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OK Computer

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OK Computer is an album by the band Radiohead. It was released in 1997.[1] It reached No.1 in the UK Albums Chart. Four singles were released from it. "Paranoid Android" reached No.3 in the UK. "No Surprises" reached No.4. It got good reviews. Pitchfork gave it 10 out of 10.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic5/5 stars[3]
Chicago Tribune3.5/4 stars[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[5]
The Guardian4/5 stars[6]
NME10/10[7]
Pitchfork Media10/10[8]
Q5/5 stars[9]
Rolling Stone4/5 stars[10]
Spin8/10[11]
The Village VoiceB−[12]

OK Computer received near-unanimous critical acclaim. Critics in the British and American press generally agreed that the album was a landmark of its time and would have far-reaching impact and importance,[13][14] and that the band's willingness to experiment made it a challenging listen. According to Footman, "Not since 1967, with the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, had so many major critics agreed immediately, not only on an album's merits, but on its long-term significance, and its ability to encapsulate a particular point in history."[15] In the English press, the album garnered favourable reviews in NME,[7] Melody Maker,[16] The Guardian,[6] and Q.[9] Nick Kent wrote in Mojo that "Others may end up selling more, but in 20 years time I'm betting OK Computer will be seen as the key record of 1997, the one to take rock forward instead of artfully revamping images and song-structures from an earlier era."[17] "Every word sounds achingly sincere, every note spewed from the heart," wrote John Harris in Select, "and yet it roots itself firmly in a world of steel, glass, random-access memory and prickly-skinned paranoia."[18]

In an otherwise positive review, Andy Gill wrote for The Independent, "For all its ambition and determination to break new ground, OK Computer is not, finally, as impressive as The Bends, which covered much the same sort of emotional knots, but with better tunes. It is easy to be impressed by, but ultimately hard to love, an album that luxuriates so readily in its own despondency."[19]

The album was well received by critics in North America. Rolling Stone,[10] Spin,[11] and Pitchfork Media[8] published positive reviews. In The New Yorker, Alex Ross praised its progressiveness, and contrasted Radiohead's risk-taking with the musically conservative "dadrock" of their contemporaries Oasis. Ross wrote that "Throughout the album, contrasts of mood and style are extreme ... This band has pulled off one of the great art-pop balancing acts in the history of rock."[20]

Reviews for Entertainment Weekly,[5] the Chicago Tribune,[4] and Time[21] were mixed or contained qualified praise. Robert Christgau from The Village Voice said Radiohead immersed Yorke's vocals in "enough electronic marginal distinction to feed a coal town for a month" and to compensate for how soulless the songs are, resulting in "arid" art rock.[12]

The album appeared in many 1997 critics' lists and listener polls for best album of the year. It topped the year-end polls of Mojo, Vox, Entertainment Weekly, Hot Press, Muziekkrant OOR, HUMO, Eye Weekly and Inpress, and tied for first place with Daft Punk's Homework in The Face. The album came second in NME, Melody Maker, Rolling Stone, Village Voice, Spin and Uncut. Q and Les Inrockuptibles both listed the album in their unranked year-end polls.[22] It was a nominee for the 1997 Mercury Prize, a prestigious award recognising the best British or Irish album of the year.[23]

The near universal positive reception to the album overwhelmed the band, and some members thought the press was excessively congratulatory. Particularly irksome to the band were links to progressive rock and art rock, with frequent comparisons to Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon.[24] Yorke responded: "We write pop songs ... there was no intention of it being 'art'. It's a reflection of all the disparate things we were listening to when we recorded it."[25] He was nevertheless pleasantly surprised that many listeners identified the album's musical influences: "What really blew my head off was the fact that people got all the things, all the textures and the sounds and the atmospheres we were trying to create."[26] "In England, I think a lot of the reviews have been slightly over-the-top," remarked Jonny Greenwood, "because the last album [The Bends] was somewhat under-reviewed possibly and under-received."[27] ==Reissues==Radiohead left EMI, parent company of Parlophone, in 2007 after failed contract negotiations. EMI retained the copyright to Radiohead's back catalogue of material recorded while signed to the label.[28] After a period of being Out_of_print on vinyl, EMI reissued a double-LP of OK Computer on 19 August 2008, along with later albums Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail_to_the_Thief as part of the "From the Capitol Vaults" series.[29] OK Computer became the year's tenth best-selling vinyl record, shifting just under 10,000 units.[30] The reissue was connected in the press to a general upswing in vinyl sales and cultural appreciation of records as a format.[31][32]

OK Computer was reissued again on 24 March 2009 simultaneously with Pablo Honey and The Bends, without Radiohead's involvement. The reissue came in two editions: a 2-CD "Collector's Edition" and a 2-CD 1-DVD "Special Collector's Edition". The first disc contains the original studio album, the second disc contains B-sides collected from OK Computer singles and live recording sessions, and the DVD contains a collection of music videos and a live television performance.[33] All material on the reissue had been previously released.[34]

In a March 2009 interview, O'Brien claimed that EMI had not notified the band members of the reissue and said "I think the fans have got most of [the material on the reissues], it's all the stuff up on YouTube. This is just a company who are trying to squeeze every bit of lost money, it's not about [an] artistic statement."[41] Press reaction to the reissue announcement reflected the concern that EMI was exploiting Radiohead's back catalogue. Larry Fitzmaurice of Spin accused EMI of planning to "issue and re-issue [Radiohead's] discography until the cash stops rolling in",[33] and Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal said it was "hard to look at these reissues as anything other than a cash-grab for EMI/Capitol—an old media company that got dumped by their most forward-thinking band."[34] Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone defended EMI, saying "While it's easy to accuse Capitol of milking the cash cow once again, these sets are pretty comprehensive."[42]

The reissue was critically well received, although critics were mixed about the supplemental material. Reviews in AllMusic,[35] Uncut,[40] Q,[39] Rolling Stone[38] and PopMatters[43] praised the supplemental material, but with reservations. A review written by Scott Plagenhoef for Pitchfork awarded the reissue a perfect score, arguing that it was worth buying for fans who did not already own the rare material. Plagenhoef said, "That the band had nothing to do with these is beside the point: This is the final word on these records, if for no other reason that the Beatles' September 9 remaster campaign is, arguably, the end of the CD era."[37] The A.V. Club writer Josh Modell praised both the bonus disc and the DVD, and said of the album, "And what can be said about 1997's OK Computer that hasn't been said before? It really is the perfect synthesis of Radiohead's seemingly conflicted impulses."[36]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Radiohead (Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Jonny Greenwood, Philip Selway, and Thom Yorke). 

Professional ratings
"Collector's Edition"
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic5/5 stars[35]
The A.V. ClubA[36]
Pitchfork Media10/10[37]
Rolling Stone5/5 stars[38]
Q5/5 stars[39]
Uncut5/5 stars[40]
No. Title Length
1. "Airbag"   4:44
2. "Paranoid Android"   6:23
3. "Subterranean Homesick Alien"   4:27
4. "Exit Music (For a Film)"   4:24
5. "Let Down"   4:59
6. "Karma Police"   4:21
7. "Fitter Happier"   1:57
8. "Electioneering"   3:50
9. "Climbing Up the Walls"   4:45
10. "No Surprises"   3:48
11. "Lucky"   4:19
12. "The Tourist"   5:24

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Notes

Footnotes

    Citations

    1. ↑ "OK Computer". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
    2. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20010303103405/www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/r/radiohead/ok-computer.shtml
    3. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "OK Computer – Radiohead". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
    4. 1 2 Kot, Greg (4 July 1997), "Radiohead OK Computer (Capitol)", Chicago Tribune, archived from the original on 30 September 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    5. 1 2 Browne, David (11 July 1997), "OK Computer Review", Entertainment Weekly, archived from the original on 5 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    6. 1 2 Sullivan, Caroline (13 June 1997), "Aching Heads", The Guardian
    7. 1 2 Oldham, James (14 June 1997), "The Rise and Rise of the ROM Empire", NME
    8. 1 2 Schreiber, Ryan (31 December 1997), "Radiohead: OK Computer: Pitchfork Review", Pitchfork Media, archived from the original on 30 October 2001, retrieved 16 May 2009 {{citation}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 3 March 2001 suggested (help)
    9. 1 2 Cavanagh, David (July 1997), "Moonstruck", Q
    10. 1 2 Kemp, Mark (10 July 1997), "OK Computer : Radiohead : Review", Rolling Stone, retrieved 29 September 2008
    11. 1 2 Cite error: The named reference Spin review was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
    12. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (23 September 1997), "Consumer Guide Sept. 1997", The Village Voice, archived from the original on 5 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    13. ↑ Footman 2007, pp. 181–182.
    14. ↑ Clarke 2010, p. 121.
    15. ↑ Footman 2007, p. 182.
    16. ↑ Parkes, Taylor (14 June 1997), "Review of OK Computer", Melody Maker
    17. ↑ Kent, Nick (July 1997), "Press your space next to mine, love", Mojo
    18. ↑ Harris, John (July 1997). "Ground control to Major Thom". Select: 92. {{cite journal}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |magazine= (help)
    19. ↑ Gill, Andy (13 June 1997), "Andy Gill on albums: Radiohead OK Computer Parlophone", The Independent, retrieved 27 July 2013
    20. ↑ Ross, Alex (29 September 1997), "Dadrock", The New Yorker, retrieved 29 September 2008
    21. ↑ Farley, Christopher John (25 August 1997), "Lost in Space", Time, archived from the original on 5 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    22. ↑ Footman 2007, pp. 183–184.
    23. ↑ "Mercury Prize 2008: The nominees". BBC News. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    24. ↑ Varga, George (November 2001), "Radiohead's Jazz Frequencies", JazzTimes
    25. ↑ Clarke 2010, p. 124.
    26. ↑ Gill, Andy (5 October 2007), "Ok computer: Why the record industry is terrified of Radiohead's new album", The Independent, archived from the original on 5 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    27. ↑ Cite error: The named reference LAUNCH was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
    28. ↑ Sherwin, Adam (28 December 2007), "EMI accuses Radiohead after group's demands for more fell on deaf ears", The Times
    29. ↑ "Coldplay, Radiohead to be reissued on vinyl", NME, 10 July 2008, archived from the original on 2 November 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    30. ↑ V, Petey (9 January 2009), "Animal Collective Rides Vinyl Wave into '09, Massive 2008 Vinyl Sales Figures Confuse Everyone but B-52s Fans", Tiny Mix Tapes, archived from the original on 1 November 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    31. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (8 January 2009), "Radiohead, Neutral Milk Hotel Help Vinyl Sales Almost Double in 2008", Rolling Stone, archived from the original on 1 November 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    32. ↑ "The 7in. revival – fans get back in the groove", The Independent, 18 July 2008, archived from the original on 1 November 2010
    33. 1 2 3 4 Fitzmaurice, Larry (15 January 2009), "Radiohead's First Three Albums Reissued with Extras", Spin, archived from the original on 29 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    34. 1 2 Dombal, Ryan (14 January 2009), "Radiohead's First Three Albums Reissued and Expanded", Pitchfork Media, archived from the original on 29 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    35. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, "OK Computer [Collector's Edition] [2CD/1DVD]", AllMusic, archived from the original on 29 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    36. 1 2 Modell, Josh (3 April 2009), "Pablo Honey / The Bends / OK Computer", The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 3 October 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    37. 1 2 Plagenhoef, Scott (16 April 2009). "Radiohead: Pablo Honey: Collector's Edition / The Bends: Collector's Edition / OK Computer: Collector's Edition". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    38. 1 2 Hermes, Will (30 April 2009), "OK Computer (Collector's Edition)", Rolling Stone, archived from the original on 29 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    39. 1 2 Segal, Victoria (May 2009), "Reissues: Radiohead", Q
    40. 1 2 Richards, Sam (8 April 2009), "Album review: Radiohead Reissues – Collectors Editions", Uncut, archived from the original on 29 August 2011
    41. ↑ Rossi, Italo (19 March 2009). "Breakfast with Ed O'Brien". Radioheadperu.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    42. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (15 January 2009), "Radiohead's First Three Albums Reissued with Extras", Rolling Stone, archived from the original on 29 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    43. ↑ McCarthy, Sean (18 December 2009), "The Best Re-Issues of 2009: 18: Radiohead: Pablo Honey / The Bends / OK Computer / Kid A / Amnesiac / Hail to the Thief", PopMatters, archived from the original on 29 August 2011 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    44. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    45. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    46. 1 2 "Radiohead – OK Computer". Ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    47. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs", RPM, vol. 65, no. 17, 30 June 1997, archived from the original on 3 January 2012 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    48. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    49. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Lescharts.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    50. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Radiohead / Longplay". musicline.de. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    51. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Charts.org.nz. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    52. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Spanishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    53. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    54. ↑ "Radiohead – OK Computer". Hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    55. 1 2 "Radiohead – The Official Charts Company". The Official BPI Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    56. ↑ "Artist Chart History – Radiohead". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
    57. ↑ "Artist Chart History – Radiohead". Billboard. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009.
    58. ↑ "Search: Radiohead". Charts.org.nz. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    59. ↑ "Search: Radiohead". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    60. ↑ "Search: Radiohead". Swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    61. ↑ "Eenvoudige zoekopdracht: Radiohead". Dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    62. ↑ "Discos de Oro y Platino" (in Spanish). CAPIF. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
    63. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
    64. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
    65. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer". Music Canada. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
    66. ↑ "French album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
    67. ↑ "Les Albums Double Or :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
    68. ↑ "Italian album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 30 October 2012. Select "2012" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "OK Computer" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
    69. ↑ "RIAJ > The Record > June 1998 > Certified Awards (April 1998)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 January 2014.
    70. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 26 June 2016.[dead link]
    71. ↑ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
    72. ↑ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados > 1995–1999". Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
    73. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
    74. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('OK Computer')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
    75. ↑ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
    76. ↑ Jones, Alan (13 May 2016). "Official Charts Analysis: Drake holds off competition from Calvin Harris and Justin Timberlake". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 14 May 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
    77. ↑ "American album certifications – Radiohead – OK Computer". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
    78. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
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