1997. A time where everything may or may not have been in its right place. Yet musically, Radiohead were in their right place. Coming off the success of The Bends, Radiohead moved on to self-produce their next album, OK Computer. While The Bends was mostly acoustic, softer music, OK Computer contrasts that greatly with loud crunching riffs, effect-heavy arpeggios, spacey dreamscapes created by guitar, and almost looped-sounding drum work.
While the album is mostly dominated by loudness, and effects, there are indeed a few songs here that are a bit calmer, but still as good. Take Exit Music (For A Film) for instance. This song was written for the credits sequence to the remake of Romeo + Juliet, and the lyrics are actually a re-telling of the classic story. It's quiet, melancholic, and depressing (but then again, alot of their work isn't what I'd call happy-go-lucky music). But in comparison to say, Airbag or Electioneering, it's a nice change of pace for the album. Another calming song is the closer for the album, The Tourist. Written by Jonny Greenwood about an experience he had in France, it indeed "sounds like the last song on an album".
While The Bends covered topics of isolation and sickness, OK Computer's music spanned themes such as consumerism, social disconnection, political stagnation, and modern malaise. Quite a bit of a difference, both musically and lyrically, as I've already said. But once again, Radiohead cracked the skies. OK Computer met critical success, with countless five-star and ten-out-of-ten reviews, along with crashing into best-of lists once again. Radiohead may not be understood as easily as other music, but they've impacted the world with their words and tones, and OK Computer will definitely be here forever.
I highly recommend this to anyone with a taste for effect-ridden albums, or for anyone who just wants twelve amazing songs for a good deal. It's a great album, with great music, lyrics and themes. <3
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