With the release of Radiohead's ninth album, A Moon Shaped Pool, music journalists have noted their ingenuity when it comes to putting out new music. The following excerpts refer to their 2007 album In Rainbows:

Consequence of Sound:

The Guardian:

SFGate:

Rolling Stone:

Entertainment Weekly:

Los Angeles Times:

What does ATRL think? Are Radiohead trailblazers at unconventional album releases, just like they are in their music?

Well, they WERE the first big artist to do it, so

On 1 October 2007, Jonny Greenwood announced Radiohead's seventh album on Radiohead's blog, Dead Air Space, writing: "Well, the new album is finished, and it's coming out in 10 days . . . We've called it In Rainbows."

Originally posted by Playa Playa These journalists probably weren't checking for Radiohead in 2007? No? The album was announced beforehand and there was hype

Originally posted by feelslikeadream Nothing ATRL hasn't pointed out many times. Delusional stans will still refuse to process the fact that a lot of artists did surprise releases before 2013. They try to make it "the first mainstream surprise release" or something

It wasn't a total surprise upon release, there was an announcement a week beforehand I think. But in effect, Radiohead were the first to do it.

I've also seen Beyoncé fans throw around the "visual album" thing as if Blondie, the Eurythmics, and Sonic Youth didn't all do it 25+ years ago.

Originally posted by Roman Holiday It's not about who did it first, it's about who did it best. Beyoncé's release is iconic because it actually kicked off a trend and it was a huge, global event. No one really paid attention when previous acts tried it, at least not on the scale of Beys' drop.

Originally posted by Mr. Fahrenheit It wasn't a total surprise upon release, there was an announcement a week beforehand I think. But in effect, Radiohead were the first to do it. I've also seen Beyoncé fans throw around the "visual album" thing as if Blondie, the Eurythmics, and Sonic Youth didn't all do it 25+ years ago.

The hive is gonna get them. Watch em pull the race card right away.

Originally posted by chilicheese01 Admittedly don't know anything about those bands, but even Fall Out Boy ended their hiatus out of nowhere and made a film to accompany 2013's Save Rock and Roll.