The nine tracks that make up this album have been a few years in the making and with Radiohead currently in the studio working on their seventh album and touring America, you could argue that it's a strange time for Radiohead front man Thom Yorke to be releasing a 'solo album'.
Not that we are allowed to call it a solo album though, Thom is not comfortable with that term as it insinuates that Radiohead are splitting, which they are not, well not any time soon anyway. The rest of the band gave Thom the green light to go ahead with Radiohead Producer Nigel Godrich and record The Eraser.
As a big Radiohead fan I jumped at the chance to review the album, but it is impossible not to compare it to previous Radiohead material. Opening song and title track The Eraser is apparently the oldest song on the album, born from an idea that band mate Jonny Greenwood was bashing out on the piano one day. It doesn't do much for me; all I can hear is Pyramid Song from Radiohead's Amnesiac album.
The album continues in an Amnesiac/Kid A kind of vein throughout. One of the tracks - Harrowdown Hill - was apparently being worked on around the time of the Hail to the Thief album in 2003 but Thom decided that it didn't fit so it has resurfaced on The Eraser.
With Thom Yorke being the politically minded man that he is, it was foreseeable that at least one of the songs on The Eraser would be political. The Clock is one such song, apparently written about climate change and Government's lack of urgency in responding; 'Time is running out for us, but you just move the hands upon the clock.' With its 'pitter patter' electronic beats and Thom Yorke humming then lamenting with ghostly voices, it has all the hallmarks of an introspective Radiohead track.
Black Swan is my favourite track on the album; the guitar work is brittle, complimented greatly by subtle synthesiser harmonies in the background and Thom's ever growing, confident lyrics at the forefront. He delivers an unforgettable chorus - 'And it's f***ed up, f***ed up. And this is f***ed up, f***ed up' - without a hint of anger!
And it Rained All Night is another excellent track, with synth noises straight out of a sci-fi movie and an infectious bass line that's hard to ignore.
Harrowdown Hill was written about the suicide of UN weapons inspector Dr David Kelly, though Thom isn't too keen to talk about it. In an interview with The Observer, Thom said about the song - 'I don't really think it's appropriate for me to say, yes, it's about that, because I'm sure his family are still grieving over his death.'
The Eraser is an album full of 'moments' some of them are familiar, some of them are brand new and exciting but they are all undeniably Thom Yorke and that is what he will be remembered for; constantly striving to go slightly left of the middle. The Eraser is not, as some reviewers have described it 'the album of the year' but it is a must buy for any Radiohead fan, especially if you like Kid A or Amnesiac!
The Eraser by Thom Yorke is available to buy from July 10th.
For more information on The Eraser visit: theeraser.net
