30/ Kid A - Kid A - 2000The beginning of this song sounds like a wind-up music box for an infant. When the next part comes in, it makes me think of a long and vast frozen tundra. It's an interesting combination. But considering the title of the song, the album it's on, the overall theme of the album, and the artwork supplied with the album, it fits PERFECTLY. One aspect of this song that I just love is how Thom's voice was recorded. Apparently, they directed Thom's vocals through Jonny Greenwood's ondes martenot (which is basically the father of the theremin, the main difference being the ondes is played using keys and a finger-ring connected to a string, controlling the pitch). Jonny played the notes that Thom was singing while he was singing them, so you get these vocals that are just... otherworldly. It's amazing. One of my favorite lines is from this song. "We've got heads on sticks. You've got ventriloquists."29/ Street Spirit (Fade Out) - The Bends - 1995This song doesn't really help the cliche image of the band being depressed and gloomy musicians. But you can't deny the power of the lyrics, the beautiful vocals, and the masterful guitar work on this song. When the third guitar comes in with supplemental notes in the third verse, the song takes on a beauty that I can't begin to describe. Proper drumming comes in shortly after but it doesn't clutter the song. The last line of the song is sung and everything just ties together. "Immerse your soul in love."28/ I Might Be Wrong - Amnesiac - 2001Ohhhhh wow, how I love the guitar in this song. This is close to my favorite guitar riff that Radiohead have ever come up with. It's extremely simple without really copying anyone else. It's one of the many, many elements in this song that make me imagine a hot, dry desert and a desperado riding a horse, galloping off into the sunset. I love the exra crunch in the guitar in the live version :)27/ Climbing Up The Walls - OK Computer - 1997This is another Radiohead song that goes down as one of their creepiest. The soundscape created in the opening moments is more sinister than any other song I've heard. From the reverbing drums to the sound effects that were birthed in an insane asylum, this song is the song for a man foaming at the mouth in a straightjacket. When the song reaches its climax, even more sound effects and guitars have been added and they burst into an ondes martenot solo that just breaks any hopes that the song would take a turn for the sane. By the time Thom starts singing again, his voice has turned to a frantic yell that eventually yields a bloodcurdling scream, ripping the song at its seams. The song then dies a slow death of dissonance and static. Incredible.26/ Life In A Glass House - Amnesiac - 2001This song sounds like a 1920s jazz piece conducted and sung by a drunken man. It's a complete 180 degree turn from most of the material on Amnesiac but it fits so well... I'm still not sure how. The chorus of this song is one of my favorite Radiohead moments. The horn stab just before Thom starts singing is just amazing... everything just bursts into color from the clumsy, black and white verse. "Well of course I'd like to sit around and chat! Well of course I'd like to stay and chew the fat!" Maybe the colored atmosphere will continue? "But someone's listening in..." Nope... back to the verse. Don't get me wrong though. I absolutely love the verse. It's just interesting how the verse and chorus are similar... but very very different from each other. The aforementioned happens once more but it continues for a while longer. "Only, only only, only!!!" Thom yells, over impovised brass instruments. "...Someone's listening in..." Amazing how Radiohead could do a song like this so well.25/ Just - The Bends - 1995One of the most insanely awesome amazing rock songs of the nineties. I don't care what any of you think, this song is better than 90% of the rock songs that came out during that decade. I was blessed to be able to experience Radiohead but the experience was made 10x better by the inclusion of a handful of songs I've always wanted to see live. This is one of them.24/ Exit Music (For A Film) - OK Computer - 1997This song is based on the romance between Romeo and Juliet. It's a great example of Thom's low register and perfect example of the masterfully crafted climaxes that riddle OK Computer.23/ Lucky - OK Computer - 1997This is another song that was not originally written for inclusion on OK Computer. It was originally written for the HELP charity album. Again, it was so good, it just had to be included on the album. The guitar riff during the chorus is another of my favorites from this band. This song is also one of my favorites to play on guitar and sing.22/ Talk Show Host - Street Spirit (Fade Out) CD1 - 1996I'm just gonna have to say that I consider this the best b-side ever put out by Radiohead... I still can't believe that I heard this song in person. Being performed by Radiohead. From the guitars... to the... there's too much to be said about this song that's already been said. It's a masterpiece. It's very very hard to place this song on the list in a position that seems right for it. It could arguably be much, much higher but once you get to about this area on the list... it's very very hard to decide. This is one of the best songs of all time. How could you not love the following lines: "You want me? Fucking well come and find me. I'll be waiting with a gun and a pack of sandwiches."21/ My Iron Lung - The Bends - 1995The opening riff in this song is, I believe, one of the most memorable of the past 50 years. That's just me, of course, but this song is just... such a perfect rock song. And then the kick-in-the-mouth in the middle of the song... Wow. This was Radiohead's answer to "Creep." "This is our new song. Just like the last one. A total waste of time. My iron lung." What an answer!PART 4 SOON
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