The Bends

The sophomore LP from British rock band Radiohead, released in 1995. In many ways, The Bends is very similar to their debut, Pablo Honey, albeit more inventive. Rather than relying so much on rock cliches, Radiohead began to delve into more advanced songwriting. Although they had not yet entirely embraced their reliance on the studio for their sound, there is clearly more studio usage with this album as can be seen on songs like "Planet Telex," "Fake Plastic Trees," and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)."
Generally speaking, The Bends is Radiohead's most immediately accessible album. Though the songs are not as blatantly simple as those on Pablo Honey, they are still firmly within the parameters of rock. It did, however, serve as a brilliant transition between their heavily R.E.M.-influenced music and the more post-rock style of their 1997 release, OK Computer. The Bends has since earned a reputation as one of the best albums of the 1990s.

I prefer early Radiohead, such as The Bends, to their more experimental work.

15👍 6👎

Pablo Honey

The debut album by English rock band Radiohead released in 1993. It is generally ignored in favour of some of their later releases, but the fact remains that this album serves as an exceptional debut. It initially received little to no critical acclaim, though it was commercially successful by way of the radio-ready single "Creep," which became an international mega-hit.
Despite it being largely ignored, Pablo Honey is full of several great tracks including the album opener "You," the super-hit "Creep," and the psychedelic closer "Blow Out," not to mention songs that will remain stuck in your head for days such as "Stop Whispering" and "Anyone Can Play Guitar." Pablo Honey should be reevaluated not as a world-changing manifesto, but as an entirely unimpeachable rock record with clear influence from U2, Pixies, the Smiths, and R.E.M.

Radiohead's debut album, Pablo Honey, is super underrated!