2019.jpg (pictured in 2019), clashed with Radiohead in public statements.]]

As Radiohead's recording contract with EMI ended in 2003, Radiohead recorded In Rainbows without a record label. Shortly before work began, Yorke told Time: "I like the people at our record company, but the time is at hand when you have to ask why anyone needs one. And, yes, it probably would give us some perverse pleasure to say 'fuck you' to this decaying business model."

In August 2007, as Radiohead were finishing In Rainbows, EMI was acquired by the private equity firm Terra Firma for US$6.4 billion (£4.7 billion), with Guy Hands as the new chief executive.{{Cite news |last1=Holton |first1=Kate |last2=Goldfarb |first2=Jeffrey |date=21 May 2007 |title=EMI agrees $4.7 billion offer from Terra Firma |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emi-terrafirma-idUSL2173292420070521 |access-date=1 December 2021}} Executives including Keith Wozencroft, who had signed Radiohead to EMI, travelled regularly to Radiohead's studio in hopes of negotiating a new contract. They were "devastated" when Radiohead told them they would not be signing. O'Brien later said he had not realised Radiohead's importance to EMI: "That probably sounds really naive. But there weren't people going, 'You're so important.' We were just one of the bands on their roster."{{Cite magazine |last=Doyle |first=Patrick |date=30 March 2019 |title=Radiohead Talk Rock Hall Induction: 'It's a Big F-cking Deal' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-interview-rock-hall-815509/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730035118/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-interview-rock-hall-815509/ |archive-date=30 July 2019 |access-date=30 July 2019}} According to Eamonn Forde, the author of The Final Days of EMI, Radiohead had lost faith in EMI and thought the new ownership would be a "bloodbath". O'Brien said Radiohead had believed a deal with EMI was possible, and that "it was really sad to leave all the people [we'd worked with] ... But Terra Firma don't understand the music industry."

Hands believed that Radiohead would only have canceled their self-release plan with a "really big" offer, and an EMI spokesperson said that Radiohead had demanded "an extraordinary amount of money".{{Cite news |last=Amol |first=Rajan |date=29 December 2007 |title=EMI split blamed on Radiohead's £10m advance demands |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/emi-split-blamed-on-radioheads-pound10m-advance-demands-767248.html |url-status=live |access-date=2018-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616141638/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/emi-split-blamed-on-radioheads-pound10m-advance-demands-767248.html |archive-date=16 June 2018}} Yorke and Radiohead's management released statements denying this, and said that they had instead wanted control over their back catalogue,{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2 January 2008 |title='Nude' Radiohead video hits web, EMI airs dirty laundry |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nude-radiohead-video-hits-web-thom-yorke-responds-to-emis-airing-of-dirty-laundry-20080102 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616130306/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nude-radiohead-video-hits-web-thom-yorke-responds-to-emis-airing-of-dirty-laundry-20080102 |archive-date=16 June 2018 |access-date=16 June 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} which Hands had refused. Radiohead's co-manager, Bryce Edge, said Radiohead had the moral rights to the albums. According to Hands, Radiohead wanted a large payment in addition to ownership of their back catalogue, which EMI "valued even more". He estimated that they had wanted "millions and millions". Responding to Hands's statement, Yorke told an interviewer: "It fucking pissed me off. We could have taken them to court. The idea that we were after so much money was stretching the truth to breaking point. That was his PR company briefing against us and I'll tell you what, it fucking ruined my Christmas."

Days after Radiohead signed to XL, EMI announced a box set of Radiohead albums recorded before In Rainbows, released in the same week as the In Rainbows special edition. Radiohead were reportedly angered by the release, and commentators including the Guardian saw it as retaliation for them choosing not to sign with EMI.{{Cite web |last=Nestruck |first=Kelly |date=8 November 2007 |title=EMI stab Radiohead in the back catalogue |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/08/emi.musicindustry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117193325/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/08/emi.musicindustry |archive-date=17 November 2018 |access-date=17 November 2018 |website=The Guardian}} Hands defended the reissues as necessary to boost EMI's revenues and said "we don't have a huge amount of reasons to be nice [to Radiohead]". The box set was promoted on Google Ads with an advert falsely claiming that In Rainbows was included. EMI removed it, citing a "data source glitch". A spokesperson for Radiohead said they accepted this was a genuine mistake.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2007 |title=Radiohead speak out about box set mix-up |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-627-1340596 |access-date=17 July 2020 |website=NME}}

Following the release of In Rainbows, Radiohead broadcast two webcasts from their Oxfordshire studio: "Thumbs Down" in November 2007 and "Scotch Mist" on New Year's Eve. In the US, "Scotch Mist" was also broadcast on Current TV. The webcasts featured performances of In Rainbows songs, covers of songs by New Order, the Smiths and Björk, poetry, and videos created with the comedian Adam Buxton and the filmmaker Garth Jennings.{{Cite web |title=Radiohead covers the Smiths and New Order (2007) |url=https://www.openculture.com/2020/04/radiohead-covers-the-smiths-new-order-2007.html |access-date=6 May 2021 |website=Open Culture |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |date=6 January 2008 |title=Kitty Empire on Radiohead's online celebration of their latest album |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jan/06/features.review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715140619/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jan/06/features.review |archive-date=15 July 2019 |access-date=15 July 2019 |work=The Observer |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Dombal |date=28 March 2008 |title=Radiohead |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/7489-radiohead/ |access-date=5 August 2020 |website=Pitchfork}}{{Cite web |last=Whatley |first=Jack |date=2020-11-07 |title=Radiohead cover Björk's song 'Unravel' in 2007 webcast |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/radiohead-bjork-cover-unravel/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Far Out |language=en-US}} Colin Greenwood described the webcasts as spontaneous and liberating, bypassing the usual lengthy process of commissioning music videos.

The first In Rainbows single, "Jigsaw Falling into Place", was released in January 2008,{{cite news |date=8 November 2007 |title=Radiohead's In Rainbows to be released on CD this year |url=https://www.nme.com//news/radiohead/32393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121025651/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/32393 |archive-date=21 November 2007 |access-date=19 November 2007 |newspaper=NME}} followed by "Nude" on 31 March.{{cite magazine |date=12 March 2008 |title=Radiohead announce new single details |url=https://www.nme.com//news/radiohead/35076|url-status=live |magazine=NME|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314012342/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/35076|archive-date=14 March 2008|access-date=12 March 2008}} Both songs were accompanied by music videos directed by Buxton and Jennings.{{Cite news |last=Henderson |first=Paul |date=3 September 2020 |title=Adam Buxton: 'I made the least popular Radiohead video ever. And I don't care' |language=en-GB |work=GQ |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/adam-buxton-interview|access-date=19 June 2021}} Radiohead held remix competitions for "Nude" and "Reckoner", releasing the separated stems for purchase, and streamed the entries on their website.{{Cite magazine |last=Buskirk |first=Elliot |date=25 September 2008 |title=Radiohead launches easier, less expensive remix contest |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/radiohead-launc-2/ |url-status=live |magazine=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020182052/https://www.wired.com/2008/09/radiohead-launc-2/ |archive-date=20 October 2018 |access-date=20 October 2018}} "Nude" debuted at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100; boosted by sales of the stems, it was the first Radiohead song to enter the chart since "High and Dry" (1995) and Radiohead's first US top-40 song since their debut single, "Creep" (1992).{{cite magazine |date= |title=Radiohead Chart History: Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/radiohead/chart-history/hsi/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=17 August 2020}}{{cite web |last=Molanphy |first=Chris |date=10 April 2008 |title=Countin' down the drum stems! Remixable single gives Radiohead a hit |url=http://idolator.com/378455/countin-down-the-drum-stems-remixable-single-gives-radiohead-a-hit |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526022432/http://idolator.com/378455/countin-down-the-drum-stems-remixable-single-gives-radiohead-a-hit |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2012 |access-date=28 April 2009 |website=Idolator }} "Reckoner" reached number 74 on the UK singles chart{{Cite web |title=Official Singles Chart on 28/9/2008 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20080928/7501/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website= |publisher=Official Charts Company |language=en}} and number 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, a 25-song extension of the Hot 100.{{cite magazine |title=Radiohead Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/radiohead/chart-history/hbu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922075550/https://www.billboard.com/music/radiohead/chart-history/HBU |archive-date=22 September 2020 |access-date=21 July 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}

In July, Radiohead released a video for "House of Cards", made with lidar technology instead of cameras.{{Cite news |last=Michaels |first=Sean |date=14 July 2008 |title=Radiohead's camera trick |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/14/news.culture |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221143412/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/14/news.culture |archive-date=21 December 2016 |issn=0261-3077}} In March 2008, Radiohead ran a contest with the animation company Aniboom whereby entrants submitted concepts for animated music videos for In Rainbows songs. Semifinalists were chosen by TBD Records and the Cartoon Network programming block Adult Swim.{{cite magazine |author=Eliot Van Buskirk |date=17 March 2008 |title=Radiohead Launches in Rainbows Video Contest |url=http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/03/radiohead-in-ra.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321133316/http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/03/radiohead-in-ra.html |archive-date=21 March 2008 |access-date=7 April 2008}} Unable to choose only one winner, Radiohead awarded the full prize money of $10,000 each to four semifinalists, who created videos for "15 Step", "Weird Fishes", "Reckoner" and "Videotape".{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=11 August 2008 |title=Radiohead picks four winners for animation contest |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-picks-four-winners-for-animation-contest-251048/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=10 October 2021}} A music video for "All I Need" premiered on MTV on 1 May, produced with MTV EXIT, an initiative to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery. It depicts a day in the lives of two children: a boy in the west from an affluent area, and a boy in the east forced to work in a sweatshop which produces shoes worn by the western boy.{{cite web |author=Montgomery |first=James |date=30 April 2008 |title=Radiohead join forces with MTV's campaign against human trafficking for 'All I Need' video |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1586579/radiohead-join-forces-with-mtvs-campaign-against-human-trafficking-for-all-i-need-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212123827/http://www.mtv.com/news/1586579/radiohead-join-forces-with-mtvs-campaign-against-human-trafficking-for-all-i-need-video/ |archive-date=12 February 2015 |access-date=25 July 2014 |work=MTV |publisher=Viacom Media Networks}}{{cite journal |date=30 April 2008 |title=Radiohead support campaign against human trafficking |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-538-1330618 |journal=NME |location=London |access-date=25 July 2014}}

File:Radiohead France 2008.jpgOn 16 January 2008, a surprise Radiohead performance at the London record shop Rough Trade East was relocated to a nearby club after police raised safety concerns.{{Cite news |date=17 January 2008 |title=Radiohead abandon record shop gig |work=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7191556.stm|url-status=live|access-date=27 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127092201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7191556.stm|archive-date=27 January 2020}} Radiohead toured North America, Europe, South America and Japan from May 2008 until March 2009.{{cite magazine |author=Brandle |first=Lars |date=18 October 2007 |title=Radiohead returning to the road in 2008 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047969/radiohead-returning-to-the-road-in-2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208234628/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047969/radiohead-returning-to-the-road-in-2008 |archive-date=8 February 2008 |access-date=21 December 2007 |magazine=Billboard}} To determine how they could reduce carbon emissions, Radiohead commissioned the environmental group Best Foot Forward.{{Cite news |last=Boyd |first=Brian |date=31 May 2008 |title=Not a carbon copy band |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/not-a-carbon-copy-band-1.1216339 |access-date=29 June 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times}} Based on the findings, Radiohead played in amphitheatres rather than smaller venues and focused on playing in city centres to reduce reliance on flights for attendees.{{Cite news |last=Budgen |first=Simon Hayes |date=21 December 2007 |title=Radiohead seek to reduce global impact |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/dec/21/radiohead.popandrock |access-date=29 June 2020 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}} They also used a carbon-neutral "forest" of LEDs on stage.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Jonathan L. |date=14 March 2011 |title=Strobe lights and blown speakers |url=https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/strobe-lights-and-blown-speakers/ |access-date=29 June 2020 |website=T |publisher=A. G. Sulzberger}}

Radiohead recorded a live video, In Rainbows — From the Basement, broadcast on VH1 in May 2008.{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=30 April 2008 |title=Radiohead Ready VH1 Special, New Video, U.S. Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-ready-vh1-special-new-video-u-s-tour-251741/ |access-date=20 September 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} In February 2009, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performed "15 Step" with the University of Southern California Marching Band at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Amrit |date=9 September 2009 |title=The 2009 Grammys: Just The Good Parts |work=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/51301/the_2009_grammys_just_the_good_parts/video/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927050317/https://www.stereogum.com/51301/the_2009_grammys_just_the_good_parts/video/ |archive-date=27 September 2018}}

In early October 2007, a Radiohead spokesperson reported that most downloaders paid "a normal retail price" for the digital version of In Rainbows, and that most fans had pre-ordered the limited edition.{{cite news |date=2 October 2007 |title=Fans crash Radiohead album site |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7024130.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011071304/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7024130.stm |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=17 October 2007 |work=BBC News}} Citing a source close to the band, Gigwise reported that In Rainbows had sold 1.2 million digital copies before its retail release;{{cite news |author=Colothan, Scott |date=11 October 2007 |title=Exclusive: Radiohead sell 1.2 million copies of In Rainbows |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/37670/exclusive-radiohead-sell-12million-copies-of-in-rainbows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012223342/http://gigwise.com/news/37670/exclusive-radiohead-sell-12million-copies-of-in-rainbows |archive-date=12 October 2007 |access-date=12 October 2007 |work=Gigwise}} this was dismissed by Radiohead's co-manager Bryce Edge as "exaggerated".

According to research released in November 2007 by the market research firm Comscore, downloaders paid an average of $2.26 per download globally, and 62% of downloaders paid nothing.{{Cite web |last=Andrews |first=Robert |date=6 November 2007 |title=Data on Radiohead Experiment: 38 Percent of Downloaders Choose To Pay |url=https://gigaom.com/2007/11/06/419-data-on-radiohead-experiment-38-percent-of-downloaders-choose-to-pay/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101040206/https://gigaom.com/2007/11/06/419-data-on-radiohead-experiment-38-percent-of-downloaders-choose-to-pay/|archive-date=1 January 2019|access-date=6 January 2020 |website=gigaom.com}} Of those who paid, the average paid was $6 globally, with 12% paying between $8 and $12, around the typical cost of an album on iTunes. Radiohead dismissed the report as "wholly inaccurate",{{Cite news |last=Schofield |first=Jack |date=9 November 2007 |title=Radiohead rubbishes ComScore download numbers |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2007/nov/09/radioheadrubbishescomscored|url-status=live|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006032045/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2007/nov/09/radioheadrubbishescomscored|archive-date=6 October 2014 |issn=0261-3077}} but said the results had been good. Another survey, conducted by the industry organisation Record of the Day, found that 28.5% of those who downloaded the album paid nothing or £0.01 and the average price per download was £3.88.{{Cite web |title=What Price did you choose? Survey Results {{!}} |url=https://whatpricedidyouchoose.com/survey_results |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=whatpricedidyouchoose.com |archive-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625202549/http://whatpricedidyouchoose.com/survey_results |url-status=dead }} In December 2007, Yorke said that Radiohead had made more money from digital sales of In Rainbows than the digital sales of all previous Radiohead albums combined.

In October 2008, one year after the release, Warner Chappell reported that although most people paid nothing for the download, prerelease sales for In Rainbows had been more profitable than the total sales of Hail to the Thief and that the limited edition had sold 100,000 copies.{{cite web |date=15 October 2008 |title=Radiohead reveal how successful 'In Rainbows' download really was |url=https://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/40444|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017003713/http://www.nme.com/news/radiohead/40444|archive-date=17 October 2008|access-date=15 October 2008 |work=NME}} In 2009, Wired reported that Radiohead had made an "instantaneous" £3 million from the album. Pitchfork saw this as proof that, thanks to their fans, "Radiohead could release a record on the most secretive terms, basically for free, and still be wildly successful, even as industry profits continued to plummet."{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Jeremy |date=12 May 2016 |title=Internet Explorers: The Curious Case of Radiohead's Online Fandom |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/9890-internet-explorers-the-curious-case-of-radioheads-online-fandom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512175336/http://pitchfork.com/features/article/9890-internet-explorers-the-curious-case-of-radioheads-online-fandom/ |archive-date=12 May 2016 |access-date=12 May 2016 |website=Pitchfork}}

Because inrainbows.com is not a chart-registered retailer, In Rainbows download and limited edition sales were not eligible for inclusion in the UK Albums Chart.{{cite news |author=Brown, Jonathan |date=11 October 2007 |title=Radiohead album goes live on the internet |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/radiohead-album-goes-live-on-the-internet-396544.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519165939/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/radiohead-album-goes-live-on-the-internet-396544.html|archive-date=19 May 2008}} On the week of its retail release, In Rainbows reached number one on the UK Albums Chart,{{cite news |date=6 January 2008 |title=Radiohead CD tops UK album chart |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7173993.stm|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108025802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7173993.stm|archive-date=8 January 2008}} with first-week sales of 44,602 copies.Armstrong, Stephen. "The Revolution Will Be Digitised". Q. April 2008 In the US, after some record stores broke street date agreements, it entered the Billboard 200 at number 156. However, in the first week of official release, it became the 10th independently distributed album to reach number one on the Billboard 200,{{cite magazine |date=14 September 2009 |title=Ask Billboard: Indies, No. 2 Hits & Teddy Pendergrass |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959634/ask-billboard-indies-no-2-hits-teddy-pendergrass |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530223223/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/959634/ask-billboard-indies-no-2-hits-teddy-pendergrass |archive-date=30 May 2013 |access-date=15 August 2011}} selling 122,000 copies.{{cite magazine |author=Jonathan |first=Cohen |date=9 January 2008 |title=Radiohead Nudges Blige From Atop Album Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046867/radiohead-nudges-blige-from-atop-album-chart |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212015339/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046867/radiohead-nudges-blige-from-atop-album-chart |archive-date=12 February 2008 |access-date=9 January 2008}} In October 2008, Warner Chappell reported that In Rainbows had sold three million copies worldwide since its retail release,{{cite magazine |author=Kreps, Daniel |date=15 October 2008 |title=Radiohead publishers reveal In Rainbows numbers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-publishers-reveal-in-rainbows-numbers-20081015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628184840/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-publishers-reveal-in-rainbows-numbers-20081015 |archive-date=28 June 2011 |access-date=7 November 2008 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} including 1.75 million physical sales.{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Paul |date=15 October 2008 |title=Radiohead's In Rainbows successes revealed |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/33749-radioheads-in-rainbows-successes-revealed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005193134/http://pitchfork.com/news/33749-radioheads-in-rainbows-successes-revealed/ |archive-date=5 October 2014 |access-date=2 October 2014 |website=Pitchfork}} It was the bestselling vinyl album of 2008.{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=8 January 2009 |title=Radiohead, Neutral Milk Hotel help vinyl sales almost double in 2008 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-neutral-milk-hotel-help-vinyl-sales-almost-double-in-2008-20090108 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731134553/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-neutral-milk-hotel-help-vinyl-sales-almost-double-in-2008-20090108 |archive-date=31 July 2011 |access-date=5 March 2009}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 88/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/in-rainbows/radiohead |title=Reviews for In Rainbows by Radiohead |website=Metacritic |access-date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008024512/http://www.metacritic.com/music/in-rainbows/radiohead |archive-date=8 October 2014 |url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-rainbows-mw0000496930 |title=In Rainbows – Radiohead |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=6 July 2019 |last=Kellman |first=Andy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401200525/https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-rainbows-mw0000496930 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=live}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = A−{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/radiohead-in-rainbows-1798203198 |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |website=The A.V. Club |date=16 October 2007 |access-date=12 June 2015 |last=Modell |first=Josh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612015910/http://www.avclub.com/review/radiohead-emin-rainbowsem-7471 |archive-date=12 June 2015 |url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/10/19/rainbows/ |title=In Rainbows |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=6 October 2007 |access-date=23 February 2012 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112235321/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20152757,00.html |archive-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=live}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/oct/10/radioheadsinrainbowsisita |title=Radiohead's In Rainbows – a five-star review |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 October 2007 |access-date=14 October 2007 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214115526/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/oct/10/radioheadsinrainbowsisita |archive-date=14 December 2013 |url-status=live}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Everything must go |magazine=Mojo |issue=169 |date=December 2007 |last=Paytress |first=Mark |page=96}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 9.3/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10785-in-rainbows/ |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |website=Pitchfork |date=15 October 2007 |access-date=17 July 2014 |last=Pytlik |first=Mark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721051922/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10785-in-rainbows/ |archive-date=21 July 2014 |url-status=live}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |magazine=Q |issue=257 |date=December 2007 |last=Goddard |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Goddard |page=107}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/in-rainbows-189650/ |title=In Rainbows |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=1 November 2007 |access-date=23 May 2012 |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212044950/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/radiohead/albums/album/16830636/review/16831146/in_rainbows |archive-date=12 February 2008 |url-status=live}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jk52QtJvGoC&pg=PA111 |title=After the Revolution |magazine=Spin |volume=23 |issue=12 |date=December 2007 |access-date=17 October 2015 |last=Wood |first=Mikael |page=111 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227115710/https://books.google.com/books?id=3jk52QtJvGoC&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111 |archive-date=27 December 2016 |url-status=live}}

| rev10 = The Times

| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/radiohead-in-rainbows-bdml7nbbtst |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=10 October 2007 |access-date=10 August 2019 |last=Paphides |first=Pete |author-link=Peter Paphides |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810081126/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/radiohead-in-rainbows-bdml7nbbtst |archive-date=10 August 2019 |url-status=live}}

}}

On the review aggregate site Metacritic, In Rainbows has a rating of 88 out of 100 based on 42 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis praised Radiohead's performance in the studio and said they sounded like they were enjoying themselves. Billboard{{'}}s Jonathan Cohen commended the album for not being overshadowed by its marketing hype.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3if4ef26bbb490c2c5220f796cdf0fad1f |title=In Rainbows |magazine=Billboard |date=October 2007 |access-date=14 October 2007 |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015022240/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3if4ef26bbb490c2c5220f796cdf0fad1f |archive-date=15 October 2007 |url-status=dead}} Andy Kellman of AllMusic wrote that In Rainbows "will hopefully be remembered as Radiohead's most stimulating synthesis of accessible songs and abstract sounds, rather than their first pick-your-price download".

NME described In Rainbows as "Radiohead reconnecting with their human sides, realising you [can] embrace pop melodies and proper instruments while still sounding like paranoid androids ... This [is] otherworldly music, alright."{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/radiohead/9350 |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |work=NME |date=14 December 2007 |access-date=28 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230224319/http://www.nme.com/reviews/radiohead/9350 |archive-date=30 December 2007 |url-status=live}} Will Hermes, writing in Entertainment Weekly, called In Rainbows "the gentlest, prettiest Radiohead set yet" and stated that it "uses the full musical and emotional spectra to conjure breathtaking beauty". Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone praised its "vividly collaborative sonic touches" and concluded: "No wasted moments, no weak tracks: just primo Radiohead."

Jon Dolan of Blender called In Rainbows "far more pensive and reflective" than Hail to the Thief, writing that it "formulates a lush, sensualised ideal out of vague, layered discomfort".{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4831 |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |journal=Blender |date=10 October 2007 |access-date=1 November 2007 |last=Dolan |first=Jon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618210827/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4831 |archive-date=18 June 2008}} Spin{{'}}s Mikael Wood felt that it "succeeds because all of that cold, clinical lab work hasn't eliminated the warmth from their music", while Pitchfork{{'}}s Mark Pytlik wrote it was a more "human" album that "represents the sound of Radiohead coming back to earth". Pitchfork allowed readers to enter their own review score, referencing the pay-what-you-want release.{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Nate |date=April 2, 2024 |title=The ballad of Ray Suzuki: the secret life of early Pitchfork and the most notorious review ever 'written' |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2024/4/2/24118331/pitchfork-jet-review-monkey-piss-ray-suzuki |access-date=April 2, 2024 |website=The Ringer}} Robert Christgau, writing for MSN Music, gave In Rainbows a two-star honourable mention and wrote that it was "more jammy, less songy and less Yorkey, which is good".{{cite web |url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=13779 |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |website=RobertChristgau.com |access-date=12 June 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613231402/http://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=13779 |archive-date=13 June 2015 |url-status=live}} The Wire was more critical, finding "a sense here of a group magisterially marking time, shying away ... from any grand, rhetorical, countercultural purpose".{{Cite magazine |title=Radiohead – In Rainbows |date=1 December 2007 |last=Stubbs|first=David |page=63|magazine=The Wire}}

In 2011, The Rolling Stone Album Guide described In Rainbows as Radiohead's "most expansive and seductive album, possibly their all-time high".{{cite magazine |title=Radiohead: Album Guide |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/radiohead/albumguide |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031083801/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/radiohead/albumguide |archive-date=31 October 2011 |access-date=18 May 2014}} In 2023, Selway said it was his favourite Radiohead album. He said it combined "everything that we'd been learning over two decades, and it seemed to land in quite a concise way ... It feels like a band that have learned to play their instruments together but have been able to spend long enough doing that so the playing reaches a new level."{{Cite web |last=Randall |first=Mac |date=9 June 2023 |title=Philip Selway: Tidal Backstory |url=https://tidal.com/magazine/article/philip-selway-backstory/1-91629 |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=Tidal}} In 2024, the Rolling Stone critic Andy Greene said In Rainbows had completed perhaps "one of the best 12-year runs in rock history, maybe even the very best one".{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2024-10-11 |title=The 50 most disappointing albums of all time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/most-disappointing-albums-ever-1235111528/chance-the-rapper-the-big-day-1235111527/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

In Rainbows was ranked among the best albums of 2007 by many music publications.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2007.shtml |title=Metacritic: Best Albums of 2007 |website=Metacritic |access-date=20 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305152451/http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2007.shtml |archive-date=5 March 2008}} It was ranked first by Billboard, Mojo and PopMatters, third by NME and The A.V. Club, fourth by Pitchfork and Q, and sixth by Rolling Stone and Spin. It was also named one of the best albums of the decade by NME,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/list/the-top-100-greatest-albums-of-the-decade/158049/page/10 |title=The Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade |work=NME |date=11 November 2009|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011194339/http://www.nme.com/list/the-top-100-greatest-albums-of-the-decade/158049/page/10|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}} Paste,{{Cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/the-best-albums-of-the-decade.html |title=The 50 Best Albums of the Decade (2000–2009) |date=23 October 2009|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307114421/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/the-best-albums-of-the-decade.html|archive-date=7 March 2020|url-status=live}} Rolling Stone,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-20110718/radiohead-in-rainbows-19691231 |title=100 Best Albums of the 2000s: Radiohead, 'In Rainbows' |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=1 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413164538/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-20110718/radiohead-in-rainbows-19691231|archive-date=13 April 2012}} the Guardian,{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/29/albums-of-the-decade |title=OMM's Top 50 Albums of the Decade |website=The Guardian |date=21 November 2009|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818093659/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/29/albums-of-the-decade|archive-date=18 August 2017|url-status=live}} and Newsweek.{{cite web |url=http://2010.newsweek.com/top-10/best-albums/in-rainbows-radiohead.html |title=In Rainbows Radiohead – Best Albums – Newsweek 2010 |last=Colter |first=Seth |work=Newsweek|access-date=1 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429055531/http://2010.newsweek.com/top-10/best-albums/in-rainbows-radiohead.html|archive-date=29 April 2012}}

In Rainbows was nominated for the short list of the 2008 Mercury Prize,{{cite web |date=24 July 2008 |title=Radiohead News – 2008 Mercury Music Prize Nominees Announced |url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/35718/radiohead |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102090138/http://www.idiomag.com/peek/35718/radiohead |archive-date=2 January 2009 |access-date=30 December 2008 |work=idiomag}} and won the Grammy awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web |date=8 February 2009 |title=The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winner List |url=http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx#05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207085806/http://www.grammy.com/Grammy_Awards/51st_Show/list.aspx |archive-date=7 February 2009 |access-date=8 February 2009 |publisher=Grammy.com}} It was also nominated for Grammy awards for Album of the Year and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (for Godrich), and "House of Cards" was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Song and Best Music Video.{{cite web |date=3 December 2008 |title=The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List |url=http://content.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216231532/http://content.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx |archive-date=16 December 2008 |access-date=20 December 2008 |publisher=Grammy.com}}

In Rainbows was included in the updated 2014 edition of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book |author1=Robert Dimery |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition |author2=Michael Lydon |date=2014 |publisher=Universe |isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}} Rolling Stone included it in its lists of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time at number 336 in 2012 and number 387 in 2020.{{cite magazine |year=2012 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/radiohead-in-rainbows-38107/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421120321/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/radiohead-in-rainbows-38107/ |archive-date=21 April 2019 |access-date=9 September 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{cite web |date=22 September 2020 |title=500 Best Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/radiohead-in-rainbows-3-1062846/|access-date=23 September 2020 |publisher=Penske Media Core}} In 2019, the Guardian named In Rainbows the 11th-greatest album of the 21st century so far.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/100-best-albums-of-the-21st-century |title=The 100 best albums of the 21st century |date=13 September 2019 |website=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913091456/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/100-best-albums-of-the-21st-century|archive-date=13 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019}} In 2011, NME ranked "Reckoner" the 93rd-best track of the preceding 15 years,{{cite web |author=Schiller |first=Rebecca |date=6 October 2011 |title=150 best tracks of the past 15 years |url=https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years-1257 |access-date=August 6, 2016 |website=NME}} and Pitchfork named it the 254th-greatest song of the decade.{{Cite web |date=17 August 2009 |title=The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201 - Page 2 |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7685-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-500-201/?page=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819173616/http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7685-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-500-201/?page=2 |archive-date=19 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-16 |website=Pitchfork}} In 2020, Rolling Stone named In Rainbows one of the 40 most groundbreaking albums for its pay-what-you want release, influencing acts such as Beyoncé and U2.{{Cite magazine |title=40 Most Groundbreaking Albums of All Time |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/most-groundbreaking-albums-of-all-time|access-date=9 August 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} In 2021, Pitchfork readers voted it the fourth-greatest album of the previous 25 years.{{Cite web |date=15 October 2021 |title=The 200 best albums of the last 25 years, according to Pitchfork readers |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/peoples-list-25th-anniversary/|access-date=15 October 2021 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Radiohead

| headline = In Rainbows track listing

| total_length = 42:39

| title1 = 15 Step

| length1 = 3:58

| title2 = Bodysnatchers

| length2 = 4:02

| title3 = Nude

| length3 = 4:15

| title4 = Weird Fishes/Arpeggi

| length4 = 5:18

| title5 = All I Need

| length5 = 3:49

| title6 = Faust Arp

| length6 = 2:10

| title7 = Reckoner

| length7 = 4:50

| title8 = House of Cards

| length8 = 5:28

| title9 = Jigsaw Falling into Place

| length9 = 4:09

| title10 = Videotape

| length10 = 4:40

}}

{{Infobox album

| name = In Rainbows Disk 2

| type = EP

| artist = Radiohead

| cover = In Rainbows Disk 2 Official Cover.png

| alt =

| released = 3 December 2007

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = *Alternative rock

• experimental rock

| length = 26:49

| label = Self-released

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

The special edition of In Rainbows included a second disc, In Rainbows Disk 2, which contains eight additional tracks. Yorke said he felt Disk 2 contained some of Radiohead's best work, such as "Down Is the New Up", but which did not fit the main album. In 2009, Radiohead made Disk 2 available to purchase as a download on their website. It was released on digital services in October 2016.

Stereogum characterised Disk 2 as more downcast and "balladeering" than Disk 1, with more piano and less guitar. "MK 1", an instrumental, extends the chords of "Videotape". "Down Is the New Up" is an "ominous" piano anthem, with a "funky" falsetto, "shimmering atmospherics" and orchestral swells. "Go Slowly" is a tense, "ghostly" song with guitars, glockenspiel and synthesisers. "MK 2" is a synthesiser instrumental. "Up on the Ladder" features synthesisers and a "gnarled", "funk-ish" guitar riff. "Last Flowers" has "mournful" vocals, piano arpeggios and acoustic guitar. "Bangers and Mash" is an "uptempo freakout" with "choppy" guitar. "4 Minute Warning" is a "peaceful" song with a droning ambient introduction.{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Marc |author-link=Marc Hogan |date=2019-03-28 |title=I might be wrong: every Radiohead song, ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/05/every-radiohead-song-ranked.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-07-02 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Pitchfork

| rev1score = 6.2/10

| rev2 = Rolling Stone

| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/in-rainbows-bonus-disc-124881/ |title=In Rainbows Bonus Disc |first=David |last=Fricke |date=24 January 2008 |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803074308/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/in-rainbows-bonus-disc-124881/|archive-date=3 August 2018|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Stereogum

| rev3score = Positive

}}

In Pitchfork, Chris Dahlen wrote that "a lesser band might have crammed some bootlegs and demo takes in here, but when Radiohead put something on disc, they want it to count". However, he criticised Yorke's vocals: "The cynical/alienated rut into which he grinds himself has the persistence of a toothache ... Yorke sounds like neither a post-millennial prophet nor an uncanny empathist, so much as a crank."{{cite web |last=Dahlen |first=Chris |date=14 December 2007 |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows [CD 2] album review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10988-in-rainbows-cd-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181116225233/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10988-in-rainbows-cd-2/ |archive-date=16 November 2018 |access-date=3 August 2018 |website=Pitchfork}} In Rolling Stone, David Fricke wrote that "if you bought the deluxe box edition of In Rainbows just for the session leftovers, you did not get your eighty dollars' worth", but conceded that the songs "deserve to be on record". Stereogum wrote that the most impressive thing about Disk 2 was "how effortless it all seems".{{cite web |date=4 December 2007 |title=Premature evaluation: Radiohead – In Rainbows CD2 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/7368/premature_evaluation_radiohead_in_rainbows_cd2/franchises/premature-evaluation/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803074423/https://www.stereogum.com/7368/premature_evaluation_radiohead_in_rainbows_cd2/franchises/premature-evaluation/ |archive-date=3 August 2018 |access-date=3 August 2018 |website=Stereogum}}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Radiohead

| headline = In Rainbows Disk 2 track listing

| total_length = 26:49

| title1 = MK 1

| length1 = 1:03

| title2 = Down Is the New Up

| length2 = 4:59

| title3 = Go Slowly

| length3 = 3:48

| title4 = MK 2

| length4 = 0:53

| title5 = Last Flowers

| length5 = 4:26

| title6 = Up on the Ladder

| length6 = 4:17

| title7 = Bangers + Mash

| length7 = 3:19

| title8 = 4 Minute Warning

| length8 = 4:04

}}

Radiohead

• Colin Greenwood
• Jonny Greenwood
• Ed O'Brien
• Philip Selway
• Thom Yorke

Additional musicians

• The Millennia Ensemble – strings
• Everton Nelson – leading
• Sally Herbert – conducting

Production

• Nigel Godrich – production, mixing, engineering
• Richard Woodcraft – engineering
• Hugo Nicolson – engineering
• Dan Grech-Marguerat – engineering
• Graeme Stewart – pre-production
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Artwork

• Stanley Donwood
• Dr Tchock

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for In Rainbows}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2008|access-date=1 November 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|award=Gold|type=album|relmonth=10|relyear=2007|certyear=2008|access-date=5 October 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2007|certyear=2009|access-date=14 November 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=In Rainbows|award=Gold|type=album|id=12857|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|access-date=1 November 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|access-date=30 October 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=レディオヘッド|title=イン・レインボウズ|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2007|certyear=2007|certmonth=12|access-date=5 October 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2007|certyear=2017|id=3283-1730-2|access-date=20 October 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|award=Gold|salesamount=500,000^{^} / 1,020,000|salesref={{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickdesantis/2016/05/10/radioheads-digital-album-sales-visualized/#40b286fd3a87 |title=Radiohead's Digital Album Sales, Visualized |first=Nick |last=DeSantis |work=Forbes|access-date=29 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427030739/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickdesantis/2016/05/10/radioheads-digital-album-sales-visualized/#40b286fd3a87|archive-date=27 April 2019|url-status=live}}

|type=album|relyear=2007|certyear=2008|access-date=14 November 2017}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|type=album|nocert=true|salesamount=500,000|salesref={{cite web |url=https://www.impalamusic.org/docum/04-press/Awards%20total%20as%20of%20January2008.pdf |title=Impala Sales Award Winner June 2005 – January 2008 |publisher=Impala |date=3 December 2008|access-date=9 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806180113/http://www.impalamusic.org/docum/04-press/Awards%20total%20as%20of%20January2008.pdf|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|type=album|nocert=true|salesamount=3,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | streaming=true}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|21520|name=In Rainbows}}

{{Radiohead}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album}}

{{featured article}}

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Category:2007 albums

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Category:Albums produced by Nigel Godrich

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