albumdude

After listening to Radiohead over the last five years, I still have yet to figure out what all the fuss is about. There are very few bands whose positive critical reception confuses me as much as Radiohead's worshipful exultation by music critics. For instance, here is a quote I ran across today from a review of Kid A on Amazon.com-

"How is it that Kid A's opening track, laden with an electronic vocal stuttering "bleh, bluh-bleh bleh bluh" is the most fascinating statement made in rock & roll this year? Because somehow, even when Radiohead blathers and blips nonsense, it's profound."

This quote is representative of the popular music media's blind love for Radiohead- a love I feel is not quite deserved.

It isn't that I don't like Radiohead- I enjoy listening to "High and Dry", "Lucky", and "Fake Plastic Trees" as much as any alternative rock fan. Its just that I have never understood what artistic qualities elevate Radiohead above the likes of Coldplay and late U2 (whose music I find quite underwhelming).

To any hardcore Radiohead fans who think my opinions are blasphemous: I'd love you to explain to me why OK Computer is widely considered to be the best album of the '90s. I've probably listened to this album more than some of my most favorite albums and, while I think it is an above average album, I don't believe it is worthy of being considered as even ONE of the top 10 albums of the 90s. I could rattle off several better 90s albums- If Your Feeling Sinister, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, and Slanted and Enchanted just to name a few.

In short, I don't understand why Radiohead is so popular with critics and I probably never will...