Ridiculously overrated but still good fun! (OK Computer - Radiohead)

Member Name: DanielKemp

Product:	OK Computer - Radiohead
Date:	10/04/09 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The complexity of some of the songs has to be admired. Great songwriting.

Disadvantages: There is no way around the fact that it is an overrated LP. It doesn't live up to the legend.

Not only is OK Computer one of the most overrated albums of the 1990's but it is one of the most overrated compositions in the whole of musical history. OK Computer is far from a bad album, in fact, it is very good one. Unfortunately in recent years critics have blown the magnitude of this album out of proportion and anybody listening to it for the first time cannot help but feel a little shortchanged after all the praise that has been heaped upon it.

Things start with the tragic explosion of guitars and thumping drums of Airbag, which funnily enough details the events of being saved by an airbag in a car crash and being "born again". I have no doubt in my mind that this is a euphemism for something of a higher order but I'm not going to challenge myself with the bands' cryptic messages and neither should you. Almost immediately a problem becomes apparent with OK Computer and that the issue is the clarity of Thom Yorke's vocals doesn't really help anyone. Occasionally hard to distinguish where one word ends and another starts it can be an extremely frustrating experience for the first time Radiohead listener. Although, this isn't always the case and Thom Yorke does have an almost angelic voice when he successfully implements it, it's just a shame that if you aren't prepared to give the songs time to develop and unfold it is far too easy to write him off simply whining.

Paranoid Android is a tremendous accomplishment on the bands' part and I always consider it a highlight of the album. Check the funky bass line at 2 minutes in and melt; it sets the scene nicely for Yorke's change in vocal tone which in turn gives violence the go ahead as he screams at the top of his voice "YOU DON'T REMEMBER?? WHY DON'T YOU REMEMBER MY NAME?? OFF WITH HIS HEAD"! This of course is swiftly followed by an unquestionably storming guitar solo from Jonny Greenwood!!

Exit music (for a film) starts off extremely sad and downbeat until something akin to monastery chants from monks impress a gargantuan impression of fear and terror upon the listener. Further distortion is introduced at a little before the 3 minute mark and it truly makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Moments such as Climbing Up the Walls and Electioneering shovel brilliantly written pieces of music upon you by the spade full and Thom's vocals really shine on the latter. These songs are also worth checking out for some great musicianship and superior guitar work.

I used to detest this album and rubbish the name Radiohead at every opportunity for this once overrated monstrosity, but over time my appreciation of OK Computer has grown ten-fold. While I still prefer The Bends and find it the far more emotive album of the two, OK Computer is no doubt the moment in time in which Radiohead started shooting for the stars and tried to outdo everything that they had previously accomplished.

I can pleasingly report that for the most past, they succeed.

8/10

Daniel Kemp

Read more of my reviews at www.danielkemp.webs.com

Summary: Buy it! But buy The Bends first!