Radiohead: Rating the Albums
Submitted by ash_campbell on Mon, 08/18/2003 - 11:30
Tags:
- 1. Kid A (2000)
- Stylish complex music with great use of Thom Yorke’s unique vocal abilities hits rarefied air. There’s hardly a wasted note on this brooding and intricate album.
- 2. OK Computer (1997)
- Hailed by most critics and fans as their best work, this is has great tracks throughout, with the exception of the silly computerized Fitter Happier.
- 3. The Bends (1995)
- Just edged out by OK Computer, but not by much. It has some of the best individual tracks from the band, including Bullet Proof…I Wish I Was and the ethereal Nice Dreams. Pretty cool stuff.
- 4. Hail to the Thief (2003)
- Doesn't have the highest highs, but the solidness of the album counts for a lot. Go to Sleep is a pretty great track.
- 5. Amnesiac (2001)
- This one heads a little too far into the electronica field for my tastes, but it still pulls off some wonderful highs, especially Pyramid Song.
- 6. Pablo Honey (1993)
- It’s not exactly bad, but it is definitely a band trying to find its footing. It tends to be a little boring in spots, and I’ve never found the radio-friendly hit Creep particularly interesting.
Author Comments:
Some call them the saviors of rock, some think they're over rated. I think they're a darn good band worth listening to; here's how the albums rate.
I don't know if you saw a poll I've had up for awhile now discussing the way Radiohead is viewed today, but its up here somewhere, please visit it if you haven't.
Your list
Kid A
Ok Computer
The Bends
Amenisac
Pablo Honey
Hail to the Thief (n/a)
I would have to flip flop Kid A and Ok Computer. Kid A maybe me the more influential of the two albums, but to me Radiohead is at the top of their game on Ok Computer. The closest song to Paranoid Android on Kid A is Optimistic which though a great song in its own right doesn't really match the intestity musically that appears in Paranoid Android. Other than that I love your list, nice to see some more Radiohead fans like me our there, keep the faith!
My ratings:
1.) Ok Computer
Key Tracks: Airbag, Paranoid Android, Exit Music, Letdown, No Suprises, Lucky
2.) Kid A
Key Tracks: How to Disappear Completely, Optimistic, Idioteque, Morning Bell
3.) The Bends
Key Tracks: High & Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Nice Dream, Just, My Iron Lung, Black Star, Street Spirit
4.) Hail to the Thief (by the way this is a solid album but rather inconsisent comparatively)
Key Tracks: 2+2=5, Where I End and You Begin, I Will, Myxomatosis, Scatterbrain, A Wolf At the Door
5.) Amnesiac (Kid-B really....)
Key Tracks: Pyramid Song, I Might Be Wrong, Knives Out, Life In A Glass House
6.) Pablo Honey
Key Tracks: Thinking About You, Creep (of course), BlowOut
Believe it or not, my choral director arranged "No Surprises" for us to sing in Glee Club. Not sure how well that'll go over with the administration.
I actually see how that could work...