OK Computer Review

Radiohead came onto the music scene during an interesting period of time.  Grunge was in full swing, Nirvana held people's attention as the top act of the era while bands like Radiohead displayed consistency with albums like "The Bends" and "Pablo Honey".  The band's guitar-focused music and Thom Yorke's distressing vocals made them unique as the band needed a culmination in a scene that was very demanding.  "OK Computer" is the culmination and the end of the first half of Radiohead's successful career.  

"OK Computer" took Radiohead's experimentation to the next level with more sampling than their previous records, and more ambitious efforts musically in the process.  The band still stuck to their guitar-oriented ways but you could tell that there was much more to come from Radiohead in the future.  As they branched out, the album didn't deteriorate in the emotional department.  You can still feel every ounce of passion, and pain that Yorke emotes throughout the album and then some.  "Karma Police" especially feels the dreariest out of all the songs; the acoustic guitars are heavy, and the lyrics are self-defeating as Yorke feels he's losing himself in a society that holds him down for his actions.

But through the dreariness that Radiohead's albums encase, you find some really heavy rock songs thrown in the mix as well.  "Paranoid Android" and "Electioneering" feature some of the more "kick-ass" riffs that make you wanna rock out instantaneously; as the opening track "Airbag" and "Let Down" feature a quintessential 90's alternative rock sound that balances out a record that is out of the box.  "No Surprises" is one of the more well-known songs off of "OK Computer".  It speaks on being kept down by the government and ultimately, feels like a final call out before ultimately ending it all; with no surprises as the figurative person goes off into the dust.  

Final Summary:

"OK Computer" feels like Radiohead is chasing something.  It's either chasing a higher meaning, or its chasing death.  But when you factor in subtle hints at suicide and oppression; you can only predict the latter.  It's no surprise to hear a Radiohead album being somber in nature; but when push comes to shove, they know how to truly emote a message across in a powerful way.  Thom Yorke still remains one of my favorite vocalists of the 90's, and "OK Computer" truly culminates in a way that leaves the door open for their next chapter.

Rating: 8.6/10