Is Airbag / How Am I Driving? a good place to start with Radiohead?

Yes, Airbag / How Am I Driving? is recommended as a starting point for new Radiohead listeners. A fractured mix of haunting melodies and electronic textures that evoke a sense of dislocation and introspection. Released in 1998, 'Airbag / How Am I Driving?' was Radiohead's first release after their acclaimed album 'OK Computer'. This collection of B-sides showcases the band's continued exploration of experimental sounds while solidifying their transition from mainstream Britpop to more avant-garde territory, reflecting the band's evolution during this pivotal moment in their career.

Who is Airbag / How Am I Driving? for?

Airbag / How Am I Driving? works well if you're into introspective moments of disconnection, short bursts of reflective energy and headphone detail hunting in layers.

How many songs are on Airbag / How Am I Driving??

Airbag / How Am I Driving? has 7 tracks, running approximately 25 minutes.

Airbag / How Am I Driving?

Radiohead · 1998

25 min · 7 tracks · alternative rock

A fractured mix of haunting melodies and electronic textures that evoke a sense of dislocation and introspection.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Airbag Start here — The opening track exemplifies the album's sonic landscape with its intricate guitar work and themes of rebirth and survival following a near-fatal car crash.
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Palo Alto — This track captures the essence of alienation and suburban ennui through its dreamy instrumentation and introspective lyrics, representing Radiohead's shift toward darker themes.
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Polyethylene, Parts 1 & 2 — By merging catchy hooks with unsettling lyrics about consumerism and identity, this track illustrates Radiohead's knack for blending accessibility with deeper commentary.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

61 /100

Treeline

Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album blends experimental sounds with strong melodies, though its B-side nature affects cohesion.

What we noticed

The album opens with 'Airbag', which features a driving rhythm and layered guitar textures, setting a dynamic tone.
Tracks like 'Pearly' and 'Melatonin' incorporate ambient electronic elements, creating a contrast with the more traditional rock instrumentation.
Several tracks, such as 'Polyethylene, Parts 1 & 2', feature abrupt shifts in tempo and mood, contributing to a sense of disorientation.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

introspective moments of disconnection
short bursts of reflective energy
headphone detail hunting in layers
for late-night introspection

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat party anthems
wanting lengthy immersive experiences

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Deep Cut — A collection of B-sides showcasing continued exploration, but not a primary album.
Themes: technological alienation· dreamy dislocation· consumerism critique
Career context: Released in 1998, 'Airbag / How Am I Driving?' was Radiohead's first release after their acclaimed album 'OK Computer'. This collection of B-sides showcases the band's continued exploration of experimental sounds while solidifying their transition from mainstream Britpop to more avant-garde territory, reflecting the band's evolution during this pivotal moment in their career.
Stylistic neighbors: Sigur Rós· Interpol· The National