As far as alternative rock bands go, Radiohead is one that has always been willing to push its limits. Listening to their first CD and comparing it to their latest is almost comical; they sound nothing alike – the only uniting factor is the odd voice of Thom Yorke.

Those of us who are Radiohead fans are still waiting patiently for another album from this revolutionary group, but frontman Yorke has helped fill the cravings with his first solo album. Following in the gradual evolution of Radiohead's music, this album could be comfortably nicknamed Kid B, in homage to the full band's masterpiece of electronic rock – an album that changed the face of alternative music forever, Kid A. This album begins where that one left off, exploring new realms of electronic music that makes the techno in the clubs sound like mindless drivel.

This is a great ambient album. It's got strong, thumpy beats, but not the type of uptempo rhythm that demands dancing; it's more of a “chill” feel, one that you requests a simple head nod. It begins with an eerie piano track, and ends with a cool beat, and everything between these two bookends is worthwhile, tasty stuff.

That is the strength of this album, compared to other ambient albums. Many times, when an artist or group decides to push their musical boundaries into ambient territory, the resulting disc is filled with pointless space. Case in point: Tool's newest album, 10,000 Days, has a few really great songs on it, of the caliber of their best disc, Lateralus. But it also has a lot of wasted, pointless space on the disc, filled with weird sounds and weirder noises. Almost half the disc is wasted. Another case: Chroma Key's Graveyard Mountain Home. (Read the review of that album here.) Again, Kevin Moore has written some outstanding tracks, and some rambling, useless ones. Spotty at best.

Thom Yorke's album, then, stands out, because each and every track is good on this disc. I like some songs more than others, but none of them is pointless ambient noise. (And it's a good thing, too, because at only 41 minutes, the disc is too short anyway.) The sounds used all seem to fit; nothing is painful or jarring, but simply works together to create a well-crafted disc.

Tracks to catch: The Eraser: The opener of the album, it's got a catchy chorus and effectively uses the piano track to make it sound just right. Analyse: My favorite song on the album, its thumpy beat and well-written melody are infectious . . . I love this song. And it Rained All Night: great drum beats and rhythm sounds combine to make a creepy song with just the right touch of melancholy to make the track fit just right. And the rest of the disc is great, too.