I've basically only been listening to Radiohead for the last three years or so. Hence, I am now an official Radiohead expert. I will now share what I think are some of their best songs (even though really everything from OK Computer forward is top shelf*)
* Apart from that one track off Hail to the Thief. You know the one. I'm not even gonna call it out by name it's so bad.
First and foremost Codex off of my now all-time favorite album, The King of Limbs. A lot of people don't like TKOL, but I love the rich and textured sound they developed here. It's like the Van Gogh audio experience of Radiohead's albums. A lot of people also claim that the live version is better because they padded out the tracklist. I didn't really have an issue with the original's 8 tracks. That's a fine length if you ask me. I also don't think the beautiful layers of the studio version were replicated that well in the live album.
Second, Climbing up the Walls. This appeared on OK Computer, which to this day blows my mind it came out in 19-flipping-97. Unfortunately the video with the best audio quality is one of those with the lyrics pasted all over, which I personally hate because I think half of the experience of Radiohead is having no fucking idea what Thom's saying and just taking his angelic voice in as pure melodious tones.
Third, Myxomatosis off of Hail to the Thief. I like the way it makes my ears tingle. It's rawness is really something else. I don't know. It sounds
cool? It has a quality to it that I can't quite put into words. The rest of the album is also pretty great, but I think this is the standout track on it. I also quite like
There There,
Go to Sleep, and
Punchup at a Wedding. Also, look at how much fun Thom's having in this video. He's really feeling it!
Finally, Present Tense from A Moon Shaped Pool. It's absolutely beautiful, powerful and I don't really know what else to add. This album is probably the easiest to listen to of their repertoire. I think it'd be a pretty good entry point if you're new to Radiohead or, like me, at one point thought them a bunch of pretentious artsy weirdos. Now I think they're great sounding artsy weirdos. Anyway, I couldn't find the song on YT so here's a Vimeo link:
Bonus round: this is the version of Motion Picture Soundtrack that's on the OKNOTOK White Cassette. Cheesy. Haunting. Heartbreaking. This specific version of the song may or may not have made me actually misty eyed at multiple occasions. Overused by pop media? Unfortunately, yes. The most viscerally I've ever cringed was probably when it popped up in Westworld. Still,
so good.
I'd add
more, but I think I'm already pushing it! I like this band a whole lot.