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When Radiohead came out in the '90s, their similarities to
The Cure's synth-pop fuzz and REM's melodic-pop hooks
were widely noted, but Radiohead's urban tales like "Creep"
and "Karma Police" were specifically personalized to the
band. The last twenty years has seen the band go from being pupils
of REM to being mentors of this generation's alt-pop hipsters. Radiohead
have built up a vast repertoire that consists of twenty years of material
and to celebrate this endeavor Radiohead has released The Best
Of, a collection of songs that have made the band into pop icons.
The origin of Radiohead begins with band members Thom Yorke
(vocals, guitar), Ed O' Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood
(guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums)
joining forces as students at Oxford University in 1988. Radiohead's
debut album Pablo Honey in 1993 became an unexpected smash
with the release of their hit song "Creep," which is included
on The Best Of. The lyrics expressed deep insecurities, self-doubts
and low self-esteem, which made it an instant alt-rock anthem with
audiences. The band demonstrated staying power with the release of
their second album The Bends in 1995, whose title track along
with a handful of other songs like "Just" and "Fake
Plastic Trees" produced more hits for the band and earned their
positions on The Best Of.
The band's third album OK Computer, released in 1997, had
tracks like "Paranoid Android," "No Surprises: and
"Karma Police" which are all on The Best Of and feature
the band's experimental leanings for prog rock blends sealed in creaking
electronica and post-punk essences. At this stage, the band was balancing
rock classicism with futuristic aspects producing an art-pop goulash.
Radiohead's fourth album Kid A in 2000 produced a few fan favorites
like "Everything In Its Right Place" "Optimistic"
and "Idioteque," which are on The Best Of, and the
band's fifth studio album Amnesiac in 2001 put the band over
the top with the emo-soaked passages and bruised pigments illustrating
"Pyramid Song," "I Might Be Wrong," and "Knives
Out," all of which have a place on The Best Of. The band's
sixth album Hail To The Thief in 2005 replenished the band's
prog rock energies with storm-cloaked symphonies like "There
There," "2+2=5" and "Go To Sleep," which
are on The Best Of.
Though the band just released their seventh studio album In Rainbows
in January 2008, they put none of those tracks on The Best Of.
Radiohead have earned their stripes as pop artists. Though they have
achieved a great deal for themselves, Radiohead do not sound like
they are ready to retire. They simply want to wallow a little in what
they have accomplished thus far, before moving on to other pastures.
The Best Of is a pat-on-the-back for Radiohead, whose material
is still greatly influencing a number of musician's music.
-Susan Frances
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