A Beginner's Guide To Radiohead

Radiohead are my favourite band of all time and while music is subjective, objectively speaking they are arguably the greatest and most influential band of the last 25 years.  Eclectic and experimental, the band has managed to stay relevant thanks to their constant sonic self-reinvention and innovation since their 1993 debut album 'Pablo Honey', coupled with a reputation for consistent album quality.

As a fan, I would argue that they have not released a poor album as of yet but that is not to say that the transition from casual listener/music video watcher to devotee was easy. At the tender age of 12, I bought their (then) brand new album 'Hail to the Thief' only to think, “What in the name of jaysis is this?”

But never fear, for the Beginner’s Guide to Radiohead is here to guide you on your musical journey.

 

Start Here: 'The Bends' (1995)

The band’s sophomore album 'The Bends' was for all intents and purposes the album that made it clear to the world of alternative rock that these five young men from Oxford would soon be their lords and conquerors. A more matured effort than their debut album, 'The Bends' saw the beginning of frontman Thom Yorke’s development as an abstract lyricist as well as the blossoming of the guitar partnership of Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien.

Topics range from consumerism (Fake Plastic Trees), current events (Sulk), to more personal, introspective themes (My Iron Lung, Just) while the music covers both the hard-rocking and anthemic (The Bends, My Iron Lung) to the acoustic-tinged and melancholic (High and Dry).

Though streets ahead of their debut album and a clear landmark for the band in terms as far as commercial appeal and artistry goes, 'The Bends' was only the beginning. The best was yet to come.

Essential listening: Just, Fake Plastic Trees

 

What’s Next?: 'OK Computer' (1997)

 If 'The Bends' was the mere beginning of their campaign for global domination, third album 'OK Computer' was the moment they firmly planted their mast and proudly claimed the Earth in the name of Radiohead.

Sonically layered as thick as molasses, with cryptic lyrics and stark artwork born of the social, political and economic ills of its time – at times even predictive of those we would see in the early 21st century – the album has claimed a place as not only one of the most heralded album of its decade, but also of all time.

For 'OK Computer', Radiohead cemented their working relationship with producer Nigel Godrich who helped them to create a cavernous, apocalyptic and cinematic aesthetic with extensive use of unusual instrumentation and recording methods. The results are at times beautiful, at others shocking but always atmospheric and brilliant.

'OK Computer' laid the foundation for the increasingly experimental work Radiohead would do in later years.

Essential listening: Airbag, Paranoid Android, Climbing up the Walls

 

Now Try…: 'In Rainbows' (2007)

 Considered by many to be the band’s artistic peak, 'In Rainbows' manages to bring together the sonic ghosts of Radiohead albums past and reconcile them in a way that they had never managed before (see 2003’s 'Hail to the Thief' for reference).

Lyrically, the album is comparable to 'OK Computer', but in a way that prevents Yorke from treading familiar water. The socio-political overtones are jettisoned and in their place stand general paranoia and thoughts of one’s mortality. Musically, the album sees the band veer from minimalism to utilising fully-embellished string sections and electronic samples, to triple-guitar assaults with ease as each track bleeds into the next seamlessly.

Simultaneously challenging and accessible, 'In Rainbows' was released with an at the time revolutionary “pay-what-you-want” marketing model, but what was most remarkable was the sheer beauty of the songs within.

Essential listening: Nude, House of Cards

 

If You’re Really Interested: 'Kid A' (2000)

 At the time a hotly anticipated album, nobody could possibly have been prepared for this, the follow-up to 1997’s 'OK Computer'. 'Kid A' was a massive departure from Radiohead’s earlier work.  The rousing, guitar driven sound was dropped in favour of one inspired by much more esoteric sounds as far reaching as Krautrock, electronica, freeform jazz and contemporary classical music.

Released without any typical promotional tactics – there were no official music videos or radio singles – 'Kid A' was as bold an artistic statement as fans or critics could expect from the world’s then go-to festival/arena rock band. While at the time divisive, 'Kid A' has come to be considered one of, if not the, very best albums that Radiohead have ever recorded, or even of all time.

Recorded at a time when the band had become ultimately fed up with the music industry, their celebrity status and touring process; the music and lyrics reflect the ominous mood suffocating them at the time. The band tore up their old formula and fully embrace unusual recording practices for a band of their status, practically starting from scratch and bringing instruments such as pedal organs, harp, double bass and the Ondes martenot into the mix.

Meanwhile Yorke sought to distance himself from the subject matter of his songs by cutting lyric sheets into pieces that he later drew from a hat, used studio equipment to manipulate his voice and even refused to print the lyrics in the album liner notes.

Essential listening: Kid A, The National Anthem, Idioteque

 

Steer Clear: 'Pablo Honey' (1993)

 Upon initial release, 'Pablo Honey' was met with a mostly lukewarm reaction from both music critics and the general public and with good reason.

That is not to say that it’s a bad album. It’s not. Not bad.It is, however, a particularly indistinct, derivative and uninteresting album for Radiohead.

In 1993, grunge and hard-alternative rock was at it’s height, and the influence of then greater bands such as Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., and the Pixies are not only clear, they’re blatantly obvious. While 'Pablo Honey' does show some promise, it totally pales in comparison to the musical heights that they would achieve a mere album later.

If you are daring enough to give it a listen and enjoy what you hear then fair enough. If, like me, you can’t manage to finish it then congratulations: you are a Radiohead fan. If you’ve made it through the four other albums on this list, try the rest of their back catalogue.

Essential listening: Creep (I guess…)