The ultimate Radiohead analysis

Sometimes things just disappear.

Back in 2005 in the early days of Wikipedia, where everything about finding information was sort of magical, I happened to notice that the wiki-article on OK Computer contained a link to an in-depth analysis on OK Computer, Kid and Amnesiac. It was called Radiohead Unpackt. It was an odd website, in and of itself an art project mirroring the playful and intentionally opaque art and lyrics of Radiohead and Stanley Donwood. To venture through the analysis required noticing links, often hidden, along with secret messages. And as far as I can remember it included a lot of images and color choices that allude to the purported influences of especially Kid A and Amnesiac.

Most of the analysis was concerned with the two latter albums, and connected them with Dante’s “Inferno”, William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” and Naomi Klein’s “No Logo” (among other publications). However, as I recollect it the most notable influence was Mark Z. Danielewski’s “House of Leaves”. That reference left a lasting impression upon me and compelled me to purchase the book. The best book I have ever read, a profound experience.

But, alas, the analysis is no longer available. And by some accounts it’s highly unlikely that Radiohead should have been influenced by House of Leaves given its publication history. Thus, it feels like the greatest of ironies that I am now writing this tribute. To something that’s not here anymore and maybe not even truthful. And regarding a novel in which nothing can be relied on against the free fall of footnotes, editors’ comments and a blind, dead man.

And yet here I am. Because I have only found little mention of this very detailed and thorough analysis. For me at least, this analysis is a cultural heritage. And I am interested to hear if other people might recall this analysis too.

!Oh, and it’s not completely gone, but enter at your own peril…!<

!Landing page:!<

https://web.archive.org/web/20031218162228/http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~adrivera/!<

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!Main analysis of Kid/Amnesiac (if you should like to skip some 60 clicks):!<

https://web.archive.org/web/20040825224413/http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~adrivera/pyramidpools.html!<

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