OK Computer
Radiohead 1997 pioneering
alternative rock art rock experimental rock
Guitar rock's last great monument: technological paranoia given a symphonic soundtrack, the album that anticipated the 21st century's anxieties.
Acoustic Profile
Production
Method: live-dominant
Fidelity: polished
Nigel Godrich production debutambient interludesorchestral flourishesDJ Shadow-influenced editing
Vocal
Approach: sung
Lyrical Abstraction: 5/10
Mood & Theme
anxiety paranoia alienation
Territory: technological-dehumanization, transport-as-metaphor, modern-life-is-rubbish
Emotional Arc: escalating-dread-with-moments-of-beauty
Era & Context
1997: pre-millennium tension. Britpop fading, the internet rising. Radiohead captured technological anxiety before anyone named it.
Spiritual Links (70)
Mezzanine Massive Attack (1998)
8/10 technological-anxietyurban-isolationcontrol-obsession
Computer World Kraftwerk (1981)
8/10 technological-anxietycontrol-obsession
Homogenic Bjork (1997)
7/10 electronic-orchestral-fusiontechnological-anxietysonic-experimentation
Station to Station David Bowie (1976)
7/10 technological-anxietycontrol-obsession
Demon Days Gorillaz (2005)
7/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentationcommercial-accessibility-meets-depth
The Fragile Nine Inch Nails (1999)
7/10 maximalist-excesstechnological-anxietystudio-as-instrument
Lonerism Tame Impala (2012)
7/10 maximalist-excesstechnological-anxietystudio-as-instrument
Disintegration The Cure (1989)
7/10 textural-explorationtechnological-anxietystudio-as-instrument
The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd (1973)
7/10 technological-anxietystudio-as-instrument
Daydream Nation Sonic Youth (1988)
7/10 sonic-experimentationcommercial-accessibility-meets-depth
Sister Sonic Youth (1987)
7/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
Strange Mercy St. Vincent (2011)
7/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentationcontrol-obsession
Abbey Road The Beatles (1969)
7/10 studio-as-instrument
Revolver The Beatles (1966)
7/10 studio-as-instrument
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles (1967)
7/10 studio-as-instrument
London Calling The Clash (1979)
7/10 genre-destructiontechnological-anxiety
Automatic for the People R.E.M. (1992)
7/10 personal-confessionvulnerability-as-weapon
Outside David Bowie (1995)
6/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
Ænima TOOL (1996)
6/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
Agaetis byrjun Sigur Ros (1999)
6/10 sonic-experimentationtechnological-anxiety
Fear of Music Talking Heads (1979)
6/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
The Wall Pink Floyd (1979)
6/10 technological-anxietyalienation-of-fanbase
Violator Depeche Mode (1990)
6/10 commercial-accessibility-meets-depthtechnological-anxiety
The Man-Machine Kraftwerk (1978)
6/10 technological-anxietycontrol-obsession
Grace Jeff Buckley (1994)
6/10 vulnerability-as-weaponsonic-experimentation
Koyaanisqatsi Philip Glass (1982)
6/10 technological-anxietyalienation-of-fanbase
Electric Ladyland Jimi Hendrix (1968)
6/10 sonic-experimentationstudio-as-instrument
Rubber Soul The Beatles (1965)
6/10 studio-as-instrument
Highway 61 Revisited Bob Dylan (1965)
6/10 genre-destructionalienation-of-fanbase
Physical Graffiti Led Zeppelin (1975)
6/10 sonic-experimentationmaximalist-excess
Berlin Lou Reed (1973)
6/10 urban-isolationtechnological-anxiety
New Adventures in Hi-Fi R.E.M. (1996)
6/10 sonic-experimentationpersonal-confession
The Queen Is Dead The Smiths (1986)
6/10 personal-confessionsonic-experimentation
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye West (2010)
5/10 maximalist-excesscontrol-obsession
To Pimp a Butterfly Kendrick Lamar (2015)
5/10 political-ragesonic-experimentation
Hounds of Love Kate Bush (1985)
5/10 studio-as-instrumentelectronic-orchestral-fusion
Portishead Portishead (1997)
5/10 technological-anxietyalienation-of-fanbase
Before and After Science Brian Eno (1977)
5/10 technological-anxietytextural-exploration
Unknown Pleasures Joy Division / New Order (1979)
5/10 technological-anxietyurban-isolation
Meddle Pink Floyd (1971)
5/10 sonic-experimentationtextural-exploration
Music for the Masses Depeche Mode (1987)
5/10 technological-anxietycommercial-accessibility-meets-depth
Dirty Sonic Youth (1992)
5/10 technological-anxietypolitical-rage
Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk Jeff Buckley (1998)
5/10 vulnerability-as-weaponsonic-experimentation
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Charles Mingus (1963)
5/10 sonic-experimentationcontrol-obsession
What's Going On Marvin Gaye (1971)
5/10 political-ragesonic-experimentation
Actor St. Vincent (2009)
5/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
Innervisions Stevie Wonder (1973)
5/10 sonic-experimentationpolitical-rage
Brilliant Corners Thelonious Monk (1957)
5/10 sonic-experimentationcontrol-obsession
Livro Caetano Veloso (1997)
5/10 sonic-experimentationstudio-as-instrument
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Black Sabbath (1973)
5/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
White Pony Deftones (2000)
5/10 alienation-of-fanbasesonic-experimentation
Einstein on the Beach Philip Glass (1976)
5/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
Bando Stone and the New World Childish Gambino (2024)
5/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
In Utero Nirvana (1993)
5/10 alienation-of-fanbase
Head Music Suede (1999)
5/10 technological-anxiety
Darkness on the Edge of Town Bruce Springsteen (1978)
5/10 vulnerability-as-weaponpolitical-rage
Nebraska Bruce Springsteen (1982)
5/10 vulnerability-as-weaponpolitical-rage
The Great Escape Blur (1995)
4/10 technological-anxietyalienation-of-fanbase
Stadium Arcadium Red Hot Chili Peppers (2006)
4/10 maximalist-excesssonic-experimentation
good kid, m.A.A.d city Kendrick Lamar (2012)
4/10 urban-isolationtechnological-anxiety
Dummy Portishead (1994)
4/10 technological-anxietytextural-exploration
Peepshow Siouxsie and the Banshees (1988)
4/10 sonic-experimentationcommercial-accessibility-meets-depth
World Galaxy Alice Coltrane (1972)
4/10 sonic-experimentationmaximalist-excess
Marry Me St. Vincent (2007)
4/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
Music of My Mind Stevie Wonder (1972)
4/10 sonic-experimentationtechnological-anxiety
Vol. 4 Black Sabbath (1972)
4/10 technological-anxietysonic-experimentation
The Fat of the Land The Prodigy (1997)
4/10 technological-anxietycommercial-accessibility-meets-depth
The Magic Whip Blur (2015)
3/10 technological-anxietyurban-isolation
Never for Ever Kate Bush (1980)
3/10 technological-anxietystudio-as-instrument
The Firebird Igor Stravinsky (1910)
3/10 maximalist-excesssonic-experimentation
Influences
Similar Albums (Cross-Artist)
1
Juju Siouxsie and the Banshees (1981)
84% 2 Portishead Portishead (1997)
80% 3 Animals Pink Floyd (1977)
78% 4 Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (1970)
78% 5 Monster R.E.M. (1994)
76% 6 Fear of Music Talking Heads (1979)
76% 7 The Eraser Thom Yorke (2006)
75% 8 AMOK Thom Yorke (2013)
74% 9 First Impressions of Earth The Strokes (2006)
73% 10 Talking Heads: 77 Talking Heads (1977)
73%