Radiohead – OK Computer (1997)
Released in 1997, OK Computer is the third studio album by Radiohead and a landmark in alternative rock history. The album marked a dramatic evolution from the band’s previous work, embracing experimental textures, complex arrangements, and socially conscious themes.
Critically acclaimed upon release, OK Computer is often considered one of the greatest albums of the 1990s and a defining statement in modern rock.
Album Credits
Band Members:
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Thom Yorke – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
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Jonny Greenwood – Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Ondes Martenot
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Ed O’Brien – Guitar, Backing Vocals
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Colin Greenwood – Bass
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Philip Selway – Drums, Percussion
Producers: Nigel Godrich & Radiohead
Label: Parlophone (UK), Capitol Records (US)
Release Year: 1997
Genre: Alternative Rock / Art Rock / Experimental Rock
Album Tracklist
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Airbag
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Paranoid Android
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Subterranean Homesick Alien
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Exit Music (For a Film)
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Let Down
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Karma Police
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Climbing Up the Walls
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No Surprises
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Lucky
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The Tourist
Total Length: Approx. 53 minutes
Cover Art & Design
The cover features a fragmented, abstract collage of roads, signage, and a human figure, evoking themes of alienation, modernity, and technological disconnection.
Designed by Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke (under the pseudonym “Tchock”), the artwork mirrors the album’s exploration of dystopia, societal overload, and human anxiety.
Musical Style & Sound
OK Computer is notable for:
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Dense layering of guitars, electronics, and ambient textures
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Experimentation with time signatures, chord structures, and sound effects
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Lyrical themes of alienation, consumerism, and technological anxiety
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Seamless blending of rock, electronic, and orchestral elements
Standout tracks:
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“Paranoid Android” – six-minute multi-part epic blending prog-rock complexity with haunting vocals
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“Karma Police” – melodic yet menacing commentary on authority and conformity
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“No Surprises” – minimalist instrumentation delivering poignant social critique
The album balances experimental soundscapes with memorable hooks, resulting in music that is both challenging and emotionally compelling.
Fun Facts & Trivia
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Grammy Recognition: Won the 1998 Grammy for Best Alternative Album.
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Influential Producer: Nigel Godrich, often called the “sixth member of Radiohead,” became a long-term collaborator starting with this album.
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Recording Locations: Sessions took place in St. Catherine’s Court, a historic mansion in Somerset, England, giving the album a spacious, atmospheric sound.
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Song Inspirations: “Exit Music (For a Film)” was written for the ending of Romeo + Juliet (1996).
Did You Know?
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The band deliberately avoided conventional pop formulas, creating songs with unconventional structures and shifting moods.
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OK Computer has been cited by artists such as Coldplay, Muse, and Arcade Fire as a major influence.
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The album’s themes anticipate the societal anxieties of the 21st century, from technology overload to alienation in urban life.
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“Paranoid Android” was inspired by a combination of The Beatles’ experimentalism and Jonny Greenwood’s fascination with progressive rock.
Cultural Impact & Legacy
OK Computer is widely regarded as one of the most important albums of the 1990s. It helped redefine what alternative rock could achieve, merging accessibility with ambitious experimentation.
The album solidified Radiohead as innovators, bridging rock, electronic, and avant-garde influences, and continues to influence musicians and listeners worldwide.
Download Radiohead's Albums from Amazon Music
More Albums:
Radiohead - Pablo Honey (1993)
Radiohead - Hail to the Thief (2003)
Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
Radiohead - The King of Limbs (2011)