Kid A

While Radiohead made their name as a rock band, their 2000 album "Kid A" is famous for its near-total lack of traditional electric guitars. Instead, Thom Yorke and the band heavily utilized electronic synthesizers, drum machines, and early digital manipulation. It was a deliberate pivot away from the conventional rock sound of their previous hit record, "OK Computer."

Yes, despite its highly experimental sound and lack of traditional singles, "Kid A" debuted at number 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was Radiohead's first album to achieve this feat in America. It proved that the band's devoted fanbase was willing to follow them into avant-garde territory.

Thom Yorke and producer Nigel Godrich heavily used early digital audio workstations and synthesizers, particularly an early version of Pro Tools and the Roland MC-505. They manipulated audio files, chopped up drum loops, and heavily processed Thom Yorke's vocals. The band famously struggled to figure out how to recreate these stark, electronic songs in a live setting.

While released by a rock band and often grouped in rock rankings, "Kid A" is primarily classified as an electronic and experimental art rock album. It blends IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) elements with ambient soundscapes. Its unconventional instrumentation was incredibly influential on the subsequent alternative music landscape.