Paranoid Android
Radiohead
1997

There was always going to be a Top 10 spot for Radiohead, it was only a matter of which song to choose.  It’s hard to think of a band that has re-invented itself more than Radiohead; their first couple of albums are very much standard 90s pop/rock, then they released one of the greatest albums of all time in 1997, and then completely transitioned in the early aughts to the electronic/synth band they’re probably most known for today.  I think some of their later stuff is not as accessible as their earlier work, and for that reason it’s hard for some folks to really get into them.  But this is quite possibly the most musically gifted band of any band on this entire list (and yes, that includes the undisputed greatest band of all time that sits at #1 on this list), and there’s a reason why I’ve seen Radiohead more times live than any other band.

OK Computer was released in 1997 while I was traveling the rural streets of Oaxaca, Mexico for two years.  I never heard any of these songs; never remember any of my fellow compadres who came from the States talk about the album.  I remember that when I returned home and listened for the first time it was a bit jarring (I was also confused by why there was an image/photo of people looking at the Christus from the LDS Salt Lake Temple Visitors Center in the liner notes, and remain confused to this day about how Radiohead even got around to including it!).  But this is truly one of the all-time great albums; from an influential standpoint it’s right up there with Revolver, Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper’s, and a handful of others.  The sequencing of the album is perfect; the balance between harder rock songs and slow tempo ballads is excellent.  There isn’t a song I don’t like on this album (except for “Fitter Happier,” which isn’t really a song though it does go well with the album).

And so the real question here was, which song was worthy of a Top 100 slot?  Like I said, the whole freaking album is just delicious.  Nine of the album’s 12 tracks are in my personal Radiohead Top 25 (see below).  It would be hard not to take “Exit Music (For A Film),” a hauntingly gorgeous track that was used in the credits for Romeo and Juliet.  “Let Down” and “Lucky” are both favorites of mine off the album (and one final plug for The Bear - “Let Down” closed out Season 1!).  But this one right here, this was definitely the choice.  A true masterpiece, this song is Bohemian Rhapsody-level brilliance with three different acts within the song.  I love the haunting nature of it, the buildup to explosion with that epic guitar riff.  And then, of course, the “rain down on me” bridge.  I’ll just give my standard advice:  put some headphones on, close your eyes, and let the music do the rest.  This is art.

Other Songs Considered:
Here are my Top 25 Radiohead songs.