Bears and Bullets: Bears and Bullets Top Ten Albums of the Decade

#2: Kid A - Radiohead

To measure the brilliance of an artist, one must look at their ability to alter their sound while still remaining creative and resonant. Radiohead's Kid A, released in 2000, wasn't just a simple departure from 1997's OK Computer, it was a complete altering of the band as a whole. Thom Yorke instilled the idea of technological dependency and isolationism on Computer, but Kid A sounded like a transparent universe to where it controlled everything. From the apocalyptic requiem of "Idioteque," to the claustrophobic roar of "The National Anthem" the band created a scale of sounds that not only transformed rock music in a sense, but nearly closed it off from the new decade.

If The Bends and OK Computer gave ideas for new aspiring artists, Kid A all but took them away -- its creative prowess and endless vision gave music listeners fits at the time, with many harking back to the college-radio centric sounds of the band's previous work. To a degree, they were correct. Fair-weather listeners that fell in love with "Creep" and "Karma Police" often dismiss Radiohead's new work (from 2000 on), but for others Kid A was an entire revelation that no one had seen before. Ever. Yes, artists like The Beatles and U2 changed their sounds numerous times in their respective careers, but neither of them altered their approach quite like Radiohead did with Kid A.

But, more so than its importance and impact, Kid A is an immeasurably profound and genius record. All ten songs match and unify with such an architectural cohesion that, on a whole, it feels almost sacred. Polarizing for some, yes, but for those who rejoice in it, it captures the decade in a mystifying, almost unilateral definition. Perfect also works well as a description.

Radiohead - The National Anthem (Live)