Radiohead's Thom Yorke Goes Solo (Sort Of)

Radiohead singer/songwriter Thom Yorke has finished work on an album titled The Eraser, but he's reluctant to refer to it as a solo record.

The nine-track effort, due to be released by XL Recordings on July 11, was written and performed by Yorke and produced and arranged by longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.

"the elements have been kicking round now for a few years and needed to be finished & i have been itching to do something like this for ages," Yorke wrote in a message sent to Radiohead's W.A.S.T.E. fan club. "it was fun and quick to do. inevitably it is more beats & electronics. but its songs."

The Eraser will feature artwork by Yorke's friend, Stanley Donwood, the man responsible for much of Radiohead's album artwork since 1994. Yorke has also launched an Eraser website to promote the project.

Several media sources are reporting that an album track called "Black Swan" will play over the closing credits of Richard Linklater's upcoming sci-fi movie, A Scanner Darkly. Radiohead will also contribute music to the Keanu Reeves/Winona Ryder film.

The Eraser should be an adequate teaser for fans who are anxiously awaiting the release of the still untitled Radiohead album that's now expected to surface sometime in 2007. Yorke's message emphasizes that his new endeavour won't interfere with or replace his work in Radiohead.

"i want no crap about me being a traitor or whatever splitting up blah blah... this was all done with their blessing."

Radiohead are currently on tour in Europe and will make the trek to North America for some summer shows, including two at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre on June 7 and 8 and another pair at Montreal's Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place Des Arts on June 10 and 11.

Here are the songs on The Eraser:

"The Eraser"
"Analyse"
"The Clock"
"Black Swan"
"Skip Divided"
"Atoms For Peace"
"And It Rained All Night"
"Harrowdown Hill"
"Cymbal Rush"