Pablo Honey
February 1993
3.5 stars
Upon its release, Radiohead’s first album did not receive a lot of exposure in its native UK. But after lead single “Creep” took the US alternative airwaves by storm, Pablo Honey was re-released to a warmer audience.
The Bends
March 1995
5 stars
The band’s second release is a colossal rock album. From the keyboard textures of “Planet Telex” to Thom Yorke’s melancholy coo in “High and Dry,” the album hints at the musical experimentation for which the band is now famous.
OK Computer
June 1997
5 stars
Considered by many critics as the best album of the ’90s, OK Computer officially launched the band into demi-god status. Songs like “No Surprises” and “Karma Police” reflect the textured nature of the album’s sound. The end result is a melodic yet sobering album that seemed to capture the excitement and uncertainty of the new millennium.
Kid A
October 2000
5 stars
With Kid A, Radiohead exchanged pop rock conventions for electronic blips and free jazz. The album didn’t produce any real singles and turned off some of its fans expecting a continuation of the sounds of its earlier work. But, there is many a Radiohead fan that cites this album as the band’s finest work.
Amnesiac
June 2001
3.5 stars
Amnesiac is comprised of additional tracks from the Kid A studio recordings and found the band continuing to meddle with jazz concepts and unorthodox song structures. It was both critically and commercially successful.
Hail to the Thief
June 2003
4 stars
The band’s most recent release easily surpassed even its own fans’ expectations. The album is anchored by the piano-heavy lullaby “Sail to the Moon” and first single “There There.”