Is paranoid android the greatest song of all time?

[Steven S. Dallas]

Spats is hereby nominated for "Most Likely to Play Dee Snider in a Twisted Sister cover band."

[Spats]

bwa!

Seriously: if anyone wants to enlighten me, please go for it. Anyone got a short, 5-song list that demonstrates "here is my quick summary of why Radiohead is amazing"? (Note: as a junglist, I'm not scared of tweaky electronics.)

Several people I respect (including you, J) are seriously into them, and I'm trying to figure out if I've just heard the wrong songs, or if they really just do nothing for me.

[Spats]

Actually, if you want to see/hear my last band, click on this link.

[meatdrink9]

Spats, everyone's tastes are different. For some reason they (radiohead) speak to me. I play Radiohead for some of my best friends and just wait for them to go: "Oh my god this is amazing" and they just go "meh". To each their own.

I think Radiohead's sound in some weird way reminds me of the frantic fast-paced chaotic world around us. I like the frustration and anger and fear. I like that they are able to create sounds that are new and incredible. Tons of bands are out there repeating sounds (I can't even begin to count the sheer number of retro bands.) and making it sound good. Others are forging new ground, but not making it work nearly as well (most of pitchfork's recos). These guys seem to be able to do both with ease. Before Radiohead the last time I had a hands down favorite band it was "the cure" so maybe I've just always been into to what others consider downer music.

As for 5 songs (for a radiohead beginner, I would prescribe different songs for different levels of fandom, I'm sure you already know, creep, high and dry and fake plastic trees):

Everything in it's right place
2+2=5 (crank that shit)
Pyramid Song
Exit Music (for a film)
I might be wrong

Damn it's tough to pick just 5 Radiohead songs.

A few more because I can't stop

Paranoid Android
Karma Police
No surprises
Let down
There There
Drunken Punchup at a wedding
The national anthem
How to disappear completely
Optimistic
Idioteque
Morning bell
You and whose army
Knives out
Dollars and cents
Like spinning plates
life in a glass house
high and dry
fake plastic trees (used to surgery, for girls in the 80s, but gravity always wins, and it wears me out)
Nice dream
Bullet proof (I wish I was)
Street Spirit (fade out)
creep
worrywort
innocents civilian
fog (awesome now that we have a kid)
big ideas (don't get any)
arpeggi
where bluebirds fly
paperbag writer
talkshow host
true love waits
how I made my millions
gagging order
How can you be sure
rabbbit in your headlights (w/dj shadow)
I've seen it all (w/bjork)