In 1993, a new band by the name of Radiohead emerged with a song called “Creep,” which was angsty, loud and straight-up depressing. But by 1997, Radiohead’s sound had changed, and they outdid themselves with what people sometimes say is one of the greatest albums of all time.

Released May 21, 1997, “OK Computer” was Radiohead’s third studio album. This album would propel the band into even more fame than they had previously received with their past two albums, “The Bends” and “Pablo Honey.” The lead single Radiohead released for “OK Computer,” “Paranoid Android” (followed by “Karma Police,” “Lucky” and “No Surprises”) was a stunner. The 6-minute-long, no-chorus song would go on to be considered one of the best songs Radiohead ever made and has been compared to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which is widely considered one of the best songs in the world. In 2025, thanks to TikTok, the album’s fifth track, “Let Down,” gained popularity, and now people consider it to be one of Radiohead’s greatest songs.

This album is an absolute masterpiece. It has been said time and time again — by Rolling Stone and others — but when listened to, it gets even more reinforced. From sad anthems to no-chorus songs and electronic bits, this album does not fail to heighten expectations. Radiohead has many great albums, but this one is multigenerational because its themes of isolation, anxiety and modern life still feel relevant today.

In the second track, “Paranoid Android,” there’s a very interesting detail that contributed to this album’s high rating. When taking a look at the time signatures, the song is mostly in 4/4 time, but during two certain points in the song, it shifts to 7/8 time. This is rare to find, but not rare for Radiohead’s later, more experimental sound.

The lyrics of the fifth track, “Let Down,” are extremely special. It contains meaning that listeners can really tap into and relate to. That meaning includes feelings of alienation, hope for a change and, as the title suggests, being let down by life. Those emotions are part of why the song still connects with listeners nearly 30 years after the album’s release.

The sixth track, “Karma Police,” is said to be about Blur and Gorillaz star Damon Albarn and his then-girlfriend, Justine Frischmann, who allegedly bullied Thom Yorke at a party. So, out of frustration, Thom Yorke wrote “Karma Police.” Of course, it became about a broader issue, but it was reportedly rooted in that experience with Albarn and his girlfriend. It’s a funny but interesting backstory to a song.

All those reasons contributed to this album’s five-star rating: backstory, lyrics and interesting time signatures. This is an incredible album, and to readers who have never listened to or even heard of Radiohead, this is a very good starting point.