Peanuts In My Pocket

Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesdays, my weekly series where I rank favorites across music, movies, books, and more. This week, I’m focusing on a band that took me years to fully appreciate: Radiohead, a group I was introduced to by my oldest son when he was still in high school.

🎧 Discovering Radiohead (Late, but Not Too Late)

I came to Radiohead late. Back in the mid-to-late ’90s, when they were making waves, I was immersed in grunge, ska, and punk. Radiohead didn’t click with me then. Their sound felt too distant, too strange, just not what I was looking for.

Fast-forward a couple of decades, and it’s a different story. Now, I listen to Radiohead almost daily. Their music has become the perfect companion for moments when I need to unwind, reflect, or simply sit with my thoughts. Their soundscapes are rich, layered, emotional—sometimes aching, often beautiful, always human.

My wife jokingly calls them “sad bastard music,” which means I mostly enjoy them solo, with my headphones on and the world tuned out. Still, I can’t get enough. In fact, narrowing this list down to just ten songs was tough, there are at least 25 that deserve recognition.

🤔 Radiohead vs. Coldplay (Yes, We’re Going There)

Over the years, I’ve had more than a few conversations with people asking the classic question:
“Coldplay or Radiohead?”

Honestly? I judge people a little if they say Coldplay. (Call me biased—I’ve earned it.) Coldplay has some excellent tracks, but Radiohead is pound-for-pound the better band. They push boundaries. They break genre. They make art, not just music. And ironically? I think Coldplay is the real “sad bastard music.” (Well, most of it.)

🎶 My Top 10 Radiohead Songs

1. How to Disappear Completely – Ethereal and emotional. A song to vanish into.
2. Creep – The raw, messy anthem that introduced them to the world. Still hits hard.
3. Fake Plastic Trees – Melancholy made magnificent. A devastating beauty.
4. Karma Police – Moody, cryptic, and endlessly replayable.
5. No Surprises – A lullaby for the disillusioned. Gentle and haunting.
6. Let Down – Underrated and emotionally layered—perfect Radiohead.
7. All I Need – A dark, swirling track of obsession and longing.
8. Exit Music (For a Film) – Eerie, cinematic, and gut-punch powerful.
9. High and Dry – One of their more accessible songs, but no less gorgeous.
10. Weird Fishes / Arpeggi – Dreamlike and immersive. A perfect example of their sonic mastery.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: Top 10 Radiohead Songs