Radiohead's albums, from worst to first.

Ever read something that someone wrote online that you had a vested interest in? I didn't think I ever had until I read a stupid 'List-icle' about Radiohead, rating their studio albums from worst to first.

I knew I was in the presence of someone relatively new to the game of writing lists from the completely subjective selection of his list - no facts behind his choices, just bare, personal reasoning. Well, I can do that too. The writer pissed me off immediately by stating Pablo Honey was Radiohead's worst album and it just got worse from there. His top pick was 'In Rainbows', calling it the album above all others, Radiohead's pinnacle of success. Say wha????

So in an effort to put things right (and I'm suffering a case of writer's block right now) I'm going to make my own goddamn subjective list of Radiohead's albums. Starting with;

#8 The King of Limbs

King of Limbs is currently their last 'official' album, made back in 2011. I put this last because it's been four years and I never heard of it, have no interest in listening to it (maybe because the cover art is pretty creepy). But in the name of fairness and subjectivity I have it on right now in the background so i might edit this higher later but currently 'meh' comes to mind. No guitars, drum beats - it seems like Thom and the boys have gone full electronica.  

#7 Hail to the Thief 

 

Hail To The Thief came out in 2003. I remember the song 2+2=5 with its obvious reference to Orwell's 1984. But other than that, I don't recall much of the album. Hail to the Thief made it official Radiohead was daring its original fan base to follow them out of the safe confines of guitar 4/4 time. I didn't. In hindsight, it feels like a 'let's just do this and get out of our studio contract' type album, probably because of what is #6; 

#6 Amnesiac

If I recall, Amnesiac was a mash-up of all the songs that didn't make the cut for Kid A. It was rumored Kid A could have been a double album but the studio was pushing for the kids to put out something to follow OK Computer. So Kid A came first, followed by this 8 months later. Personally, I think this quick delivery (read; cash grab) of Amnesiac may have been the moment Radiohead decided to get out of their EMI contract and do their own thing. They only had one more album to deliver (Hail to the Thief) and then they could do things their way or no way.

#5 Pablo Honey 

'Mr. Big-Time List Maker' stated this was Radiohead's worst album, which made me create this whole post. In rebuttal; Pablo Honey was an amazing debut album released in 1993 at the height of the grunge movement. It contained samples of everything from the million-selling, self-loathing 'grungy' lullaby of Creep, to the satirical 'Anyone Can Play Guitar' criticizing the whole grunge movement. Then there was the optimistic 'Stop Whispering'. It was strong in basic band fundamentals; guitars and drums. The other tracks jumped between the roots of stadium rock to a hint of what was to come with The Bends in my personal favourite of the album; 'Lurgee'.   

#4 Kid A

Kid A was Radiohead's much anticipated follow-up to Ok Computer which was unarguably the best album to come out of the United Kingdom since U2's Joshua Tree. I'll talk more about OK later. Kid A was the fork in the road so to speak for Radiohead and their fans. They swerved further out into the territory that made OK so unusual to mixed results. A lot of guitar was gone, a lot of jazz samples and drum machines were added. The meaningful out-of-touch lyrics of OK were also replaced by a collage of statements mixed together to create its own statement, 'How to Disappear Completely' is apparently in reference to something Michael Stype said to Thom Yorke on dealing with their new found fame. It was risky; Radiohead wasn't trying to go back to the well for their fans anymore; much like The Beatles decided to do with Sgt. Pepper, they moved into new territory (the kick-ass National Anthem). You get what you got out of it and if you decided to stick around, so be it. And it did feature this great song used in the opening of Vanilla Sky.

#3 In Rainbows

Synchronicity. The last link (if you clicked it) led to 'Everything in It's Right Place' and I think #3 is the right place for In Rainbows. It was a complete game changer, released independently with a 'pay what you want' attitude, Radiohead was able to take music distribution to a different level. While other musicians chose to start their own labels with limited success (ie. Prince, Madonna), Radiohead created a system with no accountability. Nobody knew if In Rainbows sold well or how much the band made from it (except Radiohead). The album itself bridged the gap somewhat between the style of OK Computer and the band's foray into electronic music. There is the myth surrounding this is a compendium album for OK Computer in which you alternate tracks between the two. It's worth an experimental listen. 

#2 The Bends

It was hard to determine which I would give 2nd to - In Rainbows was a game changer distribution wise. However, The Bends was a game changer musical wise. A successful second album for any band is perhaps one of the toughest feats to accomplish. You either maintain, build, or lose your audience. The Bends was an amazing album that succeeded despite itself. The band was having trouble with their debut success, pressures from the studio to follow-up a similar Pablo Honey and an urge to create their 'own sound'. Yet, they managed to come out with what seemed like a highly personal album full of social commentary (Fake Plastic Trees), driving guitar (Just) and the personal soul searching of 'Street Spirit' Fade Out, also their last track which left me wanting more. While Pablo Honey introduced Radiohead to the general populace, The Bends made them more than a one hit wonder. 

#1 OK COMPUTER

Could there have been any doubt? According to Mr. Listicles, there was. In Rainbows? Really? As foreshadowed previously, OK Computer topped most reputable music critics' lists as the top album of the decade (and most importantly, mine as well). It was the album that reached out to the disaffected youth of the UK and America in much the same way as U2's Joshua Tree back in the 80's. It embraced and touched on something lacking in all of us, using a mix of old and new musical techniques, foreshadowing where Radiohead was going and acknowledging where it came from. Karma Police, Paranoid Android, Airbag, Exit Music, Lucky all set up an album that  to me felt like it was coming from a place I knew but hadn't been to yet. And it did that far into the new Millennium. It was the album I fell asleep to.

There. Now I can fall asleep.