10 Huge Rock Artists That Went Electronic (And Nailed It)

Just like U2 had done back in the '80s, it looked like Radiohead were on their way to being one of the biggest rock acts in the world. Despite Thom Yorke having some reservations about being famous, OK Computer felt like one of the last big events to happen in '90s rock, with riffs that were meant for stadiums while also giving us a look at what might happen if we let technology get the better of us. And right when we were awaiting the follow up, the band drew a line in the sand on Kid A.

After being burned out on playing the same guitar driven music on tour time and time again, Thom Yorke wanted to focus solely on rhythm for the next record, and unpacked his synthesizer to do it. From the minute that you push play on this record, you're transported into a different world in your headphones, with the guys famous for Karma Police delivering cold and calculated songs like Everything In Its Right Place and Morning Bell.

For as much as this could have been the album that broke the band up, this was the biggest second wind that they could have asked for, almost setting a standard of what an electronic album could sound like in a rock context, like the immediacy of Idioteque and eventually bringing it back to the heavier grooves like Optimistic and the chunky bass line on the National Anthem. If OK Computer was a sign of what could happen if technology went too far, this is what happens when technology has gained prominence and develops a heart of its own. Whereas other bands use electronics as a smokescreen, Radiohead turned it into a part of their DNA.