LogFAQs > #953755398

OK Computer is my favorite album of 1997 and #22 of all-time. It's hard to say anything that hasn't already been said; alongside Nevermind, this is THE big album of the 90s, and has the benefit of an obsessive online fanbase analyzing every detail. Rock and roll had been put through a blender in 1996, and Radiohead helped pick up the pieces and put them in a new direction, shedding alternative for something bigger and almost ethereal. This is one of those rare albums where no two songs sound the same, yet they all go so perfectly together. Hard rockers like "Paranoid Android" and "Electioneering" are expertly contrasted against the drifting atmosphere of "Subterranean Homesick Alien" or the subtly sinister "Climbing Up the Walls." Where The Bends was exceptional if familiar alternative, with all its focus on guitars and all that makes rock rock, OK Computer is all about atmosphere. Yet that's not to imply they went easy on the instrumentation; every layer of these songs is richly detailed. The end result is an album like nothing before it, with too large of a scope for anyone else to successfully imitate.

Airbag - Though not my favorite track on the album, "Airbag" does a great job capturing what makes the full album so effective. After starting with an abrasive guitar, the song pulls back to let Yorke's gentle voice shine. Though we never return to that opening sound, it leaves a pervasive sense of foreboding. This is an album defined by contrasts, and "Airbag" makes a simple statement - after a horrifying accident, the survivor is simply happy to be alive, but he can't quite put everything behind.

Paranoid Android - "Happiness is a Warm Gun" or "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the angsty gen Xer. It makes sense for this to be the signature track; in an album full of contrasts, a song which is several distinct ideas mashed together accentuates the idea. OK Computer does a phenomenal job exploring generally untapped emotions, and this is the perfect embodiment of stress-driven narcissism. Every inch of this song, no matter how disparate each section gets, suggests someone on a manic high desperately reassuring themselves of their own greatness lest the world drag them back down. And instrumentally, this is simply an awesome song.

Subterranean Homesick Alien The comedown from Paranoid Android; not quite depression, but more an introspective take on feeling like an outsider in your own world. The spacey sound here is key to OK Computer as a whole, even if I rarely listen to this one outside of the album proper.

Exit Music (For a Film) A deeply moving song, and Ill never get over the fact that its from the Romeo + Juliet credits. A completely baffling film, but there must be some merits if seeing the ending inspired the band to write this. Again, this is a song of contrasts; after clearly embracing the depressing conclusion of its inspiration during the first half, Yorke goes a step further and ends the song with condemnation. But as with every other song on OK Computer, its mere manic rambling; Romeo and Juliet are incapable of revenge, so they can only wish harm upon their enemies, which itself fits the overarching theme of the album. Thom Yorkes vocals during the climax are to die for, while the distorted backing vocals that come in a third of the way through always get under my skin. And, gosh, when the drums come in.

Let Down My personal favorite Radiohead song. Again, contrast is the name of the game, and no other song can make me feel so simultaneously hopeful and crushed by the weight of the world. Yorke sings One day I am gonna grow wings with such force, only to tear it down immediately. But the line keeps coming back, and even if he immediately subverts it every time, the fact he cant drop the idea suggests theres reason to believe. And, just, the outro. Such a beautiful piece of music, and again accentuating the contrast as Thom Yorkes vocals split in two. It unfortunately gets lost in the shuffle for some people its not as in your face about what its doing like Paranoid Android - but I truly believe this is Radiohead at their most emotionally raw.

Karma Police While I really like Karma Police, Ill never understand people who treat it like the definitive Radiohead song. On an album where nearly every track is pushing the boundaries, this feels a little too simple. But then I get to the outro and it kills me every time. I can see why its a big deal this is the most rock radio friendly song on the album, and it has a killer atmosphere. Just, the first couple minutes are just alright to me, saved by a stunning ending.

Fitter Happier The definitive album-only track. This is going to be near the bottom of pretty much every list, but thats not to say it serves no purpose. I would never listen to Fitter Happier on its own, but I also cannot imagine OK Computer without it. Its a foreboding transition to the back half of the album that really sticks.

Electioneering The weakest moment of OK Computer, a purely alternative track that doesnt hit nearly as hard as those on their previous album. The lyrics arent nearly as interesting, either, just a basic take on political back and forth. Now that I think about it, the weird slogans make this feel like a precursor to Kid A what a difference it makes when the music itself is pushing boundaries. I dont think this is a bad song by any means, but it does stick out in a weird way.

Climbing Up the Walls Perhaps the most underappreciated Radiohead track. The atmosphere here kills me, and that final scream is one of the best things Yorke has ever pulled off. This is such an unsettling, chaotic piece, and it really surprises me that its not considered a standout. Perhaps it was too ahead of its time, as it feels like a bridge toward Kid A.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/