10 Perfect Albums That Changed Rock History
8. Kid A - Radiohead
One of the biggest things that rock fans seem to notice throughout the years is when an artist changes their sound. Whether it's because of a member of the band deciding to step back or they just decide to go their separate ways, there's definitely a different tone to the music when you decide to switch it up. And even though some fans may have felt betrayed by something like Kid A, things started to really take shape once they listened a little more closely.
After coming off of the massive sounds of OK Computer, Radiohead shook off the shackles of being the next U2 with this album, catapulting them into the next decade of their career with a sound that was a lot more cold and calculated. Though you could still hear Thom Yorke's emotive voice, the sounds of something like The National Anthem and Idioteque were a lot more abrasive than usual.
And what's even crazier than the music is how much this ended up paying off, with fans calling this one of the most important albums of the '00s. While it's hard to get this kind of massive record once, to have something like this happen a second time is almost unheard of. Above all else though, Kid A opened the doors for what other bands could do later. It's okay to be different every now and again, because on that rare occasion, it really works.