Kid A

Released on 2 October 2000, Kid A shattered rock conventions by fusing electronic textures with orchestral chaos.

Kid A is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 2 October 2000 by Parlophone. Recorded with producer Nigel Godrich across Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire, it marked a radical departure from their earlier sound. The group incorporated influences from electronic music, krautrock, jazz, and 20th-century classical music, utilizing a wider range of instruments and effects. Singer Thom Yorke wrote abstract lyrics by cutting up phrases and assembling them at random. In a break from industry norms, the band released no commercial singles, though promotional singles and limited territorial releases occurred; they conducted few interviews or photoshoots, and instead used short animations and the internet for promotion.

Quick Facts

Artist

Radiohead

Released

2 October 2000

Recorded

4 January 1999 – 18 April 2000

Studio

Guillaume Tell, Paris
Medley, Copenhagen
Radiohead studio, Oxfordshire

Genre

Electronica
post-rock
art rock
experimental rock
ambient

Length

49:56

Label

Parlophone; Capitol

Producer

Nigel Godrich; Radiohead

Lore & Background

Following the burnout after OK Computer, Thom Yorke described himself as a "complete fucking mess" and felt hostile toward the music media. He became disillusioned with rock mythology, stating he no longer wanted to be answerable to what they had done before. His writer's block led him to abandon guitar melodies, which he called "pure embarrassment," in favor of rhythm and electronic structures from artists like Aphex Twin on the Warp label. Yorke wanted his voice used as an instrument rather than a leading role. The band struggled with this new direction; guitarist Ed O'Brien feared there would be no guitars or drums, while bassist Colin Greenwood found the influences "really cold." They even considered disbanding until a live webcast in November 1999 and the early positive response to the album's direction convinced them they were onto something great.

Reader's Guide

To understand Kid A's creation, one must look at the specific turning points in the studio. Yorke bought a house in Cornwall, walked cliffs, and learned the grand piano, writing "Everything in Its Right Place" first. He admitted he didn't know how electronic instruments worked or what "ADSR" meant, treating everything as a novelty. Ed O'Brien used sustain units to create infinite notes combined with looping, mimicking synthesizers. In Gloucestershire, Yorke and Godrich transferred a song to a Prophet-5 synthesiser, processing vocals in Pro Tools with a scrubbing tool. This track became the album opener, convincing O'Brien that not every song needed every member. The band moved to their new Oxfordshire studio by September 2000, mastering the record at Abbey Road Studios by Chris Blair.

Did You Know?

The band recorded a brass section for 'The National Anthem' instructed to sound like a 'traffic jam'.
Kid A was the first Radiohead album to debut at number one on the US Billboard 200.
In 2000, Radiohead toured Europe in a custom-built tent without corporate sponsors.
The strings for 'How to Disappear Completely' were recorded at Dorchester Abbey, a 12th-century church.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kid A known for?

As an album, Kid A's 'power' lies in its ability to blend influences like krautrock, jazz, and classical music into a cohesive yet chaotic sonic landscape. It redefined the band's artistic identity by prioritizing atmosphere over traditional song structures.

Where was Kid A recorded?

The album was recorded across four distinct locations: Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Producer Nigel Godrich worked with the band in these varied settings to capture the unique electronic and orchestral sounds that define the record.