Is OK Computer really that good?

[Stone]

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/90s/index10.shtml

Don't get me wrong, I like the album, but it's certainly not close to my #1 for the 90s, and I like The Bends better. For #1, I'd probably go with In the Aeroplane... or Emergency & I, but it could also be Slanted & Enchanted or others on any given day.

What do you guys and gals think (about OK Computer and the list)?

Happy Thanksgiving,

Stone

[nobody]

List was kinda all over the place to me. I like radiohead, but would never pick OK Computer for best of the decade, but really, I don't know what I would pick.

I think grungy stuff got a raw deal on the list. 2 Nirvana records were about it, and like it or not, it really was grunge, or whatever you wanna call it, that got rock back into the public conciousness during the 90s, so I think it needs more than 2 records in a top 100. Maybe give it up for Mudhoney or Soundgarden anyway. I think they could have gone more mainstream with their hip hop picks too. The Chronic should have been much higher. And, I didn't notice much of any R&B outside of hip hop. But, then again, they're on an indie rock crusade over there, so it makes sense that their list reflects that.

What was really interesting to me was how they decided to redo a list after only a couple years. Revisionism of the highest degree there. I think it's pretty funny really. Points out why people shouldn't be so damn certain that they are right all the time. You get these guys setting themselves up as experts, and they go back and change their minds about everything a couple years later. Nothing new, just one of the more obvious examples. And, I do have to commend them for being so blatant. Makes you wonder what their list will look like as things evolve.

[-Jar-]

I really can't fault their pick of OK COMPUTER as best album. But if LOVELESS were #1 I wouldn't fault that either. I think one Pavement album in the top 10 is enough. If I had bought CROOKED RAIN back when it came out (if at all), I might think it deserved that spot. Never heard that Bonnie Prince Billy album. Nor do I have much experience with Guided by Voices. SPIDERLAND makes my top 5 easy, but #12 is respectable I guess. I haven't really yet gotten inside AEROPLANE but I understand it being in the top 10. I love SOFT BULLETIN but even I probably wouldn't put it in the top 10. I wish I had my own top 100 handy. It was on a website that got yanked, but I think still have the code at home. I have Jesus Lizard's GOAT high up in my list, they have it at #38, not bad. At least LIAR is also in there. But no Melvins.. weird. Oh, and Beck's MUTATIONS would be high on my list. Though ODELAY is pretty groundbreaking too.

But anyway, I think it's a good list, not a great list. No matter how you rank them, there are some great albums on that list, but also a lot of great ones that aren't.

-jar-

[Dusty Chalk]

Can't get to the page right now.

But no, it's completely over-rated. I can think of about 100 albums I like better.

I don't know. I like Radiohead, both old (The Bends!) and new (Kid A, Amnesiac, Tales of the Reef), but for some reason, could just never get into OK Computer.

[Davey.]

It's not a bad list for my tastes, but I tend to like this and other lists like it more for the mini-reviews that go with it which does add some cultural, or at least musical, context to some of the albums that was probably lacking in the initial reviews. The top spots on the new version aren't much different from the old list and I do like some of the changes like getting the Built To Spill albums in the right order, and the high placement of Yo La Tengo and the nod to Talk Talk and the recognition of what a good album that last indie release by Modest Mouse was and continues to be. Not too surprised at how high Neutral Milk Hotel placed (last time it was #85) as its stature has grown dramatically in the last few years. Maybe Nude As The News was the only zine that got it right back in the day when they placed it in the top 3 of their 100 most compelling albums of the 90s. Kind of sad reading what they said back then and knowing how hard life has been for him since ....

Jeff Mangum proves himself one of the decade's most promising young songwriters with In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, the visionary's second release as the leader of Neutral Milk Hotel. In a timeless setting, he performs an impassioned opus filled with striking imagery and intoxicating melodies. Mangum and his crew of Elephant 6 collaborators offer eleven seamlessly woven tracks that should be required listening for any music lover.

Quite a few of my favorites got either dropped or omitted though. Biggest for me would be that they dropped Laika's Silver Apples of the Moon from this new one and also no mention of Cat Power. Good to see PJ Harvey, although she would be higher on my list. I'd also boost Maxinquaye, but also nice to see Portishead getting their due. Lots of things right about it, but it's still just another in a long line of mostly generic lists. Hard to argue with OK Computer though. I don't know any other album in consideration for the top spot that both had such a widespread influence and also sold a ton, other than Nevermind. And all they did is switch around the two top spots on this list from the 1999 list. Agree about D-Plan, although it does seem kinda high to me. But it's one of those albums that has done nothing but grow better in most people's minds, so maybe it's not out of place, especially since it has always been a Pitchfork fave. And one of mine too, just look at my avatar

[Slosh]

As a matter of fact, I say it's the best album ever!

Didn't look at the list but #2 is Emergency & I, in the event that you didn't know.

~Slosh - ex-Schmoopie-Schmoopie Club member

[Whooptee]

It'd probably be pretty darn close to the top for my 90's list. Slint, MBV, NMH, PJ, YLT and Pavement would all be up there for me as well. I'd probably put Spiderland 1st 7 times out 10.

John

[Ex Lion Tamer]

I agree with you that "The Bends" is the better ablum, and might be my favorite of the 90's. Otherwise the list is pretty good from this man's perspective, a perspective that is admittedly pretty superficial. My only gripe is the lack of any albums (unless I missed it) from Steve Earle, either "Train a Comin'" or "I Feel Alright" deserves at least a spot in the top 100, if not the top 20.

Mark

[mad rhetorik]

YES! Definitely! OK Computer doesn't bite with poppy hooks like The Bends does and it's not willfully difficult like Kid "Eh?" either. It's a grower.

OK Computer is absolutely brilliant. In order to realize how brilliant it is, you must listen to it over and over. You must dig through the layers of electronic sounds and production to find its sad, humanist core. The concept behind the record is amazingly well-written (think Dark Side Of The Moon for a 21st century audience). Listen to the LYRICS! They are the key to this album. Don't skip over anything--not even "Fitter Happier." In fact, if you want to figure this album out, listen to "Fitter Happier" a bunch. It's scary and a little weird at first, but that's pretty much Thom Yorke's mindset in a nutshell.

Alright, enough of my raving.

As far as it being #1 of the '90s, that's more of a subjective call. Sometimes I think OK Computer should be #1. Other times it's Loveless at #1, or In Utero, or Superunknown, or Siamese Dream, or Fear Of A Black Planet, or Rust In Peace etc. All I know is that I'd definitely place all those albums in the Top 10 of the '90s.

[Dave_G]

I don't understand all the hype on this band.

Dave

[Swish]

...and Muse could only hope to approach this level of quality. I can't think of many that would top this on my list of all time favorites, so it's certainly in the top 10.

Swish

[bobsticks]

...and Muse could only hope to approach this level of quality. I can't think of many that would top this on my list of all time favorites, so it's certainly in the top 10.

Swish

I like how you wriggled a thread-jump in there to continue an argument stuck in yo demented ol' craw. Style points aplenty.

[bobsticks]

...and congrats on scoring National tickets. I went to Chitown this weekend and, much to my chagrin, found upcoming shows for Spoon, New Pornographers, and Iron & Wine all sold out.

[ForeverAutumn]

...and Muse could only hope to approach this level of quality. I can't think of many that would top this on my list of all time favorites, so it's certainly in the top 10.

Swish

You went back to 2003 to dig this up?!

[OzzieAudiophile]

Hi, well everyone has their own favourite top x list for the 90's, 80's, 2K, etc.

I first heard Ok Computer at their live concert, which inspired me to buy the CD.
It was good for the 90's, and still is listenable today. It really depends on the listener, it's a
good album to listen to even if listener is not really into that kind of music. It would be in
most people's collection if they do like that kind of music.

There should actually be a list somewhere where there is 'must listen' list. A list of albums
of all time that everyone who is able to listen, should listen to.

I wouldn't go as far as the most 100 purchased of all time, or any current top list. Each
country would have different lists. You see music should have no boundaries, so the top
100 should be what other countries also appreciate.

Ok computer is a worthwhile Cd to listen to.

[audio amateur]

Personally I find Pablo Honey to be their best (and is their first).

[Swish]

You went back to 2003 to dig this up?!

I did a search for something unrelated and found this thread, and since we were going back and forth on the Muse thing, I thought I could stick the knife in just a little bit further. Mission accomplished.

Swish

[Swish]

...and congrats on scoring National tickets. I went to Chitown this weekend and, much to my chagrin, found upcoming shows for Spoon, New Pornographers, and Iron & Wine all sold out.

...plenty of indie fans to sell out those shows. I jumped on the Spoon tickets the day they went on sale, figuring they wouldn't be a huge draw like Wilco (sold out in about 30 minutes), but would eventually sell out. As for The National, the school where they're playing is about 20 minutes south of Harrisburg, and it's a small college, so they never sell out to the students, giving chumps like me a shot at 'em.

Swish

[Swish]

I like how you wriggled a thread-jump in there to continue an argument stuck in yo demented ol' craw. Style points aplenty.

My reputation is only half of what yours is at this point.

Grassy arse,
Senior Swish

[3-LockBox]

Is OK Computer really that good? Is Radiohead really that good? No. They were the Talking Heads/R.E.M. for the new millenium. Oh don't get me wrong, I like them (all 3 actually), but they were canonized by the media and could do no wrong. I liked the Bends, I liked OK Computer, and I like In Rainbows, but Radiohead is not a 'desert-island' band for me.

[ForeverAutumn]

... but Radiohead is not a 'desert-island' band for me.

Well, unless we can leave them on the desert island.









I'm KIDDING!!!!

[3LB]

And a few years later I may have a better appreciation for OK Computer. I don't know that I'd list it above The Bends though.

There was a rumour a few years back that In Rainbows was meant to be a companion to OK Computer and there are even those who claim that intermingling the tracks result in a cohesive album; one articles quotes the band itself on this merging of tracks twixt the two albums. The suggested track listing has several versions but after trying a couple of them I decided that OK Computer has stood the test of time better than In Rainbows.

[Swish]

And a few years later I may have a better appreciation for OK Computer. I don't know that I'd list it above The Bends though.

There was a rumour a few years back that In Rainbows was meant to be a companion to OK Computer and there are even those who claim that intermingling the tracks result in a cohesive album; one articles quotes the band itself on this merging of tracks twixt the two albums. The suggested track listing has several versions but after trying a couple of them I decided that OK Computer has stood the test of time better than In Rainbows.

Thanks for stirring the pot on this one again. I actually find most of the newer stuff from Radiohead to be unlistenable. Well, that may be a big harsh, but they just bore me to death. There are too many other bands/records to listen to and I don't think they've done much since this one. I like Pablo Honey and The Bends, along with OK Computer, just fine.

[3LB]

Thanks for stirring the pot on this one again. I actually find most of the newer stuff from Radiohead to be unlistenable. Well, that may be a big harsh, but they just bore me to death. There are too many other bands/records to listen to.

I think that happens a lot these days. As ga-ga as I was for Porcupine Tree back when, they eventually wore me out. Same with Smashing Pumpkins. Same with DCFC, Wilco, Midlake, My Morning Jacket and a few others. It's easy to go from band to band now because a lot of new bands of the past several years rarely make a third album I like.

[Swish]

I think that happens a lot these days. As ga-ga as I was for Porcupine Tree back when, they eventually wore me out. Same with Smashing Pumpkins. Same with DCFC, Wilco, Midlake, My Morning Jacket and a few others. It's easy to go from band to band now because a lot of new bands of the past several years rarely make a third album I like.

Yeah. Another band that comes to mind, and it pains me to say this, is Wilco. I just don't care any more after buying nearly everything they're recorded and seeing them love 4 times. I guess I've moved on.