Coming out in 1995, The Bends was the record where Radiohead proved they weren’t just the “Creep” guys. It sits right in the sweet spot of their career – moving away from the standard grunge-adjacent rock of their debut and heading towards the more experimental, atmospheric sounds they’d eventually master. It’s a very “British” sounding rock album, arriving at the height of Britpop but feeling much more anxious, sincere, and musically ambitious than most of what was on the radio at the time.

The vibe here is all about dynamics. You get these incredibly pretty, shimmering acoustic moments that suddenly explode into walls of distorted, layered guitars. Thom Yorke’s vocals really found their range here too, shifting from a delicate whisper to a powerful howl in a way that feels completely earned. It’s got a bit of a nervous energy to it, but it’s anchored by some of the strongest songwriting of the 90s. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to pick up a guitar, even if you’ve never played one in your life.

Tracks like “High and dry” and “Fake plastic trees” are absolute anthems that still carry a massive emotional punch, while “Just” shows off the band’s ability to write a jagged, frantic rock song with a killer hook. It’s worth revisiting because it captures a band in the middle of a metamorphosis. It’s polished but still feels raw and human – a perfect reminder of why Radiohead became one of the biggest bands in the world without ever following the standard industry rules.