i really appreciate your honesty in this reaction. so many other content creators (especially those that arent familiar with the genres radiohead covers) seem like theyre forcing themselves to react positively for content and it's honestly refreshing to see someone be straight up with their thoughts. despite that, you were still able to pick apart links in the album's messaging and appreciate the instrumentation, artwork, and lyricism that brings the project together. great breakdowns too youre clearly a smart guy. i wasn't expecting such a nuanced reaction and as a diehard radiohead fan that's been on them for years i'm looking forward to the rest of your reactions bro 🔥 (ps: there's a cool mix between everything in its right place and n95 by kendrick lamar that goes hard af i recommend u check it out ruclips.net/video/cwFmq69m3WA/видео.html )
Mannn when I love Kendrick so when I heard that mix I was so hype!!! 🔥🔥🔥 & i appreciate your insight fam fr ! And yes def too much forced positivity ima keep it genuine forever ! You’re a real one G fr stay tuned 🙏🏾🔥💪🏽
In an interview many years ago, Thom Yorke was asked what his favorite Radiohead song was. He replied without hesitation, "How to Disappear Completely."
@@JaKarTV it's because it's a very personal song for him. when OK computer suddenly made them world famous, Thom was having some strong imposter syndrome and stress. So Michael Stripe of REM told Thom that any time it became too much, all he has to do is "pull down the shutters, and tell yourself you aren't actually here, and this is not happening". It's an even more emotional song when you know the back story.
This is one of Radiohead's more difficult albums to jump into (Amnesiac and The King Of Limbs are tough too), but they are all growers. Even the most rabid Radiohead fans typically only truly enjoy a minority of the songs on first listen... it can be confused, too strange, too avant-garde, too layered... so you need to get acquainted with it. Personally, this is my favorite album of all time, and I remember being really confused on first listen after years of listening to The Bends and OK Computer on repeat.
That's right... it took me about 5 years to really learn its secrets (though i was young and I'm better at adjusting to strange music now). It's one of my "go to" albums.... maybe once a year I'll listen to it in the dark... or test a sound system. It's just so good. It's confronting and indulgent music though... so probably not always best for having guests over or driving etc (unless you're on psychedelics or something). But that's just me.
"ready to rock out" yea, this album is great, but its unfortunately probably the worst album you couldve picked to be ready to rock out lol. this album was made more for just putting it on, sitting down and saying "wow this sounds cool" instead of being something incredibly dense lyrically. there is merit to reading the lyrics but it wasnt a huge focus for the band, i think they just wanted to make something that sounded cool to them at the time, hence the long instrumental breaks and passages in songs where they just pile sounds on top of eachother, i think some of it is very improvisational. the band felt directionless and demotivated after they had just put so much energy into creating and touring their last album, ok computer, and as a result they decided to more or less ditch rock music for about 3 years and split off into more ambient electronic music to try and push themselves and become motivated again. they did eventually go back to rock music in their own way but this and amnesiac were their little detours and are way different to the rest of their stuff, this was their big turning point into becoming the band they are nowadays and i wouldnt recommend it if youre not too familiar with radiohead tbh, especially not for the first album of theirs you listen to in full, it can be jarring on a first listen. albums like ok computer, in rainbows and the bends are albums build more for 'rocking out' (but then again thats comparative, radiohead isnt really a band you 'rock out' to lol). and yes, the h and e in thom yorke is silent lol. also, its pronounced "idioteck", like idiot and discotheque put together.
😂 that’s hilarious I had no clue what I was in for! But you’re right I definitely still got to vibe and I’m looking forward to more albums from them! & I appreciate your insight fam for why they have the space, breaks, and creative choices ! Thank you 🙏🏾 & im happy I got his name right then lol !
Arguably it's not even rock music at all. It's closer to electronic/ambient/art-pop. They just happen to use some traditional "rock" instruments to pull some of it off.
A thought for you. Music doesn’t necessarily have to all follow the same structure. Sometimes a long intro or extended outro is what a song needs. Certainly doesn’t mean your opinion is wrong. We all feel how we feel. This album is a very specific thing and I think it’s beautiful for what it is. All the best to you.
I would add Swans, Bowie, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, R.E.M., and Jeff Buckley (Thom mentions seeing him when they are recording The Bends.) There are probably a lot of classical, jazz, and international influences not mentioned here.
Props to how good your reaction was. No disrespect to whoever advised you per Radiohead, but "Kid A" is not only Radiohead's hardest album to get - it takes years of listens in some cases - but one of the most experimental art driven albums ever made period. You still vibed with it. If you want their very best alt-rock masterworks, it is "OK Computer" ('Paranoid Android' is on there) and maybe even more beautiful "In Rainbows" - you WILL sink into those instantly. This album was meant to be a challenging - like more a piece of art than an album of catchy music, though over time many songs grow big time. Hopefully you don't let this put you off and you go straight to "OK Computer" to get that the hype is all legit - "Kid A" is like a project to connect with over your life. I am puzzled at Radiohead fans who would recommend this to someone for a first listen...it is amazing but I love this band and this album left me very confused for a long time, and of their 9 albums, it is literally the LAST one I'd suggest to a new listener to their music. But life goes on! Music is art and always something good to take away. "In Rainbows" and "OK Computer" (which is not just Radiohead's best album but some would put it up there as one of the best album's ever made) - that is where to find the realness. Peace//
In Rainbows & OK Computer is definitely next up! I appreciate all of your insight Fam! That makes a lot of sense, viewing it as art to digest and understand & breakdown over years of life! Yea that’s funny everyone’s saying I shouldn’t have listened to this first 😂 but hey I still got to take a lot from it ! Legendary group
I really enjoyed this! I remember it was my first Radiohead album too. I was 16. For me, Kid A is absolutely the first half of two parts. So, normally when you listen to the album, After Thom says “I’ll see you in the next life” there space, some orchestration (which Spotify makes track 11) and then more space. Amnesiac follows *directly* after that. The two albums were actually recorded at the same time but Amnesiac is *massively* disregarded. I think it’s underrated.
@@JaKarTV That being said, it’s more like the songs you thought were cool but not your favourite. If you want Thom’s singing it’s going to be Ok Computer. This is and always will be their best. It’s 10/10 and you’ll love it.
the vocal style on kid a isn't auto tune, though it is meant to sound more robotic and compressed. his vocals were vocoded using a ondes martenot as the signal
@@JaKarTV , i have a massive playlist i've accumulated over the years full of everything but country. it's a pretty great list to have on shuffle ruclips.net/p/PLAHqyL24J0poSUNm1A86ecNgMFIKB-z7Q
I'm going to echo a few others and recommend "In Rainbows" -- my favorite from them. I think you might also like "Hail to the Thief". I find it's not mentioned as much, but I think it's a great album (the song "There, There" especially). Really, all of their albums are great in different ways, with perhaps the exception of "Pablo Honey" (the very well known and overplayed "Creep" is the only song I like on that album... sorry fellow RH fans). Happy listening!
Hail to the thief is my first, and I really agree he will likely enjoy it too. even though a lot of Radiohead fans seem to dislike it. It's got the best parts of OK Computer and Kid A... almost like if they had a baby.
“Kid A” refers to a fictional first cloned human and the environment they live in. The album has an end of the world vibe to it. Dealing with death and even a nuclear annihilation in the song Idioteque. I really recommend checking out some of the art by Stanley Donwood made along side the album. It really showcases the mood and imagery.
Excellent album, but probably not the 1st album I would recommend when introducing Radiohead 😂 I wouldn't even call this alternative. It's more of an electronic art-rock album. Some of Radiohead's influences are Talking Heads, David Bowie, The Smiths, Aphex Twin, Can, Joy Division, Jeff Buckley, Miles Davis, DJ Shadow, etc.
Lmao 😂 everyone keeps saying not a great first album to listen to from them but hey I still got to vibe out with them & im on to more albums from them next ! Def electronic rock I see that, I want to listen to a David Bowie album too 👀 any suggestions?
@JaKarTV I think you'll enjoy the rest of their discography. My personal favorite from Radiohead is In Rainbows. My personal favorite Bowie album is Hunky Dory. The Rise and Fall of Zigy Stardust is his most critically acclaimed album.
It will become your favorite. Kid A has THE best production value, and songs that grow on you. But most importantly, it the best ALBUM. As one piece it is flawless. P.S. The bass on How To Disappear may be the most underappreciated bassline of all time.
I appreciate that you give your honest reaction. So many RUclipsrs act like they're completely mindblown when they hear something new just to appease that artist's fans.
That means a lot fam! & yes I do I have an alternative playlists that I add the songs I love to, karma police, no surprises, subterranean, paranoid android
We have similar tastes lol! How to Disappear Completely and Motion Picture Soundtrack are also my faves from this album. With a lot of Radiohead songs, I'm not really into them on my first listen, and yet, they're there when I "need" them later. Like "How to Disappear Completely"-the first time I heard it, I found it too discordant and "sour" if that makes sense. But then I ended up listening to it again during a period of intense stress and negative emotion and found it so incredibly cathartic and uplifting. Something I never realized that first time I heard it is that in the midst of all the chaos, when Thom Yorke is just singing wordlessly over those discordant instrumentals, there's this beautiful moment where all the discord disappears and for a moment it's just him singing this beautiful, almost angelic note over a perfect flourish of strings (at around 5:22 of the song). It's like the musical embodiment of hope in the midst of darkness. Radiohead actually released this album and Amnesiac together as a playable experience, kinda like a video game. It's called, "Kid A Mnesia Exhibition" and it's free to download, I think. Idk if you have the set-up to do a reaction to what's basically a video game, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Totally see where other folks are coming from, this is probably the most experimental Radiohead album in my opinion, and I took me a long time to get into :) (Amnesiac also a bit, they were recorded and written close together from what I understand). But I think you'll have a really cool perspective on them now! If you continue your Radiohead journey you'll be able to see little bits and pieces of their earlier work that inspires this album, but in the following albums you'll get to see what they took from Kid A that they liked, and how they brought it back together with their earlier sound a bit! Excited to see your reactions to their other albums, the variety is pretty mind blowing, and I think you'll have a really fun time with the lyrics :) Like a few other folks have said, some of their other albums have more direct lyric themes!
Do you edit your own videos? I love it! Its such a great addition to music reactions that I haven't seen anyone else do! So glad I just found your channel
Also the beggening of kid a isnt the band doing worse than before its them trying something really new, that space that drowsy feeling you got its all part of the feel. Kid a is one of there best works. like its my favorate album of all time for me atleast.
It's funny that everyone talks about this being the worst way to intro yourself to Radiohead, because I first discovered them in the early 2000's with this and Amnesiac, so you can imagine my surprise to learn they had a whole discography of rock beforehand. Just amazing to think this was a chart-topper. That's how important OK Computer was. Also, the spacing is for a single reason: atmosphere. These aren't singles, they're meant to take you somewhere, and bring you back. That said, they did a much better job keeping things interesting in their other albums, this was a very experimental project and that spacing is just part of the vibes they were exploring.
Kid A has an ambiguous meaning but I always saw it as a story about a revolution (Kid A, mentions having heads on sticks) Nuclear war (national anthem just always connected to me as the Climax, nukes dropping, idk lol) How to Disappear Completely always seemed like the POV of someone who got vaporized by a nuclear blast. And then comes the apocalypse (Optimistic talks about vultures circling the dead, payloads, dinosaurs, etc.) Idioteque sounds like a song from the POV of a powerful politcian, Morning Bell is the routine of settling into living in a bunker, and Motion Picture sounds like suicide, due to someone being tired of living this routine-filled, almost robotic life. (Sleeping pills and red wine, mentioned in the lyrics is a deadly combination.) I could go more in depth but I dont want to ramble on lol
Idk who told you Kid A first, don't get me wrong it's all great. But I would have suggested In Rainbows or OK Computer. Def check them out if you liked this at all!! Every album has a unique sound/feel
I always interpreted the last track as a suicide note - the “I think you’re crazy, maybe” I split into two parts: “I think you’re crazy” is from him former partner (who I presume died), and “maybe” is from him, as he is hoping that killing himself will bring him closer to her. This also links back to “I think you’re crazy” as there is a lot of self doubt, whether his plan will actually work, or whether there is eternal nothingness after death. Untitled could be interpreted at this nothingness, or as the heavens opening.
For Kid A/Amnesiac, they sighted Nine Inch Nails "The Fragile," David Bowie (especially his 76-80 era) a lot of krautrock bands like Can, Neu!, and Kraftwerk. You sound a lot like me. I was in love with the bends and ok computer, and it took me a long time to get into Kid a. When the sister album Amnesia came out the next year I immediately preferred that because it had more of the standard song structure you would expect. Now before anybody asks me I absolutely love Kid A, It just took me a while to adjust. At that time no band had made that drastic of a shift in direction between albums. There was a whole trend in the late '90s of alternative bands going more electronic. Radiohead were the last to jump on that trend but honestly they went to a completely different galaxy with it.
That’s amazing man a lot of people are telling me it took a while to adjust to this so maybe in the future I’ll really love the structure & flow, Ok computer & the bends are next up for me so I appreciate your insight fam!
While Kid A is my fav Radiohead album, it took a bit to get there. It was OK Computer for me for many many years. I think you'd love it. It was the album before this and I bet you can see how they transformed themselves from one album to the next. They chose to challenge themselves and not do the same thing that scored them incredible critical acclaim which OK Computer did.
Everyone keeps telling me about how their favorite is ok computer ! That really has me excited !! & I appreciate them always being different per album that’s amazing !
Kid A has the most spacing of all the albums, its definitely one of the harder albums to reccomend to a newer radiohead listener especially if youre expecting something like their earlier work. this album is still way ahead of its time imo
Like every Radiohead album it is its own thing - linked more to a mood than a sound. But soooooo many great songs and hairs on the back of the neck moments - How to Dissappear Completely is my favourite
Final thing - its not their best album for me (Ok Computer, In Rainbows are my favourites) but its very much one that needs multiple listens to appreciate On non Radiohead music you could try some Pearl Jam for a different sound (Hard rock all the way to Folky)
i don't know if someone already said that but a fun fact is: how to disappear completely is named after a book called how to disappear completely and never be found, by a british author
Dude nice job, In kid A your not really needing to know what he is saying, and sometimes you get drowsy itsz all part of the feel man. its an album all about feeling, a great example is idioteque because the lyrics make no sense but the feeling is there. it feels like anxiety,
great reaction to a great album. thom didn't really want to sing anymore when this album was being worked on. that's why he uses his voice more like another instrument instead of being in the front on most songs. idioteque means 'dance song for idiots'. and he's saying 'here i'm allowed anything all of the time' it's a critique on decadence.
He is talking about the novel Animal Farm if you really want to get Radiohead you need to react to the two basement sessions starting with the In Rainbows one. Watching them pull off all those intricate songs flawlessly live will give you some real respect and appreciation for what think is the best band from the last 30 years I put them up there with the Beatles and Floyd ect. they are that great.
Kid A the title doesn't really mean anything per-se some cool theories about it: 1) Kid A stands for Kid Amnesiac (meaning to completely lose ones memory), amnesiac is the name of the album made in the same sessions. 2) Kid A is the name of the first human clone and the album is the sounds of humanity that it brought up on. 3) The actual title itself comes from the filename of one of the lead singer's sequencers. 4) Akira! Some other cool stuff: - For lots of the songs the lyrics were picked out of a hat - Some songs on OK computer are distorted/stretched and then sampled - Lots of the synthesized bits on Treefingers were made from guitar tones - How to disappear completely is the lead singer's favourite song he's made - The album cover was made by Stanley Donwood who has created most of the Radiohead covers - The sister album mentioned above was released a year later and has recently been released in a double album with Kid A including some b sides called Kid Amnesiac - In one CD version of Kid A there was a hidden booklet with a bunch of the above mentioned lyrics which were picked out of a hat This is personally one of my top 3 favourite albums of all time and it's ambience I find beautiful in a strange way, thanks for going into it with an open mind!
Yooo you got all the info behind this album wow fam I really appreciate your insight & sharing! I can tell this album will keep getting better for me over time!!
Thom Yorke - vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards Jonny Greenwood - guitar, keyboards, ondes Martenot, orchestral arrangements Colin Greenwood - bass guitar Ed O'Brien - guitar, effects, backing vocals Philip Selway - drums, percussion :3 you missed colin while reading off the members :(
Thom said Kid A is what the first human clone will be called. Most of the lyrics were picked at random and were never the focus of this album. It's about creating this cold lonely atmosphere and if you pick up some of the words they add to it. Treefingers is only guitars with lots of effects. I think it is a very nice cooldown after the heavy emotion of How to Disappear... A lot of people who were into the eletronic scene at the time were saying the usage of synths on this album was pretty bad - nowadays it is regarded as one of the best experimental records of all time. After the success of OK Computer the band - especially Thom - were fed up with all the attention they were getting and almost broke up since they all wanted to do something else. Then they just started to experiment with all kinds of instruments, even split up into pairs and created many different songs. Too much for one album so they released Amnesiac a year later which is kinda the sister album to Kid A while still having it's own distinct vibe.
Mannn I appreciate your insight fam for sure ! I didn't know that synths were considered bad before but I can see why & no wonder Radiohead is so legendary, pushing the boundaries!!
'idioteque' is pronounced "idio-tech." its a combination of the words 'idiotic' and 'discotheque.' not sure the reasoning for the name, but ive heard theories that its making fun of electronic music culture. i really have no idea tho lmao
@@JaKarTV , they're good. they are basically slow, distorted surf music with occasional screaming vocals. out of the groups i mentioned, joy division is my favorite (they have very emotional and depressing music), and then aphex twin and talk talk. aphex twin is basically an electronic producer who has tried every known genre of edm and is probably the most legendary edm artist since the 90's. talk talk has grown on me continually since first diving into them....but neil young is by far the most popular in general, though i don't really enjoy him. REM is like retail soft rock with some anti-establishment lyrics, and the smiths are an 80's band with very boring music under morrissey's whiney romantic fantasy lyrics....the closest to Kid a is definitely talk talk. their last 2-3 albums are pretty deep.
This definitely isn't my favorite Radiohead album. For me, How to Disappear Completely, and Motion Picture Soundtrack are the only songs I really revisit. Optimistic, and Idioteque are great too, but when this album released, both songs were super overplayed on the radio so they lost a bit of their luster for me.
Morning bell got done dirty cut off like that 😭 tbf this album does have to have a few albums to really get into it, but they released a game for it like an exhibition its worth the play and its free on epic games
kid a is a name for a fantasy human clone that is placed in the evil, unforgiving world that is the album cover....basically a simpler carnal, allegory for this world
@@JaKarTV , yep. my all time favorite album. blew my mind immediately and remains untouched...my other personal top albums are "songs for the deaf", by queens of the stone age, "drukqs" by aphex twin, "soundtracks for the blind", by swans, "nocturne", by alfa mist, "pink moon", by nick drake, "the winding sheet", by mark lanegan, "is this it", by the strokes, "velvet underground and nico", by the velvet underground, "sprained ankle", by julien baker, "storm corrosion", by storm corrosion, "pain is beauty", by chelsea wolfe, "superunknown", by soundgarden, "veneer", by jose gonzalez, "neck of the woods", by silversun pickups,
Bro Kid A is a terrible first album to get into Radiohead. They set you up to fail lol. You really have to understand how they are before kid an and it takes like 3 listens to before you really feel it. Start with okay computer or in rainbows tbh
I love Radiohead, you know what I’m saying This is a good Radiohead song, you know what I’m saying I’m gonna make myself a bacon sandwich, you know what I’m saying Heading to bed soon, know what I’m saying Aw god, need a pee first, know what I’m saying
aphex twin was a heavy inspiration behind this record, if you’re into instrumental electronic stuff i’d recommend checking it out. also enjoy ur reactions keep it up!
i really appreciate your honesty in this reaction. so many other content creators (especially those that arent familiar with the genres radiohead covers) seem like theyre forcing themselves to react positively for content and it's honestly refreshing to see someone be straight up with their thoughts.
despite that, you were still able to pick apart links in the album's messaging and appreciate the instrumentation, artwork, and lyricism that brings the project together. great breakdowns too youre clearly a smart guy. i wasn't expecting such a nuanced reaction and as a diehard radiohead fan that's been on them for years i'm looking forward to the rest of your reactions bro 🔥
(ps: there's a cool mix between everything in its right place and n95 by kendrick lamar that goes hard af i recommend u check it out ruclips.net/video/cwFmq69m3WA/видео.html )
Mannn when I love Kendrick so when I heard that mix I was so hype!!! 🔥🔥🔥 & i appreciate your insight fam fr ! And yes def too much forced positivity ima keep it genuine forever ! You’re a real one G fr stay tuned 🙏🏾🔥💪🏽
“Motion Picture Soundtrack” is criminally underrated not only in general but among Radiohead fans. Truly one of the best of the best
I completely agree. It's beautiful.
@amado9923 Thankfully popularity isn't a prerequisite for greatness...
In an interview many years ago, Thom Yorke was asked what his favorite Radiohead song was. He replied without hesitation, "How to Disappear Completely."
Woww that’s saying ALOT that’s heavy
@@JaKarTV it's because it's a very personal song for him. when OK computer suddenly made them world famous, Thom was having some strong imposter syndrome and stress.
So Michael Stripe of REM told Thom that any time it became too much, all he has to do is "pull down the shutters, and tell yourself you aren't actually here, and this is not happening". It's an even more emotional song when you know the back story.
This is one of Radiohead's more difficult albums to jump into (Amnesiac and The King Of Limbs are tough too), but they are all growers. Even the most rabid Radiohead fans typically only truly enjoy a minority of the songs on first listen... it can be confused, too strange, too avant-garde, too layered... so you need to get acquainted with it. Personally, this is my favorite album of all time, and I remember being really confused on first listen after years of listening to The Bends and OK Computer on repeat.
Wowwww so that means it’s definitely a grower and in due time I’ll enjoy it even more amazing! I appreciate you fam!
That's right... it took me about 5 years to really learn its secrets (though i was young and I'm better at adjusting to strange music now). It's one of my "go to" albums.... maybe once a year I'll listen to it in the dark... or test a sound system. It's just so good. It's confronting and indulgent music though... so probably not always best for having guests over or driving etc (unless you're on psychedelics or something). But that's just me.
"ready to rock out" yea, this album is great, but its unfortunately probably the worst album you couldve picked to be ready to rock out lol. this album was made more for just putting it on, sitting down and saying "wow this sounds cool" instead of being something incredibly dense lyrically. there is merit to reading the lyrics but it wasnt a huge focus for the band, i think they just wanted to make something that sounded cool to them at the time, hence the long instrumental breaks and passages in songs where they just pile sounds on top of eachother, i think some of it is very improvisational. the band felt directionless and demotivated after they had just put so much energy into creating and touring their last album, ok computer, and as a result they decided to more or less ditch rock music for about 3 years and split off into more ambient electronic music to try and push themselves and become motivated again. they did eventually go back to rock music in their own way but this and amnesiac were their little detours and are way different to the rest of their stuff, this was their big turning point into becoming the band they are nowadays and i wouldnt recommend it if youre not too familiar with radiohead tbh, especially not for the first album of theirs you listen to in full, it can be jarring on a first listen. albums like ok computer, in rainbows and the bends are albums build more for 'rocking out' (but then again thats comparative, radiohead isnt really a band you 'rock out' to lol). and yes, the h and e in thom yorke is silent lol. also, its pronounced "idioteck", like idiot and discotheque put together.
😂 that’s hilarious I had no clue what I was in for! But you’re right I definitely still got to vibe and I’m looking forward to more albums from them! & I appreciate your insight fam for why they have the space, breaks, and creative choices ! Thank you 🙏🏾 & im happy I got his name right then lol !
Arguably it's not even rock music at all. It's closer to electronic/ambient/art-pop. They just happen to use some traditional "rock" instruments to pull some of it off.
A thought for you. Music doesn’t necessarily have to all follow the same structure. Sometimes a long intro or extended outro is what a song needs. Certainly doesn’t mean your opinion is wrong. We all feel how we feel. This album is a very specific thing and I think it’s beautiful for what it is. All the best to you.
You’re 100% right im def learning to feel that too, I appreciate you fam
Robert Wyatt, Can, Brian Eno, Scott Walker, Aphex twin, Dj shadow, Autechre, Talk talk, Massive attack - you can hear all of them in this album
Autechre doesn’t get enough respect
I gotta check them out fam!!
I would add Swans, Bowie, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, R.E.M., and Jeff Buckley (Thom mentions seeing him when they are recording The Bends.)
There are probably a lot of classical, jazz, and international influences not mentioned here.
Boards of Canada, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, talking heads , Björk
Aphex twin def inspired idioteque. Aphex twin has so much range sonicaly and genre bending electronic music from ambient to drum and bass @@JaKarTV
Props to how good your reaction was. No disrespect to whoever advised you per Radiohead, but "Kid A" is not only Radiohead's hardest album to get - it takes years of listens in some cases - but one of the most experimental art driven albums ever made period. You still vibed with it. If you want their very best alt-rock masterworks, it is "OK Computer" ('Paranoid Android' is on there) and maybe even more beautiful "In Rainbows" - you WILL sink into those instantly. This album was meant to be a challenging - like more a piece of art than an album of catchy music, though over time many songs grow big time. Hopefully you don't let this put you off and you go straight to "OK Computer" to get that the hype is all legit - "Kid A" is like a project to connect with over your life. I am puzzled at Radiohead fans who would recommend this to someone for a first listen...it is amazing but I love this band and this album left me very confused for a long time, and of their 9 albums, it is literally the LAST one I'd suggest to a new listener to their music. But life goes on! Music is art and always something good to take away. "In Rainbows" and "OK Computer" (which is not just Radiohead's best album but some would put it up there as one of the best album's ever made) - that is where to find the realness. Peace//
In Rainbows & OK Computer is definitely next up! I appreciate all of your insight Fam! That makes a lot of sense, viewing it as art to digest and understand & breakdown over years of life! Yea that’s funny everyone’s saying I shouldn’t have listened to this first 😂 but hey I still got to take a lot from it ! Legendary group
I think the same thing about In Rainbows which is right up there with OKC.
Up there with swans? I don’t know man.
lol it’s experimental but it’s definitely not one of the most experimental albums out there
Yeah it took me a few months to get into it. Once I got into it, I thought “This album has the most bangers out of all their albums”.
I really enjoyed this! I remember it was my first Radiohead album too. I was 16.
For me, Kid A is absolutely the first half of two parts. So, normally when you listen to the album, After Thom says “I’ll see you in the next life” there space, some orchestration (which Spotify makes track 11) and then more space. Amnesiac follows *directly* after that. The two albums were actually recorded at the same time but Amnesiac is *massively* disregarded. I think it’s underrated.
Wowww okay that makes perfect sense I was wondering for why there was a long pause but okay I’ll have to listen to that at some point too for sure!
@@JaKarTV That being said, it’s more like the songs you thought were cool but not your favourite. If you want Thom’s singing it’s going to be Ok Computer. This is and always will be their best. It’s 10/10 and you’ll love it.
the vocal style on kid a isn't auto tune, though it is meant to sound more robotic and compressed. his vocals were vocoded using a ondes martenot as the signal
Ohhh ok thanks for the insight !!
@@JaKarTV , i have a massive playlist i've accumulated over the years full of everything but country. it's a pretty great list to have on shuffle ruclips.net/p/PLAHqyL24J0poSUNm1A86ecNgMFIKB-z7Q
This whole album's sound is inspired by Aphex Twin, but it's definitely original and unique enough to be instantly recognizable
Oh ok ! & definitely unique !!
@@JaKarTVBe sure to check out some aphex twin! Selected ambient works 85-92 is a classic album
As a big Radiohead fan, you’re giving me some new perspective on this album I’ve never even thought of. Big up’s man, keep it up!
Man.. that's a really high compliment I appreciate you fr !
I'm going to echo a few others and recommend "In Rainbows" -- my favorite from them. I think you might also like "Hail to the Thief". I find it's not mentioned as much, but I think it's a great album (the song "There, There" especially). Really, all of their albums are great in different ways, with perhaps the exception of "Pablo Honey" (the very well known and overplayed "Creep" is the only song I like on that album... sorry fellow RH fans). Happy listening!
Those 2 albums are definitely up next for them ! I’m excited! & creep is what introduced me to them !
Hail to the thief is my first, and I really agree he will likely enjoy it too. even though a lot of Radiohead fans seem to dislike it. It's got the best parts of OK Computer and Kid A... almost like if they had a baby.
@@0nearmedbandit Right on! "Hail to the Thief" is probably top 3 for me :)
If he does check out Pablo Honey, Blow Out (the last track) is worth a listen. I think that song is the first glimpse we heard of the true Radiohead.
If he does check out Pablo Honey, Blow Out (the last track) is worth a listen. I think that song is the first glimpse we heard of the true Radiohead.
“Kid A” refers to a fictional first cloned human and the environment they live in. The album has an end of the world vibe to it. Dealing with death and even a nuclear annihilation in the song Idioteque.
I really recommend checking out some of the art by Stanley Donwood made along side the album. It really showcases the mood and imagery.
Ooo I appreciate you for adding that! I had a feeling I felt an end of the world vibe to it!
IN RAINBOWS
Ohhh I’m on it 😎
Excellent album, but probably not the 1st album I would recommend when introducing Radiohead 😂
I wouldn't even call this alternative. It's more of an electronic art-rock album.
Some of Radiohead's influences are Talking Heads, David Bowie, The Smiths, Aphex Twin, Can, Joy Division, Jeff Buckley, Miles Davis, DJ Shadow, etc.
Lmao 😂 everyone keeps saying not a great first album to listen to from them but hey I still got to vibe out with them & im on to more albums from them next ! Def electronic rock I see that, I want to listen to a David Bowie album too 👀 any suggestions?
@JaKarTV I think you'll enjoy the rest of their discography. My personal favorite from Radiohead is In Rainbows.
My personal favorite Bowie album is Hunky Dory. The Rise and Fall of Zigy Stardust is his most critically acclaimed album.
@@austinh953 yea I think so too! & hey thanks man ima check that out soon for sure !!
The live SNL performance of National Anthem is the down right best version. They use the SNL house band - absolute tops of live performances on SNL.
Ima watch this soon wow
Listen to it ten more times and you won't want to change a second of the album.
Everyone keeps saying it’s a grower so I appreciate that, In the future I might really love it !
It will become your favorite. Kid A has THE best production value, and songs that grow on you. But most importantly, it the best ALBUM. As one piece it is flawless. P.S. The bass on How To Disappear may be the most underappreciated bassline of all time.
I appreciate that you give your honest reaction. So many RUclipsrs act like they're completely mindblown when they hear something new just to appease that artist's fans.
That’s real fam! I was nervous I’d get hate for not liking it as much as others but it’s done the opposite! I appreciate that fr !
great work man...I love your words and oppinions of your feelings listening to radiohead.... do you still listen to radiohead in your private time ?
That means a lot fam! & yes I do I have an alternative playlists that I add the songs I love to, karma police, no surprises, subterranean, paranoid android
We have similar tastes lol! How to Disappear Completely and Motion Picture Soundtrack are also my faves from this album. With a lot of Radiohead songs, I'm not really into them on my first listen, and yet, they're there when I "need" them later. Like "How to Disappear Completely"-the first time I heard it, I found it too discordant and "sour" if that makes sense. But then I ended up listening to it again during a period of intense stress and negative emotion and found it so incredibly cathartic and uplifting. Something I never realized that first time I heard it is that in the midst of all the chaos, when Thom Yorke is just singing wordlessly over those discordant instrumentals, there's this beautiful moment where all the discord disappears and for a moment it's just him singing this beautiful, almost angelic note over a perfect flourish of strings (at around 5:22 of the song). It's like the musical embodiment of hope in the midst of darkness.
Radiohead actually released this album and Amnesiac together as a playable experience, kinda like a video game. It's called, "Kid A Mnesia Exhibition" and it's free to download, I think. Idk if you have the set-up to do a reaction to what's basically a video game, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Totally see where other folks are coming from, this is probably the most experimental Radiohead album in my opinion, and I took me a long time to get into :)
(Amnesiac also a bit, they were recorded and written close together from what I understand).
But I think you'll have a really cool perspective on them now!
If you continue your Radiohead journey you'll be able to see little bits and pieces of their earlier work that inspires this album, but in the following albums you'll get to see what they took from Kid A that they liked, and how they brought it back together with their earlier sound a bit!
Excited to see your reactions to their other albums, the variety is pretty mind blowing, and I think you'll have a really fun time with the lyrics :)
Like a few other folks have said, some of their other albums have more direct lyric themes!
I’m currently editing my reaction to in rainbows from them! So you’re definitely right! I appreciate you fam! I’m really excited for Ok Computer !!
Nice!! Can't wait :)@@JaKarTV
i think OK Computer and The Bends would be more up your alley! They’re more melodic and less experimental
Ooo okay I appreciate you! They’re next up for sure !
dude, I like your vibe while listening to this
Aye that means a lot my man!!
You've heard the rest, now hear the best -- Pixies, Surfer Rosa
That’s a group? An album? Let me know lol
You spelt "The Velvet Underground" wrong
@@JaKarTV It's the first album by the band who inspired just about every band to come later in the 90's, raw, energetic and weird.
@@SaintJermania wowwww I gotta check them out!!
Do you edit your own videos? I love it! Its such a great addition to music reactions that I haven't seen anyone else do! So glad I just found your channel
Hey yes I do! WOW that means everything to me & what I do it for! Only the beginning tho so stay tuned 😎
Great content!
Thank you fam!
Also the beggening of kid a isnt the band doing worse than before its them trying something really new, that space that drowsy feeling you got its all part of the feel. Kid a is one of there best works. like its my favorate album of all time for me atleast.
It's funny that everyone talks about this being the worst way to intro yourself to Radiohead, because I first discovered them in the early 2000's with this and Amnesiac, so you can imagine my surprise to learn they had a whole discography of rock beforehand. Just amazing to think this was a chart-topper. That's how important OK Computer was. Also, the spacing is for a single reason: atmosphere. These aren't singles, they're meant to take you somewhere, and bring you back. That said, they did a much better job keeping things interesting in their other albums, this was a very experimental project and that spacing is just part of the vibes they were exploring.
Wow see ! & I appreciate that! Im real excited to check out Ok Computer now !! Very soon!!
Kid A has an ambiguous meaning but I always saw it as a story about a revolution (Kid A, mentions having heads on sticks)
Nuclear war (national anthem just always connected to me as the Climax, nukes dropping, idk lol)
How to Disappear Completely always seemed like the POV of someone who got vaporized by a nuclear blast.
And then comes the apocalypse (Optimistic talks about vultures circling the dead, payloads, dinosaurs, etc.)
Idioteque sounds like a song from the POV of a powerful politcian, Morning Bell is the routine of settling into living in a bunker, and Motion Picture sounds like suicide, due to someone being tired of living this routine-filled, almost robotic life. (Sleeping pills and red wine, mentioned in the lyrics is a deadly combination.)
I could go more in depth but I dont want to ramble on lol
Mannn you said it all!! I appreciate you & your insight 🤲🏽🔥🔉 this goes to show how much depth they really have !
This Album is so dope man there whole discography is so amazing, modern day Beatles in my opinion.
That’s highhh acclaim ! I see it too tho !!
"Is that an instrument or is that a voice?" Everyone when listening to any Radiohead album for the first time.
Thom said that "Kid A" would be the name of the first cloned human
Sheesh he’s a genius
Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Can & Charles Mingus are some of the influences for this LP
I think I saved aphex twin I gotta check that out!!
Idk who told you Kid A first, don't get me wrong it's all great. But I would have suggested In Rainbows or OK Computer. Def check them out if you liked this at all!! Every album has a unique sound/feel
Yea lol I keep seeing I started wrong 😅 but Ok Computer is next up !!
Oh man, if you love Thom's voice you'll love the albums OK Computer and In Rainbows!
I’m really excited for those albums !!
I always interpreted the last track as a suicide note - the “I think you’re crazy, maybe” I split into two parts: “I think you’re crazy” is from him former partner (who I presume died), and “maybe” is from him, as he is hoping that killing himself will bring him closer to her. This also links back to “I think you’re crazy” as there is a lot of self doubt, whether his plan will actually work, or whether there is eternal nothingness after death.
Untitled could be interpreted at this nothingness, or as the heavens opening.
For Kid A/Amnesiac, they sighted Nine Inch Nails "The Fragile," David Bowie (especially his 76-80 era) a lot of krautrock bands like Can, Neu!, and Kraftwerk.
You sound a lot like me. I was in love with the bends and ok computer, and it took me a long time to get into Kid a. When the sister album Amnesia came out the next year I immediately preferred that because it had more of the standard song structure you would expect. Now before anybody asks me I absolutely love Kid A, It just took me a while to adjust. At that time no band had made that drastic of a shift in direction between albums. There was a whole trend in the late '90s of alternative bands going more electronic. Radiohead were the last to jump on that trend but honestly they went to a completely different galaxy with it.
That’s amazing man a lot of people are telling me it took a while to adjust to this so maybe in the future I’ll really love the structure & flow, Ok computer & the bends are next up for me so I appreciate your insight fam!
Just listen to the albums in order
While Kid A is my fav Radiohead album, it took a bit to get there. It was OK Computer for me for many many years. I think you'd love it. It was the album before this and I bet you can see how they transformed themselves from one album to the next. They chose to challenge themselves and not do the same thing that scored them incredible critical acclaim which OK Computer did.
Everyone keeps telling me about how their favorite is ok computer ! That really has me excited !! & I appreciate them always being different per album that’s amazing !
Yeah man, he is such a great vocalist.
He really is !
Kid A has the most spacing of all the albums, its definitely one of the harder albums to reccomend to a newer radiohead listener especially if youre expecting something like their earlier work. this album is still way ahead of its time imo
Yea tooo much spacing for my liking but I understand the creativity for sure !
Check out the SNL performance of the national anthem lol it's nuts
Lol sounds good!! I bet !
Like every Radiohead album it is its own thing - linked more to a mood than a sound. But soooooo many great songs and hairs on the back of the neck moments - How to Dissappear Completely is my favourite
And keep going with your reactions - honesty and individuality are at a premium
Final thing - its not their best album for me (Ok Computer, In Rainbows are my favourites) but its very much one that needs multiple listens to appreciate
On non Radiohead music you could try some Pearl Jam for a different sound (Hard rock all the way to Folky)
i don't know if someone already said that but a fun fact is: how to disappear completely is named after a book called how to disappear completely and never be found, by a british author
Wowww real deep!!
If you want more of Thom singing, I would check out the album , "The bends". It's not as experimental as their later albums so it allows more vocals.
I dont know if what I said about it being less experimental allowing more vocals is exactly right.
I’m definitely going to check that one out too!!
Every Radiohead album is different. This one is more different than the others. Takes more than one listen.
Dude nice job, In kid A your not really needing to know what he is saying, and sometimes you get drowsy itsz all part of the feel man. its an album all about feeling, a great example is idioteque because the lyrics make no sense but the feeling is there. it feels like anxiety,
great reaction to a great album. thom didn't really want to sing anymore when this album was being worked on. that's why he uses his voice more like another instrument instead of being in the front on most songs. idioteque means 'dance song for idiots'. and he's saying 'here i'm allowed anything all of the time' it's a critique on decadence.
Real deep ! Appreciate your insight fam
You mentioned melatonin and Radiohead has a song called Melotonin
Hmm gotta check that one out!
"i love the radiohead writers" radiohead collaboretely write the songs, mainly Thom Yorke
Lol yea that’s what I meant & oh ok he’s really amazing
He is talking about the novel Animal Farm if you really want to get Radiohead you need to react to the two basement sessions starting with the In Rainbows one. Watching them pull off all those intricate songs flawlessly live will give you some real respect and appreciation for what think is the best band from the last 30 years I put them up there with the Beatles and Floyd ect. they are that great.
Ooo ok I will have to then!! & wow they’re up there like that ?!! I can see it for sure !!
Kid A the title doesn't really mean anything per-se some cool theories about it:
1) Kid A stands for Kid Amnesiac (meaning to completely lose ones memory), amnesiac is the name of the album made in the same sessions.
2) Kid A is the name of the first human clone and the album is the sounds of humanity that it brought up on.
3) The actual title itself comes from the filename of one of the lead singer's sequencers.
4) Akira!
Some other cool stuff:
- For lots of the songs the lyrics were picked out of a hat
- Some songs on OK computer are distorted/stretched and then sampled
- Lots of the synthesized bits on Treefingers were made from guitar tones
- How to disappear completely is the lead singer's favourite song he's made
- The album cover was made by Stanley Donwood who has created most of the Radiohead covers
- The sister album mentioned above was released a year later and has recently been released in a double album with Kid A including some b sides called Kid Amnesiac
- In one CD version of Kid A there was a hidden booklet with a bunch of the above mentioned lyrics which were picked out of a hat
This is personally one of my top 3 favourite albums of all time and it's ambience I find beautiful in a strange way, thanks for going into it with an open mind!
Yooo you got all the info behind this album wow fam I really appreciate your insight & sharing! I can tell this album will keep getting better for me over time!!
@@JaKarTV no problem! Ty for the videos
Thom Yorke - vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
Jonny Greenwood - guitar, keyboards, ondes Martenot, orchestral arrangements
Colin Greenwood - bass guitar
Ed O'Brien - guitar, effects, backing vocals
Philip Selway - drums, percussion
:3 you missed colin while reading off the members :(
Oh this is perfect I appreciate you fam now I know for good !!
Colin also does some synthesizer/synth-bass work in a few songs!
23:44 bro, that effect was fire
Appreciate you broo!!
Have a listen to In Rainbows. It's phenomenal.
That’s next up fam! 🙏🏾
@@JaKarTV can't wait
Thom said Kid A is what the first human clone will be called.
Most of the lyrics were picked at random and were never the focus of this album. It's about creating this cold lonely atmosphere and if you pick up some of the words they add to it.
Treefingers is only guitars with lots of effects. I think it is a very nice cooldown after the heavy emotion of How to Disappear...
A lot of people who were into the eletronic scene at the time were saying the usage of synths on this album was pretty bad - nowadays it is regarded as one of the best experimental records of all time.
After the success of OK Computer the band - especially Thom - were fed up with all the attention they were getting and almost broke up since they all wanted to do something else. Then they just started to experiment with all kinds of instruments, even split up into pairs and created many different songs. Too much for one album so they released Amnesiac a year later which is kinda the sister album to Kid A while still having it's own distinct vibe.
Mannn I appreciate your insight fam for sure ! I didn't know that synths were considered bad before but I can see why & no wonder Radiohead is so legendary, pushing the boundaries!!
This album was inspired by Aphex Twin
Hmm never heard of them ima have to !
Only the real ones know this is their best one
How to disappear completely def hit me 🔥
It's AMSP and In Rainbows at 10/10 for me, but Kid A and Amnesiac come in at 9.5/10.
You should listen to Amnesiac too
Hmmm might have to put it on the list!
'idioteque' is pronounced "idio-tech." its a combination of the words 'idiotic' and 'discotheque.' not sure the reasoning for the name, but ive heard theories that its making fun of electronic music culture. i really have no idea tho lmao
Lmaoo okay I’m trying to sound it out still 💀
some influences i know of are REM, talk talk, aphex twin, neil young, the smiths, pixies, talking heads, and joy division,
I heard the pixies are great too I never heard any of them yet
@@JaKarTV , they're good. they are basically slow, distorted surf music with occasional screaming vocals. out of the groups i mentioned, joy division is my favorite (they have very emotional and depressing music), and then aphex twin and talk talk. aphex twin is basically an electronic producer who has tried every known genre of edm and is probably the most legendary edm artist since the 90's. talk talk has grown on me continually since first diving into them....but neil young is by far the most popular in general, though i don't really enjoy him. REM is like retail soft rock with some anti-establishment lyrics, and the smiths are an 80's band with very boring music under morrissey's whiney romantic fantasy lyrics....the closest to Kid a is definitely talk talk. their last 2-3 albums are pretty deep.
Autechre is pretty close too, and a lot of their stuff is a fair bit more "accessible" than the likes of Aphex
you have to listen to "OK Computer" and "In Rainbows" albums by radiohead.
Bet fam! In rainbows is up next !!
@@JaKarTV loved your analysis tho. I guarantee you’re going to like these a lot more:)
@@joemybro9104 i appreciate you g im actually hype to check them out probably Tuesday 💯
7:36 THATS to Funny!
I came a long way 😂😂😂😂
In rainbows has the moast bangers in an album shits groovy too
Check out a video titled 'KID A, The Greatest Left Turn In Music History' on 'Middle 8' channel
😳 That sounds real interesting! Ok I will !
What you kids are missing are set and setting
Hmm interesting!
This definitely isn't my favorite Radiohead album. For me, How to Disappear Completely, and Motion Picture Soundtrack are the only songs I really revisit. Optimistic, and Idioteque are great too, but when this album released, both songs were super overplayed on the radio so they lost a bit of their luster for me.
Yea I can definitely see that!!
Morning bell got done dirty cut off like that 😭 tbf this album does have to have a few albums to really get into it, but they released a game for it like an exhibition its worth the play and its free on epic games
Lmao ooops ! & yea I gotta let it grow on me for sure fam appreciate you !
Yeah that game is sick
you got his name right :"tom york" is how it's pronounced
Oh ok thank you!
kid a is a name for a fantasy human clone that is placed in the evil, unforgiving world that is the album cover....basically a simpler carnal, allegory for this world
So so deep & dark wow
@@JaKarTV , yep. my all time favorite album. blew my mind immediately and remains untouched...my other personal top albums are "songs for the deaf", by queens of the stone age, "drukqs" by aphex twin, "soundtracks for the blind", by swans, "nocturne", by alfa mist, "pink moon", by nick drake, "the winding sheet", by mark lanegan, "is this it", by the strokes, "velvet underground and nico", by the velvet underground, "sprained ankle", by julien baker, "storm corrosion", by storm corrosion, "pain is beauty", by chelsea wolfe, "superunknown", by soundgarden, "veneer", by jose gonzalez, "neck of the woods", by silversun pickups,
23:00 idio- tech
You did this album so do its twin, Amnesiac.
Got In rainbows & Ok Computer next fam then gotchu!
And did your girl kick you to the car for a reaction? Lol
Lmao you funny na just works better for albums rn !
Bro Kid A is a terrible first album to get into Radiohead. They set you up to fail lol. You really have to understand how they are before kid an and it takes like 3 listens to before you really feel it. Start with okay computer or in rainbows tbh
I love Radiohead, you know what I’m saying
This is a good Radiohead song, you know what I’m saying
I’m gonna make myself a bacon sandwich, you know what I’m saying
Heading to bed soon, know what I’m saying
Aw god, need a pee first, know what I’m saying
Lmao wait was I saying you know what I’m saying alot ?!
Sounds like you rather songs with basic song structure , short radio songs...Radiohead is not that band
Idio tech. 😂
Lmao tough one
Bro u have adhd
bro really said “Fom Yorkie” 😭😭
aphex twin was a heavy inspiration behind this record, if you’re into instrumental electronic stuff i’d recommend checking it out. also enjoy ur reactions keep it up!
Ima have to listen to them now to hear the inspiration! I appreciate your insight fam & thank you for the support I will!!