Radiohead - 'OK Computer'

(I've decided to tackle an old classic. A record that seems to hang around the top 5 of every GREATEST ALBUM EVER list there is. But, as I shal argue, for a reason.)

The buzz of a razor blade, sleigh bells, with an epic landscape. You'd be forgiven for thinking that this was the sound of some nightmareish Father Christmas, whizzing across the landscape. Nay, it is the intro to the epic sounds of Airbag, the grand opener on OK Computer.

Man! How is it that Radiohead constantly tread such astonishing ground?? How is it that an album that's inspired equal parts mediocrity and excitement, continues to be elevated. THAT my friend is the power of ROCK. If all rock sounded like OK Computer, I'd die happy. I truly would. Now seems to be the best time to consider this masterpeice, (yes it really is! underneath all the hype lies the beating heart of timelessness) as Radiohead look towards the future, playing songs like that sound like greats left off the 1997 career high point (and afew of them are). A world where back to basics rock and roll has been pushed and pushed and pushed until it megred with dance (see last entry). Why not consider the most aclaimed band to merge rock and electronics, in the days JUST before they did that...

I used to think OK Computer was a personal experience. And in many ways it still is. Sitting alone in my bedroom, gazing at the melodies, sounds, chord structures that take my breath away, paranoia that I could relate to. O majestic ode to fear of technology! How apt you are now! Yet how many times have I heard you! It is not freshness that stalks yr corridors (airport departure lounges? Yes! Who else LOVES to listen to this record in airports or on planes! PERFECT!) ! Nay! It is familiarity! Rememberance of when you had barely 10 CDs. And you played this one to death cos it was one of the best. Let's be honest. Kid A is actualy my favourite Radiohead album. Oh yes. But THIS came first. The first one I brought. The first Radiohead I heard (the midnight cricket chirps of majectic Lucky, the bracketed (Warchild)). I suppose what struck me in those days were the tunes. It IS actualy an album full of sing-a-long classics! YES! Kar-ma Po-lice. ar-est this man. He talks in maths he buzzes like a fridge.... No alarms and no surprises ple-ease. kickin screamin gucci little piggeeeeee... I always forget how sinsiter it all sounds. Yes Thom Yorke IS really flippin paranoid no? But aren't you NOW!? Look at those cameras on yr street! Look at yr DNA on that coin you just gave in at the bank.. Look at yr Oyster card tracking yr every journey! 300 times a day on camera! ID cards! Body searches! They've got every text message and phone call you've ever made, every email you've sent! Every! GASP! Blog you've commented on. The truth is, Radiohead are spokespeoples for the modernity paranoia. Which is something we all think about now and then. Summed up in FITTER HAPPIER, which is beautiful 21st century techno-poetry. I can STILL relate to it! All those things are me! If I put my trust in the world! Which I do daily without fail!

It's darker moments are actualy chilling. REALLY chilling, like there's someone in yr house chilling. Climbing Up The Walls and Exit Music do hit that spot. Which makes Radiohead somehow scary themselves! HOW can they tap into that feeling simply using sound?! Yorke can't explain it himself. It's spiritualy inspired. Definatly. Proof that God exists. If we ever needed any extra.

Where do we now place this peice of work in this world of Lates and PIN numbers (that was a deliberate 'numbers' btw)? Where it rightfuly belongs. In our museums. We send into space to show aliens what life's like on earth nowdays. It summs it up better than any great painting ever could. Oh! Look what we can do! Well how about look what we can't do. We can't cope with the world we've created. Also the aliens would like Subteranan Homesick Alien, altho I doubt they'd get the Bob Dylan refrence. I didn't when I brought it. Don't worry aliens. You're not alone...

'Prehaps it is a good idea to start a new day with the right frame of mind'.

When I used to tell my teachers I was listening to Radiohead, they said, isn't that a bit depressing? And I was like hell no! There aren't many other peices of music that make as happy as 'Lucky' does. (I heard it discussed by afew fans once that it was the weakest track on the record! Rubbish.) 'It's going to be a glorious day, I feel my luck could change'. Possitive or what! Time for change. Yes. We are standing on the edge....
Thoms final plea for sanity: IDIOT! SLOW DOWN! On the tourist, ends it perfectly.

I truly believe this is just one of those albums everyone should have. it's just THAT sort of a record. It's been praised by so many people for a reason! So dig out yr copy, put it on. And let sonic beauty commence.

10/10