release date: Oct. 3, 2000
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
producer: Nigel Godrich, Radiohead
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 2. "Kid A" - 3. "The National Anthem" - 4. "How to Disappear Completely" - 6. "Optimistic" - 8. "Idioteque" - 9. "Morning Bell"
4th studio album by Radiohead released nearly three and half years after the band's acclaimed OK Computer (Jun. '97).
On this new album they really step into new musical territory within art rock and the alt. rock genre, and it showcases a completely different sound, which incorporates jazz-rock elements and perhaps doesn't have the same immediate appeal by challenging traditional song structure. The album was initially met by luke-warm reviews but these were somehow silenced as the album was nominated for and won several prestigious musical prizes.
My initial thoughts about it told me that the predecessor contains some great compositions that are unmatched on this, however, I have come to understand the importance of Radiohead as a band of a new era. Undoubtedly, the '97 album contains more classic hit material and familiar songs, but as an overall verdict, there's no doubt that I enjoy this album much more for its stronger experimental approach and also for placing Radiohead alongside other great post-rock artists. Kid A is a musical statement and a natural source to inspiration, which I find is traceable to the music by Talk Talk and that band's last two albums. To me, this is where Radiohead becomes one of the most fascinating British bands of modern times. Kid A is also the third Radiohead album to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
My initial thoughts about it told me that the predecessor contains some great compositions that are unmatched on this, however, I have come to understand the importance of Radiohead as a band of a new era. Undoubtedly, the '97 album contains more classic hit material and familiar songs, but as an overall verdict, there's no doubt that I enjoy this album much more for its stronger experimental approach and also for placing Radiohead alongside other great post-rock artists. Kid A is a musical statement and a natural source to inspiration, which I find is traceable to the music by Talk Talk and that band's last two albums. To me, this is where Radiohead becomes one of the most fascinating British bands of modern times. Kid A is also the third Radiohead album to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com, Drowned in Sound 5 / 5, Spin 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 2 / 5 stars ]
