Review Summary: Have you ever had a splitting migraine before, that's this album.
Let me set this up with a little story: I used to be a big fan of Radiohead after first hearing Creep on Rock Band. I rushed out an bought all of their albums up to that point and loved every single one of them, Ok Computer being my favorite. All but Kid A, that is. Kid A is simply one of the worst albums I've ever heard and I find it hard to believe that people can actually listen to it an call it let alone a musical masterpiece but an artistic one as well. From what I understand it supposed to be a concept album that continues the great story of Radiohead through Ok Computer, but whereas Ok Computer is one of my favorite albums, this one completely falls flat on its electronic, bloopy face. To start off, what's up with all the awful mixing. Half the time I can barely hear Thom's vocals, and sure maybe that's fine for really nich genres and music that doesn't focus on vocals, but for rock music it's simply unacceptable.
Secondly, the lyrics are terrible. At times simply comprising a few words and other times being complete gibberish nonsense, there is never a point where this album comes even remarkably close to reaching a rational thought. Not that Radiohead has ever had the best lyrics in the world but my god Thom at least try to make sense on this album! He spouts of some awful stream for conscienceness BS and we never end up learning anything tangible about the concept because he's too busy being quirky and weird. But that's not even close to my biggest problem in the whole album. Compared to this, the lyrics are great, some of my favorite ever, I'd take these awful lyrics if I could do without the stupid headaches.
This is one of the most annoying and migraine-inducing albums I've ever heard. I suppose its quite an accomplishment when a record can actually cause you physical pain but I for one am not a fan. The largest offender on the album is The National Anthem which does bear a resemblance to our national anthem if you blared loud and out of key horns the entire way through. I swear that's all this song is, a vaguely royal beat and awful awful horns that make you sick. It's like that film technique where they use the low buzzing noise to make you queasy but turned up to ten and blasted throughout a whole song.
Overall even though I love Radiohead to death and they will always be one of my favorite bands, I can objectively say that this is one of the worst albums I've ever had the unfortune to listen to. Its a chore in every single way imaginable and I have no idea how people can stand it, much less call it a modern classic that has changed music forever. Even Radiohead didn't sick with their formula.
