OK COMPUTER

Can Radiohead even be considered prog? This is a question many prog fans have been asking. The definition of prog is "music beyond the standard rock or popular verse-chorus-based song structures", so in that sense, yes, Radiohead is definitely prog.

Radiohead is and always has been an ever-evolving band, changing their sound with every release. This is admirable considering the number of bands that never strayed from the sound that made them famous.

OK Computer is considered to be their masterpiece, and a great album in general. And rightfully so. A prog fan expecting an experimental or eclectic sound will be disappointed by it, but OK Computer is an excellent example of new prog done right. The album's songs manage to remain accessible and catchy at times while never becoming overly simplistic or soulless.

"Paranoid Android" is the first progressive song I listened to. It must still be one of my most listened songs ever. I was intrigued by its unique structure. It sounds like an alternative rock song with breakdowns, but not really.

Many people, having listened to "Karma Police" and "No Surprises", the release's most popular songs, don't make an effort to look further into OK Computer. This is a mistake, however, because there are many great songs to be found there. "Let Down" does remind one of "No Surprises" with its lullaby-like melody, but it's a great song in its own right. "Fitter Happier" is a creepy "song", with no reason of existence in my opinion. OK Computer does have its share of songs that are less than great ("Electioneering", "Climbing Up the Walls", "The Tourist") but in context they have their place on it. It is an album that, not unlike classics like Dark Side of the Moon, is greater than the sum of its parts, and everybody should give it a chance. Its accessibility makes it a great choice for a "first prog" album.

I had not yet decided on a rating when I started writing this review. Three stars seem too low, though, and five too high, so I'm going with four.