Poll: OK Computer vs. Dark Side of the Moon

[Zeeba Neighba]

Thinking (as I often do) about album/song rankings (one day I'll finally make my own) and was looking at Best Ever Albums overall list and right there at the top were #1 OK Computer by Radiohead with #2 Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

Now both are among the truly great albums of all time and deserve to be high up on any list (a personal list of mine would have them high up though neither would be my 1 or 2 personally). Listened to both of them yesterday back to back. I gotta say, if I had to choose a "better" album (and that term brings in obviously a whole bunch of problems and subjective distinctions), I think I'd say OK Computer. This surprised me as I've been listening to Dark Side since high school and have certainly enjoyed in more than OK Computer for many years. I also would probably reach for Dark Side 4 out of every 5 times on a shelf with only those two albums. Also Dark Side has, for me, more high points - I don't think there's a better song than "Time" on all of OK Computer.

So why would I split hairs and pick Radiohead here over Pink Floyd - it's a more consistent album (no "Great Gig of the Sky" here) and stays true to its themes, tone ("Money" never seemed to fit into Dark Side to me). Both are beautifully constructed but Radiohead's overall feel just seems...I dunno...more elegant.

This poll will seem silly to some (most?) - why choose at all. They're both important, 4-star albums...both excellent. But hey - it was a debate that occupied my mind for a few minutes (I won't tell you how many) so thought some might enjoy it.

P.S. Incidentally, my 15 year old is really into Radiohead - I'm not sure how or why. For him, this was an easy decision - like "duh" why even pose the question. I did remind him OK Computer probably wouldn't exist (at least it its current form) without Dark Side

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I chose DSOTM. OK Computer is a masterpiece, a great, great album. However, it is a product of its era and expresses an alienation/anxiety that I feel is localized to the last 20 years or so. I guess I'm hoping that things will improve for humanity in the future, so our descendants will say listening to the album, "What the hell was he going on about?"

DSOTM is a timeless classic that will reverberate for centuries (if humanity and the recording survive). Yes, it has madness and time pressure as themes, but those I think are eternal human conditions.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

I chose DSOTM. OK Computer is a masterpiece, a great, great album. However, it is a product of its era and expresses an alienation/anxiety that I feel is localized to the last 20 years or so. I guess I'm hoping that things will improve for humanity in the future, so our descendants will say listening to the album, "What the hell was he going on about?"

DSOTM is a timeless classic that will reverberate for centuries (if humanity and the recording survive). Yes, it has madness and time pressure as themes, but those I think are eternal human conditions.

I expected this poll would've blown your mind more as I know you love both of them. You've come out of this test admirably

 

[Ojai Sam]

Great pool idea, Zeeb!

I voted for DSOTM. While I respect both records for what they represent, I don't really love either one. At least I get Floyd but still need to work on Radiohead.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

^
It's a funny thing, really - on another day, I probably would have voted for DSOTM. And as I said above, I would choose to listed to DSOTM over Radiohead more often, but just listening to the two back-to-back, I was more impressed with the tone and the construction of OK Computer which is why I voted that way.

I'm fully ready to call bullshit on myself, because I would put albums higher that are neither technically as constructed or don't have a nice progression in themes - I just dig listening to them. Take albums like Exile on Main Street or Nevermind - they are collections of good songs done well that rock, they float my vote.

Anyhoo - just thought as OK Computer almost seems like an extension of Dark Side (others may disagree but Radiohead almost seems like a kind of Pink Floyd group 25 yrs later) that it was interesting to pose. Again, it's really splitting hairs separating tippety-top albums.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Roger Waters:

Have you heard Radiohead?
My son Harry gave me OK Computer. I really liked it. I thought it had two or three really great songs on it. Then a friend gave me a newish album with a red thing, I can’t even remember what it was called —

Amnesiac?
Yeah, Amnesiac. That was beyond me, I have to say. I listened to it once in the car and went, “Well, OK, guys. Good, but you’ve left me.” You know, where’s my Neil Young? Where’s my John Lennon album?

Q&A: Roger Waters

Former leader of Pink Floyd gets back to work and thinks about calling a Pink Floyd truce

www.rollingstone.com

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

I'd never listened to OK Computer before. I most liked the three or so songs with peaceful, acoustic guitars and pleasant vocals. Most of the rest of the songs weren't bad but they didn't grab me. The vocal melodies hitting notes between the scale -- I know that's a style, but it just kind of bothered me, like reading a web post with bad grammar.

Another vote for DSOTM.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I'd never listened to OK Computer before. I most liked the three or so songs with peaceful, acoustic guitars and pleasant vocals. Most of the rest of the songs weren't bad but they didn't grab me. The vocal melodies hitting notes between the scale -- I know that's a style, but it just kind of bothered me, like reading a web post with bad grammar.

Another vote for DSOTM.

I wonder if your three songs are the same ones Roger Waters mentioned as being great?