As usual Yorke’s lyrics lament over the environmental destruction of the planet, global warming and people’s inability or unwillingness to face these facts.

Stepping aside from Radiohead — the British band that made mainstream cool again, dodged critic’s labels album after album, and has been considered of similar importance to music as Pink Floyd — frontman Thom Yorke released his first album, “The Eraser.”

During an interview with London’s Emergency Broadcast Channel System, Thom Yorke discussed his first solo album saying, “At the end of the ‘Hail to the Thief’ thing we’d (Radiohead) lost all our confidence. It was weird experience to all go home and forget about everything we’d done having lost all confidence in it.”

On these uncertain grounds, while Radiohead toured this summer and played songs off their rumored new album, came “The Eraser.” For Radiohead fans the release is met with nervous optimism. The question gnawing at the subconscious of listeners is “Does this mean Radiohead is no more?”

Fear not. Yorke stated in the EBCS interview not to call this a solo project because that implies he walked away from Radiohead. If that isn’t enough evidence to prove Yorke’s album isn’t a sign of the apocalypse for Radiohead, then the dedication should. The dedication on the CD flap reads, “This album would not have happened without Radiohead, and their total faith in me.”

Though often unintelligible, Yorke’s lyrics and distinct voice — that can go from harmony to rage rock in a snap — were not lost on “The Eraser.” The album ignores Yorke’s rock side and sticks to morose singing mixed with piano and electric tones.

Tracks “And it Rained All Night” and “Black Swan” combine Yorke’s rhythmic singing with digital beats and catchy guitar riffs. These are the tracks that will be etched into listener’s memory banks. These tracks are the closest to rock songs the album offers. They’re the only ones Yorke allows his voice raise louder than coma victim mumbling incoherently.

“Harrowdown Hill” is more representative of the album’s sound. Yorke sounds pleading or in pain, and takes a backseat while the electronic sounds conjure memories of Radiohead’s “Kid A” (2000).

As usual Yorke’s lyrics lament over the environmental destruction of the planet, global warming and people’s inability or unwillingness to face these facts.

“We think the same thing at the same time / we just can’t do anything about it / don’t ask me ask the ministry.”

Societies chugging along while they watch their own demise is a strong theme in the album as shown in the track “And it Rained All Night.”

“The click click clack / of the heavy black trains / a million engines in neutral.”

In his EBCS interview, Yorke says the lyric “a million engines in natural” came to him while being stuck in a Tokyo traffic jam.

The other songs of the nine-track album struggle to keep listeners from thinking about “Kid A” and “OK Computer.” It makes one wonder if those albums were actually Thom seizing more control over the band because the sound of “The Eraser” is noticeably similar.

“Analyse,” “The Clock,” “Atoms for Peace” and “Cymbal Rush” all fall victim to this trend. Simple electric tones with eerie-sounding digital effects, quiet guitar riffs and an echoey Thom Yorke voice sound familiar?

Every new Radiohead album listeners would prepare themselves to be tested because the band reinvented itself each time. Apparently working as a collective mind worked for Yorke. “The Eraser” returns to an era of sound Radiohead left behind six years ago.

“The Eraser” has moments when Thom creates a sound both new and familiar. Yorke’s tracks that differentiate themselves from Radiohead are genius. But, the familiar moments drown out the unique. Radiohead fans will find the album worth a listen; however, if they already own all the Radiohead albums they might reconsider buying “The Eraser.”

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