In March 1992, Radiohead released their first EP "Drill", to not the most favourable criticism. Shortly after, they released their single Creep, which was banned off popular British music station BBC Radio 1, after they deemed it "too depressing." Since this, Creep has become one of the hallmark tracks that establishes Radiohead as an undisputed pioneer of (God help me) "alternative rock."
Radiohead perform "Creep" at Reading, 1994:
In 1993, the released their first LP, "Pablo Honey", and the band played their first gig overseas in Tel Aviv. The US had begun to cotton onto the new band, and independent radio stations began to plug the album. "Pablo Honey" became a huge success, and the band was on the brink of break up after the success of the album, as they had not expected such huge recognition, and fame. Creep became a huge success, and the album included other major tracks; Blow Out, Lurgee, Anyone can Play Guitar.
In 1995, they released The Bends, which was a massive album in the UK, peaking the charts at number 4, however, it did not receive the same success that the single Creep did in the US, and The Bends topped the charts in the States at 88. Six singles were released from the album: The Bends, High and Dry/Planet Telex, My Iron Lung, Fake Plastic Trees, Street Spirit (Fade Out) and Just. It is one of their highest rating albums ever, with an amazing track listing, that is so becoming. The final track Street Spirit (Fade Out) was the perfect ending to such an amazing album.
Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was:
My Iron Lung (Live):
And then came OK Computer.
And it was mind-blowing.
"Here are 12 tracks crammed with towering lyrical ambition and musical exploration; that refuse to retread the successful formulas of before and instead opt for innovation and surprise; and that vividly articulate both the dreams and anxieties of one man without ever considering sacrifice or surrender. In short, here is a landmark record of the 1990s, and one that deserves your attention more than any other released this year." James Oldham for NME.
"...beautiful and unspoiled. ... It's a huge, mysterious album for the head and soul." David Cavanagh - Q.
"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." Alex Ross - The New Yorker.
"Radiohead's third piece of incredible work, OK Computer, is not only their best yet, but one of the year's greatest releases. The record is brimming with genuine emotion, beautiful and complex imagery and music, and lyrics that are at once passive and fire-breathing." Ryan Schrieber - Pitchfork Media.
Exit Music for a film:
"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." Thom Yorke.
Let Down:
And possibly the best live clip in the world
And then came Kid A, in 2000. Which was total global domination from the band. After the waves of success that followed OK Computer - Kid A was marketed and insanely well-received. Influenced by IDM musician Aphex Twin (who has since said that he hates Radiohead!) and quoted to be directly influenced by a string of jazz musicians, the album took on a different sound to their previous three. But remained a consistently beautiful work; as true to Radiohead's style. Idioteque became a massive track for the band, for it's completely unique style and sampling.
Everything in it's Right Place is arguably one of Radiohead's more mainstream songs, after being featured on a few films. The track How to Disappear Completely was written years before, and featured on Grant Gee's 1998 film about the band "Meeting People is Easy."
Kid A has been featured on best albums of the last decade, and peaked it on Pitchfork Media and Stylus Magazine.
It's beautiful.
Everything in it's Right Place:
Idioteque (Live):
How to Disappear Completely
Amnesiac was released in 2001, and this was solid evidence that the band had changed its sound since it's earlier perhaps grimier years. Amnesiac's big selling single was Pyramid Song, and the album was generally well received - but it can be said that this album did not stir the hype that the previous two had after its release. However, personally, this album features some of their most amazing tracks; Knives Out is a master song. It was around this time that Radiohead released their only live recordings album, in November, 2001, they released "I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings." Which featured the previously unreleased single True Love Waits, which is stunning.
Packt like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box
Pyramid Song:
And the absolutely remarkable True Love Waits
And then in 2003, they released Hail to the Thief, which they described as a venture back into their previous sounds that had made them so popular. The album title was a comment on elected President George W. Bush - a play on words of the usual song that is played when a President is first elected, "Hail to the Chief." But Yorke wanted to make it clear that it wasn't just about US Presidential elections; but an overall political statement, saying that "If the motivation for naming our album had been based solely on the [recent] U.S. election, I'd find that to be pretty shallow."
All of the songs have alternative titles to them, which some are lyrics from the tracks, and some are just alternative titles. It was definitely an interesting album from Radiohead; but once again, features some beauties on it.
Punchup at a Wedding:
There There:
Then there was a hiatus.
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