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 It changed the way many of my generation approached popular music - I'd say that's a pretty solid legacy December 4, 2008
What can anyone say about OK Computer ten years after the fact that hasn't been said a thousand times already? Probably nothing, but heck - that's never stopped me before.
Discovering OK Computer back in 1998 was like waking up one morning to find a Triceratops lumbering around in your garden, munching lazily on your begonias and knocking shrubs over as if nothing was out of the ordinary: "Erm, I thought this stuff was supposed to be extinct!"
I'm betting a lot of folks who were paying attention back in 1997 remember where they were when they heard OK Computer for the first time. It's the musical "where were you when Kennedy was shot?" of my particular generation. I remember driving to meet my friends for dinner, having bought this disc at Best Buy, and being so floored I was late to the meal because I had to drive around and listen some more. Back then I was intensely skeptical of the value of "modern music." Furthermore, it typically took ANY album several listens to sink in for me.
But OKC still stands out as one of the most instantly accessible albums I've ever bought: perfectly tuned in to my psychological and musical channel-settings. All kinds of details which normally take months to emerge leapt out at me. The opening five seconds of "Airbag," with that monstrous riff that resembles a viola staplegunned to a surly guitar, sealed the deal on the spot. Then "Paranoid Android" - King Crimsonesque prog-rock by any other name, and all the better for it: beauty and horror seamlessly melded together. "Subterranean Homesick Alien." "Exit Music."
Blow by blow they came to me as I puttered aimlessly around that afternoon, each song building upon the momentum of the last. And then, most mindblowingly of all, "Let Down." I listened to that song for the first time, back on that slate-grey cloudy day, with a fully slackened jaw. The music sounded like it was being played backwards, sucked down by the riptide of its own current (technically speaking the effect comes from the clashing 5/8 meter of lead guitar played atop the relentless 4/4 march of the rhythm section). The lyrics evoked that same sense of desperate technological anomie that I had begun to feel but lacked the skill to put into words. And the melodies...oh how they soared and swooped, splitting into harmonies and dovetailing effortlessly until the whole thing ground to a computerized spark-spraying halt, leaving a lonely acoustic guitar to peter the churning riff out on a grateful, exhausted A major ending. Musical DRAMA, my friends. Holy guacamole.
Understand: I didn't think people MADE music like this anymore. Melodic, emotional, complex, psychologically profound, and most of all, unabashedly, luxuriantly beautiful...everything was in its right place. Thom Yorke's voice was something I thought dead in rock music: a voice unafraid to EMBRACE its own beauty, rather than reject it petulantly a la the grunge and metal fashions of the day. It turned out that that every musical values *I* was shared by this somewhat esoteric British art-rock act I'd previously associated with an early-90's novelty hit.
I - we, all of us who chanced upon this record ten years ago - had discovered a magical secret in OK Computer, a well-known record that still felt like a private, intensely personal keepsake. And even if that blush of first love has long since faded away (honestly, Kid A is a better album), I will never forget how this record forever changed the way I heard music. In all seriousness: thanks, Radiohead.
 Perhaps Too Out There November 20, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Don't let the 3 star rating fool you. I love Radiohead. In fact, I think a few songs on here are among my favorite of their whole discography.
However, I can't quite say the same over the majority of the album.
To me as more of a listener, I don't try exploring all the little nooks and crannies of albums a lot of times and, perhaps and probably, as a result, I really couldn't and still can't see the massive appeal this album brings. Is it junk? Hardly.
But I don't believe it deserves the massive reputation it has. Take my opinion with a grain of salt, though. Radiohead is a strongly developed and acquired taste. Both "The Bends" and "In Rainbows" took a fair number of listens before they really hit me as to how good they really were. Unfortunately, this album was the biggest let down for me. I had real high hopes for it, and seeing as how I like the aforementioned two albums much more, it's a major disappointment.
That said, though, I still very much enjoy the songs on here "Paranoid Android" (very hard rock Radiohead), "Karma Police" (almost Beatles-esque), "Fitter Happier," and "Airbag".
Who knows, maybe I'll like it more with time.
Will you? That's up to you entirely.
Let Down Your Guard, Buy This November 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Easiest review I'll ever do in my life. Simply put: BUY THIS!
Why? Radiohead are an amazing group of talented song writers and musicians as a whole. Collectively "Ok Computer" pulls traces of their past soft alternative works together, and accompanies them with new progressive territory.
The tracks are masterful, deep, and distinctly unique. As a whole the production quality is outstanding, the song variety is awesome (remains on the lighter side of the spectrum). This is all before their large leap into a minimalist electronic style as featured on their next album
"Kid A".
While many cite the second half as the downfall of the album, one could highly disagree. Example "Electioneering" has such a clinking jingle it's hard to resist. Radiohead have established an album thats as highly memorable as the first time you clicked with Pink Floyd. Twelve amazing tracks, and hits you may already know such as the shapeshifting "Paranoid Android" and softly moving "Karma Police". A must have 5/5, in disbelief? Read fellows reviewers opinions. May this album be remembered in the ranks of definitive art.
OK Computer more than OK November 11, 2008
I am a new Radiohead fan. That's right, it is only recently that I took the Radiohead plunge and it all began with their latest album "In Rainbows." After that, I was hooked. In order to appease my fix I started purchasing all of their albums on Amazon.com. OK Computer was not a disappointing follow up, but rather a great discovery. It is a bit darker than "In Rainbows," and the industrial sounds mixed with rock riffs and the brilliance of Thom York's lyrics and vocals, OK Computer was the perfect follow up for me. I recommend it to anyone who believes in higher conscienceness, or, amazing music infiltrated with substance. I give it 2 VERY enthusiastic thumbs up.
Fantastic! October 20, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The item shipped within the esimated time. It was fully sealed when it arrived and plays like a dream with no scratches or skips.
Also, this album rocks.
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