Place yourself in a fast German car, which suddenly becomes struck by another vehicle, but an airbag saves your life. Thom Yorke, Radiohead’s lead singer, conveys this scenario on the introductory track, “Airbag,” from the band’s third studio album, Ok Computer. Radiohead released the album in 1997, originally titled 01 which eluded to the band’s imminent fear of a world run by computers — which unfolds gradually throughout the course of the album’s twelve songs. Musically, the album is defined by surreal, cinematic quality recording, infused with electronica rhythms, eerie keyboards, odd time signatures, and complex syncopations that beautifully disillusion the vast, atmospheric soundscape. Lyrically, the album predicted that technology would lead to emotional isolation, rampant consumerism, and corrupt government that would define the 21st century, despite its cult adoption of technology as a creative and distributive tool.

The car crash that introduces the album lays the foundation for technology nearly taking and saving human life. Yorke describes the exhilaration people should feel upon cheating death and says in an interview in Select Magazine that,

“Every time you have a near accident, instead of just sighing and carrying on, you should pull over, get out of the car and run down the street screaming, ‘I’m BACK! I’m ALIVE! My life has started again today!”

— Thom Yorke

Yorke restarts his life on the second track of the album “Paranoid Android” which alludes to Douglas Adam’s, Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy, in which, Marvin, a paranoid android, suffers from severe depression and boredom due to his inability to utilize his brain’s massive potential. In contrast to the third track, “Subterranean Homesick Alien,” rejuvenates the humanistic qualities in Yorke who says, “I keep forgetting, the smell of the warm summer air.” However, he then says, “I live in a town where you can’t smell a thing” alluding to ills of industry and the harm that technological innovation has brought to nature. In “Let Down,” the fifth track, romanticized ideals continue to demonstrate technology-infused society with the example of a crushed bug that is just twitching yet still alive: “Shell smashed, juices flowing, wings twitch, legs are going.” Yorke yearns for a world with no technology as described on the tenth track, “No Surprises,” “No alarms and no surprises please.”

Consumers in today’s society are programmed to believe that contentment is evil, and that nothing is ever good enough — it can always be better. Lexus, the best selling luxury car brand in 2013 is driven by it’s slogan, “the pursuit of perfection,” which is synonymous with ideals that view contentment as negativity. On the fifth track, “Karma Police” Yorke states, “I’ve given all I can, It’s not enough.” Proceeding this song, “Fitter Happier” lists the ethos of modern society and ultimately summarizes all ideals presented throughout the album.

In a cold, computer-generated, monotone yet captivating voice, the song begins, “Fitter, happier, more productive.” The delivery mocks a society that is spoon-fed by its government, oppressing its people and keeping them from the truth. On track eight, “Climbing Up the Walls,” Yorke states, “I am the key to the lock in your house,” foreshadowing the governments ability to always monitor you instilling paranoia in society. Today, the United States government is still after Edward Snowden, an ex-government contractor employee, on the basis of treason for releasing information about a large, secretive effort to exploit, collect, and analyze digital communication in society. The project was spearheaded by the N.S.A. under the direction of James Clapper who, when asked by Congressmen Mike Rogers, at a congressional hearing under oath, “Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?” He responded, “No, sir … not wittingly.”

http://youtu.be/QwiUVUJmGjs

While clearly suspicious of technology, Radiohead still has a special credibility in this arena because they have so embraced technology as a creative and distributive tool. Ok Computer was praised by The Guardian as the greatest use of musical electronics since Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Radiohead released In Rainbows, their seventh studio album, which contained 10 songs and was released 10 years after the release of Ok Computer. The album was released online in the form of a digital download where the consumer created the price. The release, which was announced 10 days before it’s October 10 (10/10) released date and distributed via 10 servers, was deemed one of the largest disruptions in music distribution because of technology, and secretively praised technology through what Radiohead fans have deemed, “The Binary Theory.” Ok Computer, originally titled 01, and In Rainbows have more in common than two 10 letter titles; they are complimentary albums, 01 and 10. Today, the albums are meant to be played beginning with track one of Ok Computer followed by track one of In Rainbows.

01–10 Streamable

The disruptive release remained consistent with the ideals presented in track seven on Ok Computer, “Electioneering,” which refutes the establishment of capitalism and “voodoo economics.” Yorke says, “When I go forwards, you go backwards, and somewhere we will meet.” This is a metaphor for conservative politicians promoting the concept of “trickle-down” economics which would ultimately prove ineffective as cuts in the top tax rate did not lead to economic growth, income growth, wage growth, or job creation as was so promised. Radiohead accurately predicts the ills of technology in society, while embracing its advancements artistically and innovating upon the current distributive model.