
The Bends isn’t just a great 90s alt-rock record, it’s the moment the genre grew up.
In terms of where this album stands in the canon of nineties rock albums, it's the moment when you and your lover share the news that you are pregnant. It's thrilling and wonderful. You cannot wait to share the news with everyone you love, and it instantly becomes one of the most cherished memories you will ever have.
Everybody talks about OK Computer being the grand masterpiece, but The Bends is where Radiohead actually cracked open their soul. It’s got that raw, mid-90s guitar grit, but instead of wallowing in generic grunge apathy, it delivers pure emotional weight. Tracks like "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" don't just sound good, they stick to your ribs.
Where does The Bends land in nineties rock for you guys, does it outshine OK Computer for raw emotion, or is it just the stepping stone to what came after?