OK COMPUTER – Radiohead by: ebro
Every music reviewer on the planet has been giving praise to this album since its release in 1997. They’ve called it a classic, a work of art, a masterpiece; the sad fact is is that most albums that recieve such critical praise ultimatley cannot live up to their own hype. But, as it seems, OK Computer is one exception to the rule.
OK Computer is a concept album of sorts, not musically, there are no recurring musical ideas or phrases, but thematically. The underlying theme in this album is humanity’s increasing alienation and abandonment in the modern world.
The album opens with the song “Airbag”, a jangly little pop tune about getting into a car crash and having your life saved by an airbag. The odd thing about it though, is that when vocalist Thom Yorke sings the lyric “an airbag saved my life,” he almost sounds as if he wishes he had died.
Up next comes the multi-part epic “Paranoid Android”, OK Computer’s version of “A day in the life”. This track sweeps through many different segments ranging from mellow acoustic guitar strumming, to full-throttle (almost heavy metalesque) intensity. But Radiohead doesn’t let you headbang for long, as the song concluded with the final blissfull verse of “rain down…..rain down…” and continues the theme of alienation with Thom Yorke playing the sarcastic bitter little child: “God loves his children, God loves his children yeah”
The album continues with “Subterranean Homesick Alien” a woozy, dreamy little track about wanting to be abducted by aliens. I find the lyrics to this song to be a bit cliche, but musically this song is executed very well.
“Exit Music (For a Film)” stands out on this album as one of the best. Thom Yorke sings so softly and delicatley that it’s almost as if he’s whispering into your ear. The song finishes with the erie repetition of “We hope that you choke.”
“Letdown” captures more isolation and alienation and packages it into another dreamy little pop song. Very ethereal, and very, very pretty. Radiohead has quite a knack for hiding the lyrical content of their songs in gorgeous, lush melodies and this song is a great example of that talent in action.
And who could forget “Karma Police”? The most regognizable and radio friendly song on the album is also one of the albums best. The track makes use of simple instrumentation to prduce a great overall mood of maliciousness in this song.
“Fitter Happier” makes use of some cool vocoder technology and a bunch of idiotic advertising catch-phrases to prouce a track that is quite sad. Many people get turned off by the computerized voice, but I think that it adds to the overall idea in the song that the people who are pushing this mind-numbing consumption based lifestyle on you have lowered themselves to the level where they are little more than machines. Definitley an acquired taste.
And what would a concept album be without a song relating the horrors of politics? “Electioneering” fits the bill, as a catchy, hook-laden tune with some biting lyrics: “I go forward, you go backward….I trust I can rely on your vote.”
“Climbing up the Walls” is undoubtedly the most sinister song on the album. Propelled by a simple drum beat, the song moves through verse after verse of mental instability.
“No Surprises” is yet another dream little pop song, similar to “Subterranean Homesicl Alien” and “Letdown”. What we have here is a song about wanting the simple, quiet kind of life. This song is another standout track because it relates very well to the listener. Who hasn’t at one point dreamed of living a life with “no alarms and no surprises”?
What a pity that Radiohead had made such a beautiful album only to close it with the worst two songs. “Lucky” contines the theme from “Exit Music (For a Film)” and “Climbing up the Walls” but this time it feels as if it has lost some of its edge. At this point in the emotional rollercoaster that OK Computer puts you through, the listener craves more of the poppy, ethereal songs, rather than the saddening, depressing ones. A decent song, but not placed well on this album.
Finally, there’s “The Tourist” which gets back the celestial sounds we wanted earlier, but this time it’s too little too late, as this song lacks the beautifull melodies the other songs had. Once again, a decent song, but when you’re in the company of the other GREAT songs on this album, more is expected.
Despite the faults at the conclusion of the album, OK Computer remains a complete musical statement on the condition of man in the modern age. A beautifull, intelligent album, which doesn’t come along that often these days.