Radiohead

Radiohead are an English alternative rock band who came to be musical icons of the 1990s with a succession of eclectic but critically acclaimed singles and album. Although the band formed in 1985 and in my humble opinion has done their best work since the turn of the century, their most lasting impact culturally was during the 90s, spawning in particular from their 1997 classic OK Computer.

It would be foolish to even attempt to classify Radiohead’s music in any one way, even ‘alternative rock’ as they for the most part subtly did not fit in with the British alternative movement of the 90s. Some of their earliest material including the hit single Creep (1992) sound, amazingly, reminiscent of the prevalent grunge music of the time. Initially Creep was unsuccessful everywhere except the wise old nation of Israel, until the subsequent 1993 release of their debut album Pablo Honey pushed it into public consciousness worldwide. The band had yet to really break their home market though. It took their 1995 follow up album The Bends to gain them their first major UK success. This paved the way for the recording of their third album OK Computer. This would go on to be one of the most iconic and influential albums of the entire decade, and all time. Many critical and fan-based lists place it at or near the very top of their greatest albums of all time trees, and it has earned Radiohead life-long icon status, to the behest of the band themselves perhaps.

Although in reality you would no doubt have and adore this album already, if you’re a fan of the burgeoning 90s alternative scene, you would surely enjoy OK Computer. Following the album and its success however, the band went into a tense and difficult period of fighting and came to close to spitting up. The eventual result in 2000 was Kid A, a far more ambitious and mature effort than anything they’d previously produced. Kid A and its 2001 follow up Amnesiac present an experimental side of the band that could bode well with any fan of avant-garde and experimental music, as well as more traditional progressive rock perhaps. Certainly to me, Kid A is a masterpiece that far surpasses any of their other work, before and after. But in the grand scheme it’s just another example of their diversity. Since that time they have released material which musically is arguably more back-to-basics, but have remained inventive pioneers in a variety of ways.

Radiohead may be musical icons of the 1990s, but a far more important factor of the band is their displeasure with the musical industry, and the way it operates in a modern cultural environment, both in the 90s and 00s. The peak of this came in 2007 when Radiohead chose not to associate with a record label and offered their new album In Rainbows for download from their website for whatever price the fan saw fit. [1] The members of Radiohead have never been afraid to show their true colours to the world (just take a look at the recent controversy over their ‘Grammy’s snub’.[2]) Their music is diverse and usually good so take a look, but always should be appreciated with their sometimes confusing and difficult to understand, but always interesting and inventive philosophies.

Artist Details

Visit Radiohead's official website here

Radiohead videos...(seems someone doesn't like embedding youtube videos :P)

Creep

Karma Police

Everything In Its Right Place

Pyramid Song

There There