Radiohead

There is no question in my mind that Radiohead is the best band of the last quarter-century. No one even comes close.

Their growth trajectory is as remarkable as that of The Beatles, but unlike The Beatles, they didn’t stop growing. Every Radiohead album offers something you didn’t expect, and every time you think they’ve hit their peak, they surprise you with new approaches, sounds and textures.

Because of their astonishing growth, people tend to forget that they began life as a pretty capable grunge-leaning guitar band. By the time OK Computer came out, their songwriting talents had caught up with their instrumental gifts, resulting in one of the great albums of the decade. In a remarkably courageous and risky move, they decided to blow up the entire guitar-dependent formula for their follow-up album, and while Kid A baffled much of the audience at first, over time it has come to be recognized as one of their greatest contributions to music. Later in the decade, they produced another all-time gem with In Rainbows, demonstrating once again their insatiable thirst for creative breakthroughs.

As you’ll learn from the reviews, my first real exposure to Radiohead came via Kid A, so my perspective on their catalogue may differ from mainstream interpretations. While they’ve had a few misses along the way, I’ve never doubted their commitment to their craft and their willingness to push the limits.