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Kid A

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Album

Kid A · After the success of OK Computer, Radiohead were exhausted. Singer Thom Yorke was struggling with writer's block, listened almost exclusively to electronic music from the label Warp, and wanted more rhythm and less melody. From January 1999 the band worked with producer Nigel Godrich in Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire and a new studio in Oxfordshire. The sessions were difficult. The group even agreed to split up if no album came out of them.

The result sounds unlike anything that came before: synthesizers, the ondes Martenot, guitars drenched in effects, and abstract lyrics that Yorke assembled from loose phrases. No singles were released. Many listeners found the new sound pretentious or needlessly bleak. Later, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and The Times nevertheless named Kid A the best album of the 2000s.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Everything In Its Right Place, the first song Yorke wrote for this album, on his piano. Notice how the voice among the electronic sounds works more like an instrument than a lead vocal line.

Track list

  1. 1Everything In Its Right Place4:11Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Kid A4:45Apple Music ↗
  3. 3The National Anthem5:52Apple Music ↗
  4. 4How to Disappear Completely5:56Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Treefingers3:43Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Optimistic5:16Apple Music ↗
  7. 7In Limbo3:31Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Idioteque5:09Apple Music ↗
  9. 9Morning Bell4:36Apple Music ↗
  10. 10Motion Picture Soundtrack3:20Apple Music ↗
  11. 11Untitled0:53Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs