The Bends is the second studio album by the English
alternative rock band
Radiohead, released on 13 March 1995 by
Parlophone.
The Bends was produced by
John Leckie at EMI's studios in London, and engineered by
Nigel Godrich, who would go on to produce all future albums by the band. Featuring five charting singles, the album also marked the beginning of a shift in aesthetics and themes for the band, with greater use of keyboards, and more abrasive guitar tracks balancing subtler ones. The introspective
grunge-influenced style of
Pablo Honey evolved into more multi-layered rock with cryptic lyrics and larger ideas, as the band and singer
Thom Yorke reacted against the rigors of near-constant world tours.