Review of Radiohead Discography

Last updated 2024-09-22

I got into Radiohead, a band with three decades of history, this January, due to a shitpost youtube video, as discussed in How I Discover a Band.

In this post I will review every Radiohead album I listened to, in the order of discovery.

The Bends

Guitar album, excellent dynamics. The energy pulses up and down throughout the album to keep you from boredom or fatigue.

Compared to other guitar acts I listen to such as MCR or Linkin Park, Radiohead wins in music theory, most notably in the use of unconventional chords, while still being accessible to the average music enjoyer.

Fav tracks: Planet Telex, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, My Iron Lung, Street Spirit

Trivia: the opening tracks remind me of that one afternoon I put on The Bends and took a nap on the couch on 2F of Duderstadt until the 482 lecture.

Misheard lyrics: "Ah — this is killing me" sounds to me like "Cool — she's gay"

Kid A

So electronic you wouldn't believe it's the same Radiohead. Hardly any guitar. Known as the "greatest left turn in music history". The opener has got an entrancing vibe (and is also in 10/4), and everything after that is just so esoteric.

  • Kid A: vocoded vocals
  • The National Anthem: J A Z Z
  • How to Disappear Completely: polyrhythm bassline, is about dissociation
  • Treefingers: instrumental, sounds synth-ish but is actually guitar
  • Optimistic: the least esoteric song on the record, but still
  • In Limbo: listening to the song makes me in limbo
  • Idioteque: samples early computer music "Mild und Leise"
  • Morning Bell: 5/4
  • Motion Picture Soundtrack: harp
  • Hidden track: whatever it is

It's an album best listened to alone on headphones.

Fav tracks: Everything, Anthem, Disappear, Idioteque

Least fav: In Limbo

OK Computer

Middle ground between The Bends and Kid A. Guitar and electronic. Definitely great, but I didn't like it (as an album) as much as either. First off, the album cover is whack. Iconic but not something I want to decorate my room with.

Also, personally, the second half of the album (Fitter Happer — The Tourist) is not exciting. It's just sad. But "No Surprises" is good.

Tracks worth attention:

  • Airbag: fat bass
  • Paranoid Android: Three keys, two time signatures. Magnum opus of music theory.
  • Let Down: underrated. Happens to be my fav song to sing in showers when I was let down by life and logistics in the US.

Fav: Paranoid Android, Let Down

Trivia: whenever Thom sings "interstellar burst, I'm back to save the universe", this image pops into my head for some reason:

开心宝贝 ("Happy Baby"), a juvenile cartoon superhero in a helmet and mask, doing the classical superman flying pose

OKNOTOK

Kind of a B side compilation reissued in 2017.

Fav: Lift

Amnesiac

Sequel to Kid A, somehow being more and less accessible at the same time.

Fav: Pyramid Song, Life In a Glasshouse

In Rainbows

Really mature in terms of everything. My only complaint is "House Of Cards" is too long. It's not even the best song on the album.

Remarkable things:

  • 15 Step: 5/4
  • Bodysnatchers: clipping guitar at the beginning, but it's satire on the loudness war
  • Nude: one-octave-apart style bassline, angelic singing
  • Weird Fishes: just chill in general
  • Jigsaw Falling Into Place: probably Radiohead's happiest song to date
  • Videotape: nvm, we sad again

Overall it's solid as a rock. Not a single bad song made it in here. I don't even need to skip the "meh" songs.

Fav: 15 Step, Nude, Weird Fishes, Videotape

Hail To The Thief

Political album. Personally not a fan, because nothing's changed in 20 years. Musically, I'll be brutal: it's just a bunch of noise. Except a select few tracks: 2+2=5, Sail To The Moon, "There, There", Scatterbrain, A Wolf At The Door.

In other words, HTTT is still growing on me.

Thom seems to be doing the thing where he repeatedly sings a line along the chords, using his voice as an instrument. Examples:

  • 2+2=5: "Paying attention"
  • Sit Down. Stand up: "The raindrops"
  • Where I End And You Begin: "I will eat you alive"
  • The Gloaming: "They should be ringing"

First time it's novel, second time it's acceptable, third time it's boring. Not a fan. It also drags the album slow (56 minutes). Radiohead learned the mistake and shortened their followup (In Rainbows).

Fav: 2+2=5, There, Scatterbrain, Wolf

A Moon Shaped Pool

The heartbreak album. I listen to it when I want to feel miserable.

Fav: Daydreaming, Ful Stop, Identikit

The King Of Limbs

I like the second half better (Lotus Flower — Separator).

  • The instrumentation and chord progression on "Codex" sound like twenty one pilots on MTV Unplugged. They should cover it.

Fav: Codex, Separator

Pablo Honey

Notorious for "Creep" and the MTV Beach House incident. Still good. Opener surprised me with a 6+6+6+5/8 time signature.

Growing.