In 1997, with the spread of the internet the world we lived in was changed forever. More and more artists started to write material with themes of the internet and the impact it has on the world. One of the bands that took on this new subject was Radiohead, with their album OK Computer. OK Computer was not only a pivotal change lyrically, but was also a huge shift musically for Radiohead. The band went from writing and playing pretty conforming tunes to fit the theme of the early 90s, to diving into the realm of electronic music. This electronic shift blended perfect with the technological lyrics and robotic essence. Upon release, the album was a major hit and influenced not just the outlook of music,  but the way people viewed the internet and technology as a whole. 

The album starts off at, arguably, its most straightforward and happiest point with the song “Airbag”. The guitar-driven track immerses you into the album in seconds. Following that, you are introduced to “Paranoid Android” which is Radiohead’s version of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, composed of 4 separate parts. Themes of loneliness and somber views continue with the tracks “Subterranean Homesick Alien” and “Exit Music (For a Film)”. Both songs manage to create an isolated atmosphere as you listen to the lyrics. Following that is “Let Down” which goes against its title and acts as a “picker upper” after such melancholy tracks. The stand-out track, “Karma Police” follows, being one of Radiohead’s biggest tunes and continuing the theme of dissatisfaction with the world in the lyrics. This first half of the album cemented its status as a stepping stone in music and a major turn towards electronica in the mainstream media. 

The second half of the album starts with the interlude “Fitter Happier” which might be the most abstract segment on the album consisting of a robotic voice meandering through random yet fluent sentences. “Electioneering” follows and is the most abrasive and heavy song on the album; while the track “Climbing up the Walls” also manages to be eerie, but with more of an ominous feel and less abrasion. The album finishes with three of the most stellar works on the album, starting with “No Surprises” which soothes the ears and acts like a lullaby with Thom Yorke’s soft voice. “Lucky” which is second to last on the album tends to be the most optimistic track depending on which way you interpret the lyrics: “It’s gonna be a glorious day”. The final track “The Tourist” has a fitting name seemingly with the track leading you out of the album in a calm yet chilling way. 

By today’s standards, the theme of isolation and life with great access to technology in music does not seem foreign by any means but in 1997 it was just that. OK Computer at the time was less of commentary and more of a prediction. Computers and the internet had not yet fully enveloped everyday life like it has in today’s society. Radiohead’s prediction of social isolation in the 21st century and people becoming solely dependent on technology was pretty on the mark. Living in a post-pandemic world where people got used to staying inside and relying on ordering things online like food and essentials, we as a society have made it achievable to stay inside and not have to interact with others. Anything can be purchased with a simple click and that is what exactly Radiohead is talking about on OK Computer. Thom Yorke may not have been referencing ordering items on Amazon, but he had the idea of isolation due to the amount of access we have to anything while being able to be a recluse. 

Moving a little farther from the deeper meaning of the album, Radiohead’s junior album has managed to seemingly stand the test of time and been a landmark album in music history. With hits “Paranoid Android”, “Karma Police”, and “No Surprises” all being successful singles on college radio and their respective music videos being smash hits too, Radiohead’s creative way of going about music managed to reach the masses when the band’s original intentions were the total opposite. To this day OK Computer is consistently praised by fans and music critics alike and always makes a spot on lists for the greatest albums of all time, up there with other Radiohead albums Kid A and In Rainbows. With all of the praise for the album, there also lives criticism within the music community, with some deeming it “overrated” and “whiny”. But no matter what some might say, it is undeniable that Radiohead managed to make an album that was experimental for 1997 and a big risk for Radiohead, while still managing to create timeless anthems that people still listen to now.