42. Radiohead, "OK Computer"

 

After two back-to-back hip hop all-time classics, we have finally arrived at an album beloved by whiteboy Gen X dudes who hate songs.  Oh, I'm kidding, Greg, ease up.  Although this is basically bubblegum pop compared to later, completely unlistenable Radiohead, it's the first album where they really start to pull away from coventional rock and into something new.  Now, all snark aside, I want to say that this album is great.  I just like needling Radiohead fans because it's so easy.

It took me a long time to come around to this album.  I was a huge fan of The Bends, and like everyone else (well, "everyone else" in an extremely narrow subclass of music fans) was anxiously awaiting Radiohead's next album, and then this dropped and I was not quite sure what to make of it!  It's not immediately approachable indie rock like Bends was, but it's really one that rewards multiple listens.  I've gotten used to it now?  And like it a lot more.

Singer Thom Yorke said that he didn't want to write "another miserable, morbid and negative record" but, um, sorry Thom, this is not exactly "Good Day Sunshine."  The second and longest song, "Paranoid Android," sounds like you're actually drowning and Thom's singing:

Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking, squealing, Gucci little piggy
You don't remember, you don't remember
Why don't you remember my name?
Off with his head, man, off with his head, man
Why don't you remember my name?
I guess he does

Missed the mark on the no negativity, king.  But that's ok!  The song is pretty amazing, with like four different movements and a cacophony of guitars and tape loops and all of it.  

The closest thing to a conventional "rock" song is probably "Electioneering," an old-fashioned stomp with a great lead guitar riff (and a wild guitar sound) and an absolute raveup of a chorus.  But just in case you're feeling like you're gonna rock out, they bring you immediately back down with the next song, "Climbing Up the Walls," which Yorke says was inspired by his time working in a mental hospital and an article he read about serial killers.  It's darkly beautiful but also horrifying-sounding.

You might think you're going to get a nice little song, as a treat, in "No Surprises," which starts with a beautiful chimey sound and has bright glockenspiel and you might think "ok, thank you Radiohead, I can finally relax and enjoy something in life" but FUCK YOU it's about suicide.

Much of the album was recorded at St. Catherine's Court, a huge old scary 16th century mansion in the English countryside which couldn't have helped brighten anyone's mood.  Nevertheless, the band made use of the natural acoustics, and actually recorded a lot of the album live, which seems wil when you hear how intricate and complicated the songs are.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention "Let Down," which is a fine song as Radiohead does it, with a fantastic guitar riff and a moody vibe and haunting, evocative lyrics, but also reggae supergroup Easy Star All-Stars actually improved on it with their version, which I strongly urge you to check out:

Sung by the late, great Toots Hibbert (of Toots & the Maytals), and so good that guitarist Jonny Greenwood called it “truly astounding."  Keep this in your pocket for the next time plays that "covers better than the originals" game.

Is this album in my personal Top 100? No.