[Alt-Rocker77]

Personally I think it is a bit early to classify this album as the best ever when it is only 11 years old. I think that Abbey Road or Highway 61 Revisited have earned their classification as 2 of the best ever but people are too quick with Radiohead's Magnum Opus.










PS: I think their best album is the Bends

[pawelzietek]

Highway 61 musically isn't that rich... and best album ever is not only the lyrics... and also: why should I wait to acclaim any as the album best I ever heard? Give me a good answer and forget about all this "test of time" crap...
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we used to be alright...

[teodor_matz]

[joannajewsom]

I agree with teodor. Highway 61 not musically rich? Has anyone combined folk, blues, and rock as effectively as Dylan did on that album? I think if we are to consider something to be the best ever and not just our favorite ever, then the 'test of time' is something worth considering. Personally, I think that OK Computer has built a strong enough legacy to receive a passing grade on the 'test of time' (it feels as if it will stick around, but who knows that will happen in 10 more years). OK Computer, while good, is very derivative at times. There are a few songs where I have to remind myself that I'm listening to Radiohead and not U2, because I sometimes get that strong impression. In other words, what I get out of OK Computer, I could probably get out of a few other albums. That just doesn't happen with Highway 61, Trout Mask Replica, VU and Nico and other albums that I think are worthy of best ever consideration, no matter how influential these albums and artists were. These are albums that are truly unique and they do things with music that no one has ever done. Don't get me wrong, OK Computer has its unique moments, but it isn't that special to be considered the best, in my opinion.

One of the best of the 90s? Definitely. One of the best ever? No. And that's because of the music, so no 'test of time' will save it.

[maxxy]

Though I don't have it on my list, I'd probably put OK Computer as true top 30 best and most influential albums of all time. Number 1? No way. It's just not as good as, say, Highway 61. Or London Calling. Or VU & Nico. or Sgt. Peppers. Or Trout Mask. or Wish You Were Here. And so on...so yes, it is overrated.

Remember--only time will tell. Check back in 20 years

[telefunker]

For me, yes, Ok Computer is extremely overrated.

The more accessable songs are weak. Yet perhaps this adds to some kind of contrived intentional blandness/bleakness that permeates the album.

The soundscape-type tracks could have easily been 'composed' by some obscure french art student with a half decent laptop and a copy of spectrasonics atmosphere.

Then there is the warbling voice of Thom Yorke. Personally I can't stand it.

I'm not unconvinced that many people are genuinely touched by this album and hold it in high regard, but I think a lot of its popularity comes down to its inherent false modesty which the smug hipster/poser types always seem to gravitate towards.
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no fat chicks

[Alt-Rocker77]

Here's why i think albums need to be a certain age before considered best ever; if in 20 years no album has musically surpassed OK computer, then sure put on there, but honestly does deserve to be number one? Absolutely not. For the best album ever has to be not only a completely new sound, but also not be surpassed by other works.

Do you think there's been an album that has surpassed Abbey Road, the Doors, Highway 61 revisted, or Let It Bleed?

PS: I am a Radiohead fan

[telefunker]

Well Dylan aside - I'm not hip on lyrics, I don't think The Doors, Let It Bleed or Abbey Road are monumental works of genius. By that I mean, if Abbey Road came out last year - I know that it can't/wouldn't etc - but if it did, it wouldn't immediately be regarded as unsurpassable.

I don't care for who was the first to do something. Who was the first to use a wall of sound, plug in a guitar, mix rock with opera etc. Only important from a historical perspective. Line up every popular music album that has ever been released, forget about when it was released and you have your answer.
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no fat chicks

[TheDog]

In my opinion it does deserve the praise it gets, and is the greatest album of all time. There are 2 ways you can listen to music, by simply enjoying the music because of its tune the feeling it gives, the application it provides and then theres the sort where you can marvel upon its technical brilliance. Consider it spectrum where youve got say (stereotypically may i add) Troust Mask Replica on one side and Definatley Maybe on the other, Ok Computer is one of the only albums that i feel falls slap bang in the middle of the two, technically its brilliant, the use of sounds is achieved almost faultlessly by the production its like they were all joined at the hip and born to make music together cause everything just fits so perfectly like a well oiled machine, its not however too daring and experimental that you cant relate to it because its based soley on sheer technical skill.

This probably the reason its the run away leader on this sight, if you look at the lists it has appeared on you will have people with such different music tastes placing the album on the list, from a personal experience ive hered it been praised by indie fans, metal fans, pop fans, emo fans, dance music fans..so many different approches to music have praised this album. Theres no doubt that albums have surpassed on it on certain aspects, but while other albums tend to be lacking on one front while proflific in the other, this one remains a well balanced masterpiece. Which in my opinion means it averages out to be the greatest.

[californication]

I do agree that OK Computer is overrated, but it's still a great album. The one Radiohead album that is really overrated is In Rainbows.