Every Radiohead Album, Ranked

Every Radiohead Album, Ranked

Something is stirring in the Radiohead camp. Reports suggest the band may be preparing for a new tour, with sources indicating that venues in several European cities have been reserved for the autumn. Additionally, their management recently donated tickets for a future “Radiohead concert of your choice” to a charity auction, further fueling speculation. If history is any guide, the formation of a new business entity by the band—something they have done before previous album releases—could signal imminent activity.

If a tour does materialize, it will be their first since 2016–2018, which supported A Moon Shaped Pool. By now, Radiohead’s live performances are finely honed, capable of delivering transcendent musical experiences. But it’s their studio albums that earned them the reputation of one of the most innovative bands in rock history. While every album has its strengths, some shine brighter than others. Here is our ranking of Radiohead’s discography, a list that will surely spark debate—but that’s only natural with a catalog as rich as theirs.

9) Pablo Honey (1993)

Radiohead’s debut is often seen as their weakest effort, and even the band has distanced themselves from it. Pablo Honey is an uneven album, reflecting the band’s early attempts to find their voice. It might have faded into obscurity as just another decent alternative rock record of the ’90s—were it not for Creep. Initially, the band was reluctant to record the song, but it became their breakthrough hit, propelling them to fame. Ironically, their distaste for mainstream success would become a defining source of their creative inspiration.

8) Hail to the Thief (2003)

Sitting between their groundbreaking electronic experiments (OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac) and their late-career refinement (In Rainbows), Hail to the Thief occupies a unique space in Radiohead’s discography. The album features a politically charged tone, reflecting the tensions of the early 2000s, particularly the War on Terror. While it contains standout moments like “2 + 2 = 5,” it lacks the cohesion of their best work. Nonetheless, it remains a fascinating listen, caught between raw energy and calculated artistry.

7) A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)

Their most recent album is the work of a seasoned band at the peak of their compositional abilities. A Moon Shaped Pool is sonically spacious and beautifully restrained, with influences from jazz icon Alice Coltrane woven throughout. Many of its tracks had existed in some form for years—most notably “True Love Waits,” a hauntingly delicate ballad that had been performed live as early as 1995. The album feels like a collection of carefully curated pieces, bringing past and present Radiohead into one cohesive work.

6) The King of Limbs (2011)

With its intricate rhythms and organic textures, The King of Limbs evokes the feeling of wandering through a dense forest—fitting, given its title references an ancient oak tree in Wiltshire. The album takes the electronic influences of Kid A and Amnesiac and fuses them into something more danceable. Tracks like “Lotus Flower” showcase a newfound fluidity in their sound, leading to one of Thom Yorke’s most memorable and meme-worthy performances in its music video.

5) OK Computer (1997)

After The Bends established them as rising stars, Radiohead had the opportunity to follow up with a more radio-friendly record. Instead, they created OK Computer, one of the most ambitious albums in rock history. The album’s eerie, fragmented compositions—such as “Paranoid Android” and “Climbing Up the Walls”—paint a dystopian vision of modern alienation. With its experimental song structures and chilling robotic interludes (Fitter Happier), OK Computer was a seismic shift in music, redefining what alternative rock could be.

4) Kid A (2000)

If OK Computer left audiences dazed, Kid A was the knockout blow. This album saw Radiohead fully embrace electronic music, incorporating glitchy beats, ambient soundscapes, and eerie vocal manipulations. Songs like “Everything in Its Right Place” and “How to Disappear Completely” explore new sonic terrain, while the album’s abstract approach initially divided critics. Over time, Kid A has been recognized as a masterpiece, though its cold, experimental edge makes it more admired than universally loved.

3) Amnesiac (2001)

Often seen as Kid A’s companion piece, Amnesiac emerged from the same recording sessions but offers a different perspective. Its sonic explorations feel less clinical, with jazz and blues influences softening its avant-garde edges. The album’s standout track, “Pyramid Song,” is among the most breathtaking compositions in their catalog. Amnesiac may not have had Kid A’s shock factor, but it reveals its brilliance more readily, offering a nuanced and deeply rewarding listen.

2) The Bends (1995)

While The Bends is sometimes considered the last “conventional” Radiohead album, this overlooks its adventurous spirit. It’s here that the band moved beyond grunge influences and embraced a more complex and emotionally resonant sound. Songs like “Fake Plastic Trees” and “High and Dry” are among their most melodic works, while “Just” and “My Iron Lung” showcase unconventional chord progressions. The Bends set the foundation for everything that followed, proving that Radiohead’s greatest strength has always been their songwriting.

1) In Rainbows (2007)

Radiohead’s most fully realized album, In Rainbows is the perfect synthesis of their experimental and melodic tendencies. While its pay-what-you-want release model was revolutionary, the music itself is what endures. The album features hypnotic rhythms, intricate textures, and a refined approach to electronic experimentation. Tracks like “Reckoner” and “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” highlight the band’s unparalleled ability to create immersive sonic landscapes. After years of deconstructing rock music, In Rainbows saw Radiohead rebuild something even more stunning in its place.

Final Thoughts Radiohead’s catalog is among the most acclaimed in modern music, and ranking their albums is no easy task. Each release represents a different phase of their evolution, from alternative rock pioneers to electronic innovators. Whether you prefer the raw emotion of The Bends, the cerebral experimentation of Kid A, or the lush perfection of In Rainbows, one thing is certain: few bands have ever matched Radiohead’s ability to push boundaries while maintaining artistic integrity.