By Brooklyn Fears
INTRODUCTION
In Oxfordshire, England, circa 1986, five young boys met at Oxfordshire’s Abingdon School, where they bonded over their love of Queen and The Pixies. The young men formed a band called On A Friday and played their first gig at a small tavern in Oxford. It was in 1991, that the band changed its name to Radiohead, inspired by the 1986 track “Radio Head” by Talking Heads (NME, 2007). In 1993, the band released their debut LP titled “Pablo Honey,” followed by a sophomore effort titled “The Bends.” Radiohead’s success continued to skyrocket, after releasing their third and highly acclaimed record, OK Computer (NME, 2007).
Regarded as a masterpiece, this record has been bestowed with numerous 5/5 stars and 10/10 reviews. The piece was on several cumulative lists such as Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, where it ranked #42, and Colin Larkin's All-Time Top 1000 Albums where it hailed at #4, in 2006 (Greene, 2006 ). With enticing electronica meshing with suspenseful melodies and themes of political anarchy and emotional turmoil, it is no wonder why rock fans lovingly call it the greatest album of all time. Scholars have studied the various musical aspects that made OK Computer the legendary success that it is. Musicians globally give it universal praise and cite the record as an inspiration to their artistic development and a substantial contribution to the history of rock and roll.
CREATORS/PRODUCERS/MANAGEMENT
At the beginning of 1996, the band began recording their demos at Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxford, and St Catherine's Court. On OK Computer Thom Yorke recorded vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, Jonny Greenwood recorded guitar, keyboards, and conducted all of the orchestral arrangements. Colin Greenwood played bass guitar, Ed O'Brien recorded guitar, effects, backing vocals, and Philip Selway recorded drums and percussion. Although mostly self-produced, Nigel Godrich contributed to the production of OK Computer. Additional string conducting was performed by Nick Ingman. OK Computer was mastered at Abby Road Studios by Chris Blaire. Stanley Donwood, along with Yorke’s pseudonym The White Chocolate Farm, and Matt Bale all contributed to the artwork of OK Computer (Sascha, 2008). Radiohead’s former label Parlophone launched a marketing campaign where lyrics for “Fitter Happier” were blown up and plastered in tube stations all over England. The artwork for the record took up entire pages of British newspapers (Paul, 1997).
HISTORICAL & SOCIETAL SIGNIFICANCE
The record has themes of anti-capitalism, technology, transportation, isolation, deception from media, depression, and death. The aesthetics both musically and sonically were drenched in futuristic melancholy. It was risky, between the electronic sound waves and haunting somber composition, their label Capitol Records were concerned with the record’s destiny.
The precariousness had soon faded away, as it was washed over with critical acclaim. Many hailed the record to be a piece decades ahead of its time. It took home Best Alternative Album at the 40th Grammys and was nominated for Album of The Year (GRAMMY). In 2015, OK Computer was to be preserved in the Library of Congress (Beauchemin, 2015). Not long after in 2019, Radiohead was inducted into The Rock and Rock Hall of Fame (Greene, 2019). OK Computer has stood the test of time, so much so that Acclaimed Music declared the record to be the 8th most celebrated album of all time according to critical reception (Acclaimed Music). In 2017, on the 20th anniversary of OK Computer, Pitchfork picked the brains of nearly two dozen musicians who were floating on a cloud of nostalgia while giving glowing testimonials to the record (Hogan, 2017). The New York Times also celebrated OK Computer’s 20th anniversary by compiling the artists that influenced the record and those who were influenced by it. Joy Division, George Harrison, and Miles Davis are amongst the artists that galvanized not only OK Computer, but much of Radiohead’s ever-growing catalog. Coldplay’s “Fix You” was vastly inspired by the track “Let Down,” while “Electioneering” acted as a muse for Queens of the Stone Age’s “Little Sister.”
Neo-progressive rock is a genre box that OK Computer is often shoved into due to the raw subject matter intertwined with chunky guitars and dreamy piano arrangements. Many essays and books have been written about Radiohead’s magical, musical abilities. Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of Kansas, Brad Osborn, authored Everything in its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead, which studies the music theory behind Radiohead’s work. The novel takes a deep dive into the composition, instrumentation, and structure of Radiohead’s albums (Osborn, 2016). The Music and Art of Radiohead and Radiohead’s OK Computer, edited by Joseph Tate, is a collection of scholarly essays that discuss several aspects of OK Computer and the band itself. The juxtaposition of rock and electronic music was as innovative as it was fascinating, it bewildered critics, musicians, and fans. In 2021, this reigns true, as rock artists today are heavily influenced by electronica. These essays cover all-encompassing aspects of OK Computer, their discography, and the band itself (Tate, 2008). Radiohead’s OK Computer continues to be an example of an unorthodox ripple in the realm of rock music. Dr. Nathaniel Emerson Adam wrote Coding OK Computer: Categorization and Characterization of Disruptive Harmonic and Rhythmic Events in Rock Music. Dr. Adam took an in-depth look at each track individually, analyzing the lyrical content as well as musical composition (Adam, 2011). It was a true testament to why this record is as astounding and complex as music fans believe it to be.
One could spend weeks diving into the Reddit rabbit hole that is /r/Radiohead. With over a quarter of a million members, this forum is a place for all things Radiohead. Fan theories, memes, covers, and daily song discussions, where fans dissect their favorite Radiohead tracks. While on /r/Radiohead, OK Computer is always a topic of discussion. As of November 2021, there is a hot debate, as one user begs the question, “What Radiohead Albums are arguably better than OK Computer?” Fans are quick to defend their beloved 1997 record, praising songs like “Paranoid Android” and “Karma Police.” While others run to vindicate Kid A, which lugs heavier tracks such as “How to Disappear Completely,” argued to be one of Radiohead’s saddest songs ever written. Some Reddit posts discuss the songs on OK Computer individually. While some believe “Electioneering” to be a hidden gem on the record, others are of the notion that it should have been left off the roster and replaced with another beloved b-side. Reddit users show off their flashy 20th anniversary remastered copy of the record, titled OKNOTOK which was a marketing success (Reddit).
The New Yorker published an article titled, “The Whispered Warnings of Radiohead’s OK Computer Have Come True” which discusses the ever-pressing relevance it has (Petrusich, 2015). The themes of sadness, governmental backlash, isolation, media fear-mongering, and death, are all entities that were feared at the turn of the century, and these notions have only become increasingly adverse.
S.W.O.T.
OK Computer paved the way for modern rock in the 21st century. One of its many strengths is the influence that it had on other artists and their work. In addition, in the late 1990s during its release, many critics and musicians deemed it ahead of its time.
However, because of the record's creative risks, several were put off of the release and preferred previous Radiohead LPs. Also, because of the avant-garde compositions of the record, a number of these songs were difficult to perform live and received less than stellar reviews from live music journalists.
Although OK Computer was thought to be a concept album, the band denied this notion. The idea of a concept album was a very popular marketing opportunity that Radiohead could have taken advantage of but did not (Hogan, 2018). Radiohead is notoriously nonchalant about their global success. The members are private and do not like to bash in their successes as they shy away from fame (Dalton 1997.) To some labels, relishing in the spotlight is a way to market the band and their music.
Before its release, Capital Records labeled OK Computer a “commercial suicide.” Due to the record’s serious lyrical content and divergent musical arrangements, the label felt that a project such as OK Computer would be detrimental to the band’s career (Cantin, 1997). In 2019, Radiohead received a ransom note that requested $150,000 in exchange to not release 18 hours’ worth of stolen OK Computer archives (O'Flaherty, 2019). To combat the threat, the band released the collection of songs on Bandcamp for $18, for a mere 18 days.
CONCLUSION
OK Computer has connected generations. Artists after the 1990s have consistently credited Radiohead’s third release for its innovative stylings. It is universally met with fondness and impenetrable devotion. The record challenged musical norms and song structures by intertwining electronic music with rock and roll. Songs and entire albums would not exist if it were not for the risks that Radiohead took creating their third record. With an array of awards and scholarly essays detailing its impact, OK Computer has lived up to its title of masterpiece and will continue to live on as one of the most influential pieces of music in history.
REFERENCES
Adam, N. E. (2001). Coding OK Computer: Categorization and Characterization of Disruptive Harmonic and Rhythmic Events in Rock Music. The University of Michigan.
Beauchemin, M. (2015, March 25). Radiohead's OK Computer to be archived in the Library of Congress. Pitchfork. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://pitchfork.com/news/58975-radioheads-ok-computer-to-be-archived-in-the-library-of-congress/.
Cantin, P. (1997, August 19). Radiohead's Ok Computer confounds expectations. Ottawa Sun.
Dalton, S. (1997, September). The Dour & The Glory. Vox.
Greene, A. (2019, October 4). Radiohead, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks lead rock and roll hall of fame 2019 class. Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-janet-jackson-stevie-nicks-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2019-class-767917/.
Greene, A. (2020, December 21). 500 greatest albums: Radiohead's Futuristic Breakthrough 'OK computer'. Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/500-greatest-albums-radiohead-ok-computer-1059469/.
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Hogan, M. (2017, March 20). Exit Music: How radiohead's OK Computer destroyed the art-pop album in order to save it. Pitchfork. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10038-exit-music-how-radioheads-ok-computer-destroyed-the-art-pop-album-in-order-to-save-it/.
Hubbs, N. (2008). Reviews: "the music and art of radiohead," edited by joseph tate; "radiohead's 'OK computer,'" by dai griffiths. Popular Music, 27(3), 516-518. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/reviews-music-art-radiohead-edited-joseph-tate/docview/1324704/se-2?accountid=9840
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O'Flaherty, K. (2019, June 12). Radiohead just took on ransom hackers -- and won. Forbes. Retrieved November 05, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2019/06/11/radiohead-just-took-on-ransom-hackers-and-won/?sh=6eade4e87614.
Osborn, B. (2017). Everything in Its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Petrusich, A. (2017, June 23). The Whispered Warnings of Radiohead’s “OK Computer” Have Come True. The New Yorker. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-whispered-warnings-of-radioheads-ok-computer-have-come-true.
“Radiohead: A brief history.” (2007, October 10). Radiohead: A brief history. NME. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-581-1352523.
“Radiohead”. Acclaimed Music. Archive. Retrieved November 05, 2021.
Radiohead. GRAMMY.com. (2020, November 23). Retrieved November 05, 2021, from https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/radiohead/8042.