Radiohead Albums Tier List: Ranking All 9
Nine albums, three decades, one band that never made the same record twice. That's the blessing and the curse of ranking Radiohead: comparing "Creep" to "Everything in Its Right Place" feels almost unfair, like judging two different bands.
This list leans on what fans and critics tend to agree on after years of forum arguments and reviews, with our own take where the consensus splits (and on Radiohead, it splits a lot). Disagree? You should. That's half the fun of a band this divisive among its own fanbase.
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SS Tier: The untouchables
OK Computer
The one that turned a good guitar band into the band critics run out of superlatives for. 'Paranoid Android' alone has more movements than most bands manage in a career, and 'Let Down' still sounds like the best song Radiohead never released as a single. This is the album people point to when they explain why Radiohead matters.
About OK Computer
Released in 1997, this is widely regarded as one of the most important albums of the 1990s, exploring themes of alienation and technology. It includes 'Paranoid Android' and 'Karma Police'.
- Released
- 1997
- Key track
- Paranoid Android
Kid A
The pivot that scared the label and delighted everyone else eventually. No singles, no videos, a tracklist that opens with a glitching synth and still somehow became one of the most acclaimed records of its decade. 'Idioteque' is the sound of a band abandoning guitars and not looking back.
About Kid A
A 2000 release that marked a dramatic shift away from guitar rock toward electronic and experimental textures. It topped charts despite having no traditional singles.
- Released
- 2000
- Key track
- Idioteque
In Rainbows
Pay-what-you-want stunt aside, this is the album where art-rock experimentation and actual hooks finally shook hands. 'Weird Fishes/Arpeggi' builds for five minutes and earns every second, and '15 Step' proves Radiohead can groove when they feel like it. Widely considered their most immediately lovable record, and the research notes back that up.
About In Rainbows
Released in 2007 under a famous pay-what-you-want digital model, this album is frequently cited as a fan favorite for blending experimentation with strong melodies. Includes 'Weird Fishes/Arpeggi' and '15 Step'.
- Released
- 2007
- Key track
- Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
AA Tier: Excellent, no asterisks
The Bends
The album that made people forget 'Creep' was a fluke. 'Fake Plastic Trees' and 'Street Spirit (Fade Out)' show a band figuring out how big they could sound without losing the ache underneath. Some longtime fans will argue this deserves S tier, and honestly, the gap is thin.
About The Bends
The band's second album, released in 1995, often credited with elevating them from one-hit alt-rock act to serious critical darlings. Features 'Fake Plastic Trees' and 'Street Spirit (Fade Out)'.
- Released
- 1995
- Key track
- Fake Plastic Trees
Amnesiac
Leftovers from the Kid A sessions, except these leftovers include 'Pyramid Song' and 'You and Whose Army?'. It's scrappier and less cohesive than its sibling, which is exactly why some fans love it more. A grower, not a shower, as the saying goes.
About Amnesiac
Released in 2001, recorded during the same sessions as Kid A. It's known for 'Pyramid Song' and a looser, more fragmented feel than its sibling album.
- Released
- 2001
- Key track
- Pyramid Song
A Moon Shaped Pool
A late-career album that sounds like a band at peace with itself, strings and all. 'Daydreaming' is devastating, and 'True Love Waits' finally got a studio home after decades of live bootlegs. Quietly one of their most replayed records among longtime fans, even if it rarely tops the ultimate best-of lists.
About A Moon Shaped Pool
Released in 2016, this album incorporates orchestral strings and includes 'True Love Waits', a song the band had played live for decades before finally recording it.
- Released
- 2016
- Key track
- Daydreaming
BB Tier: Great but divisive
Hail to the Thief
Sprawling, a little overstuffed at over an hour, and still home to genuine highlights like '2+2=5' and 'There There'. Feels like Radiohead throwing every idea from the last decade into one record instead of picking a lane. Fans are split on whether that's a flaw or the whole charm.
About Hail to the Thief
The band's 2003 album, recorded relatively quickly and featuring a mix of guitar-driven and electronic tracks. Known for 'There There' and '2+2=5'.
- Released
- 2003
- Key track
- There There
The King of Limbs
Short, rhythm-heavy, and the most divisive entry on this list. 'Lotus Flower' got the attention and the meme-able Thom Yorke dance video, but the rest asks more patience than most casual listeners give it. Not a bad record, just a harder one to love.
About The King of Limbs
A shorter, rhythm-focused album released in 2011. It's one of the more polarizing entries in the catalog, built around loops and percussion rather than conventional song structures.
- Released
- 2011
- Key track
- Lotus Flower
CC Tier: Where it all started
Pablo Honey
Every legendary band has to start somewhere, and this is Radiohead before they became Radiohead. 'Creep' is the song that launched everything, but most of the album around it sounds like a decent early-90s alt-rock record rather than a band that would reinvent itself five times over. Worth hearing for context, not for frequent replays.
About Pablo Honey
Radiohead's debut studio album, released in 1993. It's best known for the single 'Creep', which became a global hit and introduced the band to a mainstream audience.
- Released
- 1993
- Key track
- Creep
How we ranked them
We weighed critical reputation, influence on music that came after, and how these albums hold up on replay years later, not just on release week. We also factored in what actually gets argued about on forums and in comment sections, because consensus and personal attachment don't always line up. Where fans are genuinely split (and with this band, they often are), we made a call and explained why.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is Radiohead's best album according to fans and critics?
OK Computer is the most consistent answer, though Kid A and In Rainbows both get serious support, especially from fans who prioritize the band's more experimental work.
What is Radiohead's most underrated album?
Amnesiac and A Moon Shaped Pool both come up a lot in this conversation. Amnesiac gets overshadowed by Kid A, and A Moon Shaped Pool often gets overlooked simply for being a later-era release.
What is Radiohead's most divisive album?
The King of Limbs. Its short runtime and rhythm-first approach split longtime fans more than anything else in the catalog.
Is Pablo Honey worth listening to?
It's worth hearing for historical context and for 'Creep', but it's generally considered the weakest entry in the catalog compared to everything that followed.
Which Radiohead album should a new listener start with?
OK Computer or In Rainbows are the most common recommendations for first-time listeners, since both balance accessibility with the band's experimental streak.
More rankings
Image credits
- OK ComputerCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Kid ACover: Wikipedia · Source
- In RainbowsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- The BendsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- AmnesiacCover: Wikipedia · Source
- A Moon Shaped PoolCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Hail to the ThiefCover: Wikipedia · Source
- The King of LimbsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Pablo HoneyCover: Wikipedia · Source