OK COMPUTER

I've rarely heard an album of which every moment sounds exciting, innovative and original while at the same time being very well balanced and a pleasant listening experience from begin to end. OK Computer is one of those albums. The Bends, the band's previous release, was much more original and innovative than the debut. The change from The Bends to OK Computer was an even bigger leap, resulting in this album being an absolute masterpiece.

The album opens with the stiking "Airbag", one of the best and heaviest songs of the album. The striking intro of the song will make the listener experience something that's present on the entire album: a very complex sound. There are so many different layers to be heard on this album, of which some might even be noticed after many spins. After "Airbag" closes with electronic noises, it's time for another fantastic track. "Paranoid Android" is one of Radiohead's best known tracks and also one of their most progressive. It's made up out of 3 parts, all equally interesting. The middle part of the song shows Jonny Greenwood at his very best, giving us some agressive and grungy guitar playing. "Subterranean Homesick Alien" is much more soothing and atmospheric than the previous tracks. It features spacey, filtered guitars and has a very warm and yet again complex sound. "Exit Music (For a Film)" is the most melancholic song one the album. It is driven by a gentle acoustic guitar. However, as the song progresses the acoustic guitar gets company of different kinds of instruments. The most overwhelming being the thick distorted bass near the end of the song.

"Let Down" has a very relieving feeling to it, after the melancholy of the previous song. It is a very catchy song, and perhaps the most poppy of the album. This doesn't make it any less good though. The following song is "Karma Police", which is another catchy song. This one is much more melancholic though, and also one of the highlights of the album. The song isn't very complex, though the second half has a very interesting feel to it. It sounds delighting and full of despair at the same time, which works very well I think. Sounds of Jonny's distorted guitar running through a space echo moves us to "Fitter Happier", which many people like to call filler. I don't think it's filler though, as it creates an eery mood, which will be present in several pieces in the second half of the album. "Electioneering" is one of the most straight forward songs of the album. It's very guitar driven and again has a very complex sound. Jonny Greenwood plays the guitar very well in his distinctive style here, which is pretty agressive and grungy.

"Climbing Up the Walls" is a very dark song on the album. Also, it has a very layered and interesting sound. Thom Yorke's electronic vocals work incredibly well here. Near the end, the piece reaches what might be the most brilliant part of the album. A spine chiling climax, with an incredibly thick sounds and a haunting scream by Thom Yorke. "No Surprises" is another great piece. It is pretty minimalistic, mainly featuring clean and acoustic guitars and a fine xylophone riff. The chorus is what makes this song fantastic though, as it's incredibly haunting and melancholic. The next song, "Lucky", is more of a straight forward piece. It's pretty mellow, and has a very fine atmoshere to it. The chorus is, yet again, very catchy and melancholic, this time featuring a great guitar riff. The final piece is just like "Lucky" very mellow and slow. "The Tourist" is another piece that fits the album incredibly well, and it's a great way to close it. It gives me a feeling like "Karma Police", which is soothing and melancholic at the same time.

One of the best albums I've ever heard. From the begin to the end it's memorable, atmospheric and incredibly original. I know very few albums where I just can't find any bad moment. Therefore, this album gets 5 stars, as it in my opinions deserves nothing less.