Rock was dying in the last half of the 1990s. At least in America. It was completely in the hands of suits and all they wanted was to get everyone listening to the same stuff, which to their tiny minds meant Pop and/or Hip Hop. It is one of the reasons I slowly shifted my allegiance to European Metal. They still write songs across the pond, and they still sing (without AutoTune) and play real instruments.
Everyone in the 1990s was doing Electronica, from U2 on down. Not much of it was good, but somehow it was what the suits wanted. And so Radiohead did Electronica, but with a difference.
Since OK Computer [1997 album by Radiohead] had already flirted with electronica and its chilly feel. Plus, instead of simply adding club beats or sonic collage techniques, Radiohead strove for the unsettling "intelligent techno" sound of Autechre and Aphex Twin, with skittering beats and stylishly dark sonic surfaces. [Ref. AllMusic]
So we have today's song, which is a well crafted "sonic surface" and also a decent song at the same time. It is built on an unusual, but beautiful, chord progression. It is the result of real songwriting. Here's a link to the lyrics, you might need them.
Critics and some fans hated the album. It wasn't what they saw just 10 minutes (or 3 years) before with OK Computer. But it was a number one album, briefly in the US, and hung on to be 190 for the year. (Not bad considering it was released in October of 2000.) But it endures. Reissues. Covers, of this song and others, there is even an arrangement for Big Band somewhere, though I haven't heard it. Info on today's song is less easy to come by since it wasn't released as a single.
This song is "Everything In Its Right Place" by Radiohead from their 2000 album Kid A.
This choice was the result of another Rick Beato video/rant on the poor state of songwriting in 2020 and 2021: Justin Bieber vs Toto: Coincidence? Let’s Compare. It is cued up to the section where he mentions today's song. (I'm not sure the entire rant is worthwhile, unless you feel strongly about the state of music today.)
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