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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
by DiS News
Posted: 18 Apr '05, 13:09
Radiohead's 'OK Computer' has been voted the greatest album of all time in a poll by Channel 4 viewers.
The 1997-opus beat the likes of the Beatles' 'Revolver', REM's 'Automatic For The People' and Oasis' 'Definitely Maybe' to the crown.
Viewers may have been struck by the consideredness of the charts, with the likes of Talking Head's 'Fear Of Music' in the charts, and Robbie Williams languishing at 91. It was all very confusing. In fact, the only two things that made DiS News spew bile were the fact that Alanis Morissette was at no.16(!!!!) and Pet Sounds was only no.33. Disgraceful.
The top 20 is as follows, and you can check the full 100 at the Channel 4 site here:
1. RADIOHEAD - OK Computer
2. U2 - The Joshua Tree
3. NIRVANA - Nevermind
4. MICHAEL JACKSON - Thriller
5. PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon
6. OASIS - Definitely Maybe
7. THE BEATLES - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
8. MADONNA - Like a Prayer
9. GUNS N' ROSES - Appetite For Destruction
10. THE BEATLES - Revolver
11. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
12. THE BEATLES - The White Album
13. QUEEN - A Night at the Opera
14. COLDPLAY - Parachutes
15. OASIS - (What's the Story) Morning Glory
16. ALANIS MORISSETTE - Jagged Little Pill
17. LED ZEPPELIN - Led Zeppelin IV
18. THE VERVE - Urban Hymns
19. JIMI HENDRIX - Are you Experienced
20. THE SMITHS - The Queen Is Dead
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Don't know about everyone else, but I had to go play that album in it's entirety after watching that.
And then listen to Kid A and remember it's better.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
p.s. I HATE U2. Grr... etc..-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
wow, that's pretty strange - i listened to kid A and amnesiac straight afterwards to remind myself how much better they are.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
The sporodic odd choice, but other than that a very good chart.
A lack of good MOBO music in my opinion, 'What's Going On' is far too low. But there you go. And if this serves to revitalise CD sales and re-educate a demographic then it's a jolly good place to start.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in
Beck, yes that's right BECK, beat Marvin Gaye.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Public Enemy at 93!
Why was it and Doolittle (even though Surfer Rosa is better) not in the top 10?-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in
methinks doolittle to be far superior to surfer rosa. but then again, methinks a lot of things.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in
I personally don't think the Pixies made a single great album, just good songs.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Spookily enough I've been listening to OK... for thelast half hour after hearing Electioneering in the TV coverage of the election. And No Surprises in particular right now. Odd.
It is great album, I'd forgotten, but it's not that good. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I don't understand how PRINCE wasn't in the top 20. People are stupid.
Then again, who knew they could vote? Was probably just geeky radiohead fans hanging around messageboards waiting to play a part in a democratic process....
And isn't BAD better than Thriller?
And surely there is a lot wrong with The Verve coming so high? I mean, it's quite good, fair enough to drop in the top 50, but in the 20?-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
More worried by The Fat Of The Land in the top 50.
Crock. Of. Shit. -
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in
i think Off the Wall's better personally
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Bad is definitely not better than Thriller.
OK computer is a pretty good choice for number 1 Id say.
It's not my personal choice (that would be "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" which obviously only stupid people cannot see is by far the best thing ever recorded)
but it's an extremely consistent album with no bad tracks and some absolutely amazing tracks.
I do think it is their best album although Kid A is very good too.
Be thankful it wasn't Robbie Williams who I believe was voted as more influential than Mozart and Bach in that Millenium poll.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
No bad tracks? Unbelievable album except for Fitter Happier.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
That's not really a proper track though is it? It's just an interlude or whatever.
I like it, either way.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
But everyone liked Fat Of The Land when it came out. It appears that people still reckon they do.
OK COmputer is a fair choice, but these polls are largely useless. And yes, I prefer Kid A. But OK Computer's better. Does that make any sense?
no. ah well.
The Boss at no.30something with Born to Run as well. Hurrah!
xg-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
The Boss above Dylan though?
Come on...-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
WHERE THE HELL WAS BLONDE ON BLONDE?
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
the 2nd libertines album what was that doing in there?!
Dido better than jeff buckley crazy
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Sold my copy of OK Computer a few months back - suited me down to the ground when i was a spoddy seventeen year old, find 'em pretty dull now.
PS the voting is largely ignored in these things - it's down to who will give them archive footage for free...-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Presumably that's why all the video for the OK Computer segment was from 'Meeting People Is Easy'?-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Twas indeed.
I think I could tell it was OK Comp after about 1 second of footage.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
At least Wankerams is right at the bottom.
Bloody wankfaced wankshaft of wanker.
Cunt.
Arse.
Tosser.
DIE.
And where the hell was DJ Shadow? -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
NO Beach Boys?-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Uhm, Pet sounds was 33
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
Hooray! I mean, everybody KNOWS that Dido's record is better than Pink Moon and Forever changes, but now it is a proven fact! Yay to the general public!-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in
*sigh* forever changes.. album and a half.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
i've not got many problems with the top ten at all, however, the middle order was all over the shop - a few observations from the mooseman -
1) Libertines? Dildo? Strokes? - i can see they were trying to be contemporary by putting something in from this side of the big 00, but at least put in something of quailty for crying out loud
2) Buckley was far too low, as was Public Enemy, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder
3) Surfer Rosa, not Doolitlle (although it was nice to see the Pixies get a shout)
4) Oasis should have been barred for being twats.
5) Alanis Morrisette better than Closer? WTF? (although i had to laugh when they played LWTUA, and failed to acknowledge that it wasn't even on the album.)
6)where the hell is Physical Grafitti?
That is all... for now. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Everyone I know is spaffing over this!
These things cause trouble cos they're mis-titled! It should've been called:
"Channel 4 viewers' favourite albums of all time"
Because, as we all know, most popular does not mean best/greatest.
Actually, that wouldn't do a thing to stop the arguements, ignore everything I've just typed!-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in
you should email channel four and suggest that to them. seriously.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
CROC
OF
SHITE... -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Lists are the pointless fascination of men that never grow up.
I'm a man, I haven't grown up, lists bore me.
Confused.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I was more pleasantly surprised than horrified. Bjork in the top half of he table was good. No Electric Ladyland though (!!!_!!!)
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
People only got to choose from about 120/125 different albums anyways in the 'vote' didn't they? -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I think this list is not only a reflection of solidly excellent albums, but also an important, umm, document for posterity. I approves. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
For years (and I mean about twenty) every time one of these lists appeared, Van Morrisons "Astral Weeks" would pop up in the top ten. No sign of it here, though.
Slight dissapointed The Others aren't in there. ARF! -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
One thing I noticed was that Moby album was quite high up. When they played the original tunes he sampled it became apparent he had done crap all to them apart from put silly keyboards over the top. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
did anybody here actually vote? and why is surfa rosa better than doolittle? -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
they left out bis....-
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Yeah, that was a shocker. I'm just wondering what effect this will have on the sales of OK Computer. Extra couple of thousand this week, d'yer reckon?-
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Had a listen to Ok Computer after the show, has not aged at all. It's a fantastic album. Apart from that it was not a bad show, just an easy way for Channel 4 to fill in a nights schedule.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Jeff Buckley- Grace is one of the best albums ever! should have come at least in the top 5. Radiohead-OK Computer is good though!-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
What a shite headline. Its an opinion poll. Not fact. As if Radiohead, or anyone else for that matter, can have a better album than the Beatles.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Well they can, can't they? 'Cause they just did.
Albeit in a poll.
If not a poll of opinion, how would you measure an album's 'greatness'? Or the 'greatness' of any art? -
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
OK Computer is better than at least half of the Beatles' albums. I would say its on a par with Revolver/Rubber Soul/Sgt. Pepper's.
Amnesiac, Kid A, HTTT and Amnesiac also compete with most of the Beatles' back catologue in my opinion.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Sorry. Take back my first comment. I have no idea what I was thinking... But I disagree with Thom-fa. Thats a massive overstatement. As if you can compare the two bands.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
IF OK COMPUTER IS THE BEST ALBUM I'M THE POPE
IF OK COMPUTER IS THE BEST ALBUM I'M THE POPE
IF OK COMPUTER IS THE BEST ALBUM
IF OK COMPUTER IS THE BEST ALBUM
IF OK COMPUTER IS THE BEST ALBUM I'M THE POPE
Now sing this to the tune of 'She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain' loudly, to anyone who voted for this ahead of 'The Bends', 'The Holy Bible', 'REvolver' or 'Loveless' and laugh out loud at them.-
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The bends is for people who like nice anthemic pop songs. It's very good for that.
They are so much more than that though.
Every release from Ok Comp to HTTT is better than any Beatles record. Jesus, don't be so narrowminded.
I guess the Beatles "invented music" or something? Yes they were fucking good and influential. It was just pop music for the masses though, blah blah, etc, etc... -
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It is better than all those albums. Do you seriously believe that the Holy Bible is a better album than OK Computer? haha. The Manics are rubbish.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
OK Computer is the one that the journalists picked up on because they missed 'The Bends' (see also 'Morning Glory', 'Parklife', 'Different Class' and 'A Grand Don't Come For Free' as other classic examples of catching the next bus because its better made original got away unnoticed).
Its status as the album of choice for Maths teachers and chemistry students only reduces its endearing qualities somewhat, and to say that in terms of lyrical endeavour it is a better album than 'The Holy Bible' is particularly absurd, while in terms of innovation and originality its not fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as either 'Revolver' or 'Loveless'.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
No it isn't. The Bends was noticed and did very well indeed commercially. OK computer is a better album than the Bends and it is quite a different album so can't be accused of retreading the same ground.
What is this album of choice status for chemistry students you talk of? I think you may have just made that up and it is clearly complete rubbish. Its like saying that people who like the Manics are developmentally stunted or have no taste.
Maybe the lyrics arent great (theyre a bit crap) and it isnt as innovative as those other albums BUT it has BETTER SONGS and it is extremely consistent. Loveless is great but I think Revlover is much more patchy than OK computer.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I still hold OK Computer in much higher regard than Loveless or The Holy Bible. In fact, THB is just a relatively meaningless Wire/dead dude wankfest with no memorable songs whatsoever. Well, perhaps PCP. I enjoyed it when I was 15 or so, but now I can't listen to it without thinking, "What a load of pretentious twaddle".
You could level the same accusation at OK Computer, but the innovation speaks for itself, and its emotional impact - on me, anyway - far outweghed that of THB.
Hmmm... I *really* don't like the Manics. Sorry. Bad time in my life, I guess... -
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Sorry, I meant Physics 'A' Level students.
For the record I actually like 'OK Computer', particularly when cast aside the garbage peddled by Yorke, Greenwood and co. afterwards, but in terms of originality, I think anyone who's ever heard Pink Floyd or Yes might have something to say about that.
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Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I'm a chemistry student, I love Silent Alarm and both Editors singles, guess you'll have to go off them now. sorry.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
THB is the manic's best, but that's not really saying much. It's still a beige, bland-a-minute bore-a-thon. All the songs are so similar it just merges into one big forgettable heap of shit.
How many bands do you reckon are influenced or inspired by Ok Computer, or just Radiohead in general. A hell of a lot I'd say.
And how many bands are influenced by the MSP? I could not think of one. They have had almost NO impact on music
They are the most un-inspiring, derivative, unnecessary band, EVER.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I'd say more bands are influenced by middle of the road stuff like Elton John or boybands such as Westlife and Boyzone.
Why?
Because upon hearing such twaddle, that's what inspires most indie/rock/alternative (call it what you like) bands to start making different music in the first place.
As for the Manics and Radiohead, I would say 95% of UK guitar bands of the last 10 years or more will have been influenced by both of those acts to a degree.
However, my point was about the merits of 'OK Computer' when put alongside 'The Bends', 'The Holy Bible', 'Loveless' and 'Revolver'.-
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Hearing shit music is just a motive.
That's completely different. It doesn't actually inspire them and influence the music they make.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
A motive maybe, but what better motive or incentive would you need to do something infinitely better?-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
If you have ever heard Yes then you will know they sound absolutely nothing like Radiohead. I am maybe odd and own several Yes albums. I think again you just made that up because you had heard that they are both occasionally labelled as "prog".
Also what is this obsession with OK computer being liked by those of the chemistry/maths/physics persuasion? I take it you dont like science or scientists.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Personally I think 'Paranoid Android' rips off Rush and Yes both structurally and lyrically, and no, I didn't just pull Yes out of thin air because they are supposedly "prog" (whatever that means?).
And unfortunately, 'OK Computer' is an album that all pseudo middle class teachers/accountants/students/middle managers aspire to like because they feel it gives them an air of superiority. And again, that is based on factual experience from people I've had the (dis)pleasure of working, training and studying alongside.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
"OK Computer' is an album that all pseudo middle class teachers/accountants/students/middle managers aspire to like because they feel it gives them an air of superiority. "
So basically you're criticising Ok Comp because of the people that like it? That seems like inverted snobbery to me. Obviously quite a lot of people like it because it won the poll, didn't it?
I don't think they really sound like 'Yes' either, I think that is oversimplifying a bit. I hope you're not one of those people who think every band who uses a synthesiser is Yes tribute band, because I've met a few like that.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
"Obviously quite a lot of people like it because it won the poll, didn't it?"
Don't know anyone who got the opportunity to vote in the poll to be honest. I do however, know a lot of people who disagreed with the verdict.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I think that is quite harsh on Radiohead to have their lyrics compared to Yes. Thom Yorke's lyrics are often pretty poor but they are no way near as terrible as Jon Anderson's.
As for "OK Computer' is an album that all pseudo middle class teachers/accountants/students/middle managers aspire to like because they feel it gives them an air of superiority.",
Are these people all "pseudo middle class" so they are not actually middle class but dangerously purporting to be middle class? or are you saying they are "pseudo teachers" so they are not actually teachers but are pretending to be teachers? Very confusing.
Is that also a strange way of having a go at people who are "middle class" even though chances are you fit into that bracket too?
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
what about the fucking bends???
Granted OK computer is pretty good but it has some WEAK moments - Let Down, electionerring and no suprises being their names.-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Let Down is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
No Surprises is an awesome song, and Electioneering is incredible in the context of the album as a whole too.
I love The Bends and listen to it far more regularly than OK Computer, but I think OKC is far more deserving of the greatest album ever title.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
I think OKC also topped a Q best albums ever list a few years back. I really don't get what's so great about it personally. It's OK (no pun intended) but not that great. The Bends is far superior.
Different Class was far too low imho.
I watched the programme. It was good to see Tony Wright on TV. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
I'm in the Bends camp too and His and Hers is by far the best Pulp album. I hate Utwaty2 2. Coldplay can fuck off too.-
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this is a fuck up! didn't mean to start thread just ignore me.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
Urban hymns... one of the top 10 greatest albums ever? That's something i never thought i'd hear. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
The White Stripes - Elephant is at 39... ERGH -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
robbie williams higher than Public Enemy?
The second Libertines album?
The third Blur album?
The fourth White Stripes album?
fucking 'Appetite for Destruction' better than 'Revolver'?
Dido?
sometimes i think i just watch these programmes to get annoyed. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
Two years ago, these American restaurant reviewers called Zagat put out a voted-on guide of 1.000 great albums. If you want a laugh (or find out which Limp Bizkit album you need), by all means . . . You'd think God handed down the BBC list in comparison. Two Springsteen in the top 10, including numero uno. -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
My personal top 10
1. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
2. Led Zeppelin - Led Zep IV
3. The Cure - The Head On The Door
4. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
5. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
6. Nirvana - In Utero (cue Nirvana debate)
7. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
8. At The Drive In - Relationship of Command
9. The Beatles - Seargant Peppers...
10. Daft Punk - Homework
Cue mass criticism...
"It's too mainstream", "It's not representative", -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
hay mooseman next time your down the shops buying things noone else has, hook yourself up with some aids and a book of "how to stop being a hermit fuck who listens to shit metal"........you a dick, mofo -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
at the end of the day these lists are objective opinion so there's bound to be some things which you don't agree with. i enjoy watching them, flawed though they are, and like to hear the artists who created the albums talking about them a few years after the release. E.g. interesting to hear noel gallagher admitting that there was a lot of shit on the "morning glory" album. i would have had buckley higher, and tho i prefer The bends to OKComp I can see why that would be classed as better. I was actually hoping for Iron Maiden's "NOTB" to be in there, though, so you lot will wanna disregard my opinions anyway :o) -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
"OK Computer" is a solid choice. It's close to being my favourite album. On the basis that it was never gonna be "Skylarking", "Rain Dogs" or "Today!" it's as good a pick as any... -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
I think I'm right in saying that C4 actually chooses the 100 albums, and the viewer vote only ranks them...-
Re: No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
They chose a list of 125 which could be voted for.
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
fuck all this shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the cinematic orchestra everyday or joy division unknown pleasures
its like nothing thats ever been done before!!! -
No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the
hey forsty whats with all the springsteen bashing??
I'm on a mission to spread the fecking word, everyone thinks all he did was "Dancing in the Dark" and "Born to Run", but he is so much more.
Anyone who likes Low, Sparklehorse, Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith should buy "Nebraska". Right. Now.-
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*slowly extracts his cock from "The Boss's" arse*
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No Surprises? Radiohead make the best album in the world... ever!
No questions about it. Every boby knows it:
"OK Computer" is the best album in music history, although I prefer Kid A.
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