Best Radiohead Album

tech77

What's your favourite Radiohead album?

I'd say Radiohead's best stuff was The Bends.
Proper Radiohead.

Kold

Amnesiac is my favourite album ever.

Closely followed by In Rainbows, Ok Computer, Hail to the Thief and then Kid A.

Amnesiac is so ****ing sexy, it demands great headphones or a fantastic system.

nyarlothothep

Im always divided between The Bends and Ok Computer...I think I'll go with Ok Computer because the songs are transcendent, e.g. all of them, and it was and still is very innovative. The Bends is the perfect album, every song is brilliant but Ok Computer imo has something more, like a new musical approach/atmosphere and the scope of it is widescreen.

Kid A would come next (it was kinda like a continuation of Ok Computer in that it was very electronica based and dark/cold)
then HTTT (really liked this album, has a summer party feel to it for some reason!)
Pablo Honey (decent debut, full of promise, with Creep indicating some phenomenal talent)
Amnesiac (didn't particularly warm to this one although its an interesting complimentary album to Kid A, sometimes I think they should have gone with the double album route or just combined the best tracks off this with Kid A. Amnesiac though holds nostalgia value which is another reason I like it).
In Rainbows (This album is quite good, but I'd put it last because imo it doesnt have the fire of the previous albums. Which is understandable given how long theyve been going).

Creature

OK Computer is the king of all albums.

Orizio

The Bends

pwd

The Bends definitely.
Their new electro style is not to my taste at all.
Saw them at Punchestown in 2002 when they were just starting to make music like that.
They'd play stuff from the first three albums and it would be great. Then they'd do one of their new ones and most of the crowd would just disengage.

Orizio

pwd wrote: »

The Bends definitely.
Their new electro style is not to my taste at all.
Saw them at Punchestown in 2002 when they were just starting to make music like that.
They'd play stuff from the first three albums and it would be great. Then they'd do one of their new ones and most of the crowd would just disengage.

I agree, I gave In Rainbows a few listens and just found it all boring and forgettable.

Earthhorse

Another vote for The Bends, though I'm surprised to see it doing so well.

The Bends sounds a lot more heartfelt than their later stuff, a lot of which sounds like they thought about the songs an too much.

JC 2K3

Kid A definitely IMO.

They took a massive step forward with that album. I haven't really liked any of their stuff after it with any consistancy, though they have produced certain gems since. I think OK Computer is a brilliant album, and I think the Bends is good, but often feels a bit "straightforward" for a Radiohead album, and I prefer that they're experimenting now rather than churning out a load of guitar based records. Not much of a fan of Pablo Honey.

Haven't listened to In Rainbows yet.

As for their best song: Idioteque.

Makaveli

OK Computer for me.

FredsWebHead

Sorry to say this, but none of ye are true Radiohead fans.
"ALL THERE ALBUMS ARE BRILLANT"
And I couldn't vote on the polls cause theres no option to vote for all of them.:(
Butter.
Fred.

JC 2K3

FredsWebHead wrote: »

Sorry to say this, but none of ye are true Radiohead fans.

That's ok, I like being an open minded vagrant when it comes to my music taste, as opposed to a "true" fan of anything specific.

FredsWebHead

JC 2K3 wrote: »

That's ok, I like being an open minded vagrant when it comes to my music taste, as opposed to a "true" fan of anything specific.

Ahhh I'm only joking I'm just bitter that the poll didn't have my choice on there.
Lemon crud.
Fred.

Jay P

I find Kid A to be quite amazing

Dregon

Ok Computer followed very closely by the bends.

Mossy Monk

OK Computer for me.

KnifeWRENCH

I'm going to be in the minority here, but I think "Hail To The Thief" is their best.
Some brilliant stuff on there and is criminally underrated.
The only track off it I don't like is "We Suck Young Blood", which is a bit dull.

The rest, in order:
Kid A, OK Computer (has my favourite Radiohead song, "Climbing Up The Walls":D) , In Rainbows, The Bends, Amnesiac, Pablo Honey

Malice

Dregon wrote: »

Ok Computer followed very closely by the bends.

Interestingly enough, that seems to be reflected in the poll too! Personally my favourite is Ok Computer. Their earlier releases were a lot rawer and their subsequent releases have been patchy at best.

Kold

I don't get how people don't think Amnesiac is amazing.

Dr.Slurm

It's almost impossible to choose.

Kid A, though.

wordofmouth

Voted for kid a.
I just don't like the bends as much as some of the others.. is there something wrong with me?

loyatemu

not a huge fan - I liked the Bends at the time, found OK Computer a bit dull and their subsequent albums patchy at best. Really like In_Rainbows though, so I've voted for that.

Kold

The Bends, although amazing, would be second last only to Pablo Honey imo. Radiohead are so much more than a traditional alt rock band.

Dr.Slurm

^
Agreed.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

cornbb

OK Computer.

I can't figure why people would still rate The Bends as their best when there's been so much amazingly fresh groundbreaking stuff from them since. The Bends is great alright but it just seems so vanilla in comparison to so much of the stuff that came after it.

FredsWebHead

cornbb wrote: »

OK Computer.

I can't figure why people would still rate The Bends as their best when there's been so much amazingly fresh groundbreaking stuff from them since. The Bends is great alright but it just seems so vanilla in comparison to so much of the stuff that came after it.

With you on that one Cornbb. Has anyone even heard the second CD of In Rainbows?????
Cats,
Fred.

Malice

cornbb wrote: »

I can't figure why people would still rate The Bends as their best when there's been so much amazingly fresh groundbreaking stuff from them since. The Bends is great alright but it just seems so vanilla in comparison to so much of the stuff that came after it.

Often the first album that someone hears from a band becomes their favourite. For example my favourite Metallica album is Ride The Lightning even though most people will tell you that Master Of Puppets is their best. I also prefer Nirvana's Nevermind to anything else they did. Co-incidentally both of those albums were the first I heard from the bands in question.

So, for those of you who voted for The Bends, was it the first Radiohead album you heard?

FredsWebHead

malice_ wrote: »

Often the first album that someone hears from a band becomes their favourite. For example my favourite Metallica album is Ride The Lightning even though most people will tell you that Master Of Puppets is their best. I also prefer Nirvana's Nevermind to anything else they did. Co-incidentally both of those albums were the first I heard from the bands in question.

Not necessarily true: First album I heard of Metallica was Master of Puppets yet my favourite is And Justice for All... first ablum I heard of Bob Dylan was Bob Dylan and the band and my favourite is his first one conveinently name Bob Dylan and Nirvana was bleach for the first time but my Fav there is from the muddy banks of the wishkah.....I could go on. Maybe its majority rules.....
Sorry for shotin' you down there, just wanted to put my 2 pence in.:o
Mustard.
Fred.

Malice

FredsWebHead wrote: »

Not necessarily true: First album I heard of Metallica was Master of Puppets yet my favourite is And Justice for All... first ablum I heard of Bob Dylan was Bob Dylan and the band and my favourite is his first one conveinently name Bob Dylan and Nirvana was bleach for the first time but my Fav there is from the muddy banks of the wishkah.....I could go on. Maybe its majority rules.....
Sorry for shotin' you down there, just wanted to put my 2 pence in.:o
Mustard.
Fred.

I know it's not always the case, that's why I said "often" rather than "always" . They were the first two bands I thought of where the first release I heard from them is my favourite.

In the case of Radiohead I first heard Pablo Honey but wasn't that impressed by it. OK Computer on the other hand absolutely blew me away when I heard it for the first time.

Amazotheamazing

The Bends, the newer ones are meh to me.

niallk

FredsWebHead wrote: »

With you on that one Cornbb. Has anyone even heard the second CD of In Rainbows?????
Cats,
Fred.

Yes I got it with the discbox set. It's quite good it's a collection of songs and a couple of remixes. Allthe songs are quite good but wouldn't have fit in with In Rainbows feel.

Only got into Radiohead last year but I really got into them. The Bends was my favourite for a while followed by OK Computer because i thought there are more weak tracks on OKC.

When In Rainbows came out I thought it was too digital on first listening probably fooled by the first track 15 step which has Jonny Greenwod at the drum machine. But with each listen it has grown on me and I now rate it very highly.

When I got the vinyl I was blown away by the quality. Every litttle nuance, etc.... That inspired me to buy more of my favourite albums on vinyl since.

I am loving Kid A at the moment. Haven't spent much time with HTTT or Amnesiac and I don't rate Pablo Honey at all.

can't wait to see them for my first time on Saturday.

Sinfonia

OKC
Amnesiac
Kid A
HTTT
Bends
In Rainbows
Pablo Honey

Kold

^^ No remixes in the discbox. /kisses mine. Amnesiac is the most rewarding, I can't even imagine how sexy it would be on vinyl. You need good headphones though.

niallk

Remixes:I was talking about Mk1 and Mk2 which have samples of songs from In Rainbows:)

FredsWebHead

niallk wrote: »

Yes I got it with the discbox set. It's quite good it's a collection of songs and a couple of remixes. Allthe songs are quite good but wouldn't have fit in with In Rainbows feel.

Only got into Radiohead last year but I really got into them. The Bends was my favourite for a while followed by OK Computer because i thought there are more weak tracks on OKC.

When In Rainbows came out I thought it was too digital on first listening probably fooled by the first track 15 step which has Jonny Greenwod at the drum machine. But with each listen it has grown on me and I now rate it very highly.

When I got the vinyl I was blown away by the quality. Every litttle nuance, etc.... That inspired me to buy more of my favourite albums on vinyl since.

I am loving Kid A at the moment. Haven't spent much time with HTTT or Amnesiac and I don't rate Pablo Honey at all.

can't wait to see them for my first time on Saturday.

Hear what your sayin' there mate, but do listen to them all. I remember one great quote from some critique saying "it's the usual purgatory for for RH fans listening over and over again until you get that beautiful fresh spring morning in the middle of November." Cant wait until the concert myself, hoping to here "How to disappear completely" written in Ireland, well most of it.
Mustard,
Fred

niallk

FredsWebHead wrote: »

Hear what your sayin' there mate, but do listen to them all. I remember one great quote from some critique saying "it's the usual purgatory for for RH fans listening over and over again until you get that beautiful fresh spring morning in the middle of November." Cant wait until the concert myself, hoping to here "How to disappear completely" written in Ireland, well most of it.
Mustard,
Fred

Written in Ireland? Really? So he actually is saying "Float down the Liffey...".
Have to read up on that...
Have you seen this rendition?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq9t2FFh6LA&feature=related
OndesMartenot X4
Beautiful

MooseJam

the Bends is the best album , their later stuff is atrocious , really really bad, people think it's great cause it's so different well different does not equate to good, the emperor has no clothes on folks

John

MooseJam wrote: »

the Bends is the best album , their later stuff is atrocious , really really bad, people think it's great cause it's so different well different does not equate to good, the emperor has no clothes on folks

Nah, you're wrong. From OK Computer to Amnesiac they were probably the best pop/rock band on the planet. Great, original sounding songs that made brilliant albums. The Bends is good but it's just another indie rock album.

Kid A
Amnesiac
OK Computer
Hail to the Thief
The Bends
In Rainbows
Pablo Honey

Crumbs

I used to think Kid A but that was until In Rainbows was released. It's just amazing and surpasses their previous work.

Kold

Heh, hate to be like a greenplastic poster but:

Amnesiac> OK Computer = Hail to the Thief = In Rainbows > Kid A > The Bends > Pablo Honey

MooseJam wrote:

the Bends is the best album , their later stuff is atrocious , really really bad, people think it's great cause it's so different well different does not equate to good, the emperor has no clothes on folks

That's an opinion but a particularly terrible one. Do you just not like innovation or something?

MooseJam

I'm all for innovation when it produces good music

tech77

MooseJam wrote: »

the Bends is the best album , their later stuff is atrocious , really really bad, people think it's great cause it's so different well different does not equate to good, the emperor has no clothes on folks

Their guitar-driven stuff is so unbelievably good.
Having not actively listened to their albums for a while now i was pleasantly reminded just how good the guitar-based stuff is after hearing "Just" on the radio recently.
Amazing.

MooseJam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BWHnNhGTKg

Kold

You don't like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTQ2W6117zc

IanCurtis

Kid A is my favourite. It's an incredible album and needs to be listened to in it's complete form.

The National Anthem is Radiohead's greatest song - it beats anything on any of the other albums.

FredsWebHead

IanCurtis wrote: »

Kid A is my favourite. It's an incredible album and needs to be listened to in it's complete form.

The National Anthem is Radiohead's greatest song - it beats anything on any of the other albums.

Totally argree, but did n't realise it untill i heard it Live. some song.

mental07

Jay P wrote: »

I find Kid A to be quite amazing

I do too, it just...flows so well, or something. If I had to be stuck on a desert island forever with just one Radiohead album though, I'd choose The Bends.

Kold

FredsWebHead wrote: »

Totally argree, but did n't realise it untill i heard it Live. some song.

National Anthem live ****s on the studio version imo. Funny radio intro beats free jazz outro... I only remember seeing them both together on one vid though. See if I can dig it up.


Pyramid Song is better though >.<

Man that's what's so great about seeing them live is the big difference between their studio versions. They don't just go up and play exact replicas like a lot of bands would. *excited*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0mtSjQvk3o

That's the one where they actually got a brass section in.

Sinfonia

I'm not a big fan of the NA live, I really miss the brass..

Kold

SumGuy wrote: »

I'm not a big fan of the NA live, I really miss the brass..

That has brass!