Reviews (page 11 of 14)
I almost like Everything In Its Right Place, The National Anthem, Idioteque
Favorite: How to Disappear Completely Least Favorite: Kid A
Wow, the titular 'Kid A' song right near the beginning was bloody dreadful. It felt like I was being waterboarded with the T-1000's liquids. There were some pretty nice songs afterwards though! Everything in its right place grew on me with repeated listens (though some of the weird digitized garble in the back sounds like some annoying pixie trying to get my attention). The National Anthem was a pretty bizarre track which I feel weird about enjoying, definitely a standout for how chaotic it is for a band that is often criticized for droning on too much. Treefingers was probably my favorite song, such a lovely ambiance. Favourite Songs: Treefingers, Optimistic, The National Anthem Least Favourite Song: Kid A
I have only listened to The Bends and OK Computer before listening to this album, I have heard a few post-OK Computer songs when they come up on spotify shuffle so I had somewhat of an idea of what to expect here. Everything In Its Right Place as an opener didn't grab me but the song is fine. Halfway through the title track I totally clicked with the vibe of what this album is trying to do and was able to successfully separate the radiohead I had listened to previously in my head from what I am listening to now. The National Anthem was a bit much for me especially towards the end, didn't care much for this track. But it has a great bassline How To Disappear Completely and Treefingers are good back-to-back songs, I liked Treefingers a lot as a track but How To kind of made me want to listen to Sea Power instead The last 20 seconds of Optimistic are funky but this song for me is just okay. Yorke's vocals are sometimes hit and miss for me and this is a miss. Great transition into In Limbo, this song is great Jarring transition into Idioteque, a bit heavy on the electronica for my taste and maybe the sound system I am listening on isn't tuned well but the bass is mixed weirdly and can overpower the lyrics, also the drum machine in this song is kind of annoying, did Lars Ulrich get the idea for St Anger from this? Also realised I have only heard this song in memes before from the 'ice age coming' line Morning Bell is kind of boring, not a lot to say about this Motion Picture Soundtrack is a simple and well-produced song, Yorke's vocals work well here and the second half of this sound reminds me of the flowers blooming scene from Master Gardener, I wish more of the album was like this Untitled is more of a musical flourish than a song, nothing else to say about it Album as a whole is a 7 from me it's not my usual type of music but it's something I can appreciate. Maybe repeat listens will condition me to become a massive musical afficionado (wanker) and I'll grow a deep appreciation for this and have a more refined opinion (parroting what critics and /mu/ says). Probably won't listen to any of these songs on their own but this album seems like something I would like to have on in the background at home after work, but in that circumstance I would rather listen to anything by Eno What is most striking to me about this album is the critical response both at its release and years after. The album looks like it received lukewarm reviews in 2000 and was later re-appraised seemingly because it became trendy and cool to like Radiohead and the band itself has become a signifier that you're smart or whatever. This, however, is only a problem if you take the profession of music criticism seriously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsFzHpBlugs
Meh
best intro song to exist, tho i was in the wrong mood just cause it was to depressing
Loved it - but not my favourite Radiohead album
Good
The perfect example of Radiohead’s “Im unsure if I love it or hate it”. The ambiance, theming and some of musical aspects are great but then his mindless unintelligible babbling is at points honestly horrendous. No song stuck out as being very great and even the songs that had good parts also had parts I really didn’t enjoy. Actually kind of disappointed as I hear Kid-A mentioned as one of if not the best Radiohead album, but after having listened to like 4 albums it might be one of my least favorites. 4/10
Not my favorite Radiohead
Ok
Love radio headphones but this is too experimental for me to enjoy
New to Radiohead, and am a fan. This album is great for a relaxing evening in a dimly lit room with the windows open and a cool breeze rolling through, reclined in your favorite leather chair, a glass of bourbon in hand. It's a high 3 for me. Just need a little more bang for my buck to get to a 4.
Opening track is haunting KID A/The national anthem were meh How to disappear completely is amazing Individual tracks there are no real standouts, it's about the conglomerate which I do like when albums are like that These are very cool ambient sound spaces and it's definitely innovative and forward thinking, but in terms of actually enjoying listening to it, I was iffy.
Quite the direction to take following a release such as "OK Computer". I came into this album completely blind, so hearing a mix of familiar Radiohead with electronica and what some can describe as ambient sounds was a bit jarring. It just never really struck a chord with me while listening though. I do acknowledge that this was a brave endeavor for a group of Radiohead's caliber. Burnout is very much a real thing and artists should be encouraged to experiment and change things up if they feel the need to do so. Guess I just don't have the right ears or mindset for this kind of experimental "rock", though. Nothing really stuck with me after listening, except for maybe "Idioteque".
I know this is an amazing album to many people, but I think it really just has great soundscapes. Overall I thought it was interesting but not something I'd go back to probably.
What an awesome artist to start my 200s. I don't even really know what to say about Radiohead. I'm a big fan of The Bends and I know there is this pretentious bias amongst Radiohead fans that The Bends is their worst album.. But I whole heartedly disagree. It's deftheir most accessible. The song writing is great, and different from their contemporaries. I am happy that Radiohead write and experiment with music the way they want to. But I do tend feel thwt their more experimental and electronic stuff doesnt tend to resonate with me. That being said, this album was pretty good. There were a lot of songs that I thought were great but a lot of others that I didn't care for. It was very up and down for me. The production sounds nice throughout. But that doesn't necessarily make a good album. It adds to it though. Maybe I'm just not at that stage. I was told, when I was a teenager, that it's hard to get INTO Radiohead but when it clicks... It's life changing. So maybe I'm waiting for it to click. I do enjoy what I'm hearing but I am not crazy about it. I won't give up on them.
I wonder if this type of 'experimentation' with electronic sound is what groups in the '60s did with tape tracks? The looping, the stories of The Beatles drawing the tape around the room and passed through pencils and stuff to 'adjust' the sound...
This one was weird, it came in two days after In Rainbows, an album which I loved... somehow, this felt less meaningful and more random... maybe it needs time, but for now, this is only OK for me.
Okaish eletronica. Feels Like in between Organ music and instrumental.
2.5/5
A bit all over the place imo. Title track was awful, but I didn’t mind the rest
I sometimes think after Ok Computer that Radiohead just said "How weird can we get and everyone will still think we're brilliant?" Mission accomplished. Tracks I like: The National Anthem, How to Disappear Completely, Optimistic. Everything else is just weird.
3.5 it’s good not great. Production is top notch, most the music is great but god is Mr Yorkes voice extremely annoying
It's a hit and a miss for me. I guess that's the risk of going experimental. Some stuff in this album I found overwhelmingly beautiful and some other parts were just overwhelming.
It's cool. But not cool enough.
I own this one on vinyl. Good listen
I don’t particularly like their experimental album, still some a good album though
A personal favourite, but not that good really. First track/s best.
Every song is either an ethereal electronic masterpiece or a droning snoozefest. Never in between.
Too many Radiohead albums on this list. They are very good at what they do and there has been some progression to their music. But really, they don't need to be represented so many times.
Chatuille les oreilles - Track1
Not as good as OK Computer
One of the best radio head albums. It has so many bangers
Love the otamatone lead singer on the title track... I like ambient music so this isn't bad to me, but I could see it pissing off a Radiohead fan at the time. I appreciate they took a swing into new territory, albeit begrudgingly. A couple tracks are tough, but the rest is good. It's a vibe, not something you'd put on to groove to. 3.8
Trippy start. I enjoy Radiohead, but don't think I have ever heard this album. This first song is a bit bleak. I have heard this album has a bit of a reputation for being depressing. Kid A is an interesting song, the vocals sound like they are coming through an old timey radio a bit. The National Anthem sounds like a sci-fi song, and has UFO sounds. Interesting horn solo! Ended like a noise rock song, which I don't love. How to Disappear Completely is my favorite song so far despite it being so sad. But I really love sad music. Treefingers is another bleak song, but an instrumental piece. Instrumentals often bore me, and this one was no different. I liked the mood it gave, but did not feel interested enough to add it to my liked list. Optimistic seems sarcastic almost. Or cynical. I like the vibe of In Limbo a lot. Again, a pretty sad song. Is Idioteque about climate change? Very prescient even for today! Wow, what a song. I love it! Good beat as well. Best song on the album perhaps! Morning Bell is not as good, but I still enjoyed it. Almost hopeful after Idioteque? Maybe not hopeful, but definitely not as grim as Idioteque. Album sort of ended with a whimper.
Some tracks I liked a lot but others just annoyed me, probably a 3.5 overall.
Kid A feels like what I have often heard what Radiohead sounds like - lots of mumbly electronica rock. Not necessarily a bad thing, not sure if I enjoy it. The electronica sounds are fine just the lyrics are all so so. Best: Everything in Its Right Place Worst: Idioteque 2.5 Stars
High quality sound. There are some elements I like, but this album feels too experimental for my liking. Low 3
First song is a classic. Wasn’t crazy about some of the tracks. Could take it or leave it.
I didn’t understand the hype about this album in college and I still don’t understand it now. Maybe I’m just not cool enough to “get it” but I don’t see how this was game-changing in any way, other than for the band itself. That being said, it’s not a bad album either, though a little dreary for my tastes.
Enjoyed the atmospheric stuff a lot. Not as big a fan of Thom Yorke vox in it. Just not my thing
OK author we get it, you like Radiohead. I don’t hate them but. 120 albums in and this is my 4th frickin Radiohead album. What the hell does the author see in this group? Every album sounds almost identical why on earth do we need 4, or maybe more, Radiohead albums? Unbelievable!
A little Radiohead goes a long way for me. Taken a song at a time mixed in with other music I really like them but I'm not inclined to listen to a whole album from beginning to end.
Also sort of disappointed. Its great but didn’t remember it being so monotonous and one note. I wish I had more to say. I guess I just prefer the Bends.
I’m still waiting to be put under the spell of a Radiohead album. This hasn’t quite managed it. But it would require more than 24 hours. Some of it is really gorgeous, some of it is vague, at best.
Good album
prvi put sam se u životu zapitala "šta je uopšte muzika?"
This is the third Radiohead album I've heard on this list, and its definitely the weakest of the three so far. Not a bad album at all, and there's a few songs that I'll come back for. But for the most part, a majority of the songs just felt like a lot of the ideas (vocal lines, instrumental breaks) lacked cohesion to the point it all kind of faded into white noise
This one is all over the map for me. First few tracks were almost unbearable. Then "How to Disappear completely" was really musically beautiful, then Treefingers felt like relaxation music during a massage. The next few tracks weren't for me, but then I liked Morning Bell and Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Overall the album is a groove I'm into. It starts out with some really nice ear candy with Everything In Its Right Place and probably peaks with Optimistic but there are no skips. Solid and pleasant.
Never been in love with radiohead. this was fine tho
Eh, I think this is around where I get off the Radiohead ride. There are a few good songs on here (Idioteque being one), but this is where the band starts to get too weird for me. I appreciate that they were looking to try new things, but it's just not for me. A lot of this album sounds like some bizarre Enya/Brian Eno/indie film soundtrack mashup, and not in a good way. Thom's vocals get pretty grating on some of the tracks, and a lot of them don't really sound like songs so much as soundscapes. It comes off as pretentious. Not a fan. 3/5
Good for what it’s trying to accomplish. Wouldn’t casually listen to it
What a huge and divisive swing from OK Computer. I included Amnesiac in the listen as the "hidden B-sides" of the album to emphasize how different of a project the band endeavored on at Thom's behest. It's odd to listen to, and not immediately appealing. Over time, it has come to be appreciated for its' importance to music as a whole and for several of its' distinct instruments, songwriting practices, and general oddness compared to what they could've made. Combined or separate neither crack my top 3 Radiohead albums, but it's an important part of the journey they take
It’s seminal, it’s important, it’s influential. But is it any fun to listen to? Not so sure. I love the first track but it feels like a chore to listen to the whole thing in one sitting.
This album is far from the greatest collection. 3.5/5
Enjoyable ambient?
3.5 I prefer a few other Radiohead albums
I absolutely love Radiohead (and The Smile), but I never did like this album or the follow up ‘Amnesiac’. It was just too much of a leap down the experimental route that was just too quirky for me to get into. Coming from the unbelievably awesome ‘Ok Computer’ this left me a bit frustrated. All the albums that came after ‘Amnesiac’ were a return to my taste, and had the right amount of weird to make them completely different to any other act around. When I want to listen to Radiohead, there’s too many choices to ever go for ‘Kid A’. So when this came up on the list, it was the prompt I needed to give it a go with fresh ears. Better than I remember but nowhere near their finest work. I can appreciate it but just won’t be reaching for it when I need some Radiohead.
After 24 years I've finally got round to listening to this and what are my first impressions? Very experimental, but maybe a bit too self indulgent? Very different to their previous albums. I will need to give this a few listens before I can make a proper judgement. There were no particular stand out tracks as far as my ears could ascertain. A mid 3
Per the Wikipedia blurb on here: Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and the Times ranked Kid A the greatest album of the 2000s, and in 2020 Rolling Stone ranked it number 20 on its updated list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". As someone who was conscious in the 2000s, I'm a little offended. If I could insert the Mugatu/crazy pills GIF here I would. I just don't get Radiohead's popularity. This album is a big ol' bunch of meh. I didn't hate it, but I can assure you I will never choose to listen to this again.
More interesting to read about than listen to, as that's where most meaning is found. Not bad, just kind if boring.
Refreshing after the last repetitive-ass album from UB40. You can tell how much more experimental this is. Sax in the national anthem? I think I lean more toward the earlier Radiohead sound. Highlights: everything in its right place, how to disappear completely
Prefer other stuff they’ve done
2.5 al dat cu 3 jer sad imam nes kaj me garant uspavljuje za par pjesmi.
I like early Radiohead. This was the point where their sound changed to a much more atmospheric and passive experience, and I don't think that will ever resonate with me as much as other forms of music.
The thing I like most about Radiohead is the guitars. This one could never be a favourite to me because they largely forsake that. Nice though, some good songs, easy to get swept up in it.
Just cause Radiohead makes more interesting clicks and instrumental/vocal whines than you or I might doesn’t mean it was an entirely worthwhile effort. Just listen to big karlheinz stockhausen. At its best with driving bass and occasional hooks. Idioteque is pretty tight though. These boys need to get back to blaming it on a black star where they belong
"Everything in Its Right Place" – 4:11 – 6/10 "Kid A" – 4:44 – 7/10 "The National Anthem" – 5:51 – 3/10 "How to Disappear Completely" – 5:56 "Treefingers" – 3:42 – 6/10 "Optimistic" – 5:15 "In Limbo" – 3:31 – 8/10 "Idioteque" – 5:09 "Morning Bell" – 4:35 "Motion Picture Soundtrack" – 7:01 – 7/10 Untitled hidden track – 0:52
Five songs in and this record is doing nothing for me. I’m trying. I came into this with an open mind. Radiohead is always regarded as innovative and influential. This is boring. OK Computer is awesome according to my 16 year old son. Mind you he is a huge hip hop fan so that is saying something. Based on this record I really don’t want to listen to any more Radiohead. Creep is an awesome song. Maybe I’m not “cerebral” enough for this. Going to be hard to not give this one a 2 star rating.
Many songs are very samey... I prefer other albums
Not my favorite Radiohead album. Missing the aggression that OK Computer had, and replaced it with art school whining.
I thought it was an ok album. I think you need to be a proper state of mind to really get into the music on this one.
liked some of the songs, other songs not so much. not all radiohead albums are created equal… if you judge every radiohead album against “ok computer”, you will be disappointed.
I enjoyed “morning bell” that was about it
(panu I am sorry) I got a bit bored of how whiny it was at times, but I liked the bits with the saxophones (or whatever brass instruments they had)
I have listened to this thrice before. I gave it a 3.5/5. I am going to relisten again tonight while I study for my second Microbiology exam. I do not know the information nearly well enough for the exam but for some reason I don't feel a lot of stress. It will probably set in soon. Anyway... album notes below: -eiirp has grown on me, still don't understand why it is so popular -kid a is a dud sorry -the national anthem remains peak -htdc mid -treefingers is too ambient for my liking. nothing happens -optimistic is fine -in limbo is fine -idioteque is fine -morning bell is pretty good -motion picture soundtrack forgettable -untitled whatever overall i am bumping it down to a 3/5
3.5 Interesting album. Really liked the jazz mixed with electronica, but I would probably only play it as ambient/atmosphere music.
Radiohead. 3
Headier stuff from Radiohead. Listen through with headphones and enjoy the ride.
Rainbows still clears
I think How to Disappear Completely is a really good track on an otherwise forgettable album. I'm just not a huge Radiohead fan. They're... fine. But that's as far as I can ever go with them. This album is no exception.
It feels like I am supposed to like this more than I do. First few tracks hit nice. By the end it felt more pretentious than ambitious. I don't get the hype but I didn't hate it.
This one doesn't stick with me as much as their other stuff. Still enjoy it for a list. Might just take me a few times to listen to like it more too, so might try that. Will I listen to again: 50%
My favorite is still EIIRP :) good listen tho
Gar nicht so schlecht.
There is definitely a payoff for repeated listenings, though I can't help but sympathize with those who have called it "pretentious" and "deliberately obscure" and "more fun to think and write about than it is to actually listen to" and "look-ma-I-can-suck-my-own-cock whiny rubbish" (from a British critic, no less). 3/5.
I have listened to this album before because I know it's Kevin's favorite. It still hasn't pulled me in all the way. I'm giving it a 3.5 stars.
Had some really nice experimental aspects with the electronics that I really liked, and some that I didn't enjoy. This was a nice listen but there was nothing that could push this over the hump for me.
saved for later currently listening; giving it a temporary 3
General observations: - I know quite a few radiohead songs already but I'm not sure whether I know any from this album - decent length of album Song-by-song breakdown: - Everything in its right place. Trippy, effectively repetitive. - Kid A. Weirdly its intro reminds me of Greys Anatomy for some reason???
I'd never listened to Radiohead before. I liked about 1/2 of the songs on this album. A few were just too aggressive and discordant for my tastes.
Interesting. Not really what I was expecting....but then again I was basing that off of their earlier work. I didnt vibe with this one as well.
Good one
An okay Radiohead album
A well crafted and produced album.. however, it's a bit on dreary side with no obvious standout singles. Nobody is rushing to put The National anthem on at and can't see people choosing tree fingers as a favourite to listen to on their own.
Not my favourite Radio head music,but still enjoyable
This album marks the point where Radiohead completely jumped off the pop rails and flew into a musical realm almost entirely of their own. It's like talking to someone who is operating on a much higher order of thought. You can't help but smirk because you know what they are saying is profound, but it's just inaccessible enough to where you feel a bit left out.
This marked the moment I lost contact with Radiohead. Loved the Bends and OK Computer but found this almost impossible to engage with when it came out. Listening to it now I think I may have viewed it a bit harshly. The textures and soundscapes are incredible and there are some songs in there (even if Thom Yorke is trying really hard not to sing anything with too clear a melody) Still prefer their earlier, funnier stuff
One of their better albums. Another chaotic mix with melancholy, dreary almost wailing from the vocalist. One could call this emo for sure
Not my favorite Radiohead album. Worth a listen but I probably wouldn't seek it out.
Sonic soundscapes lift Darkness pressure and desire Yearning to be more
The sound is quintessential Radiohead. Lots of songs I didn't know. Will definitely be listening again.
Spacey, get high
This is where they started to lose me.
Pas mon Radiohead préféré
I got this album when I was young.
Prima oke
"How to Disappear Completely" is giving big Twilight vibes. It feels very on brand for me to like "Motion Picture Soundtrack" this much.
Some good songs.
This is not my favorite Radiohead album. It's tedious for me and tries so hard to be artsy and not musical. I can't get behind whatever Radiohead does being brilliant, as many people seem to be able to do. I think sometimes Thom Yorke could fart into a microphone and it would get five stars from reviewers. It's not a bad album, but I truly believe it is contrarian groupthink which makes this album so popular. See, you have to be smart to understand what Radiohead is doing, so if you enjoy it then it says something about you. If they got rid of the first three songs, I think I could give this album one more star.
Cool album w/a couple of hits. 3
How to disappear completely är en favorit... trea bara för dens skull, resten ger inte mig några värre kicks
Fave tracks: The National Anthem & Optimistic
Ambient
Approx. 47 mins. Ethereal prog/alt jazz with dark lyrics swirled together made for a quiet listening experience on a cold, gray day. (5/10)
I suppose it's referred to as...atmospheric? Some is, some is just atonal. I wouldn't put it on my album shuffle list. (and I sure wish we could give half-stars)
If you are not in the mood for experimental sounds, do not listen to this album. It's a mass of noise set up in the organized way. But it's extremely original. Although I like the previous Radiohead albums more. 3.5/5.
I like Radiohead. I've never really liked this particular album though. I've read it's hype. I even wondered what I was missing. I startedthis review by a failed listening session. Maybe the setting wasn't right? So I decided to try later. I even listened to a podcast hoping to gleem some bits of information to help me understand. Then ensured a nice quiet spot to ensure a good listening experience. I'm not blown away. So they a messing around with electronics. That's not groundbreaking. Lots of bands switched from guitar to electronics. I did like the jazziness of National Anthem. Idioteque has been and remains my favorite song from this project. But I'm still not buying the hype
It sounds good (mostly) but it doesn't make me feel good (mostly). I don't think that's what they were going for, though. I think it's a record about not feeling quite right.
Great album
Loves the sound, not a fan of the vocals.
Radio Head
Okay, I guess. A lot of noise, didn't do much for relaxing me as I'd think an album like this would do. I could not see me listening to this again in the future, although it's certainly not bad, I don't think it's for me.
Really nostalgic of the early 00s
I think this is my 3rd listen? I like this album more upon re-listens, but it still isn’t really for me.
Everything in Its Right Place - inject this shit into my veins Kid A - More out there but I liked it The National Anthem - Great riff, I like the chaotic ending How to Disappear Completely - made me feel like I was gonna disappear, 10/10 name Treefingers - this feels like a whole lotta song with zero substance Optimistic - I like the drums In Limbo - I like the vocals Idioteque - also inject this into my veins Morning Bell - I like how Idioteque flows into this Motion Picture Soundtrack - I like the string instrumentals Untitled - couldnt even give the song a name smh
Enjoyed it. A bit samey, to the point that it was difficult to distinguish between tracks, but overall positive.
definitely not as bad i was anticipating. much more interesting instrumentals than normal. i think a big reason why i don’t like radiohead is the whiny singing and a heavily instrumental album fixes that! still nothing crazy special though
This is a very interesting album, in my opinion it doesn't start well but it gets better as it progresses. I appreciate that Radiohead tried something different and the use of electronic sounds and synths is very brave considering the success they had at the time.
Radiohead yesterday, Radiohead again today. Was not a fan of Hail to the Thief and while I've seen many people write that Kid A is much better, it's still the same annoying whining droning noise to me. I don't know, I just can't. But unlike Hail to the Thief, by the end, there were maybe two tracks that I didn't absolutely hate, so Radiohead remains a 3 from me - srednja žalost.
This was ok, 3 stars
3.5 Three days after referring to its successor as “Kid B”, Kid A appears as if to stand up for its bullied younger brother in an attempt to beat the Radiohead hesitancy out of me. Well, spoiler alert: it’s just as pretentious as Amnesiac. However, it is noticeably better, and it also happens to contain one of my all-time favorite tracks of theirs: How to Disappear Completely. It’s probably the most traditionally structured song here from the group, but it encapsulates its title perfectly with the musical and lyrical approach, and its build-up is incredibly well done. I do get a little annoyed when I see fellow music nerds on Reddit describe it as one of the deepest and most emotional songs of all time (it’s not), but it is a great tune nonetheless. Anyway, I wasn’t as familiar with the rest of the album, but found everything for the most part to air more or less on either side of decent. The first few tracks I found to be pretty strong in particular - Everything In Its Right Place is a solid opening track and one that I feel best prepares you for the new pseudo-electronic sound, and while I wasn’t immediately impressed with The National Anthem, the saxophones on it escalated it to a point of enjoyability for me. However, outside of Disappear, I think my favorite moment here was actually Treefingers - it’s not often the instrumental track is the highlight for me, but the soundscape there felt layered in the most enchantingly surreal way. Somewhere after Treefingers the novelty of this album started to wear thin on me. A series of more mediocre tracks stripped away any hint of rose-colored glasses I was wearing, and I began once again seeing this group how I always have - artsy-fartsy, artificially deep, and pretentious. The only real standout for me in the back half of the album was Idioteque, which admittedly does some cool things musically, but I don’t think the charm lasts the full five minutes of its duration. So, yeah, I still find the group incredibly pretentious and overrated, but I’m not afraid to admit that they’ve made some good music, and as far as greatness is concerned, this album may be as close as they’ve gotten (need to revisit OK Computer and The Bends). While I’m not walking away from this as a convert, it did help me see where some of the admiration lies, and I quite possibly may even give this another listen in the future - but sorry, still not convinced this is one of the best albums ever recorded. Shoutout to the group for a successful musical pivot, but it takes more than that to get a 5 from me.
Never heard Radiohead before (except Creep). This sounds so much like Sigur Ros, only not as melodic. And I can understand the words. Overall, a weak 3.
I think it’s more of a 3.5 but there were quite a few times I thought this is it!?The first half is actually enraging. I flip flopped on it but eventually relaxed into the second half (I was watering the garden so maybe I was just in a good mood by that stage.) Ultimately I think this album is just a tad overrated.
Loved the drums in idiotique. Obviously a banger album and I liked how lots of the music had no vocals. Very cohesive.
3.5/5 - I would rate this closer to 4, however there are other Radiohead albums that aren't quite 5's for me that deserve to rated higher than this. That being said this is still very worthy of a yearly listen. Radiohead was able to prove they can experiment and expand their range while meeting their authentic selves. There is a song for everyone on this album yet not every song is for everyone - and that's ok. They were able to weave between meditation sounds and video game ambient tunes while still providing some classic sounding songs Radiohead fans have enjoyed for decades.
What a mediocre album. High hopes for this, was let down. The lyrics were usually nonsensical, occasionally charming. The music was… ambient. Background music. But for paying attention to, kinda trash honestly. I will say there were few times I actively wanted to skip, most of the album worked well as background noise while I did homework. Saves it a little I guess. 2.5 stars
6.5/10
An album I'd heard about a million times but never extended myself to listen to it. It was OK
This one is tough because I quite like the general sound of this album. However I can't help but feel that it's an album that was made to test critics rather than a heartfelt attempt at using music to express something meaningful. I'm stuck at 3.5* wanting to round it up, but I think it's a bit too obnoxious and pretentious so it can't be a 4.
Not really my kind of music. Made me sleppy.
Very important. Just not very entertaining to me.
I enjoy the Radiohead albums that are more melodically inclined, but I rarely skip over their music.
Not a huge Radiohead fan. This one had some interesting sounds. Maybe because I was listening in route to Maui??
Kind of fun when it has some little freakouts
I didn't get this album when it came out. I knew it was genius, but didn't understand why. Looking back decades later, it's influence on music after it is obvious and huge. I still don't get it though. I always liked Amnesiac and OK Computer more.
Meh
overhyped band honestly, besides bends the albums are mediocre depressive british gibberish
First thought is.. . man this is depressing. Picked up a bit when I got to track 3. Then back down for track 4. I wasn't as bothered by the melancholy mood of it by then. Seems the album successfully brought me around to the feelings it's invoking. After track 4, this album feels like art. Optimistic felt a little more speed, particularly the last 15 seconds. Could really rock with an albums worth of those last 15 seconds. Idioteque was fun, felt completely different from the first half of the album. Loved the instrumentation on Morning Bell but wasn't feeling the vocals. The album is definitely an experience and you can tell there was a lot of thought put into curating it. Every track is right where it supposed to be. So I commend and praise them for putting together this cohesive piece of work. But it's not an experience I would knowingly seek out. Not my vibe. Working through a second listen is harder than the first pass.
Back to back Radiohead for me. In Rainbows yesterday. I've tried to like Radiohead for a long time but I've never quite gotten them. I enjoy some of their other albums but this one is three stars for me. Not at all boring but not one I'll revisit over the other 3 on this list.
ÖLÍG
Unremarkable, but fine.
its fine
Not the best Radiohead album in my opinion as The Bends and OK Computer take that title but it's still littered with great songs and moments
Damn I really dug the first three seconds of this album.
Too experimental, too boring. There are some weirdly interesting tracks but that's it. Not something I would listen to
I was expecting more from this so called legendary album. It was fine ig but not my style. I would probably have this at 2.5 and have Led Zeppelin Album above it(3.5)
First song was pretty strong introduction feels like a decent into madness a bit. National anthem was interesting. Overall I would say this album was not my cup of tea. The vocals are quite crude and bit much for my liking.
Not my favorite radiohead album, but can definitely appreciate the more experimental instrumentals. Highlight of the album was How to Disappear Completely
I’ve never been a huge Radiohead person. Maybe because some Radiohead fans annoy me. I’m enjoying this one so far. It feels very “internet indie” in a way I don’t love, but I can get behind the experimental quality of it.
i cannot explain how this album makes me feel
Slow. Very bummer. Wasn't really able to get into this one. I do really like some of Radiohead's stuff, but as a whole this wasn't very impressing
EHHH it's fine I guess? Not really my thing. Meh 3
3.5/5 - Solid album at what "it" is, I just don't think I love what "it" is. If I did love what "it" is, then this would be fantastic.
Disco de pop-rock un tanto experimental, sin destacar especialmente ningún corte. Buena voz. Un poco underground. No me ha aportado nada especialmente
I like hearing a band experiment musically, but none of the resulting songs really did anything for me, good or bad
I think I like the vibe, It is like retro-futuristic driving in the car at night music. The part with the horns on the Nation Anthem is insane.
Lots of noise in between good parts
Starts weak with two similar songs. Third song also not my favorite. Liked National Anthem; How to disappear and treefingers were okay; liked Optimistic. Idioteque and morning bell were alright, finished weak on Motion Picture Soundtrack.
First song about lemons was a little vibe, but didn’t really quench my thirst. I liked the instrumental on the second song. 3rd song was a vibe no 🧢. Wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I can definitely see people throughly enjoying it. Kinda feels like a sad and lonely walk on the Golden Gate Bridge kind of vibe.
between the tiktok soundbytes and bleep bloops some real and catchy lyrics appear. big fan of the use of "robotic" voices -- very daft punk I suppose. sexy saxophone Overal this is a very inoffensive album and perfect background music
Some songs I like a lot and others are a bit unconventional for my tastes. I tend to be a fan of more traditional music and some of this isn’t quite up my alley. I recognize it as good music but I’m just not exactly the target audience. Gonna be a high 3 for me. Maybe could be higher if i listen more but I’m not sure how much I’ll revisit honestly. Best: idioteque, motion picture soundtrack, everything in is right place
- the bass line on National Anthem is so dirty - Idioteque is really good, love the percussion - I mean there are some really nice parts but it’s too abstract and uneventful for me - naming it the best album of the decade feels like a stretch
I didn’t find anything particularly stand out on this album, but I didn’t hate it either. It is a pleasant soft album to listen to, but I can’t see myself looking for something to listen to and picking this.
I did not care for kid A, it insists upon itself
Not my Radiohead, but this is it before it really goes off the rails.
не успела понять, надо продолжать
These kids didn't deserve any A's because methinks they be cheating. All of these sonics have been mastered in the past by other bands. 'Treefingers' was my favorite thing here, but it's just like a Brian Eno B-side.
I don't get Radiohead and I don't know what I'm missing. They do nothing for me yet I know so many people who flat out love them. I'd really like to understand and am genuinely trying to.
There are little parts of this album that shine through as being brilliant, mixed through some quite dull moments too. I'm not a fan of Thom Yorke's voice at all, so I find it hard to get past this and it limits my enjoyment of the band in general.
I’ve generally found that most of Radiohead’s music doesn’t really click for me. I’ve tended to find the music somewhat dull and I’m not the best fan of Thom’s voice. That being said, I don’t recognise the names of any tracks here so maybe this could be the album that changed my mind. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Everything In Its Right Place, The National Anthem I’ll start by saying that this is likely the best Radiohead album I’ve heard. I couldn’t say why as Thom’s voice still slugs the same and the music still feeds very Radiohead, but where I’d previously find parts somewhat annoying, I find this album to be mostly pleasant. However, although I enjoyed listening as it was playing, it didn’t really be any lasting impact making me want to listen again. I write this review the day after listening, and I couldn’t now hum any melodies as they just didn’t stick.
One of the better albums.
I need more listens on this in quieter spaces
Zupełnie inne niż standardowe radiohead, trochę jazzu, elektroniki i innych gatunków. Słucha się tego trochę tego jak osobnych piosenek, nie jako kompletnego albumu. 3.5/5
Good album! Sometimes kinda long
I liked it. Different. Sounded like my acid trip. Ending of the final song was really good. 3/5
Byrjar rosalega vel og verður svo mest megnis kaótísk bakgrunnstónlist. Sem er alls ekki slæmt. Var bara áhugaverð þróun hjá þeim á sínum tíma.
damn shawty you live like this???
mó teclonogia
I will try to remain as objective as possible. I only know of Radiohead for their song Creep which obviously I love. This album was very different. I would never guessed Creep was made by the same people who made this album. Regardless, okay, I like how the album has a lot of ambient feel to it. Many times while I was listening through the album, I was reminded of bands like Boards of Canada, Autechre, Aphex Twin, and that appealed to me. In fact, Treefingers is my favorite song on this album. What confuses me about this album is the random droning and wailing, the instruments that feel like they were recorded without any awareness of the other audio sources. Some parts feel like, "oh, we should have some drums do this now" randomly and haphazardly. Or, "oh, maybe some random squiggly lines made of violin noise can go here." And I'm left wondering, why? A lot of times, I was trying to figure out where a song was going, and it felt like an unfulfilled promise. There was parts that excited me and I was like, "oh, this is nice, where is this going? hey, is this going anywhere? Oh, no. It's not going anywhere." The lyrics "You can try the best you can. The best you can is good enough" in Optimistic gave me hope, but simultaneously made me think, "well, you could have tried a little harder I think to make this enjoyable to listen to." The album is brave, experimental for sure, they're trying things, sometimes it works, a lot of times it doesn't work for me. I don't think the word pretentious fits. It doesn't feel full of itself. I think it tries. I think it really tries to be appealing, and for a lot of people, it succeeds. I thought this might be a great album if I wasn't completely sober the whole time. Maybe it's best heard on a trip or something. I'm not sure. I don't want to be disrespectful to the artists, because I sense a level of creativity in it, that I either am not aware of or don't fully understand. Maybe I would have to listen to the three albums before this one to appreciate this one. I see that it is often highly-reviewed, which leaves me questioning why that's the case. Maybe I just don't get it. Maybe I need to listen to it again to fully understand what's going on. But, I don't think I can. The voice doesn't work for me. The flat and off, wailing and droning ruins it for me a lot of the time. I found myself moaning and mocking it along as though I was pretending to be a dying animal. That probably explains why I like Treefingers so much, no vocals. I'm sorry. I tried. I did. I listened to it front to back with no interruption and really tried to absorb it, and I feel like I'm lost, much like a lot of the tracks, with no hope of finding myself. Final thoughts: Treefingers and National Anthem were okay, but the overall random ambient noise at times, unfulfilled promises of a song, and droning vocals are lost with me. Would not listen to it again sober. It's not the worst thing I've ever heard, there were some parts I did enjoy, so I can't say it outright fails, I like the creativity, I like the attempt, but I'd rather go to the dentist then listen to this again. Not my cup of tea, but if you enjoy it, I'm very happy for you. Drink up. I think a rating of 3 is more than fair.
Definitely unique. The panning from ear to ear adds a nice flair when listening in over the ear headphones. No masterpiece in this album. Weird for what it was, but was definitely an acquired taste. Had fun listening to this.
6th Radiohead album served to me over here, and since this is the place for me to state my opinion: that's way too much! Also, still missing is my favourite Radiohead album 🤦🏼♂️ Anyway, Kid A: It's one of those albums that people who intellectualise music will definitely rate highly. As for dumbo me, I miss the raw guitars sound. I'll put it this way: yes, I recognise this to be a quality release, but it will never be an album I ask my streaming service of choice to play for me.
Highlights: "How to Disappear Completely," "Idioteque," "Morning Bell," "Everything in Its Right Place" Mostly a stepping stone. A lot of fans must have never seen a favorite band lean out and make something as a studio object foremost, and to go more ambient with lots of 'free time' elements makes sense for a band that focuses on alienation, helplessness, and so on, but a band's successful exploration of a different sound doesn't amount to groundbreaking musical revelation. The main thing that's interesting about most of the pieces is the close harmonies of pads and strings as Greenwood explores Penderecki via Eno and the overall arrangements, getting taken by surprise but what creeps into the palette of the song next. Can't say for sure that this influenced music much other than to encourage people to try more atmospheric and dissonant work on a mainstream record, if that.
Track 1 - Everything In It’s Right Place Trippy Electronic, swirling echoey vocals 7/10 Track 2 - Kid A What is this, sounds like a tomadachi life character found an old korg synth in the garage and ran it through a piece of toast 4/10 Track 3 - The National Anthem One of the best bass lines in history, nice use of the synth, great vocals, horns are amazing, best song so far 9/10 Track 4 - How To Disappear Completely Unexpected shift, nice acoustic guitar, decent vocals from Thom, sounds like a smiths song but even more depressed and slow and without all the jangle and knobbery from morrisey, strings are really nice 7/10 Track 5 - Treefingers Ominous, ethereal opening, feels like I’m at outernet in London, literally just ambience, gets boring 3/10 Track 6 - Optimistic Nice guitar, decent vocals, different to any song previous, strangely nervy, disjointed sound, nice layering of the guitars, rattley drums, slightly repetitive but still one of the best songs so far 7/10 Track 7 -In Limbo Plunged headfirst into a discombobulated mess, everything seems isolated, doesn’t sound full, like the drawn out vocals at the end, Strange 5/10 Track 8 - Idioteque Drum pads galore, swelling synth, deep bass pads, vocals seem a bit out of place, repetitive 4/10 Track 9 - Morning Bell Like the fade in from track 8, nice drums, mellow soft muffled keys, strange effect on the vocals, vocals once again seem a little bit off with the music, song climaxes at the end, Alright 6/10 Track 10 - Motion Picture Soundtrack Strange organ sound at start, lyrics are amazing, depressing, bass and keys accompany organ well, dream like harp sound? Amazing binding and layering of all the instruments, all comes together beautifully Beautiful song, best song on the album in my opinion 10/10 Track 11 - Untitled Fluttering, insect like samples, pulsing keys, just an interlude Interlude/10 Final thoughts: 6.7/10 Has some outstanding moments (National Anthem and Motion Picture Soundtrack) but apart from that it’s very repetitive, doesn’t grab me, Thoms vocals seem out of place at times, a lot of the songs seemed very messy and it felt like the instruments stood out on their own and didn’t come together. Just not for me, don’t see what the fuss is about Best Track: Motion Picture Soundtrack Worst track: In Limbo or Idioteque
I like that Radiohead always have a clear concept of what they want each album to be, and that they constantly change their sound. The only issue is that regardless of the style they're going for a lot of their output is quite boring. In this case, despite the bleeps and bloops and even with an active listen, I found this to be good, but rather dull. Love the album art though. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Everything in Its Right Place Date listened: 28/06/23
I miss guitars. And tunes. Some actual songs on here amongst the electronic bleeping, but needlessly obtuse. If I listened to this 20 times, I'm sure I would find things to like, but I just wish it rocked a bit more.
i feel its too experimental, i know its their style an all but the other albums ive heard sounded more interesting and pleasant to listen to
I was initially very excited for this one. I’ve always wanted to do a deep dive into Radiohead, but never have. I was a little disappointed in this one. A lot of it just sounded like ambient noise. I wasn’t prepared for that.
Never listened to radio head before. I found it kinda lo-fi, good background music - but not the kind of thing I would seek out for a specific song.
This is a brilliant album, Yorke’s answer to the creeping dread within him that rock as a genre was dead. Also, the band was disillusioned by all the copycat bands that came out of the woodwork after the commercial and critical success of *OK Computer*. What I find most impressive about this album is how they got away from a guitar-driven sound and weren’t afraid to experiment with string and brass instruments, electronic, and jazz. “National Anthem”, for example, has a very strong avant-jazz feel in parts. This is a fine, contemplative answer to mega-success.
Fine
It was alright. It was nice and ambient, but not something I'll be dying to come back to. I think my favourite song was Kid A? It's kinda hard to tell them apart mentally.
3.5 it is great for what it is but I struggled with droning
Very interesting IDM textures but the songwriting seems a bit hit or miss. Can definitely tell the Autechre and AFX influences
Really weird album, I liked and disliked it at the same time. Straight in the middle with this one
awesome album to listen to.
This is when I started to check out on Radiohead. They started crossing an experimentation threshold where I lose patience. Nothing against anybody who likes it, it's just not my thing. With that being said, it makes for nice background music.
Very hard to rate this. The bits I like, I really like and the bits I don't, I really don't. I enjoy the experimental sounds and the interesting instrumentation, I do not enjoy Thom's voice or some of the meandering tracks. This should be right up my alley. I feel I missed out on them when I was younger. Listened to Muse instead probably. It has at least convinced me to listen to more. Standout track: Everything In It's Right Place
It’s good, but it’s not the unprecedented alien transmission some fans sell it as. A lot of the electronic vocabulary was already well-established: Autechre and Aphex Twin had been exploring similar territory for years, and late-era Talk Talk had already shown how far a “rock band” could dissolve itself into texture and atmosphere. Kid A feels radical mostly because it was radical for Radiohead, and because it brought those ideas to a much bigger audience.
Was much better than the other radio head album we listened to. Likely because it was basically a different genre, and contained less singing
Maybe I just don't get Radiohead but this is the second album I've had from the list and I am having difficulty figuring out how either were included. At least this one was not immediately forgettable.
Idioteque would have to be my favorite song on this one. Radiohead has really gone and sonically experimented with their music in a way that can be almost annoying at times. Very experimental. How to disappear completely is also a great tune on here.
Maybe even a 4 one day. I listened twice and didn't like much of it the first time, second was better. I don't think much of this is as original as people would have you believe
Great album - really enjoyed. 3/5
I didn’t know whether I was listening to the new Pet Sounds or just sounds…
You know what! I’m not a Radiohead fan but this was fine. I think for me it’s just that I don’t like the singing because instrumentally this album is straight up brilliant. And in come the haters.
I'm guessing this might be about my 6th listen to this album. I heard it a few times in 2000/1, but i felt nothing for this. I tried it again a couple of more times over the years always wondering why I couldn't connect with this album that the universe seems to love. Still nothing. I feel the same way about OK Computer. It's just bland to me. For some reason last summer I listened to The Bends and I was enthralled. I've spent a lot of time with that album in the last year and I love it. Maybe that opened a door for me, because this listen of Kid A was finally different. I can really hear the songs now. I've also developed an interest in ELM the past few years, so that also has put me in a better position to digest Kid A. Despite all that I'm still not that impressed. I like the album a lot more than I used to, but nothing really stands out. Several tracks have outstanding soundscapes, and I found a few that I could totally enjoy on their own. I agree this album is competent, but I still don't think it's special. If you tell me I have to listen to this album 20 times to truly understand it then forget it, that's some shitty roi.
The most experimental rock I've heard that didn't get annoying. Good job. This was my first exposure to Radiohead (besides Creep). I think I could grow to like them more, but would have to be in a certain mood for it
Experimental
Pretty good but honestly overrated. And doesn’t feel as satisfying as ok computer (the only other radio head album I’ve listened to before this one).
That was... interesting.
you can almost hear them struggling to return to the pop greatness of which they’re capable but the miserablist bleep bloop shit drags the whole thing down
7th March 2023 Listened during the day while working from home. Busy day working, Rita rehearsal, every builder under the sun in our house fitting carpets etc. Thom Yorke shuns Radiohead as they were to create Radiohead 2.0. I think if you listen to it about 10 times it would be an absolute great. 3.5 if I could.
Some very good. Some less so. Never quite made my mind up.
Really enjoy some of the songs on this record, but honestly some others just seem like noise to me. Hoping I get more into this one on future listens.
It’s tough, the 90s/00s grunge is just not really my thing, and Radiohead is just not for me. I know a lot of people would burn me at the stake for that tho so 3 stars (2.5)
p860. 2000. 3 stars. Strays dangerously into ambient prog/rock wankage. Saved by a couple of good tunes and Thom Yorke's voice. Not their best work.
Getragene Klangbilder; dissonant aufgelöst in konsonante; interessante und vielfältige Texte; cooles Album; gefällt;
I still don't fully get Radiohead although I'm interested. They are, to my ear, superbly talented and exploratory, and that's why I keep coming back to give them various tries, here and elsewhere. As a band, their music has yet to "click" with me, so I rarely spend much time listening to them for my own enjoyment, but that's just part of the journey. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. One thing for sure, they are so keen on approaching music from many angles, and that I definitely appreciate.
I have my own expectations about Radiohead's sound but so far this is subverting everything I thought I knew. There's a part in The National Anthem that sounds like the guy squeezing toy pigs into tubes and it makes music somehow. This album honestly isn't bad, I just don't think I like Radiohead.
Best surprise to see radiohead as my album for todayy, a side to radiohead i never knew but a great surprise. Reading the background on this album and radioheads transition from rock is very interesting, especially while listening through the album
Psychedelische, sphärische Alternative Klänge
After hearing so many great things about Kid A over the years but never getting around to actually listening to it in full, I was glad to finally get the chance to do so. Now that I've heard it, I can confidently say that I don't really get Radiohead. Some of this is fine, like The National Anthem, How to Disappear Completely, and Idioteque, but this mumbling through atmospheric music just does not do anything for me. Is it offensive to say that I like Radiohead way better when they do songs like Creep, Karma Police, and High & Dry? Probably. But you know what, Creep-haters, deal with it!
This was aight. First couple tracks were very good. I dig the intro on Idioteque as well.
No lo he escuchado entero.
Hmmmmm
Nice
Норм
This album is pretty good. Some songs are good, and most are decent. I feel like most songs have too many effects on them that make them sound overproduced or something. Favorite song: In Limbo Worst song: Kid A
3.5
Nice for something different
Felt like pink Floyd
They definitely have a sound of their own. It is more than good music, it is interesting. I've heard the album a few times now, and still really don't know it well enough. I do know that I like it and enjoy it, but I still need more time to really appreciate it. There are no songs that really stand out to me as superior. But, like I said, I just haven't heard it enough. How to Disappear Completely is probably the one that I appreciated the most. I'll give it 3.5/5 for now, but I know it deserves more.
My Radiohead album ranking as of 8 Dec: 1. In Rainbows 2. The Bends 3. Kid A I feel like this is an album I need to sit with more to know how I feel about it which is hard to do when you need to give a rating of it within a day of first listening to it. I'm almost certain I will like this album more the more I listen to and understand it but I am not feeling myself loving it immediately as I did In Rainbows and The Bends. Favourite Songs: The National Anthem
overrated
3.5
Great sounding but weird at times. Its no OK Computer but it is still something I can enjoy in small doses.
Was not a fan when it first came out. I've come to appreciate it more over time. Still a bit esoteric for me; they have other albums I enjoy more.
It's fine. I never got what the big deal was.
I expected to hate this because I don't think I like those Yorks falsetto vocals. However I ended up enjoying the atmosphere of the album much more than I thought
Never heard this before. Very clearly Radiohead but also not really like other Radiohead albums I've heard. Very atmospheric. Some was a bit abstract but enjoyed it overall
Quite nice, has soft psychadelic rock vibes
Experimental, definitely not mainstream. Could be improved with a joint or two.
Pretty sad album but decent songs. I liked Morning Bell, Idioteque and Motion Picture Soundtrack
Great REM album
Dope to have on in the background. I bet this would be a cool album to have
While this album is significant in the context of the evolution of Radiohead, I can't help but feel it's a bit underwhelming to be included in this collection of records. The experimentation is interesting but mostly forgettable. Favorites: How to Disappear Completely, Idioteque
You put the internet into a blender and it came out as a smooth, easily digestible and vernacular liquid. Substitutes sounds for any singing so that there’s less emphasis on lyrics. They may as well had been drawn out of a hat imo. I’m a fan of the first four tracks in particular.
Just can't get into it. It's almost like ambient music. Not unpleasant.
There are some beautif parts between moments of cacophony, I can't listen to it in the background.
Alright
Undeniably influential and creative. Maybe not always the most engaging listen but the melodic and rhythmic ideas still hold up in the band’s huge stylistic change.
Some really nice songs but too much transitions song in my opinion
Muzikaal goede nummers, maar die Thom Yorke is af en toe zo'n zeikerd
Ambient, liked it.
+ Everything is In the Right Place (3 STARS) -- Trippy + Kid A (1 STARS) -- What the fuck? + The National Anthem (1 STAR) -- What. and I cannot emphasize this enough. The fuck. + How to Disappear Completely (3 STARS) - Thankfully more normal + Treefingers (3 STARS) + Optimistic (4 STARS) + In Limbo (3 STARS) -- Too weird for me + Idiotesque (3 STARS) + Morning Bell (3 STARS) + Motion Picture Soundtrack (3 STARS) OVERALL (3 STARS): Weird as fuck. Not my cup of tea, but okay.
Surprising. Loved “how to disappear completely” Also “motion picture soundtrack”
I didn't notice anything I loved.
Best Song: The National Anthem. Explosive, bombastic, with a wide range of instruments that always kept things interesting. Worst Song: Kid A. The heavily vocoded voice sounds more Stephen Hawking than Daft Punk. Overall: For an album that I'd heard so much about before actually hearing, I found it kinda... boring? It has its moments of excitement and uniqueness, and the production is really good overall, but the vocals just drag the whole thing down. They're so often mumbled that I can't even tell if the lyrics are interesting. Maybe I have heard too much of the music that was influenced by this album for it to feel fresh on its own, but I was underwhelmed.
Where would Zero 7 or Bob Moses be without Radiohead? Outstanding.
Rock progresivo bastante monótono
Was very good. More enjoyable than I thought it would be but I’m still not totally sold on Radiohead and probably never will be.
Trippy album sounds like background music to fall asleep to
Still love the feel of this album, but of the two I was more of an "Amnesiac" guy when it comes to this era of Radiohead. I'm guessing that one will show up on this list sooner or later, too. That said, I remember seeing them on SNL when "Kid A" came out and being much more impressed with how the two songs they played sounded live compared to the album. (And almost nobody sounds good on SNL. It's always so sterile sounding. Why is that??) I even bought the live album Radiohead put out in 2001 and *actually* listened to that repeatedly, which I don't think I had done for a live album since the Ozzy/Randy tribute back in middle school. I think there's some energy that is lost in the studio version of these songs and I noticed this most when "Optimistic" came on and I immediately perked up at the sound of guitars. It's like you can hear the band sigh in relief with a sound that they know they do well and are comfortable with. Or maybe it's just the sound that I am comfortable with. Regardless, it's interesting to think about what the cultural take on this band would be if they had not taken these swings after OK COMPUTER. And given how bored I was with their last two studio albums, I would welcome another wild swing towards any other direction that will keep me awake while listening. Gimme a country rap album, Radiohead. Or go pop punk. Or just punk. Or, hell, just pop. Where's their "Purple Rain?" I don't think it's "OK Computer." I want an entire Radiohead album with nothing but singles. And I will never, ever get it.
I really want to like this one more than I do, but my musical tatses are just too conventional I'm afraid. That said, this was the most enjoyable listen to Kid A for me yet.
didn't particularly care for the album. I do like other Radio head works and have seen them live
Preferred the last half a lot more than the first tbh
Say. I like green eggs and ham. I like them Sam I am. Never listened to Radiohead before although I had heard of them. Made for good Friday listening
I have just accepted I do not find Radiohead all that interesting. I've tried to get into them and like the previous album I got on here, it's just boring. A good song here and there but otherwise nothing to phone home about. I did enjoy this more than The Bends.
Lots of different sounds. A couple good songs but not awesome.
This was quirky. Some too ambient quirky but also some good quirky. Like Nat Anth and Optimistic, Idioteque.
The album got off to a good start. The first song is elegant, the title track is quirky with its distorted vocals and National Anthem is daring with its Avant-jazz feel. The rest of the album wore me down after a while. The songs lack structure and are a bit dull. I was asking myself why I liked “In Rainbows”, an album that came out seven years later, so much more? To jog my memory, Spotify played “Nude” from that album after “Kid A” ended. The overall production is less muddled but the main difference is the “Nude” is more melodic. I like the reviewer who said that Kid A is "more fun to think and write about than it is to actually listen to".
Enjoyed…. Very thought provoking….
Classic radiohead, a mix of smashing pumpkins and muse, though I'm sure the inspiration went both ways.
Radiohead can turn out bangers: There are four or maybe half a dozen exquisite moments on Kid A. "Moment" is unkind, really. I'm thinking of extended passages, but also the parts and interludes which don't quite fit. The band does lots of fascinating things with their instrumentation and composition and scene work, and, while there's nothing wrong with ambient music, much of this album feels like a retreat from music. A transitional point.
3/5 not quite there
Voor mij was dit album destijds reden om Radiohead even achter me te laten. Kon die wending niet handelen. Nu vind ik het beter te pruimen dan toen, maar blijf er moeite mee houden.
Should I judge an album by its cover? No. As shown by "Country Life". But then should I judge it by its title track? Like "Country Life", the entirety of this album is difficult to listen to. Kid A, Treefingers, sets a tone that is misleading for the rest.
Not half as good as OK Computer.
inte deras bästa album
Fav songs: National Anthem, Idioteque, Optimistic
Ok, gets whiney.
All my opinions are based off my first listen. The first track, Everything in its right place was not my favorite. It was a good intro, it sets the tone, but I don’t feel like there’s much replay value out of it. The second track, Kid A, was a little too experimental for my taste. The second half of the song was a little more enjoyable, but overall not a big fan of this track. The third track, The National Anthem was the opposite in the sense that I liked the first half much better than the second half. I enjoyed the vocals and music of the first half, but the second half was not my cup of tea. It felt almost scary or nerve racking to listen to. However, this is my favorite track so far. The fourth track, How to Disappear Completely became my favorite track so far. I enjoyed the mix behind the vocals, but I enjoyed the vocals even more. The song conveyed a lot of emotion, and was overall powerful. The fifth track Treefingers was completely instrumental. It was a very calming track, definitely a good interlude. Once again, not a ton of replay value. The sixth track, Optimistic, was true to its name. The songs lyrics were uplifting, talking about how giving it your all is always enough, even if you fail. The song is nice to listen to, and one of the better tracks so far. The seventh track, In Limbo was best described as average. At this point in the project, I’m getting very used to the sound, making this track almost blur into the album. Not to say that it was a bad song, it was still an enjoyable listen. There just isn’t much that makes this track jump out at the listener, in my opinion of course. The eighth track, idioteque was a nice change in the sound. It stood out from the songs previous, jumping out with a strong drum pattern. Overall, this song was one of the simpler, yet better listens. The vocals were nice, and the background drum patter fails to be repetitive, dispute their repetitive nature. The ninth track, Morning Bell was another change of pace. The vocal performance was the best so far, and the music was also nice. The lyrics had no meaning to me whatsoever, and has definitely been a trend through the lp so far. The tenth track, Motion Picture Soundtrack was my favorite song so far. Excellent production, vocals, and the lyrics held the most weight and meaning on the lp so far. Overall, it was an amazing listen, and and the strongest on the album. The eleventh and final track, Untitled, was simply a closing track. The music was powerful, and wrapped up the album nicely. My raw reaction to the album is that it was overall not my thing. I enjoyed listening, but it was not something I would choose to play on my own. The tail end of the lp was definitely superior, with it having my 2 favorite tracks, Motion Picture Soundtrack and Morning Bell. Unfortunately Radiohead reminds me a lot of a girl, one that I would rather not think of. That is definitely holding my rating back a little bit, but I will try to rate it as fairly as possible. The lyrics were very interesting to me. If they had any meaning whatsoever, I wasn’t smart enough to pick it up. The music and production were one of the best parts of the project, with the second half of the project being much stronger. The vocal performance was also very strong, and I wish they weren’t so drowned out by the rest of the incorporated sounds. Overall I would rate the album a 6/10, enough to make it my favorite album so far. Which out of 2, would also make it my second least favorite.
+1s for The National Anthem and Morning Bell. 3.5/.75
Listened Before? Y This is the inferior little brother to OK Computer. It's okay. I kind of agree with the reviewers that found it a bit pretentious. However... it IS a good record. Radiohead is allowed to be pretentious after the massive success they had with OKC anyway. It's a nice art piece, but I'm a lyrics guy and this album went with the nonsensical approach. I would never listen to this when I could just listen to the one before it. Added to Library? N Songs added to Playlist: Everything in it's Right Place
Don’t get the hype
Helt ok
Saved Prior: Everything In Its Right Place, How To Disappear Completely Off Rip: The National Anthem Cutting Edge: Kid A, Motion Picture Soundtrack Overall Notes: Sorry folks but I'd take Creep over any of these songs! Also I like the Bends better! What're you gonna do, ambiance me to death?