The 200 Greatest Albums of All Time: "R" artists

OK Computer: Radiohead (1997)
Few bands can get away from changing their sound. Fans and critics excoriated U2 when they turned to electronic music. On the other hand, Radiohead enhanced their reputation with OK Computer. They used a wide range of influences to craft the album and moved away from more guitar-driven tracks. Now, the work represents a transition to Radiohead’s later efforts.

Key Tracks:
Paranoid Android
Karma Police
No Surprises

Kid A: Radiohead (2000)
Kid A lacked a lead single, but still went platinum in a week. The band decided to market the album with a coordinated internet leak, which built anticipation. Musically, Radiohead incorporated jazz, classical, and Krautrock and mixed it with more abstract concepts and lyrics. It is amazing the album experienced any success at all and did not kill Radiohead’s career.

Key Tracks:
Everything in the Right Place
The National Anthem
Optimistic
Idioteque

Rage Against the Machine: RATM (1992)
Rage Against the Machines’ freshman effort is considered one of the heaviest albums ever recorded. In addition to the musically hard edge, the songs all contained leftist political messages. Maynard from Tool provided guest vocals on “Know Your Enemy” and has been known to join the band onstage to perform the song.

Key Tracks:
Bombtrack
Killing in the Name
Bullet in the Head

The Ramones: The Ramones (1976)
By 1976, rock appeared to be dying. With the exception of Springsteen, whom some consider the genre’s savior, disco and pop fluff dominated the music scene. In 1976, the punks returned rock n roll to its roots. The Ramones led the charge. Although their sound was reminiscent of the fifties, their attitude and subject matter led to the punk label. The Ramones established the genre and later popularized it.

Key Tracks:
Blitzkrieg Bop
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
Judy is a Punk
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue

Blood Sugar Sex Magik: Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991)
Rick Rubin produced and guided the Red Hot Chili Peppers throughout the making of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Critics praised Rubin for steering the band away from a more metal sound and refocusing their energies. “Under the Bridge” made the band superstars and recounted lead singer Anthony Kiedis’ drug addiction. Drugs, death, lust, and sex provided the album’s themes which played well during the alternative explosion of the early 1990s.

Key Tracks:
Give it Away
Under the Bridge
Suck My Kiss
Breaking the Girl