Thomas Edward "Thom" Yorke (b. October 7, 1968) is an English musician who is the lead singer and principal songwriter of the "alternative" rock group Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and electric bass (notably during the Kid A and Amnesiac sessions). In July 2006, he released his debut solo album, The Eraser.
***
Radiohead is an English alternative rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, beats), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboard, other instruments), Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass guitar, synthesizers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion).
Radiohead released their first single, Creep, in 1992. The song was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993). Radiohead's popularity rose in the United Kingdom with the release of their second album, The Bends (1995). Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater international fame. Featuring an expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, OK Computer has often been acclaimed as a landmark rock album of the 1990's.
Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001) marked an evolution in Radiohead's musical style, as the group incorporated experimental electronic music, Krautrock, post-punk and jazz influences. Although critical opinion was initially divided, Radiohead remained popular. Hail to the Thief (2003), a mix of guitar-driven rock, electronics and lyrics inspired by headlines, was the band's final album for their major record label, EMI. Radiohead independently released their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), originally as a digital download for which customers could set their own price, later in stores, to critical and chart success.
***
Kid A (October 2009) was Radiohead's fourth album, recorded in Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire, and Oxford with producer Nigel Godrich. The album's songwriting and recording replaced their earlier "anthemic" rock style with a more electronic sound.
Influenced by Krautrock (German experimental rock of the 1960's and 70's), jazz, and 20th century classical music -- Radiohead abandoned their three-guitar lineup for a wider range of instruments, using keyboards, the Ondes martenot, and, on certain compositions, strings and brass.
The album also contains more minimal and abstract lyrics than the band's previous work.
Yorke has said the album was not intended as "art", but reflects the music they listened to at the time.
Original artwork by Stanley Donwood and Yorke, and a series of short animated films called "blips," accompanied the album.
Kid A has been considered one of the more challenging pop records to have commercial success, and it polarized opinion among both fans and critics.
The album won a Grammy for Best Alternative Album and was nominated for popular Album of the Year. It also received praise for introducing listeners to diverse forms of other musics.
It was named the Best Rock Album of the Decade (2000-2009) by Rolling Stone magazine.
Morning Bell
[1970 M. Cooke / 1968 Yorke]
