As a purist of electronic music and more specifically techno, it's not often I emerge from my bubble to discover other music. It's even rarer for me to remember an era of my life in connection with a rock album. Rediscovering this CD several years since last listening to it, it's hard not to get all dewy-eyed remembering 1997. Achieving the seemingly impossible, this emphatic follow-up to 'The Bends' not only lived up to its predecessor but completely blew it away. In many ways 'OK Computer' is a very mature album; still bearing Thom Yorkes' deathbed vocals, yet musically more mellow than 'The Bends'. Where I found 'The Bends' to simply be a collection of twelve fantastic tracks, 'OK Computer' worked better as an album. Everyone has different views on what defines an album as a masterpiece; in my opinion it needs to transcend mainstream popularity and appeal to everyone. With it's organic feel and a deeply personal touch 'OK Computer' carries this off with ease. Given time alone with your thoughts and a pair of headphones, it's impossible not to lose yourself in these tracks.

Together with 1998s mini-album 'How Am I Driving?', this era paved the way for Radioheads journey into the more experimental material of 'Kid A'. Utterly essential, irrespective of musical taste...everybody should own this album.

After the moderate success of The Bends (which also secured them as being beyond just "the band that does the song 'Creep'"), Radiohead was inspired to do more of their own thing. Inspired greatly by the Beatles' self titled "white" album, Radiohead set to make what many have called "The Dark Side of the Moon of the 1990s."

While denying the progressive rock connections that critics have made, it's hard not to see some attributes of progressive rock in this album. In fact, it's better to call it more of an art rock album. There is a unity between the songs that shows more of a state of mind, rather than a linear narrative or an explicit construct. The state of mind is living in the modern world with its emphasis on better living through science. And yet the 19th century notion of letting science and technology advance the human race into a better utopia has resulted in devasating wars and other forms of misery... far from being idyllic and peaceful.

Perhaps the song that really makes the point is the "intermission" song "Fitter Happier." Delivered coldly (and quite humorously) using a Macintosh computer, it states what the modern society looks for in a modern individual: someone who is basically programmed to do the right thing at the right time. This is their version of W.H. Auden's poem "The Unknown Citizen."

This is one of the many reasons many can point to as far as what Radiohead was able to create through this album. But like the album it's used to compare this to, OK Computer gives you space to think and ponder and not force you into a particular idea.

Transcends musical boundaries. One of THE great all time classic albums of any genre. Radiohead have pushed boundaries like no other rock group & while dance/electronic music has rightly reigned supreme in the 90s through it's superb creativity & inventivness, rock music has remained enthralled & tied to the past. Radiohead have been the great exception to that rule & this album shows them at the peak of their powers. They have not been afraid to look to electronic music for inspiration and to enhance their creative output, and for that they deserve massive respect. Their lyrics are thought provoking and poignant, their musicianship & production utterly superb and an overall contribution to music that will put them alongside the greats. RESPECT