Radiohead - OK Computer

About OK Computer by Radiohead Album

OK Computer is the third album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in 1997. It reached #1 on the UK Albums Chart and marked Radiohead's highest entry into the American market at the time, where it debuted at #21. OK Computer expanded the band's worldwide popularity, becoming the last Radiohead album to have a delayed release outside of the United Kingdom. As of 2007, it has been certified triple platinum in the UK and double platinum in the US. OK Computer included the singles "Paranoid Android", "Karma Police" and "No Surprises". The album was recorded in rural Oxfordshire and Bath, England with Nigel Godrich, who would work with the band on all their future recordings. Although OK Computer was dominated by guitar, its expansive sound and wide range of influences set it apart from many of the Britpop and alternative rock bands popular at the time, laying the groundwork for Radiohead's later, more experimental work. The lyrics, by Thom Yorke, and the album's artwork by Yorke and frequent collaborator Stanley Donwood, emphasised themes such as consumerism, social disconnection, political stagnation and modern malaise, though the band denied they set out to make a concept album. Upon its release, OK Computer received almost unanimously positive reviews. Consensus among critics was that the album was a landmark of its time and would have far-reaching impact and importance. NME gave the album a ten out of ten score, and reviewer James Oldham wrote "Here are 12 tracks crammed with towering lyrical ambition and musical exploration; that refuse to retread the successful formulas of before and instead opt for innovation and surprise; and that vividly articulate both the dreams and anxieties of one man without ever considering sacrifice or surrender. In short, here is a landmark record of the 1990s, and one that deserves your attention more than any other released this year." Taylor Parkes of Melody Maker connected the album's release to the era's feeling of paranoia and alienation about millenarianism, and said "It's as pained and as slow-moving as the emotions that inspired it. ... In one way or another, Radiohead have excelled themselves." Q awarded the album five out of five stars, with writer David Cavanagh stating that "the majority of OK Computer's 12 songs ... takes place in a queer old landscape: unfamiliar and ominous, but also beautiful and unspoiled. ... It's a huge, mysterious album for the head and soul." Nick Kent wrote in Mojo that "Others may end up selling more, but in 20 years time I'm betting OK Computer will be seen as the key record of 1997, the one to take rock forward instead of artfully revamping images and song-structures from an earlier era." In a four out of five stars review, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote that the album "is surprising and sometimes inspiring but its intensity makes for a demanding listen." The album was also favourably received by critics in North America. Rolling Stone gave the album four out of five stars. Reviewer Mark Kemp wrote that the album is "a stunning art-rock tour de force ... On OK Computer, Radiohead take the ideas they had begun toying with on The Bends into the stratosphere. ... OK Computer is evidence that Radiohead are one rock band still willing to look the devil square in the eyes", but warned "OK Computer is not an easy listen." An Entertainment Weekly review by David Browne gave the album a B+, and wrote that "When the arrangements and lyrics meander or sprout pretensions, the album grows ponderous and soggy. For all of Radiohead's growing pains, though, their aim — to take British pop to a heavenly new level — is true." In an article for The New Yorker, writer Alex Ross praised OK Computer for its progressiveness, and contrasted Radiohead's risk-taking with the more musically conservative "dadrock" of their contemporaries Oasis. Ross wrote that "Throughout the album, contrasts of mood and style are extreme This band has pulled off one of the great art-pop balancing acts in the history of rock." Ryan Schreiber wrote, in a highly enthusiastic ten out of ten review in his online music magazine Pitchfork, that "Radiohead's third piece of incredible work, OK Computer, is not only their best yet, but one of the year's greatest releases. The record is brimming with genuine emotion, beautiful and complex imagery and music, and lyrics that are at once passive and fire-breathing." Despite OK Computer's widespread praise, it also received some criticism. Robert Christgau of the Village Voice granted OK Computer a B− but ranked it as the "Dud of the Month" in his consumer guide; Christgau commented that the album lacked "soul", calling it "arid" and "ridiculous" and comparing it unfavourably to Pink Floyd. Andy Gill wrote for The Independent in an otherwise positive review, "For all its ambition, OK Computer is not, finally, as impressive as The Bends, which covered much the same sort of emotional knots, but with better tunes. It is easy to be impressed by, but ultimately hard to love, an album that so luxuriates in its despondency". While a review in Time was largely positive, particularly praising the songs "Airbag", "Paranoid Android", and "Let Down", reviewer Christopher John Farley criticised the second half of the album. Farley stated, "While the first half-dozen tracks reward repeated listenings with melodies that grow and bloom with familiarity, there is often no structure to be found in the remaining half-dozen numbers." At the end of 1997, OK Computer appeared in many critics' lists and listener polls for best album of the year. OK Computer topped the year-end polls of the magazines Mojo, Vox, Entertainment Weekly, Hot Press, Muziekkrant OOR, HUMO, Eye Weekly, and Inpress, and tied for first place with Daft Punk's Homework in The Face. The album placed second in NME, Melody Maker, Rolling Stone, Village Voice, Spin and Uncut. Q and Les Inrockuptibles both listed OK Computer in their unranked year-end polls. OK Computer was a nominee for the 1997 Mercury Prize, a prestigious award recognizing the best British or Irish album of the year. The album was nominated in the Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Performance categories at the 1998 Grammy Awards, ultimately winning the latter award. OK Computer first appeared in a "best of all time" list three months after its release, placing 16 in a chart based on submissions by customers of Virgin Megastores. This chart heavily favoured recent releases, which suggested that OK Computer's popularity was a passing fad. However, OK Computer has since appeared frequently in professional lists of greatest albums. In early 1998, OK Computer topped a Q reader's poll of the greatest albums of all time, and in 2001 Q placed it at number one in a list of the top 50 pop albums of the last 15 years. A number of publications, including NME, Melody Maker, Spin, Alternative Press, Pitchfork Media, and Time placed OK Computer prominently in lists of best albums of the 1990s or of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 162 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Additionally, retrospective reviews from The A.V. Club and Slant Magazine have received the album favourably; likewise, Rolling Stone gave the album five stars in the 2004 Rolling Stone Album Guide, with critic Rob Sheffield saying "Radiohead was claiming the high ground abandoned by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, U2, R.E.M., everybody; and fans around the world loved them for trying too hard at a time when nobody else was even bothering." OK Computer was recorded in the lead up to the 1997 general election. It was thus seen by critics as encompassing public opinion through its "despairing-yet-hopeful tone" and themes of alienation. Yorke said his lyrics had been affected by reading a book about the two decades of Conservative government which were just coming to an end in 1997, as well as about factory farming and globalisation. However, in interviews Yorke expressed little hope things would change under the "New Labour" government of Tony Blair. With the approach of the year 2000, many people felt the tone of the album was millennial. Some critics have credited OK Computer with "killing" 1990s Britpop, as within a few years of its release, the dominant style of UK guitar pop had become slower and more melancholy. Many of the newer acts used similarly complex, atmospheric arrangements. The band Travis worked with Godrich to create the languid pop texture of The Man Who, which became the biggest selling album of 1999 in the UK. Others have credited Radiohead with beginning a mainstream revival of progressive rock and ambitious concept albums, though the band denied their affiliation with the genre. Radiohead described the prevalence of bands that "sound like us" as one reason to break with the style of OK Computer for their next album, Kid A. When asked by MTV interviewer Gideon Yago what the band thought of "bands like Travis, Coldplay, and Muse ... making a career sounding exactly like Radiohead did in 1997", Yorke replied "Good luck with 'Kid A'!". Several rock bands which later became popular, ranging from Coldplay and Bloc Party to TV on the Radio, have said they were formatively influenced by OK Computer—TV on the Radio's debut album, for instance, was titled OK Calculator. Additionally, the album's popularity paved the way for British alternative rock bands such as Muse, Snow Patrol, and Keane. Classical and jazz musicians such as Christopher O'Riley and Brad Mehldau have performed material from OK Computer, and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen said "When I heard 'OK Computer,' after five minutes I said, 'I actually get this. I understand what these people are trying to do.' And what they were trying was not so drastically different from what I was trying to do." Radiodread is a song for song cover of the album in a Reggae style. OK Computer has received great acclaim from the public and critics. It is often cited as Radiohead's best work and as a landmark album of its time. In 1998, it was nominated for a Grammy Award as Album of the Year, and won for Best Alternative Music Album.

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OK Computer (Radiohead) Album Songs

NoSong TitleTime
1.Airbag 4:47
2.Paranoid Android 6:27
3.Subterranean Homesick Alien 4:27
4.Exit Music (For A Film) 4:27
5.Let Down 4:59
6.Karma Police 4:24
7.Fitter Happier 1:57
8.Electioneering 3:50
9.Climbing Up The Walls 4:45
10.No Surprises 3:49
11.Lucky 4:18
12.The Tourist 5:26

Radiohead - OK Computer Album Comments

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OK Computer [Radiohead] Album Reviews

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- Lucky <3 :D

Lucky is I think the first song I ever heard by Radiohead when I was 12 am 28 now and I still love hearing it to this day so I’m buying this album along with their new one.

- Masterpiece

The melodies, the lyrics, the album cover, the vibes…Everything is just the right amount of perfection.

- Good. Just good.

I'm certain this album will grow on me a little more, but it is definitely not the greatest album of all time. I don't see how anyone could possibly even consider considering that. It's a good album, but there is no spectacular song, or even a tune, that gets stuck in my head and makes me want to listen to the album. Like I said, it will almost definitely grow on me, but I don't think I could ever consider this amazing.

- Greatest album ever written

The flow from track to track is perfect and the songs are gifts from god.

- Masterpiece

Thank you

- Musical masterpiece

Abstract and beautifully crafted emotion. Intentionally different than the typical commercial pop-rock. A legendary recording!

- Top 3 Radiohead Album For Me

Just so good. Only has two tracks that drag, Lucky and The Tourist. Everything else is splendid. Exit Music is probably my favorite track off of this album. Everyone should give it a listen.

- Classic

Classic

- Great

On of the best albums ever hands down. Notable Tracks include “No Surprises”, “Karma Police”, and my favorite, “Paranoid Android.

- Never gets old

The best part of this album are the themes behind the music, and how relevant they are today. That’s why this album has longevity and that’s one reason why it’s possibly the greatest album ever made.

- Phenomenal

Every song gives me chills. Yorke’s voice is wonderful, but it’s really a team effort due to the way the instruments build these stunning soundscapes. I love to just plug my phone into a speaker and let the whole album run, it feels like cohesive idea. It’s gotten to the point where just a few seconds of Airbag sets the tone of the coming afternoon. I love it

- Best album I’ve ever listened to

All the songs are good. Let down is really good, karma police is really good, nod surprises is really good. They’re all really good!

- One of the most awesome albums ever

This is classic Radiohead, eerie voice, with synthesized melodies to form a true classic, not to be missed if you like Radiohead.

- Masterpiece

Amazing achievement in music. This album is from top to bottom incredible.

- Unreal

Just put on some really good headphones, crank it up and listen all the way through. You're welcome.

- Radiohead fanatic

As the years go by I find that I turn to this album more and more. I can listen to Paranoid Android, Lucky, Karma Police and Exit Music (For a Film) on loop. I’m in my mid 40’s now and I thank god for my Radiohead music since my early 20’s. This is perfect music. Perfect.

- Of course

The most depressing album of all time

- Am I missing something?

This album never made sense to me, considering many of the tracks are arguably not even full "songs." To me, the bends is a much stronger album.

- Beautifully Acidic

Thom Yorke's vocals create a beautiful tone over the haunting music, and the tragic lyrics pinch your mind as the syllables flow into your brain, wave after wave. OK computer is a wonderfully depressing, utterly mind blowing, and beautifully constructed and arranged.

- Decent

Listen to The Cure instead

- interestingly...

Ok computer is maybe the greatest rock record ever recorded, and it's not even Radiohead's best album.

- GOAT

Best album, from start to finish, I've ever experienced.

- Essential

This is one of, if not, the greatest album I have ever heard.

- Another Great Album

gg

- Best album of the year!

Oh, my gosh, this album gives me chills, Paranoid Android is such a standout like Karma Police and Exit Music. Fitter happier is creepy, but good. I recommend buying this album!

- SO GOOD FR

i love radiohead and thom yorkes voice is so beautiful

- here for karma police

thank you the goldfinch

- Kid A is better

Just sayin’.

- Genius

One of the greatest albums of all time.

- good for fans

This is good for fans of the band but overall did not make an impression with me.

- No way

Greatest album of all time???? Lol. Moaning isn’t music.

- An all-time classic

It’s a classic mistake to oversell something. Nothing can live up to that hype, even our favorite records. But this is an AMAZING record. Start with track one, close your eyes and enjoy. These songs are richly detailed, with interwoven melodies and digital/effects accents galore. Repeat listening is a very rewarding experience, and each track has many layers to them that keep them fresh even when you’ve heard them dozens of times. Personal favorites: Let Down, Paranoid Android, The Tourist, Airbag, No Surprises.

- Simply Flawless

There's no negatives to this album. Yopu have to listen start to finish or you'll never get it. When you do get it, you'll simply consider it a classic on all levels. Yes...one of the greatest albums of all time!

- Ok Computer

Probably my favorite album of all time

- Truly amazing

it is

- Mostly boring

This album drags on and on without hitting peak

- BEAUTIFUL

Love Radiohead! My Favorite Tracks are ‘Karma Police’ & ‘No Surprises’

- Very overrated

This album is boring. Most of the songs drone on in the same slow pace and are a pain to listen to. This isn’t even the best Radiohead album (The Bends is), not to mention the best album of all time (which is either Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon or Rush’s Moving Pictures.) Next!

- Not the greatest, but okay.

The greatest album of all time is INXS KICK.

- Kind of a masterpiece

Has to be listened to all the way through...sad,intense,powerful. Still as relevant now as when it came out during the first dot-com boom.

- Phenomenal

My favorite Radiohead album

- I love this album

I think that this is agreeably the best Radiohead album.

- Timeless

An Album Of A Generation... Simply Classic. A Masterpiece. This Is Art, Innovation, And Critically Creative Thought In It’s Purest Form.

- Too good

I could see the hype of the album when it first came out and still right now the albums so mesmerizing and it’s was like I entered a new world and I think the album is still there landmark album and easily can be considered one of the greatest if not the greatest album but yeah I come back with kid a.

- Yeah, it's that good.

My all-time favorite album. No review needed, just listen to it start to finish.

- Splendid album

My parents had “The dark side of the moon”, I had “OK Computer”.

- “Brains!...BRAINS!!”

It’s like U2, the Doors, and John Lennon (during his primal-scream Revolution 9 phase with Yoko holding a gun to his head) got together, took a barrel of downers, and decided to make a soundtrack for Zombies. Lots of inventive sound effects on the repetitive tracks with some nice sound engineering but “greatest album ever”? Hard to fathom.

- GREEEAT!

This album is full of all forms of music from Zeppelin like blues rock (Electioneering) Or soft rock (Karma Police) it's all good

- Perfect

The greatest album of all time.

- Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

My favorite album of all time.

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OK Computer Wiki

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