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Prog Magazine Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time Challenge. Album #87 Radiohead -OK Computer.

 Originally posted to Facebook on October 19, 2023


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Prog Magazine Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time Challenge. Album #87 Radiohead -OK Computer.
When sharing your thoughts about this album, use the following scale to indicate how familiar you are with the album:
0- Never heard anything from this album, totally new to my ears.
1- I might have heard a song on occasion, or I know a big hit from the album but not the full album.
2- I've listened to the full album a few times, but it's been a while. Slightly familiar with it.
3- I listen to this album periodically, fairly familiar with it.
4- I have listened to this album many times. I know it inside out. Very familiar with it/expert level
I will post links for anyone who needs them to be able to stream it in the comments below. Remember, no matter what your experience level with the album going in, please listen to the album before commenting. I will post album #86 on Monday.
Enjoy! (And be nice!)

From comments:

Pt.1
I’m a 0.5 on this album. I might have heard Paranoid Android before. I at least know that it’s one of their best known songs. But here’s the thing: I’ve never heard a Radiohead song that makes me want to hear more. So, I am going to keep an open mind and see if my opinion changes today. I know that many people really love this album, including some who’s musical opinions I respect. So maybe I’m missing something here? Let’s see.
Track 1 - Airbag
We begin with distorted guitar, to be joined by drums, establishing the rhythm. Then the vocals begin with some harmonies. The vocals are OK, and there seems to be countermelodies joining in on the second verse, played by a guitar in a somewhat cello like manner. The bass seems to be just accenting the start of each measure, not playing steadily. Then there is a guitar featured with tremolo picked notes. The vocals return then everything stops to give us some sound effects and accents from the band.In the last 30 seconds or so of the song there are many layers of sound, but they don’t mesh well to my ears.
Track 2 - Paranoid Android
This is the only track I have possibly heard before.
This one starts more acoustic guitar oriented. Very high pitched falsetto vocals with clean electric guitar fills. Some interesting textures now and again.There are some spoken word parts behind the lead vocals that I can't make out. At about 2 minutes in, we get a fairly decent guitar riff on the acoustic guitar, and for the first time on the album, I feel the band locking into a groove. Up until now it has all felt disjointed. Maybe that’s the point, but it doesn’t appeal to me. Nice bass grove under it.I believe we are in 7-8 time here. Then the electric guitar kicks in unexpectedly and gets my attention at around 2:45. OK, now we’re rockin’. Guitar solo after a verse. Kinda random playing at first, but it improves toward the end. I believe Jonny Greenwood is the lead guitarist. I suppose he definitely has his own style going on here, but he’s no Steve Howe or Alex Lifeson. We slow things down at around 3:30. A mellow descending pattern begins. Thom Yorke’s vocals are pretty good here. I am realizing that I actually don’t think I’ve heard this before, only just heard the title. Nice harmony interplay vocals here. Then the band kicks in with a riff and another guitar solo. He likes his oddball effects—maybe a whammy pedal? The song ends pretty abruptly. OK…not the greatest song I’ve ever heard, but it’s better than anything else I have heard by Radiohead, thus far.
Track 3 - Subterranean Homesick Alien
OK, the title is reminiscent of Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues. Lets see if the song is inspired by that song, or just the title.
Nice clean guitar joined by some interesting textures on keyboards, I believe. This song seems to have a “dreamy” feel to it. The chorus is a bit more rhythmic. A fuzz tone guitar countermelody comes in on the end of the second verse., (So far, only the title seems inspired by the Dylan song.) I believe there are electric 12-strings here, maybe Rickenbackers, they have that “jangly” tone. Then a nice guitar turn-around run happens at around 3:35 to lead us into a repeat of the chorus. This happens again before returning to the dream-like feel. A mellow electric piano resolves the song.
Track 4 - Exit Music (For a Film)
What film? I don’t know…maybe we’ll find out.
Very soft acoustic strumming then the vocals join in with lots of reverb, much louder than the guitar. Harmony backing vocals and possible mellotron begin backing the lead vocals around 1.5 minutes in. (or are the vocals on the mellotron…I think that's more accurate. The second verse sounds like it has ocean sounds behind it. Drums kick in with a synth bass around 2:55, and we get a big crescendo with the mellotron returning. We close with mainly the vocals, ocean sound and distant acoustic. This one gives me Moody Blues meets U2 vibes. Not bad (Yes, my opinion is starting to waver on this band.)

Pt.2
Track 5 - Let Down
Chimey arpeggiated guitar starts us out, and then the bass drums and vocals come in. This has a slightly Byrds-like feel. Things drop back to just the guitars about halfway through. Some feedback is building under the surface.I liked the vocal duet feel at around 4 minutes in. This one felt more folk-rock with some modern touches. Not bad.
Track 6 - Karma Police
It begins with piano and acoustic guitar, then the rhythm section comes in with a bit of a Beatles feel. Some of the chords in the chorus REALLY remind me of Sexy Sadie (starting at 1:18). At about 2:15 we hit the bridge with a little bit of orchestration. So far, I think I enjoy this one the most (my Beatle fan is showing), except maybe the guitar effects at the end. Pretty good.
Track 7 - Fitter Happier
I think the OK computer is talking to us here….some random piano and musical effects join in…Well after Karma Police, this is a let down, not for me.
Track 8 - Electioneering
Some various musical effects kick this one off. Then a dissonant guitar brings the band into the rhythm. The underlying song seems pretty cool, but the arrangement is very chaotic. To many noisy layers. The lead guitar sometimes sounds like a kid trying to learn how to play lead. I hope the next track is a bit calmer.

Pt. 3
Track 9 - Climbing Up the Walls
Some night-time sound effects at the beginning. Synth bass, drums and acoustic guitar lay the foundation. Distorted lead vocals join in. The sound effects continue. I’d like it better without the distortion effects on the vocals. The thing I am finding on much of the album is that there is just too much happening that detracts from my enjoyment of what could be decent songs. Too many noisy sounds for my taste. It is making me want to climb the walls at about 4:00, there are sounds that hurt my ears. Not for me.
Track 10 - No Surprises
This one begins more mellowy. Sounds like glockenspiel mixed with electric piano over a gentle rhythm. Slightly Beach Boys vibe. A melodic vocal line in the verse/chorus. A bit of relief after the last few tracks, so far. Bridge begins around 2:40. Just a pleasant pop song, really…not bad, not spectacular.
Track 11 - Lucky
Another slow start over some soft sound effects. Clean electric guitar gently strumming and lead vocals give way to a wah-wah chord and the rhythm section joining in in the slightly faster & louder chorus. Some slightly distorted guitar joins on the second verse and a mellotron starts to build. Slide guitar enters on the next chorus. There are some chords on a featured guitar section (around 3:20) that remind me of the chords Steve Howe would use two years later that lead into the closing section of Homeworld (The Ladder). The lead guitar near the end sounds just slightly out of tune to my ears. Moderately good song.
Track 12 - The Tourist
Gentle clean electric guitar with a slight phasing effect with mellow lead guitar over top provide an introduction to the vocals. Nice singing at the beginning. A slow 6-8 rhythm underneath. The mellotron has the choral effect again backing the vocals. A bit of slightly dissonant lead guitar brings us to a soft harmonized vocal verse. This track is kinda making me sleepy. Once again, I feel Moody Blues meets U2. Thom Yorke sounds a bit like Bono to me. I think a baritone guitar (or drop tuned at least) enters for the solo at around 4:00. I’d say that this is one of the better songs on here. We close with a single glockenspiel chime.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
Ok, so listening to this album did change my opinion to a slightly more favorable one. But still I’m not very impressed. Even the best songs– Karma Police, The Tourist and a few more moderately good ones–don’t make it the dazzling masterpiece it is purported to be. There were a few tracks that were really hard on my ears (and not in a good way). I’ll give this a 2 out of 5 stars. Didn’t hate it as bad as I was afraid I might, but didn’t really love it either. Sorry Radiohead fans…not quite.
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