Radiohead
's debut album,
Pablo Honey
, is a promising collection that blends
U2
's anthemic
rock
with long, atmospheric instrumental passages and an enthralling triple-guitar attack that is alternately gentle and bracingly noisy. The group has difficulty writing a set of songs that are as compelling as their sound, but when they do hit the mark -- such as on
"Anyone Can Play Guitar,"
"Blow Out,"
and the self-loathing breakthrough single
"Creep"
-- the band achieves a rare power that is both visceral and intelligent. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine