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There, There - The top 20 Radiohead Songs
Before I get started with this list, I have to say this was not exactly easy. I originally started out with just a "Top 10", and then changed it to "Top 15" but any Radiohead fan knows this is a very hard task to pull off as Radiohead's library is home to some of the best music over the past 25 years. Coming up with 20 top songs was not easy, but I managed to pull together the ones that stuck out to me most. Some are accessable, more radio-friendly songs and some are more dramatic, darker peices. So, here goes...
20. Prove Yourself - Pablo Honey ('93)
I am not the biggest fan of Pablo Honey. It's not bad at all...in fact, compared to the rest of the early 90's grunge/alternative movement, this album is one of the best. But, nothing about the album really sticks like the rest of the stuff Radiohead put out. Prove Yourself is pretty standard, and pretty catchy. When you first hear it, you'll not think much of it. But, in 1993 this was a pavement song for what was a formula for most alternative bands. So, at the time it was rather original.
19. Sulk - The Bends ('95)
This song was based upon the killings in Hungerford, England in 1987. However, when I was in jr. high I would listen to this song whenever I felt bad for myself or felt like everything in my life sucked. I had no idea Radiohead was pulling a U2 and singing about a historical black day with Sulk. This song really doesn't get a lot of attention unfrotunately. However it may be a simple song, it's powerful and soothing to say the least.
18. Morning Bell - Kid A ('00)
Morning Bell comes into play immeditely following the drowning out of Iditoteque, and it slows things down. MB is a serene, semi-depressing sounding song that kind of puts you in a really relaxing mood.
17. Creep - Pablo Honey ('93)
Yeah...nothin' really more to say about this song than already has been said. It's the song that put Radiohead on the map, but after listening to the rest of their collection you wonder if they really were behind most of the music of Pablo Honey. Creep just gets a spot due to what it did for the band. Still a good tune, even if over-played.
16. 15 Step - In Rainbows ('08)
In Rainbows is a terrific album that goes to show that Radiohead - after 15 years of going at it - can STILL produce original, great art. This is the beauty of Radiohead. However, this album is too fresh in my mind for me to rank it amongst the established stuff, so I chose the one song from the album that definitely stuck out the most. Unfortunately, this song was used in the movie Twilight. But, don't get discouraged, it's a magnificent song that sounds as it should be on the Kid A album. Awesome.
15. (Nice Dream) - The Bends ('95)
A HIGHLY underrated song off the the HIGHLY underrated (well, at the time) album, The Bends. I don't have much to say about this song other than just listen to it while you're in a daydreaming mood or just layin' in bed. Great tune.
14. Idioteque - Kid A ('00)
The defining song of Radiohead's new direction after a three-year hiatus between OK Computer and Kid A. OK Computer took their alternative guitar sound from Pablo Honey and The Bends and added some nice dark, electronic elements in the mix to make one of the best albums of all time. But, it was in 2000 when Kid A hit the streets that Radiohead had seemingly ditched their guitars, bass, and drums and went for entire electronica. Some fans argue that Kid A is the best album that Radiohead produced, but after back-to-back electronic-heavy ablums, Radiohead pleased the fans with a remarkable album - Hail To The Thief. Fully with guitars and their other goodies. But, I'll touch more on that later...
13. Subterranean Homesick Alien - OK Computer ('97)
Ah, one of the coolest, most relaxing songs Radiohead has produced. SHA to me was a great tune that represented the kid inside all of us that felt that our friends and people around us didn't really understand us, but it was okay because you'd go on to do something unique in life. Some really great drumming in this song too...really great song.
12. Optimistic - Kid A ('00)
Ah, Optimistic. The best song off of Kid A. One of the only songs on the album that maintained Radiohead's unique blend of industrial guitar and dark electronic synths. This song is dark, and very industrial seeming. It's one of those songs that might not stick with you at first, but give it a listen and you'll not regret it.
11. Karma Police - OK Computer ('97)
Karma Police is one of the more popular songs by Radiohead. However, one of the most well-crafted peices of intstruments in a song I've ever seen. Piano rock had not seen a lot of love in the 90s, but Radiohead made it really cool again with this dark, dramatic peice with a great ending.
10. Fake Plastic Trees - The Bends ('95)
No Radiohead "top" list would be complete without Fake Plastic Trees in it. FPT may be a more "mainstream" song that moive and teen soap's have used in their soundtracks over the years, but this tune was (and still is) beautiful. If you haven't heard this song before, go out and hear it now before you read the rest. Go. Now.
9. I Might Be Wrong - Amnesiac ('01)
Oh, sorry Amnesiac fans...I have given no love to this album and I don't plan on giving it anymore other than this dark, industrial rock song. This album was not bad, but there was not any variety in the album. I love Radiohead and can accept that they aren't the most "upbeat" band ever...that's what I like about 'em...but, Amnesiac drowns you out and makes you feel really zoned out after listening to it. Thankfully, Hail To The Thief came in to clean things up two years later.
8. Airbag - OK Computer ('97)
Oh man...Airbag was the pepper to Paranoid Android's salt. These two songs go hand in hand. They aren't too similar, but if you owned the CD before iTunes shuffle was the thing, you listened to these two songs back to back because they were 1, and 2 respectively. Airbag is awesome. 'Nuff said.
7. Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was - The Bends ('95)
Ah ha...I pulled this one out of my sleeves and surprised you, didn't I? I thought so. Bullet Proof is so relaxing it makes me feel like a slice of butter melting over a big 'ole pile of flapjacks (Pineapple Express reference). It's just so serene it kills me. I used to lay in bed and listen to this song on repeat for a really, really long time.
6. Paranoid Android - OK Computer ('97)
Uh oh...you thought Paranoid Android would be numero uno, didn't you? Well, I'm not one to say it should automatically be the best song due to its immense popularity. But, this song no doubt is easily one of the better songs written in the past 25 years. I was only 13 when this song came out, but I remember clearly loving it and all my friends weren't so much in love. Oh well, their loss.
5. 2+2 = 5 - Hail To The Thief ('03)
Perhaps one of Radiohead's most upbeat tunes ever made, 225 takes you on one hell of a ride. Ah I love it! This song will definitely get you to appreciate Radiohead's special skill they have of taking a sinister, slow, drawn-out peice and then saying "Now, here's a kick in the head!" and blasts you into a whirlwind of crazy drumming, funky guitar tunes, and a shaky-voiced Thom Yorke making you feel that he "can't take it anymore" and goes wild. What a GREAT way to start an album.
4. Climbing Up The Walls - OK Computer ('97)
Oh wow...just listening to this will give you the creeps. It sounds as if it should be playing in some crazy, mental thriller movie soundtrack. This song is really creepy, and dark. But, I love it. The buildup and eventual ending are so dramatic that it makes this song one of the best songs Radiohead has ever made. All the instruments in this song are blended so perfectly!
3. Exit Music (For A Film) - OK Computer ('97)
Exit Music is a lot like Climbing Up The Walls in that it takes a dramatic, simple tune and eventually builds it up to something on a grand, hugely dramatic scale. The title is fiting, because this song is very theatrical. So beautiful. I love it...I love it.
2. There, There - Hail To The Thief ('03)
They did it...they made one of their best songs ever...and easily one of the best songs in the 2000s after I personally thought they were done with after Amnesiac. But no, they came back, and they wowed me. This song defines the perfect Radiohead song in my honest person. I love the line, "Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there...". Man! It's almost perfect. But, not as perfect as...
1. Let Down - OK Computer ('97)
Well, I guess I should've just gone ahead and made a "Top 10 Songs from OK Computer"...but even that wouldn't have worked considering all 12 songs are amazing. But, Let Down is Radiohead's utlimate achievement in their career. Their best song. It's very sad, but very uplifting at the same time. So beautiful. So amazing.
Honorable Mentions:
The Tourist - OK Computer ('97)
Lucky - OK Computer ('97)
You - Pablo Honey ('93)
No Surprises - OK Computer ('97)
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - The Bends ('95)
All I Need - In Rainbows ('08)
Jigsaw Falling Into Place - In Rainbows ('08)
Myxomatosis - Hail To The Thief ('03)
A Wolf At The Door - Hail To The Thief ('03)
High And Dry - The Bends ('95)
Bones - The Bends ('95)
The Bends - The Bends ('95)
Knives Out - Amnesiac ('01)
20. Prove Yourself - Pablo Honey ('93)
I am not the biggest fan of Pablo Honey. It's not bad at all...in fact, compared to the rest of the early 90's grunge/alternative movement, this album is one of the best. But, nothing about the album really sticks like the rest of the stuff Radiohead put out. Prove Yourself is pretty standard, and pretty catchy. When you first hear it, you'll not think much of it. But, in 1993 this was a pavement song for what was a formula for most alternative bands. So, at the time it was rather original.
19. Sulk - The Bends ('95)
This song was based upon the killings in Hungerford, England in 1987. However, when I was in jr. high I would listen to this song whenever I felt bad for myself or felt like everything in my life sucked. I had no idea Radiohead was pulling a U2 and singing about a historical black day with Sulk. This song really doesn't get a lot of attention unfrotunately. However it may be a simple song, it's powerful and soothing to say the least.
18. Morning Bell - Kid A ('00)
Morning Bell comes into play immeditely following the drowning out of Iditoteque, and it slows things down. MB is a serene, semi-depressing sounding song that kind of puts you in a really relaxing mood.
17. Creep - Pablo Honey ('93)
Yeah...nothin' really more to say about this song than already has been said. It's the song that put Radiohead on the map, but after listening to the rest of their collection you wonder if they really were behind most of the music of Pablo Honey. Creep just gets a spot due to what it did for the band. Still a good tune, even if over-played.
16. 15 Step - In Rainbows ('08)
In Rainbows is a terrific album that goes to show that Radiohead - after 15 years of going at it - can STILL produce original, great art. This is the beauty of Radiohead. However, this album is too fresh in my mind for me to rank it amongst the established stuff, so I chose the one song from the album that definitely stuck out the most. Unfortunately, this song was used in the movie Twilight. But, don't get discouraged, it's a magnificent song that sounds as it should be on the Kid A album. Awesome.
15. (Nice Dream) - The Bends ('95)
A HIGHLY underrated song off the the HIGHLY underrated (well, at the time) album, The Bends. I don't have much to say about this song other than just listen to it while you're in a daydreaming mood or just layin' in bed. Great tune.
14. Idioteque - Kid A ('00)
The defining song of Radiohead's new direction after a three-year hiatus between OK Computer and Kid A. OK Computer took their alternative guitar sound from Pablo Honey and The Bends and added some nice dark, electronic elements in the mix to make one of the best albums of all time. But, it was in 2000 when Kid A hit the streets that Radiohead had seemingly ditched their guitars, bass, and drums and went for entire electronica. Some fans argue that Kid A is the best album that Radiohead produced, but after back-to-back electronic-heavy ablums, Radiohead pleased the fans with a remarkable album - Hail To The Thief. Fully with guitars and their other goodies. But, I'll touch more on that later...
13. Subterranean Homesick Alien - OK Computer ('97)
Ah, one of the coolest, most relaxing songs Radiohead has produced. SHA to me was a great tune that represented the kid inside all of us that felt that our friends and people around us didn't really understand us, but it was okay because you'd go on to do something unique in life. Some really great drumming in this song too...really great song.
12. Optimistic - Kid A ('00)
Ah, Optimistic. The best song off of Kid A. One of the only songs on the album that maintained Radiohead's unique blend of industrial guitar and dark electronic synths. This song is dark, and very industrial seeming. It's one of those songs that might not stick with you at first, but give it a listen and you'll not regret it.
11. Karma Police - OK Computer ('97)
Karma Police is one of the more popular songs by Radiohead. However, one of the most well-crafted peices of intstruments in a song I've ever seen. Piano rock had not seen a lot of love in the 90s, but Radiohead made it really cool again with this dark, dramatic peice with a great ending.
10. Fake Plastic Trees - The Bends ('95)
No Radiohead "top" list would be complete without Fake Plastic Trees in it. FPT may be a more "mainstream" song that moive and teen soap's have used in their soundtracks over the years, but this tune was (and still is) beautiful. If you haven't heard this song before, go out and hear it now before you read the rest. Go. Now.
9. I Might Be Wrong - Amnesiac ('01)
Oh, sorry Amnesiac fans...I have given no love to this album and I don't plan on giving it anymore other than this dark, industrial rock song. This album was not bad, but there was not any variety in the album. I love Radiohead and can accept that they aren't the most "upbeat" band ever...that's what I like about 'em...but, Amnesiac drowns you out and makes you feel really zoned out after listening to it. Thankfully, Hail To The Thief came in to clean things up two years later.
8. Airbag - OK Computer ('97)
Oh man...Airbag was the pepper to Paranoid Android's salt. These two songs go hand in hand. They aren't too similar, but if you owned the CD before iTunes shuffle was the thing, you listened to these two songs back to back because they were 1, and 2 respectively. Airbag is awesome. 'Nuff said.
7. Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was - The Bends ('95)
Ah ha...I pulled this one out of my sleeves and surprised you, didn't I? I thought so. Bullet Proof is so relaxing it makes me feel like a slice of butter melting over a big 'ole pile of flapjacks (Pineapple Express reference). It's just so serene it kills me. I used to lay in bed and listen to this song on repeat for a really, really long time.
6. Paranoid Android - OK Computer ('97)
Uh oh...you thought Paranoid Android would be numero uno, didn't you? Well, I'm not one to say it should automatically be the best song due to its immense popularity. But, this song no doubt is easily one of the better songs written in the past 25 years. I was only 13 when this song came out, but I remember clearly loving it and all my friends weren't so much in love. Oh well, their loss.
5. 2+2 = 5 - Hail To The Thief ('03)
Perhaps one of Radiohead's most upbeat tunes ever made, 225 takes you on one hell of a ride. Ah I love it! This song will definitely get you to appreciate Radiohead's special skill they have of taking a sinister, slow, drawn-out peice and then saying "Now, here's a kick in the head!" and blasts you into a whirlwind of crazy drumming, funky guitar tunes, and a shaky-voiced Thom Yorke making you feel that he "can't take it anymore" and goes wild. What a GREAT way to start an album.
4. Climbing Up The Walls - OK Computer ('97)
Oh wow...just listening to this will give you the creeps. It sounds as if it should be playing in some crazy, mental thriller movie soundtrack. This song is really creepy, and dark. But, I love it. The buildup and eventual ending are so dramatic that it makes this song one of the best songs Radiohead has ever made. All the instruments in this song are blended so perfectly!
3. Exit Music (For A Film) - OK Computer ('97)
Exit Music is a lot like Climbing Up The Walls in that it takes a dramatic, simple tune and eventually builds it up to something on a grand, hugely dramatic scale. The title is fiting, because this song is very theatrical. So beautiful. I love it...I love it.
2. There, There - Hail To The Thief ('03)
They did it...they made one of their best songs ever...and easily one of the best songs in the 2000s after I personally thought they were done with after Amnesiac. But no, they came back, and they wowed me. This song defines the perfect Radiohead song in my honest person. I love the line, "Just 'cause you feel it, doesn't mean it's there...". Man! It's almost perfect. But, not as perfect as...
1. Let Down - OK Computer ('97)
Well, I guess I should've just gone ahead and made a "Top 10 Songs from OK Computer"...but even that wouldn't have worked considering all 12 songs are amazing. But, Let Down is Radiohead's utlimate achievement in their career. Their best song. It's very sad, but very uplifting at the same time. So beautiful. So amazing.
Honorable Mentions:
The Tourist - OK Computer ('97)
Lucky - OK Computer ('97)
You - Pablo Honey ('93)
No Surprises - OK Computer ('97)
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - The Bends ('95)
All I Need - In Rainbows ('08)
Jigsaw Falling Into Place - In Rainbows ('08)
Myxomatosis - Hail To The Thief ('03)
A Wolf At The Door - Hail To The Thief ('03)
High And Dry - The Bends ('95)
Bones - The Bends ('95)
The Bends - The Bends ('95)
Knives Out - Amnesiac ('01)
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