It shouldn’t be surprising that Ed O’Brien’s new album is as good as it is. He’s from Radiohead after all. Recording under the name EOB “Earth” is not only a great debut, it’s one of the best albums of the year period.

O”Brien is the fourth member of Radiohead to go solo and he may end up being the most successful. “Earth” pulsates, shimmers and hypnotizes from the brilliant dance rock opener to it’s final song, a duet with Laura Marling.

O’Brien’s vocals are not as alien sounding as Thom Yorke of Radiohead but he has a natural ability to hit the perfect note at the perfect time.

Sometimes acoustic, sometimes psychedelic, EOB’s “Earth” is an album with a lot of variety, a confident step forward for an artist who has, up until this time, been in the background.

• 
•