I can already hear readers’ thoughts on how impossible a list like this is to make. There are just too many fantastic Radiohead songs across their nine-album discography. Well, that’s exactly what makes putting this list together so fun. I consider myself a pretty large Radiohead fan, as each of their records has such impact and I find their catalog to be one of the greatest of all time. Let’s see which songs of theirs really stand out to me personally among a slew of masterpieces, in no particular order.
All I Need (2007)
“All I Need” is a song with several amazing individual elements which all blend together beautifully. I love how it begins with those super punchy drums, but the track slowly adds in more and more to really engage the listener like no other band can. The droning bass adds a touch of darkness to this song, but Thom Yorke’s gorgeous crooning balances things out so well. The song’s second half is mind-blowing, with everything becoming much more intense as loud pianos and wild percussion are thrown into the chaos.
Everything in its Right Place (2000)
This track is the perfect introduction to Radiohead’s otherworldly magnum opus, Kid A. It’s one of my favorite openers to any album of theirs because it locks you right into what the mood will be for the entire tracklist. The digitized vocals and eerie synths floating around make the whole composition sound very futuristic.
Exit Music (for a film) (1997)
This track provides that classic Radiohead quality where they put you through a whirlwind of many different emotions in just a few minutes, leaving you exhausted by the end. The fourth song on OK Computer begins as a piece of gorgeously calm art rock before the instruments explode with power in the second half. It is brilliantly named, since the evolution within the track would fit on a big-budget movie score; it is that epic of a journey.
Push/Pulk Revolving Doors (2001)
This is easily the pick on this list that is most out of left field, but I can’t act like this isn’t one of my most listened to songs by the band. This track from the under-appreciated 2001 album Amnesiac is one of Radiohead’s weirdest. Its scratchy, industrial drums that bang throughout are hypnotizing, and Thom Yorke’s vocals sound like some sort of text-to-speech computer program. It’s a song with an unusual mood that just happens to push all the right buttons for me.
Nude (2007)
For a group that is defined by heartbreaking music, “Nude” is possibly Radiohead’s saddest song. The punishing experience this song gives you can mainly be attributed to Thom Yorke’s extraordinary falsetto, which carries such emotional weight that it’s very difficult to put into words. This thing has such heavy instrumentation all over it, and by the end you are left utterly defeated by such a powerful ballad.
Sit Down, Stand Up (2003)
One of my favorite things about this band is their dynamic song structures; nowhere is that more apparent than right here. What starts as your typical Radiohead affair really develops into something insane here, with a second half that bursts with mystifying sound effects, rapid-fire drums, and manic refrains.
Planet Telex (1995)
The Bends is such an easy album to like, and its first song is a prime example why. Uncharacteristically feel-good for Radiohead, the track will put a smile on your face for several reasons. These guitar riffs are total ear candy, while Thom sounds energized and full of personality here.
Ful Stop (2016)
Ful Stop is my only choice from the band’s most recent album, and it’s a track that carries some insane momentum. This one is a six-minute monster with a buildup that is well worth that length. I love how subtly this song increases the energy before things really get fleshed out halfway in. The strings breathe such life into the track and I love Thom’s unhinged vocals all over this.
House of Cards (2007)
That’s right, another In Rainbows selection. Since I would definitely call this my favorite Radiohead album, I just had to do it. It helps that “House of Cards” is such a relaxing and peaceful song that always seems to calm me down. That delicate guitar playing will get you right into the vibe of the track and Yorke’s wonderfully vulnerable singing will keep you there for the whole duration.
Idioteque (2000)
Radiohead fans and critics alike had no idea what to think when Kid A first came out and this song is the prime reason why. A total departure from rock, “Idioteque” is an electronic banger with pulsating instrumentation and synths made for the dance floor. Thom’s voice still makes this an undeniable classic for the band; I love the fiery performance he delivers here.
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