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Near impossible to follow up OK Computer with another masterpiece, Radiohead took a bold leap into the unknown. Kid A’s roots are in OK Computer, namely the computerized vocals, spacey feel, and down-tempo minor chord centered songs, but certainly an experimental, electronic vibe wins out.

After OK Computer Radiohead contemplated several options, among them a return to three minute pop songs, or abandoning chords and melody altogether. It seems they settled on changing more or less everything. Band members played different instruments, Thom’s voice was processed into an instrument in and of itself, guitars are almost nonexistent, and lyrics were reduced to pulling phrases out of a hat. The resulting album was widely anticipated and sold well on its debut, although both fans and critics alike were polarized.

Personally, I feel this union of electronica and mood a place the group had to go. There’s a direct line from The Bends to OK Computer to this collection and it’s a rare group that continues experimenting after achieving commercial success. Despite my mixed feelings about some of the songs, some are better than anything on their previous three albums.

Everything In Its Right Place

= 5 stars

This is an awesome, expansive song, with some tasteful computer effects, morphing the lead vocal into loops. Over a keyboard drone, I essentially see it as a distillation, and a direct descendant of Planet Telex and Airbag. The vocal melody is essentially centered on two notes: one the high elation of “everything” and the other on the “right place” and the “lemon” lines. The second section starting at 2:16 is stuck on the lower note, and repeats incessantly until a final release at 2:51, where the voice quickly fades away, leaving the keyboard to drone on alone. That this tension and release occurs around what I consider to be essentially two notes is pretty darned cool.

Kid A

= 3 stars

Much of the first song’s promise is rather destroyed with this cute, tinker toy chiming and a voice effect that is so overwhelming that any vestige of a human voice is obliterated. I guess it’s an artistic statement, maybe about the birth of Kid A, which is fine, but not not much fun.

The National Anthem

= 3 stars

We start with a fuzzy bass line and a persistent drum beat that means business. I even like the vocal effect. However, the jazz group that enters at around 2:40 becomes a bit overwhelming for my taste, and things turn into a free-for-all snark fest at around 5:51. I find the end result rather unlistenable.

How To Disappear Completely

= 4 stars

I love the high string drones over the spinning bass line, the latter of which plays the right notes but in a rhythm of its own. The strings are progenitors to those found in The Pyramid Song and the squeaky bird calls of Where I End And You Begin.

Treefingers

= 3 stars

Basically an instrumental. Nice, ethereal, and rich - I just find it boring.

Optimistic

= 5 stars

This is one of my favorite songs from the last three albums. The first section has a haunting falsetto melody. The verse vocals mimic the rhythm of the guitar. But on “try the best you can” the guitars move into an ascending melodic line that’s quite stunning. But my favorite part comes at 1:31 where the guitar and a hollow keyboard double up on a lick which continues on through the second verse. At 2:37 the song opens up with an additional rhythm. Then on 4:24 we get those choice drum fills I love, beneath the opening falsetto melody. As an added bonus, there’s a different version of the tune that takes us out.

In Limbo

= 5 stars

This song has a circling, pulsing rhythm that is instantly memorable. In this pea soup, melodies have been miraculously located. There’s also a neat hook on the phrase “living in a fantasy.”

Idioteque

= 3 stars

I ought to appreciate this song more since it’s so direct and accessible, but the electronic drums are so relentless I can barely listen to it.

Morning Bell

= 5 stars

These electronic drums are less eardrum damaging, and of course the major chords on “release me” are perfection, especially with the ascending bass line. It’s a kinder version of the tension and resolution of Everything In Its Right Place. There’s another version of this song on Amnesiac and I prefer this one.

Motion Picture Soundtrack

= 2 stars

Harmonium, fade in, nice idea, but what to make of it? Is it death and heading toward the light? I’m always hitting skip.

Intra Album Rank: 3.8

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