Radiohead>The Beatles

This is going to be a tough one. I expect to convince absolutely no one. But with this post, I will do my very best to explain why Radiohead has passed The Beatles for title of all time greatest band in history ever.

There's no doubt The Beatles are the more important band. The more popular band. The more successful band. I'm not going to argue that one. I'd lose. But just because a band is more popular doesn't make them better. Britney Spears is just about the most popular musical entity this past decade, but does anyone (except teenage girls and gay guys) really think she can compete for title of "Best" this past decade? Hell no.

Before we go any further I think I need to make it clear that I love The Beatles. I simply believe Radiohead are a better band. So if I say anything bad about The Beatles you'll have to forgive me because it's not coming from a place of hatred.

Okay, first let's start with impact. I know I said I couldn't argue Radiohead is as important as The Beatles and they're not. Without The Beatles Radiohead wouldn't exist. Well, so what? Without Brando, Pacino and DeNiro and Day-Lewis wouldn't exist (as far as their acting goes, I mean. I'm not suggesting Brando fathered all of them). I think an argument could be made that those three actors have surpassed Brando, but because Brando came first, he'll always be considered the best. Same with The Beatles. They were first so they'll always be considered the best. Whether or not a band is actually better doesn't matter to most people because they'll always throw out the argument that without The Beatles, said band wouldn't even exist. I hate that argument. It's too easy. Too simple.

Yes, The Beatles are the biggest influence in rock history, but let's not downplay Radiohead's influence. They're the most important band of the last decade. You can hear them everywhere. Coldplay, TV on the Radio, Arcade Fire, Travis, Elbow, etc. Even their contemporaries like Wilco have obviously been influenced by Radiohead. But I have to give this one to The Beatles. Everyone has been influenced by them, whether they know it or not.

But speaking of contemporaries, let's talk about that some more. The Beatles hit during the 60's. Most would consider this the greatest decade in musical history. It was a time when a band could be good and still sell records. It's hard to find any great bands nowadays selling millions of records. Today's musical giants are dominated by the likes of Kid Rock and Nickleback or whatever the hell people listen to these days. I think this makes Radiohead's mega stardom all the more impressive. I'd be willing to bet that the average person on the street couldn't name one Radiohead song outside of "Creep", yet their albums almost always debut at number one. If nothing else it proves how diehard their fans are. Their newer songs are rarely ever played on mainstream radio stations yet their one of the most consistent forces in popular music.

Of course their success can't compare to The Beatles. And The Beatles had to compete against the likes of Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, etc. Ask anyone who the most popular and important musical entity of the 60's were and you'll get The Beatles. But come on. Look at that competition!! The HAD to be great because there were so many other great bands waiting to take their place. If Radiohead released a bad album, who could take their spot? Coldplay sell more records but does anyone think they'll ever be as good as Radiohead? TV on the Radio have the potential to be as great as Radiohead, but will they ever sell as many records? Radiohead are big fish in a small pond. The have no great rivals. (If anyone says U2 I will personally stick a fork in your throat. It's been over 20 years since they were really a great band). Sure, for about 8 years they had Wilco, but Wilco dropped the ball big time with Sky Blue Sky, and their best album (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) was clearly inspired by works like OK Computer and Kid A. Not to take anything away from Wilco of course, who are a great band, but we're not hear to talk about them today.

Let's look for a moment at what each band has actually DONE. The Beatles started out singing songs about holding hands and secretly loving some girl. That's what was cool back in the early 60's. Radiohead started out much the same way, but in a grungier way. That was cool back in the early 90's. Then The Beatles started getting better, stronger, faster. Rubber Soul and Revolver set them apart from everyone. The songs got more complex. Deep. Stranger. Suddenly everyone else was struggling to keep up. This explosion lead to some of the greatest music ever. Brian Wilson has admitted for four decades now that Pet Sounds was directly influenced by the two albums I just mentioned. So then The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Abbey Road, etc. No mater what anyone else did The Beatles were simply ahead of the curve. The Beatles did it, then everyone else followed suite.

Radiohead have done a lot of the same recently. What would music today sound like if they never released OK Computer? Or Kid A? It's interesting how Radiohead have followed The Beatles formula so closely. Go from writing poppy love songs, then go for something more meaningful. Just look at how much they changed from Pablo Honey (guitar rock about being lonely) to Kid A (hardly a single song with any guitars in it). And look at how every other band has spent the years trying to catch up.

But here's where I think Radiohead tops The Beatles. Songs. The Beatles have some of the greatest songs of all time, but most of the time they seemed like they were just messing around. I like Yellow Submarine as much as the next guy, but seriously? Maxwell's Silver Hammer? Is it just me or does alot of their stuff sound, well... jokey? Like a novelty band. They rarely sang about anything of great importance. John Lennon didn't become the working class hero until after the band broke up. Radiohead have always tackled hard issues with no easy answers. Sure, sometimes they fall flat on their face, but at least they try.

As far as musicianship is concerned there is no debate. Radiohead easily tops The Beatles. The Beatles were all good musicians but Radiohead are all GREAT musicians. The Beatles had some complex songs but I would attribute a lot of that to their incredible producer, George Martin. Although I guess some could say the same about Radiohead and Nigel Godrich. But come on, could John Lennon ever lay waste to a guitar the same way Johnny Greenwood can? Could either Lennon or McCartney reach the vocal heights Thom Yorke can? Can Ringo Starr beat the shit out of his drums the way Phil Selway can? The answer to all these questions is no. As far as sheer talent goes, Radiohead is above the them.

Now on to the all important topic- albums. The Beatles have what many consider the have the greatest albums of all time- Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album and Abbey Road. Radiohead are no slouches either with The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A and In Rainbows all getting great ratings as well (I'd also consider Amnesiac as one of the best albums ever, but I know I'm in the minority on that one.)

Here's the thing, when Radiohead make an album, you know it's an ALBUM. The Beatles, a lot of times, seemed to just throw songs together. The White Album is the perfect example of this. What the hell was that album supposed to be? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy that album as much as most people, but is it really one of the best of all time? How? The majority of the songs are sort of nonsense with no rhyme or reason. Just random songs randomly thrown together. You can't find a single Radiohead album that has the same problem. Nearly every song is good/great (yes, they do have some clunkers), but you can tell their place on each album is put where it is for a reason.

Sgt. Pepper's is often referred to as the best album ever made. I love the album, but I don't see what everyone is talking about. Some great songs, but a lot of them are only is the "good" category. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite? She's Leaving Home? Within You Without You? None of them are anywhere near great. Shouldn't a great album be filled with great songs? There are a few masterpieces in the album, which is more than most albums can claim, but still. Radiohead's best album, OK Computer, is the opposite. Name a bad song from that album. Hell, I even like Fitter,Happier. Of course it's a little ironic that Paranoid Android, OK Computer's most epic song, was inspired by Happiness Is a Warm Gun, from The White Album.

But this brings us full circle, right? Just because The Beatles did it first, does that really mean someone else can't do it better? Sure, when it comes to writing great melodies, no can can touch The Beatles. But when they really set out to experiment, they failed, while Radiohead excelled. What is Revolution 9 supposed to mean? Nothing. Such is the case with many Beatles songs. Yes, they have some classic, world changing tunes, but mostly they just seem to be funny little stories. Radiohead never mess around. Every time out they try to make a song mean something. Can the best Radiohead songs match or top the best Beatles songs? I would say yes, but many would say no. Can the best Radiohead albums match or top the best Beatles albums? I'd say they have already surpassed them. Nothing The Beatles have ever done is as good as OK Computer OR The Bends OR Kid A. That's because Radiohead is an album band, whereas The Beatles seem more like they write great songs and just throw them together with little care about how it would make the album sound.

But maybe this is a fool's errand. I know nothing Radiohead will ever do will change people's opinions about The Beatles. Hell, The Beatles did everything they did in under ten years, whereas Radiohead aren't far removed from their twenty year anniversary. Radiohead have been at it longer and have had more of a chance to explore their sound. I personally think much of The Beatles best work came after they broke up. John Lennon as a solo artist is better than John Lennon as a Beatle.

It's been roughly 40 years since The Beatles broke up and they're as popular and influential as ever. Radiohead's influence is still being felt today and they're still making music as great as they were ten years ago. I think Radiohead are probably just the next obvious step. The Beatles influenced the last 30 years and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to find that Radiohead are the most influential band of the next 30 years. Most musicians today would tell you they were more closely influenced by Kid A than by Abbey Road. Only time will tell if Radiohead will enjoy the same level of reverence as The Beatles. Certainly they're the most respected band of this generation. I personally think they're a better band, with better songs and better albums, than The Beatles. I think it's just that we're too close to Radiohead now. Wait till they hang it up and call it a day. Once they're gone, that's when people will really compare these two bands.

In 50 years, who knows what people will think? Maybe I'm ahead of the curve in what will one day be common knowledge ;)

-M