OK COMPUTER

If you are considering looking into the second generation of prog rock (Marrilion, Porcupine Tree, etc.) then this is the place to start. Radiohead's third album, Ok Computer is often seen as the modern Dark Side of the Moon. And it is, in my opinion. It is good in creating an environment of music, transitions well, and blends multiple themes in one album still maintaining it's atmosphere.

The album starts with electric guitar and adds in drums. This is "Airbag" the song is about car accidents, which is talked about a lot in the album (ironic how I took drivers ed right when I first started listening to it.) Anyway, there is a good instermental section near 2 and a half minutes, and this song is a highlight for the album. It ends with a beep which takes us into the next track.

Paranoid Android starts acoustic with drumming. It then has some lyrics and progresses into Yorke singing "What's there" and a computer talking in the background about a Paranoid Android. The beginning of it is one of my favorite sections of the album. It changes a little, and suddenly, the electric guitar kicks in somewhere in 2 minutes. It then turns into a loud rock song for a minute, and completely changes. It gets slower then the intro, with many "Ahhs" as Yorke sings "Rain Down" There is also over lyrics after a little. After this, the electric guitar kicks in once again and the song ends with an even better solo. This track is what basically makes this album prog.

We then have "Subterainean Homesick Alien" a title as a play on Dylans "Subteraenian Homesick Blues." The guitar in this song is very alien-ish. The chorus is my favorite part though, singing "Uptight." This is another highlight track on the album.

The next track is quite depressing. "Exit Music (For a Film)." I have yet to see a film with this Exit Music. It starts mainly acoustic, but it won't be for long. A choir is hiding behind the corner and comes in at around 1:27. The song later get's an interesting background noise, sort of avant-grade. Then drums and meletron kick in around three minutes in. It's quite a dramatic song.

Next is one of Radiohead's hits. "Let Down." This song has double lyrics, and a repeating guitar melody. It is a bit hard to understand what Yorke is saying, but that somehow makes this song better. At around 2:30, there is a buildup. This is probably the coolest part. You'll need to listen to this multiple times before you love it.

The next track is one of the best songs on the album for sure. "Karma Police" starts with piano solo and then adds lyrics with drumming and guitar. The lyrics are about hoping someone will get bad Karma. "This is what you'll get." But it is at 2:33 when one of my favorite moments of music comes in. It changes and Yorke sings "For a minute there, I lost myself." It makes me almost faint. The song progresses onward from that. Amazing track.

Then there is one of "those" songs. "Fitter Happier." It is a computer saying some inspirational stuff while music in the background that sounds like it's from Minecraft or something like that.

The next song starts with backwards sound affects. "Electioneering" then adds guitar with the insterment that Bruce Dickenson has a fever for (cowbell). It is a very intense and is about an election.

Then the music gets darker in "Climbing Up the Walls." This song has a deep environment to it. The chorus melody is pretty cool though, especially the guitar and meletron. The song adds more as it goes along and gets scarier in a way. At the end, Yorke starts screaming at the top of his lungs, weird.

Then the mood completely changes in "No Suprises." This song is happier. But it had a glocenshpele. I love that insterment, but this is just kinda boring. I don't really like this one because it is too mellow and sort of ruins the album. Many people love it though, but I don't get it.

Now we have one of the better tracks on the album. "Lucky." Remember how I said how the album has a lot about driving and car accidents? Well this is another one about that. The song is about being lucky not to be in a crash. In the second time the verse comes, there is a choir. It adds intensity to the song and makes it deeper. Lucky is a great song for its feeling.

The album ends in a great way, calming things down. "The Tourist" is the final track. People don't like it because it is too mellow for such a heavy album. However, the melody repeats "Hey man, slow down. Idiot, slow down." With a choir, this part is pure beauty. This song is a perfect conclusion, and it's a good thing that it is, mellow, because, it let's you reflect on the album. One of the best songs for sure.

So, the debate on this is: Is it prog? Yes. In the way you would consider The Moody Blues prog. You can only due so by the whole album.

Ranking of songs: 1. Paranoid Android 2. Karma Police 3. The Tourist 4. Subteraenian Homesick Alien 5. Let Down 6. Airbag 7. Lucky 8. Exit Music (For a Film) 9. Electioneering 10. Climbing Up the Walls 11. No Suprises 12. Fitter Happier

Favorite quote from the album: "For a minute there, I lost myself." -From "Karma Police