Professor Skye's Popular Radiohead Tier List

[@lrs3]

I agree, I don’t know what the hell they were thinking with A Rush Of Blood To The Head. Thom almost sounds like a different person.

[@MDE128]

I like that album, but it’s in my bottom three with the King of Limbs and Pablo Honey.

[@lrs3]

@@MDE128 To be fair, Clocks is a pretty good song.

[@naturallymoronic2214]

i can't wait to see how many people will forget about rush of blood to the head as a radiohead album, so underrated and the most unpopular

[@aidan8473]

Like the Scientist is a good pop song and the title track almost reaches some of the worst moments on the bends but it's not close

[@dodecatron]

i like how your glasses are tilted like thoms eyes

[@thaigo_tigas_tigo]

bruh

[@moshcreep]

I think my least favourite Radiohead album is Origin of Symmetry, but I can see where you’re coming from.

[@alcedob.5850]

well the XX anniversary tribute to this album by some nonames (The Muses or smth, idk? silly name btw) was genuinely better

[@lawrencerubin8719]

Origin of Symmetry 😂 Amazing MUSE album

[@gokugotengohannaruto]

The King of Limbs is an album that really got lost in the recording process, I'd place the live basement version as their 2nd best album altogether

[@rickfeels]

Bloom from the basement is so so good. Easily one of my favorites of theirs.

[@richardhorrocks1460]

KoL is bizarre. It's the only 'album' released in almost a ten year span, and for some reason it is eight tracks long, half of which (being generous) are b-side quality. I'm guessing the band couldn't be much arsed at the time, and, also, after the In Rainbows 'pay what you want' thing, felt they needed a new clever gimmick for KoL, which was the whole 8 track thing. I don't know. Radiohead are weird. After Kid A it seemed like they were on a trajectory to be a top 3 band of all-time, but they then very suddenly became erratic and inconsistent, starting with HttT.

[@The_Stanman]

Agreed. It's incredible live in concert as well. The aesthetic they were going for loses the rawness of it. Bon Iver 22 a Miillion is similar. Putting aside recording, the core of the music is comparable to the rest of Radiohead in quality IMO.

[@furiousxXxpyro]

@@richardhorrocks1460 I don’t really get the point from “after kid a” on. They released In rainbows, with that solidified their position and though tkol might’ve not been the greatest, everything else was great!

[@richardhorrocks1460]

@@furiousxXxpyro That run from The Bends through OK to Kid A was an all-time trajectory. They really were blowing peoples minds. Amnesia was patchy, but it didn't matter cos it was a little bit like a b-side record. Then I remember Go To Sleep being released. I was so excited. But the song was a complete 'meh'. Especially the chorus. It was the first time where they seemed fallible. And from then onwards it was always hit and miss. Of course, In Rainbows is great, TKoL is average, and Moon is a mix of great and average. I don't know. They were just so fucking good for a time period, and I expected them to just go on and on with that level, but it fell off much quicker than I expected. Hail to the Thief is good. But it's no work of genius. And it's too long by maybe 3-4 tracks. And it is just not special. Which was a big surprise at the time.

[@olseaweedbeardye8622]

I just listened to my first Radiohead album, that being OK Computer like 2 days ago and I’ve just been so baffled that it took me until 12th grade to listen it such beautiful music. I’m genuinely excited to keep going on with this journey

[@aggonzalez8096]

I finally listened to them when covid lockdown happened. I started with OK computer and after a week or so of listening it really clicked and have enjoyed listening to their album since. They’re really great and hope you enjoy them too 👌

[@mrp4242]

Well done and welcome. As someone who has been listening to their stuff since 1993 (ie ‘day two’ Radiohead fan), my only recommendation is to judge Pablo Honey on your own instincts and listening.

[@silverlink8805]

When you listen to Kid A, it's very important that you go in blind. I did, and it was one of the most surreal album experiences I've ever had. Edit: same goes for Amnesiac if you listen to that one first

[@droquet6961]

Very excited for you!

[@thaigo_tigas_tigo]

A Rush To The Head☠

[@keysersoze657]

I hope that part was a joke

[@MDE128]

It’s hilarious.

[@bentolich9308]

The King of Limbs is my second favourite Radiohead album and on some days my favourite. Wasn’t excited by it at first but it sunk in more than any of their albums have. The “thin” sound is clearly deliberate and creates a consistent frequency through the tracks which makes it a meditative listening experience unlike their others. I also think It’s their most uplifting record especially closing off with “Separator”. After In Rainbows it makes so much sense that they’d go this direction. They don’t like to coast. Also this is Colin Greenwood’s album to shine.

[@bourdieufan7433]

interesting rankings prof, hail to the thief my personal fav AVAA

[@jakedavis5375]

Hail To The Thief is probably my Desert Island Disc. I don't know id call it their best work on the whole especially when it comes to tracklist cohesiveness, but damn it if it doesn't represent everything I love about Radiohead. There There, 2+2=5, Where I End and You Begin, Go To Sleep, Scatterbrain, there's so many songs I adore on that album man.

[@guidogromadzyn1668]

I love that you created the lowest category only for the Coldplay album.

[@yuval.a5909]

Can i be u when im older pls

[@pluto8015]

A moon shaped pool probs I'm not sure tho

[@Zekew24]

From the outside looking in, everybody thinks OK Computer is the consensus favorite... but so often it's In Rainbows. It is absolutely In Rainbows for me as well. Everything about that album is perfect. It feels so restrained at times, yet still extremely sophisticated. In Rainbows > Kid A > OK Computer for me!

[@icybach5207]

Coldplay caught a crazy stray bullet here 😂

[@vickjr98]

😂😂😂

[@RideTheSkies]

"In Rainbows" is my favorite album Radiohead album as well. I remember this beautiful moment where it was the first time I experienced synesthesia. I was laying on my bed while tripping on LSA. I had my eyes close and I could see patterns just perfectly flowing with the music. Every single low and high notes, just pulsing perfectly. I also seen them in concert during this tour. It was beautiful as well. Seeing Jonny Greenwood going back and forth to shuffle equipment around in-between almost every song to capture the sound of the album and they did it flawlessly. The two drummer setup was great to see also.

[@morningowl43]

I can’t believe you put A Rush Of Blood To The Head so low, “Clocks” is just as good as “Creep”

[@trixbibi]

Hail (to the thief) and also to Professor Skye for doing this tier list!! In Rainbows is my favorite too, it's perfect in every way

[@bulletfastspeed]

The King of Limbs is amazing. But it took years for it to click with me. Top 5 Radiohead record for me.

[@edwardlydon141]

Was also at that paradise show. The opening song the bends blew my mind live.

[@Peighter]

I came into this thinking “kid A” or “in rainbows” would be at the top I’m glad to have my fantasies validated

[@rickfeels]

TKOL took a while to click with me, but when it did it became one of my favorites. Even some of the extra tracks that came out around it are really good. Check out The Daily Mail and Staircase if you haven't heard!

[@Ploist]

The butcher is also great

[@JoshBurcham104]

Tkol goes when you blast it in the car

[@rossmar4609]

It's In Rainbows for me too, although I love Ok Computer almost as much!

[@12sleep34]

just seeing this video in my subscription box inspired me to listen to my first radiohead album. i chose 'the bends' just cus i liked the cover art and i liked pretty much every song!!! im really excited to explore their discography now :D

[@12sleep34]

if i liked the bends what album should i listen to next?

[@darkeningm00n]

​@@12sleep34 Maybe In Rainbows? its one of my personal favorites

[@12sleep34]

OH MY GOD NO WAY THIS WAS HOW I GOT INTO RADIOHEAD WHAT HAHHAHA. I've listened to like all the albums except for HTTT and TKOL and wow thats crazy

[@mrp4242]

New to this channel, was in my recommendations. This was a fun listen. We share many of the same thoughts, and I am two years older. I, too, am a ‘day two Radiohead fan’. As such I have nostalgia for Pablo Honey as it came out during my influential senior year of high school. I am one of those ‘jerks’ that thought Kid A was too much of a left turn at the time. It has brown on me, but I definitely like several albums more. Hail to the Thief has some good tunes, but easily has the most skippable tracks since PH, but without the childhood nostalgia. In Rainbows got me ‘back into them’. But, then I am still not sold on King of Limbs. Considering they didn’t specifically charge for it, meant if you didn’t like it, you didn’t need to pay for it. Moon Shaped Pool was a pleasant surprise and makes me think they still got some good stuff. I have not been avid listener of ‘Smile’, So, here are my rankings: 1. OK Computer, 5 stars, my pick for Album of the Year in 1997 2. The Bends, 5 stars, my pick for AotY in 1995 3. In Rainbows, 5 stars, my pick for AotY in 2007 4. Kid A, 4.5 stars, runner up for AotY in 2000 (to Parachutes lol, not sorry) 5. Amnesiac, 4 stars 6. Pablo Honey, 4 stars (I wax and wane swapping PH with Amnesiac) depending on my mood 7. Moon Shaped Pool, 4 stars, perhaps their most ‘underrated’ stuff’ 8. Hail to the Thief, 3.5 stars, perhaps their most ‘overrated stuff’ 9. King of Limbs, 3 stars, I used to give this 2.5 stars, but given the lack of great albums from new artists, I bumped it up. Still better than most stuff that gets released in this era.

[@blissfuldream_]

great content, bring on the tier lists

[@lowsyawe]

TKOL is my favorite, every inch of oddity is so beautifully Bowie to me.

[@tbhreviews6611]

In rainbows is one of those albums I’ll come back to and listen to for weeks on

[@ChristopherMusicMa]

completely disagree with you on rush of blood. i think it was actually a great risk for thom to show that new side of himself after already setting up a new direction in kid a/amnesiac. and for jonny to restrain himself to only playing 4 different notes per song.

[@Mamba4.8]

To consciously water themselves down and make an album of lesser quality with purposeful intent, definitely a misunderstood Radiohead album. They were so experimental they decided they wanted to experiment in music on lower levels

[@michaelhernandez3137]

The SHADE of it all 😊

[@JoshBurcham104]

I audibly cheered when you put Amnesiac over kid a. People just dont seem to get that one but i always felt like it was like kid a became teenager a. Its moodier, weirder and even more pretentious and thats pretty much exactly what i want from a band like this

[@Alessandrofrancia]

I couldn't have said it better! It really feels like Kid A's protagonist, who I guess we could identify as some sort of robotic version of Thom, had grown up by the time Amnesiac came out

[@dclarkmusic]

This is all over the place, but all Radiohead love is good Radiohead love

[@juanm.mauriciobailon840]

Professor, "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" is a Coldplay album... And yes, it sucks.

[@MDE128]

My list from favorites to least favorites: 1. OK Computer (If I can only pick one album, this is it) 2. In Rainbows 3. Hail to the Thief 4. Kid A 5. Amnesiac 6. Parachutes 7. The Bends 8. A Moon Shaped Pool 9. A Rush of Blood to the Head 10. I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings 11. The King of Limbs 12. Pablo Honey It seems like the tier list forgot Parachutes. That's a damn good album. My three favorite songs are Videotape, I Might Be Wrong, and Paranoid Android. I somehow felt that Dollars and Cents was going to be mentioned in this video. I love that song. It's an underrated gem.

[@Will2Wisdom]

Nice list

[@fourseasons4105]

1. Ok Computer 2. In rainbows 3. A moon shaped pool 4. Hail to the thief 5. Kid A 6. The bends 7. Pablo honey 8. Amnesiac 9. The king of limbs

[@paolomasia91]

Oh dang! This was really unexpected. Radiohead are also one of my favorite bands. Hahahah A Rush Blood To The Head :D I really appreciated all your comments. They make a lot of sense. My best to worst (and my fav songs for each album): ------------------------- Masterpiece/Amazing albums: Ok Computer (Let Down - Paranoid Android) / In Rainbows (Jigsaw Falling Into Place) A Moon Shaped Pool (Decks Dark) Kid A (How To Disappear Completely) Hail To The Thief (There, There) The Bends (Just) Amnesiac (Pyramid Song) --------------------------- Not so good albums: Pablo Honey (Blow Out) The King Of Limbs (Lotus Flower)

[@adamszekrenyes9741]

While the Kanye tier list had me saying "unsubscribed, hater now". I couldn't agree more with this Tier List.

[@maximkiritchenko4782]

Prof, you need to change your glasses. I used to have glasses like these, changing their horizontal position on your nose with time. It makes your head ache, and your eye sight go worse. I found that quality brands of glasses don't do it even after years of use. Cheers! Self luh!

[@CallumRG]

haha I'd consider little by little one of my favourites from that album. maybe it's cause I grew up listening to that album but never saw a problem with it.

[@edwardgermakovski5438]

Thank you for giving hail to the thief it's recognition. The song punch up at a wedding alone sets it at a B teir but song like we suck young blood, mxyatousis, and their best opener 2+2=5 really push it to the A teir

[@Followmybliss777]

It’s in rainbows 🌈 and the eraser ✏️ by far for me from thom - those both blew my mind and I still love and listen to today

[@egg1556]

AROBTTH is such a good album idc idc

[@c11p]

Popular before it posts.... LOVE IT!

[@robotubetwob]

Did you sit on your glasses? Been there, done that.

[@austinbartola8191]

A good argument could be made that A Rush of Blood to the Head is unironically one of the best pop rock albums of the early 00s 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@keysersoze657]

Yeah it's a really solid album. It's no Kid A but it's probably Coldplay's best and slaps hard

[@henrikibsen6258]

I think Amsterdam was an alright track. The guitar is lackluster, but it's not 'we suck' tier

[@williammoyle1385]

I literally only clicked this video because the Coldplay album was in the thumbnail 😂

[@NickFernandez]

nice spinal tap ref :)

[@candidate4875]

Where would you put OKNOTOK? If you were to rate the B-sides and unreleased songs they released as a whole in 2017, as a whole separate collective record?

[@montelomax3646]

#1 Moon Shaped Pool.

[@everyvillainislemons7583]

1:08 it must never be played

[@ringer1324]

I’m Just Goofin y’all - Thom Yorke

[@BelzertheRippler]

I’m also a day 2 Radiohead fan (we’re close in age) but do have many disagreements with this list. I bought Pablo honey as soon as I heard Creep. But Creep was the only song I really liked on that album. The Bends I never thought was a sophomore slump. Absolutely loved that album when I first heard it. To me, one of their best all time (yes of course it’s the nostalgia for me, but there’s so many great tracks. And the start of their progression into electronic). And of course as probably everyone will say Amnesiac ahead of Ok Computer and Kid A is absurd. But good choice in making controversial choices 👌

[@artaaangels]

being a person who genuinely thinks mbdtf and ok computer are 6-7/10s is so difficult haha

[@sstarfish4748]

Please review in rainbows!! It would bring world peace!!!

[@CoreyTopkis]

I agree with your choice for S tier

[@poofpiff3195]

am i missing a joke lol why is a coldplay album on here

[@bartholomeusjgunspy]

Frank Zappa tierlist next?

[@sheepie4985]

Wait why the Coldplay- I can't tell if this is a joke or if he's actually confused...

[@youwise8D]

can you do a Kanye one?

[@jorgekech]

ur wrong about ok computer this album is desert island disk

[@juju-vl7oj]

In Rainbows is my favorite as well it's a beautiful album. I actually like King of Limbs start to finish more than Pablo Honey, The Bends, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief, those albums have higher highs but are longer with more skippable tracks for me , so I rarely want to listen from start finish.

[@memetherapy]

DID: Kid A Kid A: In Rainbows, OK Computer Just: HTTT, Amnesiac, TKOL, AMSP, The Bends Let Down: Suck: Pablo Honey

[@ded4_]

The disrespect with tkol.......

[@radioheaddickie]

AVAA ❤

[@FaustoGarcia]

A Rush Of Blood To The Head is an album by Coldplay, not Radiohead. Great picks on the tier list! 😊

[@therapyoutsidethebox5466]

I think ya missed the joke :)

[@dancemusicforoldpeople]

TKOL is the best RH album of the 2000s. You're so wrong (wink)

[@nicemanwashing]

The Basement version of Little By Little is great.

[@vickjr98]

Agreed

[@BelzertheRippler]

In Rainbows is weird for me. I loved it when it came out. But listening to it now, it’s just Eh…bottom 3 for me of their albums. Does a lot of similar things they did with previous albums. Nothing too new/progressive . imo I’d just rather listen to ok c, kid a, amnesiac, httt, msp instead

[@pigg90]

In Rainbows is my desert island disc as well. I think I relate to you when it comes to Moon Shaped Pool. I understand it should be placed higher in an objective sense, but something about it doesn't hit deep enough to evoke a sustained emotional resonance in me. When I listen to Radiohead I want to feel like I'm ugly crying with existential dread while being lifted above the clouds with the defeated transcendental peace of absolute acceptance and surrender. MSP doesn't scratch that itch like In Rainbows or Kid A or OK Computer does.

[@thomasmcmaster3016]

Coldplay lol

[@fairyeater]

“popular”

[@axlgzrdmattick]

I'm edgy

[@paulernst1982]

ur so babygirl

[@ethanlammar5554]

Day 105 of Asking you to Review Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youth

[@jasoncash7081]

It feels weird to say In Rainbows is underrated, but it is. I'd still put Kid A above it, and I'd switch out A Moon Shaped Pool for Hail to the Thief, but this is a solid ranking.