Following the release of “A Moon Shaped Pool” album in 2016, the band teases with “OK Computer” vinyl reissue a year later. Radiohead’s vinyl reissue, titled “OKNOTOK”, is due for June 23, 2017, via XL Recordings.
The Signs
On the 1st of May 2017, Radiohead posted a strange video on social media. It featured a flickering image of a computer loading screen along with a little girl’s voice, reciting the lyrics of “Climbing Up the Walls”, however, a bit changed.
Photo source: Spin
Furthermore, a series of black and white posters suddenly appeared around the world. These types of posters have been spotted in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, NY and others big cities. Each artwork had the inspiration MORE FEAR and 1997 2017, hinting at an “OK Computer” 20th Anniversary. They created an online movement with the Instagram tagline #morefear.
1997 Release
“OK Computer” came out in spring-summer 1997, as Radiohead’s third album and highest-selling to date. Self-produced and released through EMI, the record distanced itself from its predecessor “The Bends”, as the introspective lyrics became rather abstract and the sound was more layered. “OK Computer” spawned four singles, “Paranoid Android”, “Karma Police”, “Lucky” and “No Surprises”.
It peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and topped the UK Albums chart. The critical acclaim and commercial success of the album led to its reissue on vinyl, in June 2017, under the name “OKNOTOK“. Furthermore, the version will contain some of Radiohead’s unreleased songs.
Atmosphere, Themes, Sound
“The whole sound of it and the emotional experience crossed a lot of boundaries. It tapped into a lot of buried emotions that people hadn’t wanted to explore or talk about.” – James Lavelle, Spin Magazine
The album speaks about a world marked by consumerism, corruption, social and emotional alienation, insanity, technology versus humanity. Both critics and fans consider it a perfect reflection of the 21st century. It also depicts Yorke’s resentment towards the masses of people. The plain, noisy and shallow masses.
He feels superior, as expressed in “Paranoid Android”, but also different and alone, he suggested in “Subterranean Homesick Alien”, by narrating from an alien’s point of view. Yorke militates against the machine that is the political system and feels oppressed, suffocated.
Towards the end of the musical journey, “OK Computer” turns to internal matters, yearning and, finally, accepting the tragic fact that one man cannot change the world.
“Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy”
Paranoid Android
The album did not only save Radiohead, which were considered a one-hit-wonder, due to the immense hype of their debut single “Creep”, but also British music in general. “OK Computer” became a landmark in the creation of concept albums.
It came out in a time when rock music was dominating and electronic music felt like a fun experiment. Therefore, the record fitted perfectly sound-wise, with its electric, complex instrumentation and various influences, such as jazz fusion.
Photo source: DeviantArt
“OK Computer” Track List
The 20th anniversary “OK Computer” edition includes the following songs:
Disc 1 – Original Content
1. “Airbag”
2. “Paranoid Android”
3. “Subterranean Homesick Alien”
4. “Exit Music (For a Film)”
5. “Let Down”
6. “Karma Police”
7. “Fitter Happier”
8. “Electioneering”
9. “Climbing Up the Walls”
10. “No Surprises”
11. “Lucky”
12. “The Tourist”
Disc 2 – Radiohead 2017 Vinyl Reissue
1. “I Promise”
2. “Man of War”
3. “Lift”
4. “Lull”
5. “Meeting in the Aisle”
6. “Melatonin”
7. “A Reminder”
8. “Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)”
9. “Pearly*”
10. “Palo Alto”
11. “How I Made My Millions”
What’s Changed?
1. Radiohead’s previously unreleased songs: “I Promise,” “Man of War”, and “Lift”. The latter was heavily discussed, as to why it didn’t make the first cut. “If that song had been on that album, it would have taken us to a different place,” explained Yorke.
2. “OKNOTOK” is a remastered version of OK Computer.
3. It contains eight b-sides.
4. It is available for order via Radiohead’s official website, in the following formats:
- digital
- double CD set
- triple LP pressed on 180-gram vinyl
- box set with the triple LP + C90 cassette mix tape + hardcover book with unreleased artwork and lyrics + notebook with Thom Yorke’s handwritten notes and sketches.
Photo source: OKNOTOK
The Singles
Paranoid Android → Features what Yorke calls three different states of mind. The main themes are insanity and violence. It includes an episode from LA when Yorke was disturbed by a group of cocaine-drugged strangers in a bar and a woman who became violent after having a drink spilled on her.
Karma Police → “For a minute there, I lost myself”. The song started as a joke, referring to the members doing something bad. It depicts day to day stress, abusive bosses and big companies. “I suppose it’s all rubbish that your destiny depends on your deeds in a previous life, but you have to trust on something”, commented Yorke.
Lucky → This single was released exclusively in France. It was written and composed for a charity compilation, titled “War Child”. The character of Sarah is purely fiction, declared Yorke. The repeating verse “We are standing on the edge” refers to “Walt Disney characters who rush madly over the edge of a cliff without seeing it. The power of their imaginations keeps them suspended in mid-air, but as soon as they look down and see where they are, they fall”, said the artist.
No Surprises → This final single is a shout against the pressure and absurdity of modern life, compared to a simpler one, where time wasn’t an issue. It also mocks the meaningless praising of material things instead of searching for happiness and freedom. “You look so tired, unhappy/ Bring down the government.”
Conclusion
Therefore, Radiohead once again shakes the world with their bold, witty and moody art. The 20th Anniversary vinyl reissue of “OK Computer”, with its extremely accurate portray of the modern world, is an immensely pleasant surprise for the fans of Radiohead. However, it is also an alarm signal. Perhaps the group was a little ahead of its time, but after two decades, things did not change at all. Actually, there is, even more, ugliness and #morefear in the world.
Main Photo Source: FortitudeMagazine
