View source for In Rainbows

{{Short description|2007 studio album by Radiohead}}
{{For|the video album|In Rainbows&nbsp;– From the Basement}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = In Rainbows
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Radiohead]]
| cover        = Inrainbowscover.png
| alt          = The album title written several times in different colours with the artist name at the bottom twice
| released     = {{start date|2007|10|10|df=yes}}
| recorded     = February 2005 – June 2007
| studio       = * [[Halswell House]], Somerset
* [[Tottenham House]], Wiltshire
* [[The Hospital Club]], London
* Radiohead's studio, Oxfordshire
| genre        = * [[Alternative rock]]
* [[art rock]]
* [[experimental rock]]
* [[art pop]]
* [[electronica]]
| length       = {{duration|m=42|s=39}}
| label        = * [[Self-released]]
* [[XL Recordings|XL]]
* [[TBD Records|TBD]] (North America)
| producer     = [[Nigel Godrich]]
| prev_title   = [[Com Lag (2plus2isfive)]]
| prev_year    = 2004
| next_title   = [[Radiohead Box Set]]
| next_year    = 2007
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = In Rainbows
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Jigsaw Falling into Place]]
 | single1date = 14 January 2008
 | single2     = [[Nude (song)|Nude]]
 | single2date = 31 March 2008
}}
}}

'''''In Rainbows''''' is the seventh studio album by the English rock band [[Radiohead]]. It was [[self-publishing|self-released]] on 10 October 2007 as a download, followed by a retail release internationally through [[XL Recordings]] on 3 December 2007 and in North America through [[TBD Records]] on 1 January 2008. It was Radiohead's first release after their recording contract with [[EMI]] ended with their album ''[[Hail to the Thief]]'' (2003).

Radiohead began work on ''In Rainbows'' in early 2005. In 2006, after their sessions with the producer [[Spike Stent]] proved fruitless, they re-enlisted their longtime producer, [[Nigel Godrich]]. Radiohead recorded in the country houses [[Halswell House]] and [[Tottenham House]], the [[The Hospital Club|Hospital Club]] in London, and their studio in Oxfordshire. The lyrics are less political and more personal than previous Radiohead albums.

Radiohead released ''In Rainbows'' on their website [[Surprise album|without prior publicity]] and [[Pay what you want|allowed fans to set their own price]], saying this liberated them from conventional promotional formats and removed barriers to audiences. It was the first such release by a major act and drew international media attention. Many praised Radiohead for challenging old models and finding new ways to connect with fans, while others felt it set a dangerous precedent at the expense of less successful artists.

Radiohead promoted ''In Rainbows'' with the singles "[[Jigsaw Falling into Place]]" and "[[Nude (song)|Nude]]", plus [[webcast]]s, music videos, competitions and a worldwide tour. The retail release topped the [[UK Albums Chart]] and the [[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]], and by October 2008 it had sold more than three million copies worldwide. It was the bestselling vinyl record of 2008 and is [[certified platinum]] in the UK and Canada and gold in the US, Belgium and Japan. ''In Rainbows'' won [[51st Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package|Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package]], and was ranked one of the best albums of the year and the decade by various publications. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' included ''In Rainbows'' in its updated lists of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]].

==Background==
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 [[Recording contract|record contract]] with [[EMI]], they had no contractual obligation to release new material.<ref name="nytimes" /> 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.<ref name="Mojo">{{cite news |author=Kent, Nick |author-link = Nick Kent |title=Ghost in the Machine |work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |publisher=[[EMAP]] |pages=74–77 |date=1 August 2006}}</ref> The ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' described Radiohead as "by far the world's most popular unsigned band".<ref name="nytimes" /> 

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".<ref>{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He released his first solo album, ''[[The Eraser]]'', in 2006.<ref name="Mojo" /> The lead guitarist, [[Jonny Greenwood]], also composed his first solo works, the soundtracks ''[[Bodysong (album)|Bodysong]]'' (2004) and ''[[There Will Be Blood (soundtrack)|There Will Be Blood]]'' (2007).<ref name="Mojo" />

== Recording ==
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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> The bassist, [[Colin Greenwood]], later denied this, saying Godrich had been busy working with [[Charlotte Gainsbourg]] and [[Beck]].<ref name="Ryan-2008" /> 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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

[[File:Radiohead Berkeley, California 23-6-2006.jpg|thumb|Radiohead performing at the [[Greek Theatre (Berkeley)|Greek Theatre]], 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."<ref name="nytimes">{{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}}</ref> They attributed their slow progress to a lack of momentum after their break,<ref name="nytimes" /> the lack of deadline and producer, and the fact that all the members had become fathers.<ref name="Mojo" /><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref name="PAYTRESS" /> The collaboration with Stent was unsuccessful.<ref name="Vozick-Levinson-2012" />

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."<ref name="Collins-2009">{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref name="Mojo" /> He felt ''In Rainbows'' could be the final Radiohead record, and was motivated by a desire to secure their legacy as a great band.<ref name="PAYTRESS" />

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.<ref name="nytimes" /> 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."<ref name="nytimes" />

=== Nigel Godrich sessions ===
[[File:Tottenham House front.jpg|thumb|[[Tottenham House]], Wiltshire]]
After the tour, Radiohead discarded the recordings made with Stent and re-enlisted Godrich.<ref name="Vozick-Levinson-2012">{{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]]}}</ref> According to Yorke, Godrich gave them "a walloping kick up the arse".<ref name="XFM-2008">{{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=}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{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 (UK magazine)|The Word]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="nmewarriors">{{cite news |author=Marshall |first=Julian |date=8 December 2007 |title=Rainbow Warriors |page=8—11 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref>
[[File:Hospital_Club.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Hospital Club]], 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.<ref name="Mojo" /> 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."<ref name="XFM-2008" /> The sessions were productive and the band recorded "[[Jigsaw Falling into Place]]" and "[[Bodysnatchers (song)|Bodysnatchers]]".<ref name="PAYTRESS">{{cite news |author=Paytress |first=Mark |date=1 January 2008 |title=Chasing Rainbows |work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]}}</ref> Yorke wrote on Dead Air Space that Radiohead had "started the record properly now ... starting to get somewhere I think. Finally."<ref>{{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}}</ref> Radiohead used several guitars borrowed from the guitarist [[Johnny Marr]], including a 1957 [[Gibson Les Paul|Gibson Les Paul Gold Top]] and a 1964 [[Gibson SG]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Colin contracted temporary hearing loss and [[tinnitus]] brought upon by faulty headphones.<ref>{{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}}</ref>  

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 (song)|Nude]]".<ref name="Mojo" /><ref name="PAYTRESS" /> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In June, having wrapped up recording, Godrich posted clips of songs on Dead Air Space.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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]]}}</ref>

Feeling ''Hail to the Thief'' was overlong, Radiohead wanted their next album to be concise.<ref name="6music">{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Independent-2008">{{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]]}}</ref> They settled on 10 songs, saving the rest for a bonus disc included in the limited edition.<ref name="pitchfork.com-2016">{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Yorke recorded "Last Flowers", included on the bonus disc, in the ''Eraser'' sessions.<ref name="PAYTRESS" /> ''In Rainbows'' was [[Audio mastering|mastered]] by [[Bob Ludwig]] in July 2007 at Gateway Mastering, New York City.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref>

==Music==
''In Rainbows'' incorporates elements of [[art rock]],<ref name="WaPo 1">{{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}}</ref> [[experimental rock]],<ref name="WaPo 1"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> [[alternative rock]],<ref>{{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 (magazine)|Alternative Press]] | date=21 September 2021 }}</ref> [[art pop]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> and [[electronica]].<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> 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".<ref name="PAYTRESS" /> Yorke said Radiohead considered ''In Rainbows'' "our classic album, our [[Transformer (Lou Reed album)|''Transformer'']], our [[Revolver (Beatles album)|''Revolver'']], our ''[[Hunky Dory]]''".<ref name="Independent-2008" />

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".<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> 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."<ref name="avclub">{{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]]}}</ref> In another interview, Yorke said the album was about mortality and the realisation that he could die at any moment.<ref name="observer1">{{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}}</ref> O'Brien described the lyrics as universal and about "being human", with no political agenda.<ref name="6music" /> The title ''In Rainbows'' was chosen because it was open-ended and not provocative or polarising, and reflected Donwood's artwork.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Engelshoven |first=Tom |date=17 December 2007 |title=De prijs van Radiohead |journal=[[Oor]] |publisher=Argo Media}}</ref>

The opening track, "[[15 Step]]", features a [[quintuple meter]] and a handclap rhythm inspired by "[[Fuck the Pain Away]]" by [[Peaches (musician)|Peaches]].<ref>{{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 (website)|Vice]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Mojo" /> Radiohead recorded cheers by a group of children from the Matrix Music School & Arts Centre in Oxford.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=April 2008 |title=The Complete Radiohead |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=261}}</ref> "Bodysnatchers", which Yorke described as a combination of [[Wolfmother]], [[Neu!]] and "dodgy [[Psychedelic rock|hippy rock]]",<ref name="Mojo" /> was recorded when he was in a period of "hyperactive mania".<ref name="nmewarriors" /> The lyrics were inspired by [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[ghost story|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".<ref name="nytimespay" /> "Weird Fishes / Arpeggi" features a [[Phase music|phasing]] technique influenced by the American composer [[Steve Reich]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bamford |first=Thom |date=2025-06-24 |title=Jonny Greenwood joins the Hallé for a world-class weekend at Manchester Classical |url=https://ilovemanchester.com/jonny-greenwood-manchester-classical |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=I Love Manchester |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

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 [[musical scale|scale]], blanketing the frequencies.<ref name="nytimespay">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Word Magazine-2008" /> 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".<ref name="Word Magazine-2008">{{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]]}}</ref> 

"[[Reckoner]]" developed while Radiohead were working on another song, "[[FeelingPulledApartByHorses / TheHollowEarth|FeelingPulledApartByHorses]]".<ref name="6music" /> It features Yorke's [[falsetto]], "frosty, clanging" percussion, a "meandering" guitar line, piano, and strings arranged by Jonny Greenwood.<ref>{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Yorke described it as "a love song... sort of".<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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=}}</ref> He described "[[House of Cards (Radiohead song)|House of Cards]]" as "mellow and summery", and likened it to the 1968 instrumental "[[Albatross (instrumental)|Albatross]]" by [[Fleetwood Mac]].<ref name="Mojo" /> Mike Diver of ''[[Drowned in Sound]]'' described "[[Jigsaw Falling into Place]]" as a "bass-propelled pop-rock head-bobber".<ref name="dis-review">{{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]]}}</ref> The lyrics were inspired by the chaos witnessed by Yorke when drinking in Oxford, a combination of elation and "a much darker side".<ref name="nmewarriors" /> 

Yorke said composing "Videotape" was "absolute agony", and that it "went through every possible parameter".<ref name="wiredbyrne">{{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 (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}}</ref> He initially wanted it to be a "post-rave [[Trance music|trance]] track", similar to the music of [[Surgeon (musician)|Surgeon]], and said Jonny Greenwood was "obsessed" with shifting the start of the [[Bar (music)|bar]].<ref name="wiredbyrne" /> Radiohead performed "Videotape" in a more conventional rock arrangement on tour in 2006, with Selway's drums building to a climax.<ref name="Randall-2011">{{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}}</ref> For the album, Godrich and Greenwood reduced the song to a minimal piano ballad with percussion from a [[Roland TR-909]] drum machine.<ref name="Randall-2011" />

==Artwork==
The ''In Rainbows'' artwork was designed by Radiohead's longtime collaborator [[Stanley Donwood]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Donwood worked in the studio while Radiohead worked on the album, allowing the artwork to convey the mood of the music.<ref name="avclub" /> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Donwood experimented with [[Etching|photographic etching]], putting prints into acid baths<ref name="esdonwood">{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/off-the-record-6687346.html |title=Off the Record&nbsp;– 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}}</ref> and throwing wax at paper, creating images influenced by [[NASA]] space photography.<ref name="avclub" /> 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref name="NME-2007" /> Radiohead did not reveal the cover until the retail release.<ref name="NME-2007">{{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]]}}</ref> The limited edition includes a booklet containing additional artwork by Donwood.<ref name="esdonwood" />

==Release==
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''."<ref name="Greenwood, Jonny">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Greenwood, Jonny" />

The release was a landmark use of the [[pay-what-you-want]] model for music sales.<ref name="nytimespay" /> It was suggested by Radiohead's managers, Bryce Edge and Chris Hufford, in April 2007.<ref name="observer1" /> 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."<ref name="observer1" /> 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.<ref name="Collins-2009" />

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.<ref name="IND">{{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}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="observer1" />

=== Formats and distribution ===
For the ''In Rainbows'' download, Radiohead employed the network provider [[PacketExchange]] to bypass public internet [[Server (computing)|servers]], using a less-trafficked private network.<ref>
{{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}}</ref> The download was packaged as a [[ZIP (file format)|ZIP]] file containing the album's ten tracks encoded in a 160 [[Kilobit per second#Kilobit per second|kbit/s]] [[Digital rights management|DRM-free]] [[MP3]] format.<ref>{{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 (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}}</ref> The staggered online release began at about 5:30am [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] on 10 October 2007. The download was removed on 10 December.<ref name="endbeginning">{{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}}</ref>

Radiohead also sold a limited "discbox" edition from their website. It contained the album on CD and two 12" heavyweight [[Gramophone record|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.<ref name="discbox">{{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}}</ref> In June 2009, Radiohead made the ''In Rainbows'' bonus disc available for download on their website for £6.<ref name="Breihan-2009">{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

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".<ref name="BBC News-2008">{{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}}</ref> For the retail release, Radiohead retained ownership of the recordings and compositions but licensed the music to record labels.<ref name="direct">{{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 (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}}</ref> Licensing agreements were managed by Radiohead's publisher, [[Warner/Chappell Music|Warner Chappell Music Publishing]].<ref name="direct" /> Radiohead formed a [[limited liability company]], Xurbia Xendless Ltd, to deal with the income, a practice they have repeated for later releases.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 

''In Rainbows'' was released on CD and vinyl in Japan by [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] on 26 December 2007,<ref>{{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}}</ref> in Australia on 29 December 2007 by [[Remote Control Records]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> and in the United States by the [[ATO Records|ATO]] imprint [[TBD Records]] and in Canada by [[MapleMusic Recordings|MapleMusic]] and [[Fontana Distribution|Fontana]] on 1 January 2008.<ref>{{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 (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}}</ref><ref name="canadacd">{{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 (magazine)|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}}</ref> Elsewhere, it was released on 31 December 2007 by the independent record label [[XL Recordings]],<ref name="shun">{{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}}</ref> which had released Yorke's solo album ''The Eraser''.<ref name="Forde-2019">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGzhanFN9So |title=Radiohead&nbsp;– ''In Rainbows''&nbsp;– In Stores 1&nbsp;January&nbsp;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}}</ref> ''In Rainbows'' was the first Radiohead album available for download in several digital music stores, such as the [[iTunes Store]] and [[Amazon MP3]].<ref name="looms">{{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 (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> On 10 June 2016, it was added to the streaming service [[Spotify]].<ref>{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

===Response===
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.<ref name="nytimespay" /> According to ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'', it was "hailed as a revolution in the way major bands sell their music", and the media's reaction was "almost overwhelmingly positive".<ref name="PAYTRESS"/> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called it "easily the most important release in the recent history of the music business".<ref name="Tyrangiel, Josh">{{cite magazine|author=Tyrangiel|first=Josh|date=1 October 2007|title=Radiohead says: pay what you want|magazine=[[Time (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}}</ref> [[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".<ref name="nytimespay"/> ''[[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".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Martin |first=Dan |date=22 December 2007 |title=Radiohead release ''In Rainbows''. The music industry shudders |journal=[[NME]]}}</ref> 

The [[U2]] singer [[Bono]] praised Radiohead as "courageous and imaginative in trying to figure out some new relationship with their audience".<ref name="damage">{{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}}</ref> The rapper [[Jay-Z]] described the release as "genius",<ref name="observer1" /> 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."<ref name="observer1" /> In the 2010s, ''[[Gigwise]]'' and ''[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]'' credited ''In Rainbows'' as the first "[[surprise album]]" — a major album released without prior publicity — ahead of acts such as [[Beyoncé]] and U2.<ref name="diymag-3.25.19">{{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 (magazine)|DIY]]}}</ref><ref name="gigwise-5.20.16">{{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]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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?"<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Thill-2009">{{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 (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref> The ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' journalist [[Will Hodgkinson]] argued that Radiohead had made it impossible for less successful musicians to make a living from their music.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== Response from Radiohead ===
Responding to criticisms, Jonny Greenwood said Radiohead were responding to the culture of downloading free music, which he likened to the [[King Canute and the tide|legend of King Canute]]: "You can't pretend the flood isn't happening."<ref name="observer1" /> 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."<ref name="observer1" /> 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."<ref name="BBC News-2008" />

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".<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> Radiohead have not used the pay-what-you-want system for subsequent releases.<ref>{{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 (website)|Inverse]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Collins-2009" /> 

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 Inc.|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?"<ref>{{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}}</ref>
=== Piracy ===
The release came at a time when CD sales were falling due to [[internet piracy]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Tyrangiel, Josh" /> According to the media measurement company [[BigChampagne]], on the day of release, around 400,000 copies of ''In Rainbows'' were pirated via [[Torrent file|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.<ref name="Buskirk-2008" /> 

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Buskirk-2008">{{Cite magazine |last=Buskirk |first=Eliot Van |date=31 July 2008 |title=New ''In Rainbows'' numbers offer lessons for music industry |magazine=[[Wired (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}}</ref> Based on this report, ''[[Wired (magazine)|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".<ref name="Buskirk-2008" /> 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref>
=== Dispute with EMI ===
[[File:Guy Hands at AIC 2019.jpg|thumb|The EMI owner, [[Guy Hands]] (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 (magazine)|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."<ref name="Tyrangiel, Josh" />

In August 2007, as Radiohead were finishing ''In Rainbows'', EMI was acquired by the [[private equity]] firm [[Terra Firma Capital Partners|Terra Firma]] for US$6.4 billion (£4.7 billion), with [[Guy Hands]] as the new chief executive.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Executives including Keith Wozencroft, who had signed Radiohead to EMI, travelled regularly to Radiohead's studio in hopes of negotiating a new contract.<ref name="Forde-2019" /> They were "devastated" when Radiohead told them they would not be signing.<ref name="Forde-2019" /> 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref name="Forde-2019" /> 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."<ref name="observer1" /> 

Hands believed that Radiohead would only have canceled their self-release plan with a "really big" offer,<ref name="Forde-2019" /> and an EMI spokesperson said that Radiohead had demanded "an extraordinary amount of money".<ref name="Amol-2007">{{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}}</ref> Yorke and Radiohead's management released statements denying this, and said that they had instead wanted control over their back catalogue,<ref name="Amol-2007" /><ref>{{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]]}}</ref> which Hands had refused.<ref name="Forde-2019" /> Radiohead's co-manager, Bryce Edge, said Radiohead had the [[moral rights]] to the albums.<ref name="Amol-2007" /> 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".<ref name="Forde-2019" /> 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."<ref name="Forde-2019" />

Days after Radiohead signed to XL, EMI announced a [[Radiohead Box Set|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,<ref name="Forde-2019" /> and commentators including the ''Guardian'' saw it as retaliation for them choosing not to sign with EMI.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> 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]".<ref name="Forde-2019" /> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Promotion==

=== Webcasts ===
Following the release of ''In Rainbows'', Radiohead broadcast two [[webcast]]s 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]].<ref name="Empire-2008" /> The webcasts featured performances of ''In Rainbows'' songs, covers of songs by [[New Order (band)|New Order]], the [[the Smiths|Smiths]] and [[Björk]], poetry, and videos created with the comedian [[Adam Buxton]] and the filmmaker [[Garth Jennings]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="Empire-2008">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Ryan-2008">{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref><ref>{{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 (magazine)|Far Out]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Colin Greenwood described the webcasts as spontaneous and liberating, bypassing the usual lengthy process of commissioning music videos.<ref name="Ryan-2008" />

=== Singles and music videos ===
The first ''In Rainbows'' single, "Jigsaw Falling into Place", was released in January 2008,<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> followed by "Nude" on 31 March.<ref name="NME_0312">{{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}}</ref> Both songs were accompanied by music videos directed by Buxton and Jennings.<ref name="Ryan-2008" /><ref>{{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}}</ref> Radiohead held [[remix]] competitions for "Nude" and "Reckoner", releasing the separated [[Stem (audio)|stems]] for purchase, and streamed the entries on their website.<ref>{{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 (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}}</ref> "Nude" debuted at number 37 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''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 (Radiohead song)|Creep]]" (1992).<ref name="BILL">{{cite magazine |date= |title=Radiohead Chart History: Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/radiohead/chart-history/hsi/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{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 (website)|Idolator]] }}</ref> "Reckoner" reached number 74 on the [[UK singles chart]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> and number 21 on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles]] chart, a 25-song extension of the Hot 100.<ref name="US-Bubbling-singles">{{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 (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> 

In July, Radiohead released a video for "House of Cards", made with [[lidar]] technology instead of cameras.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{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 (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}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="MTV">{{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]]}}</ref><ref name="NME2">{{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}}</ref>

=== Live performances ===
[[File:Radiohead France 2008.jpg|alt=|thumb|Radiohead performing at the 2008 Main Square Festival in Arras, France]]On 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Radiohead toured North America, Europe, South America and Japan from May 2008 until March 2009.<ref name="Brandle-2007">{{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 (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> To determine how they could reduce [[carbon emissions]], Radiohead commissioned the environmental group Best Foot Forward.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> Based on the findings, Radiohead played in [[amphitheatre]]s rather than smaller venues and focused on playing in city centres to reduce reliance on flights for attendees.<ref>{{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}}</ref> They also used a [[Carbon neutrality|carbon-neutral]] "forest" of [[Light-emitting diode|LEDs]] on stage.<ref>{{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 (magazine)|T]] |publisher=[[A. G. Sulzberger]]}}</ref> 

Radiohead recorded a live video, [[In Rainbows – From the Basement|''In Rainbows — From the Basement'']], broadcast on [[VH1]] in May 2008.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In February 2009, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood performed "15 Step" with the [[Spirit of Troy|University of Southern California Marching Band]] at the [[51st Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Sales==

=== Digital ===
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.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> Citing a source close to the band, ''[[Gigwise]]'' reported that ''In Rainbows'' had sold 1.2 million digital copies before its retail release;<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> this was dismissed by Radiohead's co-manager Bryce Edge as "exaggerated".<ref name="Brandle-2007" />

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.<ref name="Andrews-2007">{{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=dead|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}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Andrews-2007" /> Radiohead dismissed the report as "wholly inaccurate",<ref>{{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}}</ref> but said the results had been good.<ref name="observer1" /> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="wiredbyrne" />

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2009, ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' reported that Radiohead had made an "instantaneous" £3 million from the album.<ref name="Thill-2009" /> ''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."<ref>{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

=== Retail ===
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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> On the week of its retail release, ''In Rainbows'' reached number one on the UK Albums Chart,<ref name="UK charts">{{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}}</ref> with first-week sales of 44,602 copies.<ref>Armstrong, Stephen. "The Revolution Will Be Digitised". ''Q''. April 2008</ref> In the US, after some record stores broke [[street date]] agreements, it entered the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] at number 156. However, in the first week of official release, it became the [[List of number-one independent albums (U.S)|10th independently distributed album to reach number one on the ''Billboard'' 200]],<ref>{{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 (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}}</ref> selling 122,000 copies.<ref name="early">{{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 (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}}</ref> In October 2008, Warner Chappell reported that ''In Rainbows'' had sold three million copies worldwide since its retail release,<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> including 1.75 million physical sales.<ref name="pitchfork">{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> It was the bestselling vinyl album of 2008.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| MC = 88/100<ref name="metacritic">{{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}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{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}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev2score = A−<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3score = A<ref name="ewreview">{{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}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="guardianreview">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/oct/10/radioheadsinrainbowsisita |title=Radiohead's ''In Rainbows''&nbsp;– 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}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Everything must go |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issue=169 |date=December 2007 |last=Paytress |first=Mark |page=96}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6score = 9.3/10<ref name="p4k">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10785-in-rainbows/ |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |website=[[Pitchfork (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}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=257 |date=December 2007 |last=Goddard |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Goddard |page=107}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="RSreview">{{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}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="spin">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jk52QtJvGoC&pg=PA111 |title=After the Revolution |magazine=[[Spin (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}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Times]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{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}}</ref>
}}

On the review aggregate site [[Metacritic]], ''In Rainbows'' has a rating of 88 out of 100 based on 42 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="metacritic"/> The ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' critic [[Alexis Petridis]] praised Radiohead's performance in the studio and said they sounded like they were enjoying themselves.<ref name="guardianreview"/> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Jonathan Cohen commended the album for not being overshadowed by its marketing hype.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3if4ef26bbb490c2c5220f796cdf0fad1f |title=In Rainbows |magazine=[[Billboard (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}}</ref> 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".<ref name="allmusic"/>

''[[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."<ref name="NME">{{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}}</ref> [[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".<ref name="ewreview" /> [[Rob Sheffield]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' praised its "vividly collaborative sonic touches" and concluded: "No wasted moments, no weak tracks: just primo Radiohead."<ref name="RSreview" />

Jon Dolan of ''[[Blender (magazine)|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".<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4831 |title=Radiohead: In Rainbows |journal=[[Blender (magazine)|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}}</ref> ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''{{'}}s Mikael Wood felt that it "succeeds because all of that cold, clinical lab work hasn't eliminated the warmth from their music",<ref name="spin" /> while ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'}}s Mark Pytlik wrote it was a more "human" album that "represents the sound of Radiohead coming back to earth".<ref name="p4k" /> ''Pitchfork'' allowed readers to enter their own review score, referencing the pay-what-you-want release.<ref name="Rogers-2024">{{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 (website)|The Ringer]]}}</ref> [[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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]'' was more critical, finding "a sense here of a group magisterially marking time, shying away ... from any grand, rhetorical, countercultural purpose".<ref name="WireReview">{{Cite magazine |title=Radiohead&nbsp;– ''In Rainbows'' |date=1 December 2007 |last=Stubbs|first=David |page=63|magazine=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]}}</ref>

In 2011, ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' described ''In Rainbows'' as Radiohead's "most expansive and seductive album, possibly their all-time high".<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{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 (service)|Tidal]]}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
''In Rainbows'' was ranked among the best albums of 2007 by many music publications.<ref name="yearend">{{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}}</ref> It was ranked first by ''Billboard'', ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' and ''[[PopMatters]]'', third by ''NME'' and ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', fourth by ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' and ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'', and sixth by ''Rolling Stone'' and ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''.<ref name="yearend" /> It was also named one of the best albums of the decade by ''NME'',<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'',<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'',<ref>{{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}}</ref> the ''Guardian'',<ref>{{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}}</ref> and ''[[Newsweek]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://2010.newsweek.com/top-10/best-albums/in-rainbows-radiohead.html |title=In Rainbows Radiohead&nbsp;– Best Albums&nbsp;– ''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}}</ref>

''In Rainbows'' was nominated for the short list of the 2008 [[Mercury Prize]],<ref>{{cite web |date=24 July 2008 |title=Radiohead News&nbsp;– 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]]}}</ref> and won the [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] awards for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Music Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package|Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package]] at the [[51st Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> It was also nominated for Grammy awards for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year, Non-Classical]] (for Godrich), and "House of Cards" was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]], [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Music Video]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

''In Rainbows'' was included in the updated 2014 edition of ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{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}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' included it in its lists of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]] at number 336 in 2012 and number 387 in 2020.<ref name="500-greatest">{{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]]}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2019, the ''Guardian'' named ''In Rainbows'' the 11th-greatest album of the 21st century so far.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2011, ''[[NME]]'' ranked "Reckoner" the 93rd-best track of the preceding 15 years,<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> and ''Pitchfork'' named it the 254th-greatest song of the decade.<ref>{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> In 2021, ''Pitchfork'' readers voted it the fourth-greatest album of the previous 25 years.<ref>{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing   = [[Radiohead]]
| headline      = ''In Rainbows'' track listing
| total_length  = 42:39
| title1        = [[15 Step]]
| length1       = 3:58
| title2        = [[Bodysnatchers (song)|Bodysnatchers]]
| length2       = 4:02
| title3        = [[Nude (song)|Nude]]
| length3       = 4:15
| title4        = Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
| length4       = 5:18
| title5        = [[All I Need (Radiohead song)|All I Need]]
| length5       = 3:49
| title6        = Faust Arp
| length6       = 2:10
| title7        = [[Reckoner]]
| length7       = 4:50
| title8        = [[House of Cards (Radiohead song)|House of Cards]]
| length8       = 5:28
| title9        = [[Jigsaw Falling into Place]]
| length9       = 4:09
| title10       = Videotape
| length10      = 4:40
}}

==''In Rainbows Disk 2''==
{{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]]<ref name="WaPo 1" />
*[[experimental rock]]<ref name="WaPo 1" />
| 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.<ref name="Pitchfork 2" /> 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.<ref name="nmewarriors" /> In 2009, Radiohead made ''Disk 2'' available to purchase as a download on their website.<ref name="Breihan-2009" /> It was released on digital services in October 2016.<ref name="pitchfork.com-2016" />

=== Music ===
''Stereogum'' characterised ''Disk 2'' as more downcast and "balladeering" than ''Disk 1'', with more piano and less guitar.<ref name="stereogum2" /> "MK 1", an instrumental, extends the chords of "Videotape".<ref name="stereogum2" /> "Down Is the New Up" is an "ominous" piano anthem, with a "funky" falsetto, "shimmering atmospherics" and orchestral swells.<ref name="stereogum2" /><ref name="Hogan-2019" /> "Go Slowly" is a tense, "ghostly" song with guitars, glockenspiel and synthesisers.<ref name="Hogan-2019" /><ref name="stereogum2" /> "MK 2" is a synthesiser instrumental.<ref name="Hogan-2019" /> "Up on the Ladder" features synthesisers and a "gnarled", "funk-ish" guitar riff.<ref name="Hogan-2019" /><ref name="stereogum2" /> "Last Flowers" has "mournful" vocals, piano arpeggios and acoustic guitar.<ref name="Hogan-2019" /> "Bangers and Mash" is an "uptempo freakout" with "choppy" guitar.<ref name="Hogan-2019" /><ref name="stereogum2" /> "4 Minute Warning" is a "peaceful" song with a droning [[Ambient music|ambient]] introduction.<ref name="Hogan-2019">{{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 (website)|Vulture]] |language=en-us}}</ref> 

=== Reception ===
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev1score = 6.2/10<ref name="Pitchfork 2"/>
| rev2 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="rolling stone 2">{{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}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Stereogum]]''
| rev3score = Positive<ref name="stereogum2"/>
}}
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."<ref name="Pitchfork 2">{{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 (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> 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".<ref name="rolling stone 2" /> ''Stereogum'' wrote that the most impressive thing about ''Disk 2'' was "how effortless it all seems".<ref name="stereogum2">{{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]]}}</ref>

=== Track listing ===
{{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
}}

==Personnel==
'''Radiohead'''
* [[Colin Greenwood]]
* [[Jonny Greenwood]]
* [[Ed O'Brien]]
* [[Philip Selway]]
* [[Thom Yorke]]

'''Additional musicians'''
* The Millennia Ensemble&nbsp;– strings
** Everton Nelson – leading
** Sally Herbert – conducting

'''Production'''
* [[Nigel Godrich]]&nbsp;– production, mixing, engineering
* Richard Woodcraft&nbsp;– engineering
* [[Hugo Nicolson]]&nbsp;– engineering
* [[Dan Grech-Marguerat]]&nbsp;– engineering
* Graeme Stewart&nbsp;– pre-production
* [[Bob Ludwig]]&nbsp;– mastering

'''Artwork'''
* [[Stanley Donwood]]
* [[Thom Yorke|Dr Tchock]]

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly sales chart performance for ''In Rainbows''
!scope="col"|Chart (2007–2008)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|12|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|2|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|5|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Radiohead|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Denmark|7|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|7|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|2|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|France|1|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|8|id=71367|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Ireland2|1|artist=Radiohead|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Italy|7|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/184257/rank/ |title=レディオヘッドの売上ランキング |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=ja |access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
!scope="row"|Mexican Albums ([[Top 100 Mexico]])<ref name="Hitparade" />
| style="text-align:center;"|50
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|2|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|6|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Poland|7|id=432|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|2|date=20080106|rowheader=true|access-date=17 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Spain|19|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|6|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020|refname=Hitparade}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|1|date=20080106|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Radiohead|rowheader=true|access-date=17 August 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardAlternative|1|artist=Radiohead|rowheader=true|access-date=16 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardIndependent|1|artist=Radiohead|rowheader=true|access-date=16 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRock|1|artist=Radiohead|rowheader=true|access-date=16 November 2021}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2024–2025)
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
|-
! scope="row"| Croatian International Albums ([[Top of the Shops|HDU]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-17-tjedan-2025/|title=Lista prodaje (strano) 17. tjedan 2025. (21.04.2025. - 27.04.2025.) |language=hr|publisher=[[Top lista]]|date=6 May 2025|access-date=6 May 2025}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Lithuanian Albums ([[AGATA (organization)|AGATA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s40-3/|title=2024 40-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=[[AGATA (organization)|AGATA]]|language=lt|date=4 October 2024|access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref>
| 98
|-
{{album chart|Portugal|168|artist=Radiohead|album=In Rainbows|rowheader=true|accessdate=16 March 2024}}
|-
! scope="row"!|[[UK Albums Chart|UK Albums]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Albums Chart Top 100 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20241220/7502/ |website=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|98
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2007 annual sales chart performance for ''In Rainbows''
|-
! scope="col"|Chart (2007)
! scope="col"|Position
|-
! scope="row"|US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-alternative-albums |title=Alternative Albums – Year-End 2007 |magazine=Billboard |date=2 January 2013|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|14
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2008 annual sales chart performance for ''In Rainbows''
|-
! scope="col"|Chart (2008)
! scope="col"|Position
|-
! scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2008/albums-chart |title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2008 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|85
|-
! scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2008&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2008 |publisher=Ultratop|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|20
|-
! scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2008&cat=a |title=Rapports Annuels 2008 |publisher=Ultratop|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|55
|-
! scope="row"|Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2008&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2008 |website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|61
|-
! scope="row"|French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2008 |title=Top de l'année Top Albums 2008 |publisher=SNEP |language=fr|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|61
|-
!scope="row"|Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/11/2008/0|title=Classifica Annuale 2008 (dal 31.12.2007 al 28.12.2008) – Album & Compilation|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|50
|-
! scope="row"|Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2008/alben |title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2008 |website=hitparade.ch|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|79
|-
! scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20080106/37502/ |title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|76
|-
! scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-billboard-200-albums/ |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228075833/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-billboard-200-albums|archive-date=28 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|60
|-
! scope="row"|US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-alternative-albums |title=Alternative Albums – Year-End 2008 |magazine=Billboard |date=2 January 2013|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110070842/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-alternative-albums|archive-date=10 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|14
|-
! scope="row"|US Independent Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/independent-albums |title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2008 |magazine=Billboard |date=2 January 2013|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112211259/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-rock-albums|archive-date=12 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
! scope="row"|US Top Rock Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-rock-albums |title=Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2008 |magazine=Billboard |date=2 January 2013|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112211259/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/top-rock-albums|archive-date=12 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|19
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2009 annual sales chart performance for ''In Rainbows''
|-
! scope="col"|Chart (2009)
! scope="col"|Position
|-
! scope="row"|US Independent Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/independent-albums |title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2009 |magazine=Billboard |date=2 January 2013|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112220520/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-rock-albums|archive-date=12 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2024 annual sales chart performance for ''In Rainbows''
|-
! scope="col"|Chart (2024)
! scope="col"|Position
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2024&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2024|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=nl|access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref>
| 198
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{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<sup>^</sup> / 1,020,000|salesref=<ref name=Forbes>{{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}}</ref>
|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=<ref>{{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}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|artist=Radiohead|title=In Rainbows|type=album|nocert=true|salesamount=3,000,000|salesref=<ref name="pitchfork"/>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | streaming=true}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|type=album|21520|name=In Rainbows}}

{{Radiohead}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album}}

{{featured article}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2007 albums]]
[[Category:Albums free for download by copyright owner]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Nigel Godrich]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album]]
[[Category:Radiohead albums]]
[[Category:Self-released albums]]
[[Category:XL Recordings albums]]
[[Category:Art pop albums]]
[[Category:Surprise albums]]