Music Review: Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ Overrated and Terrible

Released a quarter-century ago this spring, Radiohead’s OK Computer remains one of the most acclaimed landmarks of the 1990s in any medium. Stephen Dalton of LouderSound.com calls it “An epochal album” as well as “beautiful, mysterious, romantic, anguished, baroque and thrillingly experimental.” OK Computer is innovative, brilliant, and unforgettable. The only problem with it is that you can’t actually listen to it. It’s hectic, clanging, nonsensical, disturbed, and depressing. It’s like getting dragged into an argument with three shouting madmen and a sound-effects board.

Thom Yorke & Co. don’t seem to grasp that music has to fit in someplace, to play some purpose. It goes with walking (the Beatles), working (Bach), shirking (Yacht rock), driving (the Eighties station), imbibing (country), getting up (pop), getting down (R & B), working out (hard rock, rap), and possibly even dancing (I wouldn’t know).

About the Author

Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is the film critic for the Wall Street Journal.

Released a quarter-century ago this spring, Radiohead’s OK Computer remains one of the most acclaimed landmarks of the 1990s in any medium. Stephen Dalton of LouderSound.com calls it “An epochal album” as well as “beautiful, mysterious, romantic, anguished, baroque and thrillingly experimental.” OK Computer is innovative, brilliant, and unforgettable. The only problem with it is that you can’t actually listen to it. It’s hectic, clanging, nonsensical, disturbed, and depressing. It’s like getting dragged into an argument with three shouting madmen and a sound-effects board.

Thom Yorke & Co. don’t seem to grasp that music has to fit in someplace, to play some purpose. It goes with walking (the Beatles), working (Bach), shirking (Yacht rock), driving (the Eighties station), imbibing (country), getting up (pop), getting down (R & B), working out (hard rock, rap), and possibly even dancing (I wouldn’t know).