Lately I’ve been on a 90’s kick so I thought I’d take a look at a band that is a little out of my comfort zone. The band that’s up on the chopping block is the band Radiohead. Now I’m really only familiar with their radio hits so let’s take a look……..
Pablo Honey- ok so this is that album that has that song Creep which I’m sure everyone knows. However the rest of the album is actually quite good and it has that 90’s feel to it. I kind of also could see Thom Yorke covering songs from U2. He has that kind of voice for it but I don’t know maybe it’s just me. Anyway, the album is a pretty good debut album that is was not expecting to like. I give it 9/10
Standouts: Vegetable, You, Ripcord
The Bends- like the last album, I would say that Thom Yorke’s voice is reminiscent of Bono’s. I feel like this one is a bit more focused than Pablo Honey and the band seems more focused this time around. I know some have classified this as a pop record but I don’t feel that way. Definitely a record worth checking out I give it 10/10.
Standouts: Bones, My Iron Lung, Planet Telex
Ok Computer- so with this album, you can hear them slowly start to distance themselves from the guitar sound that they had on the last two albums and this one starts to go into experimental territory. On here, there are some kind of weird space sounds which I really like and there is even some voice recording made through one of those old Macintosh computers. Overall, a very unique and interesting record. I give it 9/10
Standouts: Airbag, Exit Music (For a Film), Fitter Happier
Kid A- well the best word I can use to describe this record is ambient. I mean you listen to the opening track and it’s so quiet and weird yet it’s oddly good. I guess after the last record, the band felt uninspired and felt that there were too many copycats and the writing process was difficult for them. At first I wasn’t really liking this one but listening to it again and knowing the history of the record makes one appreciate it more. The quiet softer songs are oddly relaxing and the songs that aren’t are interesting. I really like that they used jazz elements in some songs too. They wanted to be different and they certainly got it with this record. I give this 10/10
Standouts: National Anthem, Optimistic, In Limbo
Amnesiac- the songs on this one feel like they are just left overs from Kid A yet don’t at the same time. It’s almost as if they were trying to make the same album. I don’t know I just couldn’t get into this one. That’s not to say that it’s a bad record because there are some good moments on it but as a whole, it’s just ok. I give it 6/10
Standouts: You and Whose Army?, Knives Out
Hail To The Thief- so here they’ve almost gone completely electronic. I don’t know I just couldn’t really get into this one as I have other records. Like the last record, I felt it was a long record and couldn’t wait for it to end. I know after reading the story behind the record, this was their last one for the label and that the record was leaked on the internet. Again not a bad record but not their best either in my opinion. I give it 7/10
Standouts: A Punch Up At A Wedding, Backdrifts, Go To Sleep
In Rainbows- ok so this one feels like if take an album like OK Computer and Hail To The Thief and mix the two this is what you’d get. I think it’s definitely a step up from the last album. The album goes from guitar driven songs to quiet and more mellow songs. It’s a good combination of songs and styles. I give this one 9.5/10
Standouts: Reckoner, Bodysnatchers, Videotape
The King Of Limbs- despite the fact that this one came out 3 years after the previous album, it seems a bit rushed. Almost like the songs were just thrown together. I found the songs to be kind of whatever. Overall, it’s not terrible but it’s just ok. Good not great and I can see how some fans would be disappointed with this record. I give it 6/10
Standouts: Little By Little, Morning Mr. Magpie, Bloom
A Moon Shaped Pool- I would say that the overall tone of this album is eerie and moody. It’s a softer record and to me it’s their weirdest one yet and reminds me a lot of an album like King Of Limbs and Hail. This album is another one that I had a tough time getting through because I felt a lot of it was repetitive and the songs seemed long however, at the end of the day, it’s an album worth checking out. I give it 7/10
Standouts: The Numbers, Daydreaming, Present Tense
Well that was my look into Radiohead and I must say that this was an interesting one to get through. I have a feeling that a lot of these songs are better live. As far as becoming a new fan of this band? Well that remains up in the air for now. I can appreciate their music a lot more that’s for sure and I like that all their albums sound so different from one another.
Album Rankings:
- The Bends
- In Rainbows
- Kid A
- Pablo Honey
- Ok Computer
- Hail To the Thief
- Amnesiac
- A Moon Shaped Pool
- The King Of Limbs
Sinister Reviews 