OK Computer

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ALBUM REVIEWED: OK Computer

ARTIST: Radiohead

PUBLISHED BY: Parlophone (1997)

12 tracks -- inc. Paranoid Android, Karma Police and No Surprises. Awards -- Best Album (Q Awards '97).

This is the 3rd album by Radiohead, a British five piece group. They consist of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway, Ed O'Brien and Colin Greenwood. The first thing about this album I have to mention is the cover and book included. It is wierd. The cover is of a motorway junction with the 'Lost Child' logo in the top right corner. Inside are infamous quotes, symbols, wierd adn thought-provoking pictures. One of my favourites is:

"Jump out of bed as soon as you hear the alarm clock!! You may also find it useful spending five minutes each morning saying to yourself: "Every day in every way I am getting better and better." Perhaps it is a good idea to start a new day with the right frame of mind."

Compared to their previous two albums, this is futuristic and spooky at times. I listen to this more than any other album because it is unsurprisingly my favourite. Here's the album, track by track:

Airbag. A heavy guitar solo introduction followed by loads of special effects and a one line chorus. "In an intastella burst I am back to save the universe!!" 8/10
Paranoid Android. One of the most talked about songs. Loads of riffs. Loads of wierd lyrics that do not make any sense. Four parts ranging from mellow guitars to heavy rock distorted guitars to mellow strumming to heavy rock again. Brilliant!! 9/10
Subterranean Homesick Alien. As in the title, it's about aliens. Lyrics can be freaky at times and the guitars are not bad. I love the lyrics but the tune is not as compelling as some of the others. 7/10
Exit Music (for a film). Slowly, mellow, almost whispering to begin with. Very sad. Then the bass and drums kick in and before long Thom is yelling his head off before everything settles down to Thom wailing "We hope that you choke, that you choke." I love it. 9/10
Let Down. Clever guitar arrangements make this song great. The vocal harmonies are immense. The lyrics are typical of Radiohead, with lots of subliminal messages. A catchy tune. 8/10
Karma Police. One of the few songs to be released from the album. Very mellow compared to PAndroid and Airbag. Not bad. 7/10
Fitter Happier. This has to be one of the wierdest songs ever written. Honestly, it's a piano in the background with samples from films very quitely hidden. Then a voice, similar to that of Stephen Hawkings, (the computerised voice), comes in, just speaking some very wierd sentences. For exapmle, the ending: "Fitter, healthier and more productive. a pig. in a cage. on antibiotics." Insane. 7/10
Electioneering. You guessed it. A Subliminal Political Message. Brilliant lines and brilliant guitars. A great song. 9/10
Climbing Up The Walls. Freaky lyrics, very freaky. Frighteneing in fact. But lovely spooky bass and drums, and a mystifying guitar to bring together a very mellow but scary song. 9/10
No Surprises. One of the mellower tracks on the album. Nothing really special, but the lyrics are clever and make this song ok-ish in the end. 7/10
Lucky. From the Warchild album. This was the main track for the Warchild Charity's album. helped raise loadsa money. Very generous of Radiohead to give this great song away. 8/10
The Tourist. Not one of my favourites, but it grows on you. Thom does some lovely wailing and the drummer does a good job to make this song feel different from the rest of the album. 7/10

SCORE:

97%

I really love this album!

www.radiohead.com www.parlophone.com

Site designed by the CCM Reviews Team. Maintained by G-String. Please report any problems to us at [email protected]. Last updated: March 21, 1999.

Site designed by the CCM Reviews Team. Maintained by G-String.
Please report any problems to us at [email protected].
Last updated: March 21, 1999.