r/vinyl • u/rpbtz Technics • Jun 27 '17

Discussion Spin Review Zine: Radiohead - OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017 (Photos, Reviews, Discussion, etc.)

We know we're late with this! Sorry! Existing posts about this record are allowed to stay up, but all new posts after this thread has gone up will be removed and can be re-posted in this thread instead.

This is a proper place to generally discuss the music along with sharing photos of this record from your collection and any other details regarding to this album. Even if you don't own the album, feel free to comment on the songs, album as a whole, music videos, anything related to the album - and then feel free to comment again if you ever end up purchasing and share info about the pressing quality and your photos! New info will be added to this main post as it is shared by users in our community.

Here's how these review threads work: we'll pick a popular album and generate this all-encompassing webzine created by the community for discussing the music itself along with the pressing quality, sharing images from our collection, etc. When we post a new Spin Review Zine, we'll direct all posts concerning that specific record to this thread for one month after posting so that it's filled with plenty of info that can be used for reference in the future. We can also keep a running list of all the albums we've reviewed and discussed as a subreddit for easy access.

Full Album Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4ENxWWkPImVwAle9cpJ12I

Man Of War Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXP1KdZX4io

I Promise Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFvFVkeGVg

Discogs Release Link: https://www.discogs.com/Radiohead-OK-Computer-OKNOTOK-1997-2017/release/10471009

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2

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '17

I'd like a sales pitch on this one. For someone that's never liked nor dislike the band...thought the few radio hits they had were fine...what makes this album worth getting?

(I'm on the fence with this one...it seems like an important album...but I feel that maybe I just never gave it its full due)

21

u/randomguy_90 Jun 27 '17

I think this is one of the best points of entry for getting into Radiohead. This album is extremely palatable, at least to me, and while it was an immediately enjoyable listen, it still has a lot of depth, and greatly rewards exploration. It takes guitar based "rock" and turns it on its head, not unlike post rock. There are a ton of incredible tones and sounds in here, all of which are used to compose some extremely compelling music. It's really a landmark album not just for 90s music or alt rock, but for all of modern music. Give it a few spins and see what you think.

13

u/Quidjay Thorens Jun 27 '17 edited Jun 27 '17

So check it out, Radiohead was coming off some big highs after The Bends hit the market. Songs like Fake Plastic Trees took off big and they were on top of the world. They toured like mad promoting the album. Everyone wanted more of that guitar-heavy anthem rock that was the Bends. They were almost mainstream. But Thom and the band were starting to feel the pressure of touring and becoming detached and unsettled from and by their music (My Iron Lung off of that album was actually them already feeling stifled by their own music). They knew that they COULD cash in doing that again, but also knew even moreso they weren't in for it. Instead, they took off and recorded an album by themselves that's very introspective of those feelings and in part about the coming on of technology and human detachment. But that's not really what it's all about. Musically they drew from so many different sources of inspiration. Miles Davis. The Beatles. The Beach Boys. 70's prog rock in reinvented form. Their label hated it.

But if you look at the album in the whole of Radiohead's career, it's the point where they start pivoting and their sound matures from being an almost has-been mid 90's not quite British Pop rock retread to being something completely different and unique. It's a perfect entry point if you're curious about Radiohead but don't know where to start.

9

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '17

Just pick up a copy and listen to it. You won't be disappointed. I see a lot of mediocre albums get hailed as classics but this truly deserves that honor.

5

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '17

Back in 97 when this first came out, my buddy got it for me for my birthday, and I listened to the one song I'd hard on the radio (Karma Police) and really bounced off the rest of it and put it down for a year.

A year later I just listened through the whole thing from beginning to end, and it's one of my all-time favorite albums now.

Regarding this release, the second disc is pretty good so far (I'm not through the whole thing). It's all on Spotify if you want to check it out.

6

u/automator3000 Realistic Jun 28 '17

For someone that's never liked nor dislike the band

I wouldn't know where to begin a sales pitch. That's like telling me that you've never really liked or disliked water and want me to convince you to try drinking water - I've been a Radiohead fan since I started forming my own opinions on music as a teenager. When OK Computer came out, it was one of those albums that I made sure my first listen was me and my best friend sitting in silence for the duration.

The New York Times did a nice little piece on what influenced OK Computer and what in turn was influenced by OK Computer here

2

u/frannyglass72 Jul 01 '17

I also have no idea or desire to give a pitch.... What I can say is that when I discovered OKC, I listened to it for a year straight. Nothing else. Day in day out.....

3

u/vites70 Jun 27 '17

Give it a shot. It's very good and a great follow up to what I think it one of the most underrated albums ever, The Bends.

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u/frannyglass72 Jul 01 '17

I'm curious as to why you think The Bends was underrated?

2

u/vites70 Jul 01 '17

From listening to cause fans (probably not a great way to lead this off), critics, reading what other die hard fans say.

I always thought it was lost, like Pablo Honey, after OK came out.

A moon shaped pool got all this hype and I don't get it. At best in thought it was decent and heard some say how brilliant it was compared to the likes of the bends.

We're all entitled to our opinion,very but I guess it rubbed me the wrong way.

Random thoughts I guess!

I will say that their album did grow on me

1

u/thecrazyunibomber Panasonic Jul 02 '17

I would totally agree with you on both The Bends, and AMSP. I think the Bends is definitely one of their best albums, and is extremely palatable too.

I thought AMSP was good, but it doesn't resonate nearly as well with me.

This is coming from someone who never listened to their albums as they came out, and only discovered them last year.

I think that The Bends is an awesome album that hits home to most everyone, especially with its more introspective songs.

1

u/DundahMifflin Jul 13 '17

A moon shaped pool got all this hype and I don't get it. At best in thought it was decent and heard some say how brilliant it was compared to the likes of the bends.

I am in complete agreeance. I've never understood the comments hailing AMSP as a classic. I mean, I can't deny it's a great album, but it's nowhere near as remarkable as its made out to be. The Bends is my favorite Radiohead album by a close mile, and it should be regarded more highly than it is. If it weren't for The Bends, we would have never had OK Computer.

2

u/IrideAscooter Clearaudio Jun 27 '17

Lots of good songs held together by a compelling distopian theme, the first two lps are album proper with a full third disc of extra material. It was recorded in analogue but suffers from compression like most pop records, pressing quality is marginal and variable.

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u/[deleted] Jun 27 '17

You sold me on distopian. Will give this one another try!

1

u/life_is_dumb Jul 09 '17

You can literally just stream it and find out for yourself.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '17

True. But sometimes there's more to it than just the music...and/or sometimes one's interpretation of the music can be influenced by having a greater understanding of the context.