About half of Kid A is a legitimate "move into electronica" and not a case of "bringing in the synths" as everyone from Genesis to The Strokes has done, when inspiration and musicianship fails them; after all, the dynamics of pop or rock music just aren't there.
A constant battle between digital versus organic plays throughout Kid A, like an organism trying to reach homeostasis but is instead suspended in a state between entropy and equilibrium.
Suitably liberated. These are recordings with soul.
This emphasis on texture, this reliance on elliptical songs, means that Kid A is easily the most successful electronica album from a rock band: it doesn't even sound like the work of a rock band, even if it does sound like Radiohead.
The experience and emotions tied to listening to Kid A are like witnessing the stillborn birth of a child while simultaneously having the opportunity to see her play in the afterlife on Imax.
The fans will persevere and discover that Kid A is not only Radiohead's bravest album but its best one as well.
As unnervingly cryptic as Kid A can be, it is a genuinely challenging work in a generally unchallenging time.
This is pop, a music of ornery, glistening guile and honest ache, and it will feel good under your skin once you let it get there.
The quintet's response to OK Computer has been to eliminate everything they succeeded with -- big guitars, proper songs and soaring choruses -- and replace it with dissonant interludes, squealing brass orchestras and a wheezing pump organ. A ballsy move, but is it any good? For the most part, yes.
Kid A forces its patrons to submerge themselves into the wiles of noise, to work for melody and signifieds, to seek within and find something that wants, needs, and is able to understand. It may not be easy, but music shouldn’t have to be.
For all its feats of brinkmanship, the patently magnificent construct called 'Kid A' betrays a band playing one-handed just to prove they can, scared to commit itself emotionally.
Like the soundtrack to a movie that hasn't been filmed. This is music that messes with your insides.
Kid A will tax even those who thought Fitter Happier was the catchiest thing on their last record.
What bothers me is how thinly constructed it is. Whatever messages it attempts to convey are buried underneath a self-indulgent mess.
Decided to revisit after OK Computer clicked. Have to say I finally have an opinion on this album.
I never cared for the lyrics in this album until I finally cared about the Character of the music. This album, while scattered, and while giving it so many listens... I never truly sat down... and just tried to give this my attention. This is a really... really messed up album. Idioteque was the prime example of this... that song is one of the few times I could say a song truly got under my ... read more
Im not being Optimistic, but whenever i hear Kid A, Everything seems to be in its Right Place. Sorry if this review is a little Idioteque.
2000 FOLLOWERS REVIEW SPECIAL - Kid A (thank you)
Before I start the review, I would like to say a few things. *corny alert* I've been on this site for quite a while now, but only recently, by the end of last year has my account started getting some traction. And as much as there have been a lot of negatives, and toxicity on the site, generally, it has been absolutely amazing. It's been a great journey of discovering new music, branching out into unknown territories and genres, and connecting ... read more
This is one of the few albums I've listened to that legitimately blew my mind
Like it's been over a year since I've heard this album and I come back to it so often. I hardly ever do that for any album.
Easily one of my top 5 albums ever and favorite Radiohead album
Fav Track: ALL OF THEM (if I had to pick, Everything In Its Right Place)
Least Fav Track: NONE OF THEM (If I had to pick, Untitled... if that counts)
1 | Everything in Its Right Place 4:11 | 97 |
2 | Kid A 4:44 | 91 |
3 | The National Anthem 5:51 | 95 |
4 | How to Disappear Completely 5:56 | 98 |
5 | Treefingers 3:42 | 89 |
6 | Optimistic 5:15 | 94 |
7 | In Limbo 3:31 | 92 |
8 | Idioteque 5:09 | 97 |
9 | Morning Bell 4:35 | 92 |
10 | Motion Picture Soundtrack 3:20 | 96 |
11 | Untitled 0:52 Hidden Track | 87 |