Urbans Classic Albums No 1 Radiohead - OK Computer (lyrics, electronic)

Urban Hat€monger ? · 01-06-2006, 12:43 PM

I thought i'd try something a bit different here so i've come up with this.Basically every so often i'll post a classic album, sometimes it's classic due to sales & popularity, other times i'll choose more obscure albums that were a big influence on music today.Then you can rate them & discuss the cultural & musical significance of them , the songs , the band, whatever you like really. I thought for my first choice i'd choose something relatively recent that a lot of people are familiar with, so my first choice is.......

RADIOHEAD - OK COMPUTER

Using the textured soundscapes of The Bends as a launching pad, Radiohead delivered another startlingly accomplished set of modern guitar rock with OK Computer. The anthemic guitar heroics present on Pablo Honey and even The Bends are nowhere to be heard here. Radiohead have stripped away many of the obvious elements of guitar rock, creating music that is subtle and textured yet still has the feeling of rock & roll. Even at its most adventurous -- such as the complex, multi-segmented "Paranoid Android" -- the band is tight, melodic, and muscular, and Thom Yorke's voice effortlessly shifts from a sweet falsetto to vicious snarls. It's a thoroughly astonishing demonstration of musical virtuosity and becomes even more impressive with repeated listens, which reveal subtleties like electronica rhythms, eerie keyboards, odd time signatures, and complex syncopations. Yet all of this would simply be showmanship if the songs weren't strong in themselves, and OK Computer is filled with moody masterpieces, from the shimmering "Subterranean Homesick Alien" and the sighing "Karma Police" to the gothic crawl of "Exit Music (For a Film)." OK Computer is the album that establishes Radiohead as one of the most inventive and rewarding guitar rock bands of the '90s.(from allmusic.com)

Urban Hat€monger ? · 01-06-2006, 12:54 PM

I don`t think a lot of people were aware of how much of a gamble this album was when it came out.Up till that point Radiohead were not that much of a big deal in the UK.Creep gave them success in the U.S. long before anyone in the U.K. payed any attention to them.The Bends did well but at the time they were just another britpop band looking for attention behind the Blur/Oasis war.
When this did come out britpop was down the sh*tter , most of the big bands like Oasis , Suede , Blur & Pulp released poor albums & were rife with substance abuse , Elastica had gone AWOL & most of the other bands were just releasing sub Jam/Smiths rubbish.One of the reasons I rate this album so highly was the way they distance themselves from all that & put out something that was fresh & innovative.I don`t think anyone refered to them as a britpop band after this came out.

TheBig3 · 01-06-2006, 05:15 PM

Im honestly amazed that anyone regarded them as britpop in the first place. Maybe I should get more familiar with their earlier stuff.

To be brutally candid, Im suprised this album did as well as it did. In the scheme of things, I bought it rather recently (a couple years ago) and I hate to catagorize an entire album that was rated so highly, but it seemed to me as indecipherable falsetto amoungst the whirl and buzz of machines. Save for Electioneering (which might be the best track they've done in my opinion), Karma Police, and Paranoid Andriod, the CD to me sounded pretty uneventful.

Perhaps one of you can point out the clue I missed that helps you "get it"

riseagainstrocks · 01-06-2006, 05:39 PM

I don't even like Radiohead and I gave this record a good. On the road to my friends South Carolina beach house this summer we had two cd's with us: Say Anything - ...Is a Real Boy and Radiohead - OK Computer. Most people get bored after hearing a record for a long time over and over but this wasn't true for this cd. Minus David's incessant singing (biggest. Radiohead. fan. ever) I truly liked this album. Word.

by the way, this is a great idea Urban, I look forward to the next one.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 01-06-2006, 05:43 PM

Well Britpop was more of a movement than a genre.

Suede sounded nothing like Oasis who sounded nothing like Pulp who sounded nothing like Menswear .....etc etc.

I have to admit I hated at first.Like you Electioneering was the track I picked up on first (as well as Paranoid Android with that being the lead single) maybe because it was the most 'Trad Rock' song on the album.And yeah I did think the same as you about Thom Yorkes vocals.It`s interesting to note I hardly rated this album at all ..... and then Kid A came out , and my whole opinion of this album changed. hmmm.

Soundgardener · 01-06-2006, 09:39 PM

I thoroughly enjoy this album every time I listen to it. Even though it isn't my favorite Radiohead album, there are some amazing lyrics and crazy effects.

I agree with riseagianstrocks, great idea for a topic.

mannequin Republic · 01-06-2006, 11:52 PM

By far my favorite Radiohead CD.

Muzak Geek · 01-06-2006, 11:53 PM

I give Nigel Godrich almost as much credit for producing this album as I do Radiohead for making it. While it sounds cliche, OK Computer is really a timeless album. It sounds just as new and inventive today as it did in 1997. In my opinion , great music comes from great bands / artists - But it also comes from great producers who know how to translate a band's ideas and sound, into music that is interesting, unique and personal… Nigel Godrich's and Radiohead's vision, passion and talent are evident in every song on this album (except for Fitter & Happier - which isn't really a song anyway), That is why I would personally rank OK Computer as easily one of the best albums of modern rock - perhaps even one of the best rock albums of all time.

MURDER JUNKIE · 01-07-2006, 12:33 AM

I really did not get it

Laces Out Dan! · 01-07-2006, 02:01 AM

im sorry i voted poor....its not that maybe the album wasnt good it is just the fact ive never liked Radiohead

View Poll Results: Rate OK Computer
Excellent	56	68.29%
Good	10	12.20%
Average	9	10.98%
Poor	3	3.66%
Awful	4	4.88%
Voters: 82. You may not vote on this poll

01-06-2006, 12:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Urbans Classic Albums No 1 Radiohead - OK Computer I thought i'd try something a bit different here so i've come up with this.Basically every so often i'll post a classic album, sometimes it's classic due to sales & popularity, other times i'll choose more obscure albums that were a big influence on music today.Then you can rate them & discuss the cultural & musical significance of them , the songs , the band, whatever you like really. I thought for my first choice i'd choose something relatively recent that a lot of people are familiar with, so my first choice is....... RADIOHEAD - OK COMPUTER Using the textured soundscapes of The Bends as a launching pad, Radiohead delivered another startlingly accomplished set of modern guitar rock with OK Computer. The anthemic guitar heroics present on Pablo Honey and even The Bends are nowhere to be heard here. Radiohead have stripped away many of the obvious elements of guitar rock, creating music that is subtle and textured yet still has the feeling of rock & roll. Even at its most adventurous -- such as the complex, multi-segmented "Paranoid Android" -- the band is tight, melodic, and muscular, and Thom Yorke's voice effortlessly shifts from a sweet falsetto to vicious snarls. It's a thoroughly astonishing demonstration of musical virtuosity and becomes even more impressive with repeated listens, which reveal subtleties like electronica rhythms, eerie keyboards, odd time signatures, and complex syncopations. Yet all of this would simply be showmanship if the songs weren't strong in themselves, and OK Computer is filled with moody masterpieces, from the shimmering "Subterranean Homesick Alien" and the sighing "Karma Police" to the gothic crawl of "Exit Music (For a Film)." OK Computer is the album that establishes Radiohead as one of the most inventive and rewarding guitar rock bands of the '90s.(from allmusic.com) __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

01-06-2006, 12:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	I don`t think a lot of people were aware of how much of a gamble this album was when it came out.Up till that point Radiohead were not that much of a big deal in the UK.Creep gave them success in the U.S. long before anyone in the U.K. payed any attention to them.The Bends did well but at the time they were just another britpop band looking for attention behind the Blur/Oasis war. When this did come out britpop was down the shtter , most of the big bands like Oasis , Suede , Blur & Pulp released poor albums & were rife with substance abuse , Elastica had gone AWOL & most of the other bands were just releasing sub Jam/Smiths rubbish.One of the reasons I rate this album so highly was the way they distance themselves from all that & put out something that was fresh & innovative.I don`t think anyone refered to them as a britpop band after this came out. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.*

01-06-2006, 05:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Im honestly amazed that anyone regarded them as britpop in the first place. Maybe I should get more familiar with their earlier stuff. To be brutally candid, Im suprised this album did as well as it did. In the scheme of things, I bought it rather recently (a couple years ago) and I hate to catagorize an entire album that was rated so highly, but it seemed to me as indecipherable falsetto amoungst the whirl and buzz of machines. Save for Electioneering (which might be the best track they've done in my opinion), Karma Police, and Paranoid Andriod, the CD to me sounded pretty uneventful. Perhaps one of you can point out the clue I missed that helps you "get it" __________________ I've moved to a new address

01-06-2006, 05:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
riseagainstrocks Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: DC Posts: 3,320	I don't even like Radiohead and I gave this record a good. On the road to my friends South Carolina beach house this summer we had two cd's with us: Say Anything - ...Is a Real Boy and Radiohead - OK Computer. Most people get bored after hearing a record for a long time over and over but this wasn't true for this cd. Minus David's incessant singing (biggest. Radiohead. fan. ever) I truly liked this album. Word. by the way, this is a great idea Urban, I look forward to the next one. __________________ One note timeless, came out of nowhere...

01-06-2006, 05:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Well Britpop was more of a movement than a genre. Suede sounded nothing like Oasis who sounded nothing like Pulp who sounded nothing like Menswear .....etc etc. I have to admit I hated at first.Like you Electioneering was the track I picked up on first (as well as Paranoid Android with that being the lead single) maybe because it was the most 'Trad Rock' song on the album.And yeah I did think the same as you about Thom Yorkes vocals.It`s interesting to note I hardly rated this album at all ..... and then Kid A came out , and my whole opinion of this album changed. hmmm. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

01-06-2006, 11:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
mannequin Republic The Ghost of Tom Joad Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 81	By far my favorite Radiohead CD. __________________ Don't wake me I planned on sleeping in...

01-06-2006, 11:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Muzak Geek Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 87	I give Nigel Godrich almost as much credit for producing this album as I do Radiohead for making it. While it sounds cliche, OK Computer is really a timeless album. It sounds just as new and inventive today as it did in 1997. In my opinion , great music comes from great bands / artists - But it also comes from great producers who know how to translate a band's ideas and sound, into music that is interesting, unique and personal… Nigel Godrich's and Radiohead's vision, passion and talent are evident in every song on this album (except for Fitter & Happier - which isn't really a song anyway), That is why I would personally rank OK Computer as easily one of the best albums of modern rock - perhaps even one of the best rock albums of all time. __________________ Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start… Just because we use cheats, doesn't mean we're not smart.

01-07-2006, 12:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
MURDER JUNKIE The Wetter The Better!! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SH1TTY London Ontario Canada Posts: 2,504	I really did not get it

01-07-2006, 02:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Laces Out Dan! I love Puck Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Columbia Posts: 4,614	im sorry i voted poor....its not that maybe the album wasnt good it is just the fact ive never liked Radiohead __________________ We are entirely smooth, We admit to the truth, We are the best at what we do.