Kid A Is Released

Setting the scene

Radiohead faced enormous pressure after OK Computer made them the world's biggest art-rock band. Thom Yorke's writer's block and hatred of touring pushed the band toward electronic textures, Krautrock, and jazz on albums like Kid A and Amnesiac recorded back-to-back. They avoided rock guitar clichés and traditional promotion.

What happened

Kid A was released on October 2, 2000, with tracks like Everything In Its Right Place and Idioteque built from modular synths and sampled voices. No singles were released in the conventional sense; the band used the internet and blimps with cryptic messages. The cover art by Stanley Donwood featured icy mountains and bears.

Why it still matters

Kid A debuted number one in the U.S. despite minimal interviews, proving anti-hype could work. It influenced 2000s indie electronic crossovers from Arcade Fire to Bon Iver's early experiments. Memorable detail: the hidden booklet inside early CD cases required heat or light to reveal lyrics, treating the physical album like a puzzle.

Background

Online leaks and minimal promotion became a case study in anti-hype.