First Thougths on In Rainbows... after 2 listens

I'm not going try to tie these all together, so here we go with the list:

1. They're dont' seem to be any huge stylistic left turns -- the bands sounds like they've settled in a little bit -- but you can tell here that Thom's songwriting continues down the path of abstract and experimental. The best thing about listening to a Radiohead album for the first time is trying to predict which direction a feel or melody will go in. So far, I'm zero for, like, 500 on that. You cannot predict how Thom will write a line or how the band will fall in behind it, and that's what makes this group so artistically significant (and so commercially negligible).
   
2. I love that the album is only 10 tracks because that really helps the sequencing and flow of this disc tremendously. There are strong juxtapositions from one song to the next, but nothing sounds out of place.
   
3. When things do sound off -- for instance the way the drums and piano fight against each other on the final track, "Videotape" -- they're off in a way that seems original, organic and I don't know... intellectual?
   
4. Thom really hits some high notes on this record.
   
5. These songs are in no way whatsoever "catchy", even by Radiohead standards. The writing seems to wander quite a bit, but usually builds toward some kind of peak. This will probably change as the album soaks in. Kid A felt the same way the first time (and still does kinda).
   
6. As usual, Nigel Godrich has done amazing things with the drum and bass production. They sound more crisp than ever on this record.
   
7. And speaking of production, thank you for the strings, they make some of the more simple tracks sound absolutely huge. I wonder who wrote these arrangements.

There's more, but those are just a few of thoughts I had while listening last night. Those who've heard it, chime in with your impressions.