Editing Kid A

{{Short description|2000 studio album by Radiohead}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Kid A
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Radiohead]]
| cover        = Radioheadkida.png
| alt          = Mountains and their reflections against a sea
| released     = {{start date|2000|10|2|df=y}}
| recorded     = 4 January 1999 – 18 April 2000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.followmearound.com/news/news99.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210095120/http://www.followmearound.com/news/news99.html |archive-date=2001-02-10  |title=Radiohead News at Follow Me Around |date=2001 |website=Follow Me Around |access-date=August 10, 2022}}</ref>
| studio       = *Guillaume Tell, Paris
*Medley, Copenhagen
*Radiohead studio, Oxfordshire
| genre        = <!--Sources are in "Music" section. DO NOT add genres without reliable sources and discussion in the talk page.-->
* [[Experimental rock]]
* [[post-rock]]
* {{nowrap|[[art rock]]}}
* [[electronica]]
<!-- Genres are sourced in the article body. Please do not remove them. -->
| length       = 49:56
| label        = * [[Parlophone]]
* [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| producer     = * [[Nigel Godrich]]
* Radiohead
| prev_title   = [[Airbag / How Am I Driving?]]
| prev_year    = 1998
| next_title   = [[Amnesiac (album)|Amnesiac]]
| next_year    = 2001
| misc         = 
}}
'''''Kid A''''' is the fourth studio album by the English rock band [[Radiohead]], released on 2 October 2000 by [[Parlophone]]. It was recorded with their producer, [[Nigel Godrich]], in Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Departing from their earlier sound, Radiohead incorporated influences from [[electronic music]], [[krautrock]], [[jazz]] and [[20th-century classical music]], with a wider range of instruments and effects. The singer, [[Thom Yorke]], wrote impersonal and abstract lyrics, [[Cut-up technique|cutting up]] phrases and assembling them at random. 

In a departure from industry practice, Radiohead released no singles and conducted few interviews and photoshoots. Instead, they released short animations and became one of the first major acts to use the [[Internet]] for promotion. [[Bootleg recording|Bootlegs]] of early performances were shared on [[file sharing|filesharing]] services, and ''Kid A'' was [[Music leak|leaked]] before release. In 2000, Radiohead toured Europe in a custom-built tent without corporate logos. 

''Kid A'' debuted at number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]] and became Radiohead's first number-one album on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. It was [[certified platinum]] in the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, France and Japan. Its new sound divided listeners, and some dismissed it as pretentious or derivative. However, at the end of the decade, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' and the ''[[The Times|Times]]'' ranked it the greatest album of the 2000s, and in 2020 ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it number 20 on its updated list of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]. ''Kid A'' won the [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album]] and was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]]. 

Radiohead released a second album of material from the sessions, ''[[Amnesiac (album)|Amnesiac]]'', in 2001. In 2021, they released ''[[Kid A Mnesia]]'', an anniversary reissue compiling ''Kid A'', ''Amnesiac'' and previously unreleased material. 

== Background ==
Following the critical and commercial success of their 1997 album ''[[OK Computer]]'', the members of Radiohead suffered [[Occupational burnout|burnout]].<ref name="ZORIC">{{cite news |last=Zoric |first=Lauren |date=22 September 2000 |title=I think I'm meant to be dead&nbsp;... |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,371289,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102235438/http://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0%2C%2C371289%2C00.html |archive-date=2 January 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The songwriter, [[Thom Yorke]], became ill, describing himself as "a complete fucking mess ... completely unhinged".<ref name="ZORIC" /> He was troubled by new acts he felt were imitating Radiohead<ref name="REYNOLDS">{{cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |date=July 2001 |title=Walking on thin ice |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/radiohead-walking-on-thin-ice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122183234/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/radiohead-walking-on-thin-ice |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2021 |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]}}</ref> and became hostile to the music media.<ref name="ZORIC" /><ref name="NME">{{cite web|title=Radiohead: ''Kid A''|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-radiohead-2944-317559|date=23 December 2000|website=[[NME]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304065902/https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-radiohead-2944-317559|access-date=4 May 2020|archive-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> He told ''[[The Observer]]'': "I always used to use music as a way of moving on and dealing with things, and I sort of felt like that the thing that helped me deal with things had been sold to the highest bidder and I was simply doing its bidding. And I couldn't handle that."<ref name="SMITH" />

Yorke suffered from [[writer's block]] and could not finish writing songs on guitar.<ref name="monsters">{{cite journal |last=Cavanagh |first=David |author-link=David Cavanagh |date=October 2000 |title=I can see the monsters |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |pages=96–104}}</ref> He became disillusioned with the "mythology" of rock music, feeling the genre had "run its course".<ref name="SMITH">{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Andrew |date=1 October 2000 |title=Sound and fury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/oct/01/life1.lifemagazine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110180556/http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/oct/01/life1.lifemagazine |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=19 May 2007 |website=[[The Observer]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> He began to listen almost exclusively to the [[electronic music]] of artists signed to the record label [[Warp Records|Warp]], such as [[Aphex Twin]] and [[Autechre]], and said: "It was refreshing because the music was all structures and had no human voices in it. But I felt just as emotional about it as I'd ever felt about guitar music."<ref name="ZORIC" /> He liked the idea of his voice being used as an instrument rather than having a leading role, and wanted to focus on sounds and textures instead of traditional songwriting.<ref name="REYNOLDS" /> Yorke considered changing the band's name, saying he did not "want to be answerable to what we'd done before".<ref name="Yamasaki-2000" />

Yorke bought a house in [[Cornwall]] and spent his time walking the cliffs and drawing, restricting his musical activity to playing the grand piano he had recently bought.<ref name="Dazed-2013">{{Cite web|date=12 February 2013|title=Splitting atoms with Thom Yorke|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/15601/1/splitting-atoms-thom-yorke|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418233341/http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/15601/1/splitting-atoms-thom-yorke|archive-date=18 April 2016|access-date=9 July 2016|website=[[Dazed]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref> "[[Everything in Its Right Place]]" was the first song he wrote.<ref name="Dazed-2013" /> His lack of knowledge of electronic instruments inspired him, as "everything's a novelty ... I didn't understand how the fuck they worked. I had no idea what [[ADSR envelope|ADSR]] meant."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fricke|first=David|date=14 December 2000|title=People of the Year: Thom Yorke of Radiohead|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/people-of-the-year-thom-yorke-of-radiohead-194004/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201537/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/people-of-the-year-thom-yorke-of-radiohead-194004/|archive-date=5 January 2019|access-date=2019-01-05|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> The guitarist [[Ed O'Brien]] had hoped Radiohead's fourth album would comprise short, melodic guitar songs, but Yorke said: "There was no chance of the album sounding like that. I'd completely had it with melody. I just wanted rhythm. All melodies to me were pure embarrassment."<ref name="monsters" /> The bassist, [[Colin Greenwood]], said other guitar bands were trying to do similar things, and so Radiohead had to change and move on.<ref name="COLIN">{{cite web|last=Kot|first=Greg|year=2000|title=Radiohead sends out new signals with 'Kid A'|url=http://www.nigelgodrich.com/press5.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313120012/http://nigelgodrich.com/press5.htm|archive-date=13 March 2016|access-date=18 March 2007|website=Nigelgodrich.com}}</ref>

== Recording ==
{{see also|Amnesiac (album)#Recording}} [[File:Jonny Greenwood - Ondas Martenot.jpg|thumb|Jonny Greenwood performing on an [[ondes Martenot]] in 2010|alt=]]After the success of ''OK Computer'', Radiohead bought a barn in Oxfordshire and converted it into a recording studio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Jude |author-link=Jude Rogers |date=2024-09-29 |title=‘It commemorates collective moments’: Radiohead through the eyes of Colin Greenwood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/29/radiohead-colin-greenwood-photography-how-to-disappear#comments |access-date=2024-09-29 |work=[[The Observer]] |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref>{{sfn|Randall|2004|pp=183, 189}} Yorke planned to use it as the German band [[Can (band)|Can]] had used their studio in Cologne, recording everything they played and then editing it.<ref name="monsters" /> As the studio would not be complete until late 1999, Radiohead began work in Guillaume Tell Studios, Paris, in January 1999.<ref name="monsters" />

Radiohead worked with the ''OK Computer'' producer [[Nigel Godrich]] and had no deadline. Yorke, who had the greatest control, was still facing writer's block.<ref name="monsters" /> His new songs were incomplete, and some consisted of little more than sounds or rhythms; few had clear verses or choruses.<ref name="monsters" /> Yorke's lack of lyrics created problems, as these had provided points of reference and inspiration for his bandmates in the past.<ref name="KENT">{{cite journal |last=Kent |first=Nick |author-link=Nick Kent |date=1 June 2001 |title=Happy now? |journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]}}</ref>

The group struggled with Yorke's new direction. According to Godrich, Yorke did not communicate much,<ref name="postrockband2">{{cite news|last=Marzorati|first=Gerald|date=1 October 2000|title=The post-rock band|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/magazine/the-post-rock-band.html|access-date=28 July 2008|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and according to Yorke, Godrich "didn't understand why, if we had such a strength in one thing, we would want to do something else".<ref name="ZORIC"/> The lead guitarist, [[Jonny Greenwood]], feared "awful art-rock nonsense just for its own sake".<ref name="monsters" /> His brother, Colin, did not enjoy Yorke's Warp influences, finding them "really cold".<ref name="KENT" /> The other band members were unsure of how to contribute, and considered leaving.<ref name="KENT" /> O'Brien said: "It's scary&nbsp;– everyone feels insecure. I'm a guitarist and suddenly it's like, well, there are no guitars on this track, or no drums."<ref name="monsters" />

Radiohead experimented with electronic instruments including [[Modular synthesizer|modular synthesisers]] and the [[ondes Martenot]], an early electronic instrument similar to a [[theremin]], and used software such as [[Pro Tools]] and [[Cubase]] to edit and manipulate their recordings.<ref name="monsters" /> They found it difficult to use electronic instruments collaboratively. According to Yorke, "We had to develop ways of going off into corners and build things on whatever sequencer, synthesiser or piece of machinery we would bring to the equation and then integrate that into the way we would normally work."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sterner |first=Daniel |date=July 2019 |title=Talk: Thom Yorke |url=https://www.elektronauts.com/talk/134 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710213712/https://www.elektronauts.com/talk/134 |archive-date=10 July 2019 |access-date=2019-07-12 |website=[[Elektron (company)|Elektronauts]]}}</ref> O'Brien began using sustain units on his guitar, which allow notes to be [[sustain]]ed infinitely, combined with [[Loop (music)|looping]] and [[Delay (audio effect)|delay]] effects to create synthesiser-like sounds.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 November 2017 |title=Radiohead's Guitarist Created His Own Instrument and Helped Change the Band's Music |website=Esquire |url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a13529349/radiohead-ed-obrien-interview/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115072535/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a13529349/radiohead-ed-obrien-interview/ |archive-date=15 November 2017}}</ref>

In March, Radiohead moved to Medley Studios in Copenhagen for two weeks,<ref name="monsters" /> which were unproductive.<ref name="postrockband2" /> The sessions produced about 50 reels of tape, each containing 15 minutes of music, with nothing finished.<ref name="monsters" /> In April, Radiohead resumed recording in a mansion in [[Batsford Park]], Gloucestershire.<ref name="monsters" /> The lack of deadline and the number of incomplete ideas made it hard to focus,<ref name="monsters" /> and the group held tense meetings.<ref name="postrockband2" /> They agreed to disband if they could not agree on an album worth releasing.<ref name="monsters" /> In July, O'Brien began keeping an online diary of Radiohead's progress.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Best You Can Is Good Enough: Radiohead vs. The Corporate Machine |url=https://www.popmatters.com/tools/print/132589/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004163150/http://www.popmatters.com/tools/print/132589/ |archive-date=4 October 2015 |access-date=3 October 2015 |website=[[PopMatters]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 

Radiohead moved to their new studio in Oxfordshire in September.<ref name="monsters" /> In November, Radiohead held a live webcast from their studio, featuring a performance of new music and a DJ set.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/570044/radiohead-debut-song-during-webcast/|title=Radiohead debut song during webcast|last=Vanhorn|first=Teri|date=12 November 1999|work=[[MTV News]]|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112021255/http://www.mtv.com/news/570044/radiohead-debut-song-during-webcast/|archive-date=12 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2000, six songs were complete.<ref name="monsters" /> In January, at Godrich's suggestion, Radiohead split into two groups: one would generate a sound or sequence without acoustic instruments such as guitars or drums, and the other would develop it. Though the experiment produced no finished songs, it helped convince O'Brien of the potential of electronic instruments.<ref name="monsters" />

On 19 April 2000, Yorke wrote on Radiohead's website that they had finished recording.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Chris|date=20 April 2000|title=Radiohead complete recording for ''OK Computer'' follow-up|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/821233/radiohead-complete-recording-for-ok-computer-follow-up/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004102055/https://www.mtv.com/news/821233/radiohead-complete-recording-for-ok-computer-follow-up/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2021|access-date=2021-10-04|website=[[MTV News]]|language=en}}</ref> Having completed over 20 songs,<ref name="DIARY">{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Ed|date=22 July 1999 – 26 June 2000|title=Ed's Diary|url=http://www.greenplastic.com/coldstorage/articles/edsdiary/index.php|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413133839/http://www.greenplastic.com/coldstorage/articles/edsdiary/index.php|archive-date=13 April 2007|access-date=19 May 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Radiohead considered releasing a [[double album]], but felt the material was too dense,<ref name="MTV">{{cite web |last=Yago |first=Gideon |date=18 July 2001 |title=Played in Full |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/r/radiohead01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715094234/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/r/radiohead01/ |archive-date=15 July 2014 |access-date=14 July 2014 |website=[[MTV]] |publisher=Viacom}}</ref> and decided that a series of EPs would be a "copout".<ref name="Kot-2001" /> Instead, they saved half the songs for their next album, ''[[Amnesiac (album)|Amnesiac]]'', released the following year. Yorke said Radiohead split the work into two albums because "they cancel each other out as overall finished things. They come from two different places."<ref name="Kot-2001">{{cite web|last=Kot|first=Greg|date=31 July 2001|title='It's difficult justifying being a rock band'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/07/31/its-difficult-justifying-being-a-rock-band/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212061753/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-07-31/features/0107310006_1_pink-floyd-amnesiac-thom-yorke|archive-date=12 December 2013|access-date=27 March 2012|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> He observed that deciding the track list was not just a matter of choosing the best songs, as "you can put all the best songs in the world on a record and they'll ruin each other".<ref name="Yamasaki-2000">{{Cite journal|last1=Yamasaki|first1=Yoichiro|last2=Yamashita|first2=Erica|date=December 2000|title=I Don't Want To Be In A Rock Band Any More|url=|journal=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]|publisher=[[EMAP]]|volume=|pages=|via=}}</ref> He cited the later [[Beatles]] albums as examples of effective sequencing: "How in the hell can you have three different versions of '[[Revolution (Beatles song)|Revolution]]' on the same record and get away with it? I thought about that sort of thing."<ref name="Yamasaki-2000" /> Agreeing on the track list created arguments, and O'Brien said the band came close to breaking up: "That felt like it could go either way, it could break ... But we came in the next day and it was resolved."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien steps up|url=https://theface.com/music/radiohead-guitarist-ed-obrien-album-shangri-la-interview-thom-yorke|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424035341/https://theface.com/music/radiohead-guitarist-ed-obrien-album-shangri-la-interview-thom-yorke|archive-date=24 April 2020|access-date=2020-04-18|website=The Face|date=6 February 2020 |language=en-gb}}</ref> The album was [[Audio mastering|mastered]] by Chris Blair in [[Abbey Road Studios]], London.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Southall|first1=Brian|title=Abbey Road: The Story of the World's Most Famous Recording Studios|last2=Vince|first2=Peter|last3=Rouse|first3=Allan|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2011|isbn=978-0-85712-676-4}}</ref>

=== Tracks ===
[[File:DorchesterAbbey Interior Nave&EastWindow.JPG|thumb|upright=0.75|Radiohead recorded the strings for "How to Disappear Completely" in [[Dorchester Abbey]], Oxfordshire.]]Radiohead worked on the first track, "[[Everything in Its Right Place]]", in a conventional band arrangement in Copenhagen and Paris, but without results.<ref name="O'Brien-2000">{{cite interview|last1=O'Brien|first1=Ed|interviewer=Paul Anderson|title=Interview with Ed O'Brien and Philip Selway|last2=Selway|first2=Philip|publisher=[[XFM]]|date=25 September 2000|subject-link1=Ed O'Brien|subject-link2=Philip Selway}}</ref> In Gloucestershire,<ref name="O'Brien-2000"/> Yorke and Godrich transferred the song to a [[Prophet-5]] synthesiser,<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 March 2014|title=The 14 synthesizers that shaped modern music|language=en-US|work=[[The Vinyl Factory]]|url=https://thevinylfactory.com/features/the-14-synthesizers-that-shaped-modern-music/|access-date=5 March 2018|archive-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424111958/https://thevinylfactory.com/features/the-14-synthesizers-that-shaped-modern-music/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Yorke's vocals were processed in [[Pro Tools]] using a [[Scrubbing (audio)|scrubbing]] tool.<ref name="Greenwood-2000">{{cite interview|last1=Greenwood|first1=Jonny|interviewer=[[Nic Harcourt]]|title=An Interview With Jonny And Colin Greenwood|last2=Greenwood|first2=Colin|work=Morning Becomes Eclectic|publisher=[[KCRW]]|location=Los Angeles|date=20 October 2000|subject-link1=Colin Greenwood|subject-link2=Jonny Greenwood}}</ref> O'Brien and the drummer, [[Philip Selway]], said the track helped them accept that not every song needed every band member to play on it. O'Brien recalled: "To be genuinely sort of delighted that you'd been working for six months on this record and something great has come out of it, and you haven't contributed to it, is a really liberating feeling."<ref name="O'Brien-2000"/> Jonny Greenwood described it as a turning point for the album: "We knew it had to be the first song, and everything just followed after it."<ref name="Greenwood-2000" />

Yorke wrote an early version of "[[The National Anthem (Radiohead song)|The National Anthem]]" when the band was still in school.<ref name="Greenwood-2000" /> In 1997, Radiohead recorded drums and bass for the song, intending to develop it as a B-side for ''OK Computer'', but decided to keep it for their next album.<ref name="Greenwood-2000" /> For ''Kid A'', Greenwood added ondes Martenot and sounds [[Sampling (music)|sampled]] from radio stations,<ref name="Greenwood-2000" /> and Yorke's vocals were processed with a [[ring modulator]].<ref name="mc22">{{cite journal |last=Swenson |first=Kylee |date=January 2001 |title=A Spy In the House of Music: Radiohead's Ed O'Brien Discusses Sonic Espionage |journal=MC2 |pages=44–47 }}</ref> In November 1999,<ref name="mc22"/> Radiohead recorded a [[brass section]] inspired by the "organised chaos" of ''[[Town Hall Concert]]'' by the jazz musician [[Charles Mingus]], instructing the musicians to sound like a "traffic jam".<ref name="JUICE"/>

The strings on "[[How to Disappear Completely]]" were performed by the [[Orchestra of St John's]] and recorded in [[Dorchester Abbey]], a 12th-century church about five miles from Radiohead's Oxfordshire studio.<ref name="MM2">{{cite journal |last=Blashill |first=Pat |date=29 March 2000 |title=Radiohead revealed: the inside story of the year's most important album |url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=66 |url-status=dead |journal=[[Melody Maker]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711130337/http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=66 |archive-date=11 July 2007 |access-date=18 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |date=21 May 2001 |title=Radiohead warm up with ''Amnesiac'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-warm-up-with-amnesiac-20010524 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715085158/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radiohead-warm-up-with-amnesiac-20010524 |url-status=live }}</ref> Radiohead chose the orchestra as they had performed pieces by [[Krzysztof Penderecki|Penderecki]] and [[Olivier Messiaen|Messiaen]].<ref name="JUICE"/> Jonny Greenwood, the only Radiohead member trained in [[music theory]], composed the string arrangement by [[Multitrack recording|multitracking]] his ondes Martenot.<ref name="Greenwood-2000" /> According to Godrich, when the orchestra members saw Greenwood's score "they all just sort of burst into giggles, because they couldn't do what he'd written, because it was impossible&nbsp;– or impossible for them, anyway".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/magazine/jonny-greenwood-radioheads-runaway-guitarist.html|title=Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead's Runaway Guitarist|last=Pappademas|first=Alex|date=9 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=22 June 2016|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520115900/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/magazine/jonny-greenwood-radioheads-runaway-guitarist.html|archive-date=20 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The orchestra leader, [[John Lubbock (conductor)|John Lubbock]], encouraged them to experiment and work with Greenwood's ideas.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zoric|first=Lauren|date=October 2000|title=Fitter, Happier, More Productive|journal=Juice}}</ref> The concerts director, Alison Atkinson, said the session was more experimental than the orchestra's usual bookings.<ref name="MM2"/>

[[File:Paul Lanksy&nbsp;- Mild und Leise (sample).ogg|thumb|right|Radiohead sampled this portion of "Mild und Leise", a 1973 [[computer music]] composition by [[Paul Lansky]], for "Idioteque".]]"[[Idioteque]]" was built from a [[drum machine]] pattern Greenwood created with a modular synthesiser.<ref name="Greenwood-2000" /> It incorporates a sample from the electronic composition "Mild und Leise" by [[Paul Lansky]], taken from ''Electronic Music Winners'', a 1976 album of [[experimental music]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Lansky |first=Paul |url=http://paul.mycpanel.princeton.edu/radiohead.ml.html |title=My Radiohead Adventure |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]/[[Routledge]] |year=2012 |isbn=9780203086612 |editor-last1=Cateforis |editor-first1=Theo |edition=2nd |pages=8 |doi=10.4324/9780203086612 |s2cid=221172298 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |access-date=26 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820030208/http://paul.mycpanel.princeton.edu/radiohead.ml.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Greenwood gave 50 minutes of improvisation to Yorke, who took a short section of it and used it to write the song.<ref name="public-interview">{{cite web |date=12 July 2016 |title=Thom Yorke Talks About Life in the Public Eye |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15226006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220183402/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15226006 |archive-date=20 February 2009 |access-date=29 March 2009 |website=[[NPR]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Yorke said it was "an attempt to capture that exploding beat sound where you're at the club and the PA's so loud, you know it's doing damage".<ref name="REYNOLDS"/>

"Motion Picture Soundtrack" was written before Radiohead's debut single, "[[Creep (Radiohead song)|Creep]]" (1992),<ref name="RC">{{cite web|last=Kennedy |first=Jake |title=Kid A Rock |work=Record Collector |date=November 2000 |access-date=17 March 2007 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309042328/http://followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?cutting=101&year=2000 |url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?cutting=101&year=2000 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Radiohead recorded a version on piano during the ''OK Computer'' sessions.<ref name=":0" /> For ''Kid A'', Yorke recorded it on a [[pump organ|pedal organ]], influenced by the songwriter [[Tom Waits]]. Radiohead added [[harp]] samples and [[double bass]], attempting to emulate the soundtracks of 1950s [[Disney]] films.<ref name="Greenwood-2000" /><ref name="mixing-it">{{cite interview|last=Sandall|first=Robert|title=Interview with Jonny & Colin|last2=Russell|first2=Mark|url=https://www.mixcloud.com/ferdinandbeckett/mixing-it-20-jan-2001-radiohead-kid-a-special-full-episode/|work=Mixing It|publisher=[[BBC Radio]]|date=20 January 2001|others=Jonny and Colin Greenwood|access-date=22 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222165054/https://www.mixcloud.com/ferdinandbeckett/mixing-it-20-jan-2001-radiohead-kid-a-special-full-episode/|archive-date=22 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Radiohead also worked on several songs they did not complete until future albums, including "[[Nude (song)|Nude]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/music-producers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703005546/http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/music-producers|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2011|title=The Music Producers {{!}} Word Magazine|date=3 July 2011|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> "[[Burn the Witch (Radiohead song)|Burn the Witch]]"<ref name="pitchfork3">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/65162-watch-radioheads-video-for-new-song-burn-the-witch/|title=Watch Radiohead's Video for New Song 'Burn the Witch'|date=3 May 2016|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=3 May 2016|last1=Yoo, Noah|last2=Monroe, Jazz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503174606/http://pitchfork.com/news/65162-watch-radioheads-video-for-new-song-burn-the-witch/|archive-date=3 May 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and "[[True Love Waits (song)|True Love Waits]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/05/history-radiohead-true-love-waits.html|title=The 21-Year History of Radiohead's 'True Love Waits,' a Fan Favorite Two Decades in the Making|last=Reilly|first=Dan|date=10 May 2016|website=Vulture|access-date=10 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907002120/http://www.vulture.com/2016/05/history-radiohead-true-love-waits.html|archive-date=7 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Music ==
=== Style and influences ===
{{listen
 | filename11    = Kid A.ogg
 | title11       = "Kid A"
 | description11 = The title track, a heavily processed electronic piece, demonstrates both Radiohead's increasing ambient electronic influences and the distortion of Yorke's voice, extensively done on the album.
 | filename12    = The National Anthem (Radiohead).ogg
 | title12       = "The National Anthem"
 | description12 = This song, featuring a horn section improvising over a repetitive bassline, demonstrates the band's increasing influence from jazz during this time period. Yorke cited Charles Mingus as his main inspiration here.
}}

''Kid A'' has been described as a work of [[electronica]],<ref name="AllMusic" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Segal |first=David |date=6 June 2001 |title='Amnesiac': Radiohead To Remember |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/06/06/amnesiac-radiohead-to-remember/458e4be5-6034-43d7-a931-b01fdffed103/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827091532/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/06/06/amnesiac-radiohead-to-remember/458e4be5-6034-43d7-a931-b01fdffed103/ |archive-date=27 August 2017 |access-date=10 March 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Cross |first=Alan |author-link=Alan Cross |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y_HODgAAQBAJ |title=Radiohead: the secret history |publisher=Joe Books |year=2012 |isbn=9781927002308}}</ref> [[experimental rock]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Paoletta, Michael |date=7 October 2000 |title=Reviews & Previews – Albums |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uhAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504124713/https://books.google.com/books?id=uhAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=%22Kid+A%22+%22experimental+rock%22&source=bl&ots=bropjAsXC-&sig=NfkL4JoxHGVOFnTlCvCNaxj2Owk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=iY2rVKvfGsmBygScj4GgAw&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=%22Kid%20A%22%20%22experimental%20rock%22&f=false |archive-date=4 May 2016 |access-date=19 January 2015 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> [[post-rock]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Welsh |first=April Clare |date=2 October 2015 |title=Radiohead's 'Kid A' – The Album's Tracks Ranked In Order Of Greatness |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/radioheads-kid-a-turns-15-the-albums-tracks-ranked-in-order-of-greatness-1188414 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215232950/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/radioheads-kid-a-turns-15-the-albums-tracks-ranked-in-order-of-greatness-1188414 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |access-date=13 December 2018 |website=[[New Musical Express|NME]]}}</ref><ref name="SPIN">{{cite magazine |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |date=October 2000 |title=Radio Chaos |url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=88 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211400/http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=88 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=23 April 2007 |magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> [[alternative rock]],<ref name="sputnikmusic">{{cite web |title=Radiohead – Kid A |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/5439/Radiohead-Kid-A/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120702224241/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/5439/Radiohead-Kid-A/ |archive-date=2 July 2012 |access-date=20 November 2018 |website=Sputnikmusic}}</ref> [[Post-progressive|post-prog]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kearney |first=Ryan |date=31 May 2016 |title=The Radiohead Racket |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/133773/radiohead-racket |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133640/https://newrepublic.com/article/133773/radiohead-racket |archive-date=8 November 2016 |magazine=[[The New Republic|New Republic]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Ambient music|ambient]],<ref name=":1">{{cite magazine |date=18 April 2020 |title=The 40 greatest stoner albums |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatest-stoner-albums-20130607/radiohead-kid-a-19691231 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117130642/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatest-stoner-albums-20130607/radiohead-kid-a-19691231 |archive-date=17 January 2016 |access-date=6 January 2016 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> [[electronic rock]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Nicholas, Taylor |date=11 May 2001 |title=Recovering the Memory of Pop Radiohead's 'Amnesiac' |url=https://www.popmatters.com/010511-radiohead-2496101503.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100840/http://www.popmatters.com/feature/010511-radiohead/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=1 September 2015 |magazine=[[PopMatters]]}}</ref> [[art rock]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Saunders |first=Luke |date=12 March 2020 |title=10 records to introduce you to the world of art-rock |url=https://happymag.tv/10-records-to-introduce-you-to-the-world-of-art-rock/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719162008/https://happymag.tv/10-records-to-introduce-you-to-the-world-of-art-rock/ |archive-date=19 July 2021 |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=Happy Mag}}</ref> and [[art pop]].<ref name="Fricke" /> Though guitar is less prominent than on previous Radiohead albums, guitars were used on most tracks.<ref name="REYNOLDS" /> "Treefingers", an ambient instrumental, was created by digitally processing O'Brien's guitar loops.<ref name="mixing-it" /> Many of Yorke's vocals were manipulated with effects; for example, his vocals on the title track were simply spoken, then [[Vocoder|vocoded]] with the ondes Martenot to create the melody.<ref name="REYNOLDS" />

''Kid A'' incorporates influences from electronic artists on [[Warp Records]],<ref name="monsters" /> such as the 1990s [[Intelligent dance music|IDM]] artists [[Aphex Twin]] and [[Autechre]];<ref name="ZORIC" /> 1970s [[Krautrock]] bands such as [[Can (band)|Can]];<ref name="monsters" /> the [[jazz]] of [[Charles Mingus]],<ref name="JUICE">{{cite web|last=Zoric |first=Lauren |work=Juice Magazine |date=1 October 2000 |access-date=19 May 2007 |title=Fitter, Happier, More Productive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309014557/http://followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?cutting=91&year=2000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 March 2016 |url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=91 }}</ref> [[Alice Coltrane]] and [[Miles Davis]];<ref name="REYNOLDS" /> and [[abstract hip hop]] from the [[Mo'Wax]] label, including [[Blackalicious]] and [[DJ Krush]].<ref>{{cite interview|last=Greenwood|first=Jonny|url=http://nepasavaler.net/bio/jg/index.html|title=Jonny Greenwood interview|work=Ne Pas Avaler|access-date=1 April 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401081718/http://www.nepasavaler.net/bio/jg/index.html|archive-date=1 April 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Yorke cited ''[[Remain in Light]]'' (1980) by [[Talking Heads]] as a "massive reference point".<ref>{{cite web |date=1 November 2000 |title=No more Thom for guitar rock |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-393-1309133 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182054/http://www.nme.com/news/music/radiohead-393-1309133 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |access-date=30 November 2017 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref> [[Björk]] was another major influence,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rehGAQAAQBAJ&q=bjork+%22kid+a%22|title=Radiohead's Kid A|last=Lin|first=Marvin|date=2010|publisher=[[A & C Black]]|isbn=978-0-8264-2343-6|access-date=20 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216154004/https://books.google.com/books?id=rehGAQAAQBAJ&dq=bjork+%22kid+a%22&hl=es&source=gbs_navlinks_s|archive-date=16 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="mc22" /> particularly her 1997 album ''[[Homogenic]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadspin.com/5842521/how-a-14-year-old-bjork-album-is-still-defining-alternative-pop-and-hip-hop-today|title=Put A Björk In It: How A 14-Year-Old Album Is Still Influencing Music|last=Dickey|first=Jack|date=22 September 2011|work=Musicweek2011|publisher=[[Deadspin]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115182252/http://deadspin.com/5842521/how-a-14-year-old-bjork-album-is-still-defining-alternative-pop-and-hip-hop-today|archive-date=15 November 2014|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> as was [[the Beta Band]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPOsu8JOHO8C&q=the+beta+band+1999&pg=PA32|title=The A to X of Alternative Music|last=Taylor|first=Steve|date=27 September 2006|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=0-8264-8217-1|location=London|page=32}}</ref> Radiohead attended an [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]] concert which helped renew their enthusiasm in a difficult moment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/radiohead-escape-artists-part-two |title=Radiohead: The Escape Artists, Part Two|work=[[The Word (UK magazine)|The Word]]|date=7 May 2008|access-date=6 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207062918/http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/radiohead-escape-artists-part-two|archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref>

The string orchestration for "How to Disappear Completely" was influenced by the Polish composer [[Krzysztof Penderecki]].<ref name="ZORIC" /> Jonny Greenwood's use of the [[ondes Martenot]] was inspired by [[Olivier Messiaen]], who popularised the instrument and was one of Greenwood's teenage heroes.<ref name="GILL">{{cite news| last = Gill| first = Andy| title = So long to Jonny guitar| work = The Independent| date = 31 October 2003| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jonny-greenwood-so-long-to-jonny-guitar-93830.html| access-date = 18 June 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170813205922/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jonny-greenwood-so-long-to-jonny-guitar-93830.html| archive-date = 13 August 2017| url-status = live}}</ref> Greenwood described his interest in mixing old and new music technology,<ref name="GILL" /> and during the recording sessions Yorke read [[Ian MacDonald]]'s ''[[Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties|Revolution in the Head]]'', which chronicles [[the Beatles]]' recordings with [[George Martin]] during the 1960s.<ref name="REYNOLDS" /> Radiohead also sought to combine electronic manipulations with jam sessions in the studio, saying their model was the German band Can.<ref name="monsters" />

=== Lyrics ===
Yorke's lyrics on ''Kid A'' are less personal than on earlier albums, and instead incorporate abstract and surreal themes.<ref name="when-do-I-start">{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=23 February 2013 |title=Thom Yorke: 'If I can't enjoy this now, when do I start?' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/23/thom-yorke-radiohead-interview |access-date=26 April 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=28 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628075705/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/23/thom-yorke-radiohead-interview |url-status=live }}</ref> He [[Cut-up technique|cut up]] phrases and assembled them at random, combining [[Cliché|cliches]] and banal observations; for example, "Morning Bell" features repeated contrasting lines such as "Where'd you park the car?" and "Cut the kids in half".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchum |first=Rob |date=25 August 2009 |title=Radiohead: ''Kid A: Special Collectors Edition'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13385-kid-a-special-collectors-edition/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703063410/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13385-kid-a-special-collectors-edition/ |archive-date=3 July 2015 |access-date=4 July 2015 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Yorke denied that he was "trying to get anything across" with the lyrics, and described them as "like shattered bits of mirror ... like pieces of something broken".<ref name="Yamasaki-2000" /> 

Yorke cited [[David Byrne]]'s approach to lyrics on ''Remain in Light'' as an influence: "When they made that record, they had no real songs, just wrote it all as they went along. Byrne turned up with pages and pages, and just picked stuff up and threw bits in all the time. And that's exactly how I approached ''Kid A''."<ref name="REYNOLDS" /> Radiohead used Yorke's lyrics "like pieces in a collage ... [creating] an artwork out of a lot of different little things".<ref name="monsters" /> The lyrics are not included in the liner notes, as Radiohead felt they could not be considered independently of the music,<ref name="NYROCK2">{{cite interview|subject=Radiohead|interviewer=''NY Rock''|date=December 2000|url=http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/2000/radiohead.asp|access-date=1 April 2007|archive-date=31 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231222751/http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/2000/radiohead.asp|url-status=dead|title=Radiohead: They're Not So Angst-ridden Once You Get to Know Them}}</ref> and Yorke did not want listeners to focus on them.<ref name="REYNOLDS" />

Yorke wrote "Everything in Its Right Place" about the depression he experienced on the ''OK Computer'' tour, feeling he could not speak.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-making-music-that-matters-84574/|title=Radiohead: Making Music That Matters|last=Fricke|first=David|author-link=David Fricke|date=2 August 2001|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|access-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106104332/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-making-music-that-matters-84574/|archive-date=6 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The refrain of "How to Disappear Completely" was inspired by [[R.E.M.]] singer [[Michael Stipe]], who advised Yorke to relieve tour stress by repeating to himself: "I'm not here, this isn't happening".<ref>{{cite magazine|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-best-radiohead-songs-20111012/10-how-to-disappear-completely-0823981|title = 'How To Disappear Completely' – Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Radiohead Songs|magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]|date = 12 October 2011|access-date = 8 March 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150117193945/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-best-radiohead-songs-20111012/10-how-to-disappear-completely-0823981|archive-date = 17 January 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> The refrain of "Optimistic" ("try the best you can / the best you can is good enough") was an assurance by Yorke's partner, [[Rachel Owen]], when Yorke was frustrated with the band's progress.<ref name="monsters" /> The title ''Kid A'' came from a filename on one of Yorke's [[Music sequencer|sequencers]].<ref name="Yamasaki-2000" /> Yorke said he liked its "non-meaning", saying: "If you call [an album] something specific, it drives the record in a certain way."<ref name="SMITH"/>

== Artwork ==

The ''Kid A'' artwork and packaging was created by Yorke with [[Stanley Donwood]], who has worked with Radiohead since their 1994 EP ''[[My Iron Lung]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radioheads-secret-weapon-20060612|title=Radiohead's Secret Weapon|last=Goodman|first=Elizabeth|date=12 June 2006|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=3 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303164717/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/radioheads-secret-weapon-20060612|archive-date=3 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Donwood painted on large canvases with knives and sticks, then photographed the paintings and manipulated them with [[Photoshop]].<ref name="ARTS2">{{cite web|date=22 November 2006|title=Arts Diary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/nov/22/radiohead.popandrock|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926042018/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/nov/22/radiohead.popandrock|archive-date=26 September 2014|access-date=24 April 2007|website=The Guardian}}</ref> While working on the artwork, Yorke and Donwood became "obsessed" with the [[Worldwatch Institute]] website, which was full of "scary statistics about ice caps melting, and weather patterns changing"; this inspired them to use an image of a mountain range as the cover art.<ref name="optimist">{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2008/mar/20/thomyorke|title = Thom Yorke: why I'm a climate optimist|date = 23 March 2008|access-date = 26 April 2015|newspaper = Guardian|last = Yorke|first = Thom|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518050542/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2008/mar/20/thomyorke|archive-date = 18 May 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Donwood said he saw the mountains as "some sort of cataclysmic power".<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/stanley-donwood-on-the-stories-behind-his-radiohead-album-covers|title = Stanley Donwood on the Stories Behind His Radiohead Album Covers|work = [[NME]]|date = 27 September 2013|access-date = 28 September 2013|author = Jones, Lucy|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927150613/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/stanley-donwood-on-the-stories-behind-his-radiohead-album-covers|archive-date = 27 September 2013|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

Donwood was inspired by a photograph taken during the [[Kosovo war|Kosovo War]] depicting a square metre of snow full of the "detritus of war", such as military equipment and cigarette stains. He said: "I was upset by it in a way war had never upset me before. It felt like it was happening in my street."<ref name="ARTS2" /> The red swimming pool on the album spine and disc was inspired by the 1988 graphic novel ''[[Brought to Light]]'' by [[Alan Moore]] and [[Bill Sienkiewicz]], in which the number of people killed by [[state terrorism]] is measured in swimming pools filled with blood. Donwood said this image "haunted" him during the recording of the album, calling it "a symbol of looming danger and shattered expectations".<ref>{{cite web|last = Donwood|first = Stanley|title = Bear over a swimming pool|work = Slowly Downward|url = http://shop.slowlydownward.com/Store/DisplayIndividualItem/1/575.html|access-date = 25 April 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070610203044/http://shop.slowlydownward.com/Store/DisplayIndividualItem/1/575.html|archive-date = 10 June 2007|url-status = dead}}</ref> Yorke and Donwood cited a Paris exhibition of paintings by [[David Hockney]] as another influence.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|date=2021-11-03|title='Some sort of future, even if it's a nightmare': Thom Yorke on the visual secrets of ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac''|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-pictures/radiohead-kid-a-amnesiac-artwork-1252016/|access-date=2021-11-03|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104181353/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-pictures/radiohead-kid-a-amnesiac-artwork-1252016/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Yorke and Donwood made many versions of the album cover, with different pictures and different titles in different typefaces. Unable to pick one, they taped them to cupboards of the studio kitchen and went to bed. According to Donwood, the choice the next day "was obvious".<ref name="Donwood-2019">{{Cite book|last=Donwood|first=Stanley|title=There Will Be No Quiet|publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]|year=2019|isbn=9781419737244|pages=73–74|author-link=Stanley Donwood}}</ref> In October 2021, Yorke and Donwood curated an exhibition of ''Kid A'' artwork at [[Christie's]] headquarters in London.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-22|title=Radiohead's Thom Yorke is co-curating a ''Kid A'' artwork exhibition|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/radioheads-thom-yorke-is-co-curating-a-kid-a-artwork-exhibition-3051877|access-date=2021-10-16|website=[[NME]]|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Promotion ==
[[File:Radiohead's Kid A Matters.ogg|thumb|right|[[Phil Selway]] discussing ''Kid A'' in 2000]]
[[File:RHbear.svg|thumb|''Kid A''{{'}}s promotional campaign introduced the "Modified Bear" logo, used for later Radiohead marketing and merchandise.<ref name="independent-logo">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/glastonbury-2017-headliner-rumours-radiohead-rihanna-daft-punk-lady-gaga-a7370061.html|title=Glastonbury Festival 2017: Mysterious 'symbol' on Pyramid Stage ground sends Radiohead fans into frenzy|last=O'Connor|first=Roisin|date=19 October 2016|website=[[The Independent]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227030021/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/glastonbury-2017-headliner-rumours-radiohead-rihanna-daft-punk-lady-gaga-a7370061.html|archive-date=27 February 2017|url-status=live|access-date=25 July 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{efn|The bear head logo is known as "Modified Bear",<ref name="independent-logo"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Radiohead – Modified Bear and Logo – 1.25" Button / Pin|website=Amazon|url=https://www.amazon.com/Radiohead-Modified-Bear-Logo-Button/dp/B00596L8II|access-date=25 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813205921/https://www.amazon.com/Radiohead-Modified-Bear-Logo-Button/dp/B00596L8II|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> "Despot Bear",<ref name="diffuser">{{cite web|title=Radiohead – Best Band Logos|website=[[Diffuser.fm]]|first=Joe|last=Robinson|url=https://diffuser.fm/radiohead-band-logos|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021104057/http://diffuser.fm/radiohead-band-logos/|archive-date=21 October 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> "Hunting Bear"<ref name="diffuser"/> and "Blinky Bear".<ref name="diffuser"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Source|url=http://citizeninsane.eu/s2001-07Blender.htm|website=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424090715/http://citizeninsane.eu/s2001-07Blender.htm|date=July 2001|archive-date=24 April 2008|access-date=25 July 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}|alt=|172x172px]]Radiohead minimised their involvement in promotion for ''Kid A'',<ref name="Archive-Sorelle-Saidman">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1435893/radiohead-plan-singles-videos-for-amnesiac-yorke-says/|title=Radiohead Plan Singles, Videos For Amnesiac, Yorke Says|last=Archive-Sorelle-Saidman|website=[[MTV News]]|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425121726/http://www.mtv.com/news/1435893/radiohead-plan-singles-videos-for-amnesiac-yorke-says/|archive-date=25 April 2019|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> conducting few interviews or photoshoots.<ref name="DEBUT">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/955767.stm|title='Difficult' Radiohead album is a hit|date=4 October 2000|work=BBC News|access-date=22 March 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203045025/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/955767.stm|archive-date=3 February 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Though "[[Optimistic (Radiohead song)|Optimistic]]" and [[Promotional recording|promotional copies]] of other tracks received radio play, Radiohead released no [[single (music)|singles]] from the album. Yorke said this was to avoid the stress of publicity, which he had struggled with on ''OK Computer'', rather than for artistic reasons.<ref name="Archive-Sorelle-Saidman" /> He later said he regretted the decision, feeling it meant much of the early judgement of the album came from critics.<ref name="Archive-Sorelle-Saidman" /> 

Radiohead were careful to present ''Kid A'' as a cohesive work rather than a series of separate tracks. Rather than give EMI executives their own copies, they had them listen to the album in its entirety on a bus from Hollywood to Malibu.<ref name="Grantland">{{Cite web |last=Hyden |first=Steven |title=How Radiohead's ''Kid A'' kicked off the streaming revolution |url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/how-radioheads-kid-a-kicked-off-the-streaming-revolution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930220924/http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/how-radioheads-kid-a-kicked-off-the-streaming-revolution/ |archive-date=30 September 2015 |access-date=30 September 2015 |website=[[Grantland]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Rob Gordon, the vice president of marketing at [[Capitol Records]], the American subsidiary of Radiohead's label EMI, praised the album but said promoting it would be a "business challenge".<ref name="COHEN">{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Warren |date=11 October 2000 |title=With Radiohead's ''Kid A'', Capitol busts out of a big-time slump. (Thanks, Napster.) |url=http://wjcohen.home.mindspring.com/insideclips/radiohead.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926050138/http://wjcohen.home.mindspring.com/insideclips/radiohead.htm |archive-date=26 September 2015 |access-date=20 March 2007 |website=[[Inside.com]]}}</ref> 

No advance copies of ''Kid A'' were circulated,<ref>{{cite web |date=31 March 2003 |title=New Radiohead Album Floods The Internet |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/71756/new-radiohead-album-floods-the-internet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922051111/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/71756/new-radiohead-album-floods-the-internet |archive-date=22 September 2014 |access-date=22 March 2007 |website=Billboard.com}}</ref> but it was played under controlled conditions for critics and fans.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Kerry |date=16 September 2000 |title=Control Freaks |url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=84 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309142715/http://followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?cutting=84&year=2000 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |access-date=22 March 2007 |website=The Vancouver Sun}}</ref> On September 5, 2000, it was played for the public for the first time at the [[IMAX]] theatre in [[Lincoln Square, Manhattan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2000 |title=New Yorke! New Yorke! |url=http://www.nme.com/newsdesk/20000905120230.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001018020619/http://www.nme.com/newsdesk/20000905120230.html |archive-date=18 October 2000 |access-date=26 May 2023 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref> Promotional copies of ''Kid A'' came with stickers prohibiting broadcast before September 19. At midnight, it was played in its entirety by the London radio station [[Xfm]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kennedey|first=Jake|date=November 2000|title=Kid A Rock|journal=[[Record Collector]]}}</ref> [[MTV2]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Charles|date=18 September 2000|title=Radiohead's New Marketing|url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=86|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211312/http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=86|archive-date=27 September 2007|access-date=22 March 2007|website=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> [[KROQ-FM|KROQ]], and [[WINS-FM|WXRK]] also played the album.<ref name="ZORIC" />

Rather than agree to a standard magazine photoshoot for ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'', Radiohead supplied digitally altered portraits, with their skin smoothed, their irises recoloured, and Yorke's [[Ptosis (eyelid)|drooping eyelid]] removed. The ''Q'' editor Andrew Harrison described the images as "aggressively weird to the point of taking the piss ... All five of Radiohead had been given the aspect of gawking aliens."<ref name="Harrison-2020">{{Cite journal |last=Harrison |first=Andrew |date=August 2020 |title=Almost Famous: Tales from Q's Frontline |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |publisher=[[H Bauer Publishing]] |pages=50–51}}</ref> Yorke said: "I'd like to see them try to put these pictures on a poster."<ref name="Harrison-2020" /> ''Q'' projected the images onto the [[Houses of parliament|Houses of Parliament]], placed them on posters and billboards in the [[London Underground]] and on the [[Old Street Roundabout]], and had them printed on key rings, mugs and mouse mats, to "turn Radiohead back into a product".<ref name="Harrison-2020" />

=== Videos ===
Instead of releasing traditional music videos for ''Kid A'', Radiohead commissioned dozens of 10-second videos featuring Donwood artwork they called "blips", which were aired on music channels and distributed online.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sherburne |first=Philip |date=May 2003 |title=Sound and vision: Radiohead reinvents the music video |url=https://citizeninsane.eu/media/usa/etc/06/pt_2003-05_res.htm |journal=[[RES (magazine)|RES]] |publisher=RES Media Group |pages=53 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911124450/https://citizeninsane.eu/media/usa/etc/06/pt_2003-05_res.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Pitchfork'' described them as "context-free animated nightmares that radiated mystery", with "arch hints of surveillance".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-22 |title=7 Things From the New Radiohead Online Archive That Excite Us |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/7-things-from-the-new-radiohead-online-archive-that-excite-us/ |access-date=2021-09-11 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911134056/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/7-things-from-the-new-radiohead-online-archive-that-excite-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Five of the videos were serviced as exclusives to MTV, and "helped play into the arty mystique that endeared Radiohead to its core audience", according to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''.<ref name="Billboard">{{Cite magazine |last=Lynch |first=Joe |date=2 October 2020 |title=20 years ago, Radiohead's ''Kid A'' changed the way albums were marketed |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9459335/radiohead-kid-a-album-strategy |access-date=2021-09-11 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911140502/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9459335/radiohead-kid-a-album-strategy |url-status=live }}</ref> Much of the promotional material featured pointy-toothed bear characters created by Donwood. The bears originated in stories Donwood made for his young children about teddy bears who came to life and ate the "grown-ups" who had abandoned them.<ref name="Donwood-2019" />

=== Internet ===
{{quote box
| quote  = Everything in the industry at that point was like, "The internet isn't important. It's not selling records" – everything for them had to translate to a sale. I knew the internet was [generating sales], but I couldn't prove it because every record had MTV and radio with it. [After ''Kid A'' was a success], nobody in the industry could believe it because there was no radio and there was no traditional music video. I knew at that point: this is the story of the internet. The internet has done this.
| source = – Capitol executive Robin Sloan Bechtel, 2015<ref name="Grantland"/>
| align  = right
| width  = 25%
| salign = right
}}

Though Radiohead had experimented with internet promotion for ''OK Computer'' in 1997, by 2000 online music promotion was not widespread,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/9890-internet-explorers-the-curious-case-of-radioheads-online-fandom/|title=Internet Explorers: The Curious Case of Radiohead's Online Fandom|last=Jeremy|first=Gordon|date=12 May 2016|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512175336/http://pitchfork.com/features/article/9890-internet-explorers-the-curious-case-of-radioheads-online-fandom/|archive-date=12 May 2016|access-date=21 October 2019}}</ref> with record labels still reliant on [[MTV]] and radio.<ref name="Grantland"/> Donwood wrote that EMI was not interested in the Radiohead website, and left him and the band to update it with "discursive and random content".<ref name="Donwood-2019" />

To promote ''Kid A'', Capitol created the "iBlip", a [[Java applet]] that could be embedded in fan sites. It allowed users to [[Streaming media|stream]] the album, and included artwork, photos and links to order ''Kid A'' on [[Amazon.com|Amazon]].<ref name="COHEN" /><ref name="Grantland" /> It was used by more than 1000 sites, and the album was streamed more than 400,000 times.<ref name="Grantland" /> Capitol also streamed ''Kid A'' through Amazon, MTV.com and [[heavy.com]], and ran a campaign with the [[peer-to-peer]] filesharing service [[Madster|Aimster]], allowing users to swap iBlips and Radiohead-branded Aimster skins.<ref name="COHEN" />

Three weeks before release, ''Kid A'' was [[music leak|leaked online]] and shared on the peer-to-peer service [[Napster]]. Asked whether he believed Napster had damaged sales, the Capitol president, Ray Lott, likened the situation to unfounded concern about [[Home Taping Is Killing Music|home taping]] in the 1980s and said: "I'm trying to sell as many Radiohead albums as possible. If I worried about what Napster would do, I wouldn't sell as many albums."<ref name="COHEN" /> Yorke said Napster "encourages enthusiasm for music in a way that the music industry has long forgotten to do".<ref>{{cite news |last=Farley |first=Christopher John |date=23 October 2000 |title=Radioactive |url=http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/1023/radiohead.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311074531/http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/1023/radiohead.html |archive-date=11 March 2011 |access-date=22 March 2007 |work=[[Time Europe]] |volume=156 |issue=17}}</ref> 

The commercial success of ''Kid A'' suggested that leaks might not be as damaging as many had assumed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Eric |date=2015-01-28 |title=A History of Digital Album Leaks, 1993-2015 |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/652-a-history-of-digital-album-leaks-1993-2015/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204044710/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/652-a-history-of-digital-album-leaks-1993-2015/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The music journalist Brent DiCrescenzo argued that the Napster leak profoundly affected the way ''Kid A'' was received, surprising listeners who would patiently download new tracks to find they comprised "four minutes of ambient noise".<ref name="Billboard" />
=== Tour ===
Radiohead rearranged the ''Kid A'' songs to perform them live. O'Brien said, "You couldn't do ''Kid A'' live and be true to the record. You would have to do it like an art installation ... When we played live, we put the human element back into it."<ref name="Rolling Stone-2001">{{Cite magazine|date=2001-06-21|title=Radiohead take ''Amnesiac'' on tour|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-take-amnesiac-on-tour-242596/|access-date=2021-10-04|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004143241/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-take-amnesiac-on-tour-242596/|url-status=live}}</ref> Selway said they "found some new life" in the songs when they came to perform them.<ref name="Rolling Stone-2001" /> Yorke said: "Even with electronics, there is an element of spontaneous performance in using them ... It was the tension between what's human and what's coming from the machines. That was stuff we were getting into, as we learned how to play the songs from ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac'' live."<ref name="Fricke2">{{cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |date=27 June 2003 |title=Bitter prophet: Thom Yorke on ''Hail to the Thief'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bitter-prophet-thom-yorke-on-hail-to-the-thief-20030626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318111404/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bitter-prophet-thom-yorke-on-hail-to-the-thief-20030626 |archive-date=18 March 2017 |access-date=15 April 2017 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>

In mid-2000, months before ''Kid A'' was released, Radiohead toured the Mediterranean, performing ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac'' songs for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=75 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924014231/http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=75 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |last=Oldham |first=James |title=Radiohead&nbsp;– Their Stupendous Return |work=NME |date=24 June 2000 |access-date=15 May 2007 }}</ref> Fans shared concert [[Bootleg recording|bootlegs]] online. Colin Greenwood said: "We played in Barcelona and the next day the entire performance was up on Napster. Three weeks later when we got to play in Israel the audience knew the words to all the new songs and it was wonderful."<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Radiohead take Aimster|work=BBC News|date=2 October 2000|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/953151.stm|access-date=17 March 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060307223538/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/953151.stm|archive-date=7 March 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Later that year, Radiohead toured Europe in a custom-built tent without corporate logos, playing mostly new songs.<ref name="ZORIC" /> The tour included a homecoming show in [[South Park, Oxford]], with supporting performances by [[Humphrey Lyttelton]] (who performed on ''Amnesiac''), [[Beck]] and [[Sigur Rós]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2001-07-08|title=Rapturous return for masters of misery|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1429002.stm|access-date=2021-06-07|archive-date=4 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104060514/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1429002.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the journalist [[Alex Ross (music critic)|Alex Ross]], the show may have been the largest public gathering in Oxford history.<ref name="ROSS2">{{cite news|last=Ross|first=Alex|author-link=Alex Rossi (journalist)|date=21 August 2001|title=The Searchers: Radiohead's unquiet revolution|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|url=https://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/04/mahler_1.html|url-status=dead|access-date=14 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525102645/http://www.therestisnoise.com/2004/04/mahler_1.html|archive-date=25 May 2007}}</ref>

Radiohead also performed three concerts in North American theatres, their first in nearly three years. The small venues sold out rapidly, attracting celebrities, and fans camped overnight.<ref name="NME" /> ''Rolling Stone'' described the ''Kid A'' tour as "a revelation" that "exposed rock and roll humanity" in the songs.<ref name="Rolling Stone-2001" /> In October, Radiohead performed on the American TV show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. The performance shocked viewers expecting rock songs, with Jonny Greenwood playing electronic instruments, the house brass band improvising over "The National Anthem", and Yorke dancing erratically to "Idioteque".<ref name="Letts2010">{{cite book|author=Marianne Tatom Letts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3HSuhm6DRGgC&pg=PA167|title=Radiohead and the Resistant Concept Album: How to Disappear Completely|date=8 November 2010|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-00491-8|pages=158, 167, 219|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226222209/https://books.google.com/books?id=3HSuhm6DRGgC&pg=PA167|archive-date=26 December 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In November 2001, Radiohead released ''[[I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings]]'', comprising performances from the ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac'' tours.<ref name="Letts2010" />

== Sales ==
''Kid A'' reached number one on Amazon's sales chart, with more than 10,000 pre-orders.<ref name="COHEN" /> It debuted at number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]],<ref name="DEBUT" /> selling 55,000 copies in its first day – the biggest first-day sales of the year and more than every other album in the top ten combined.<ref name="DEBUT" /> ''Kid A'' also debuted at number one on the US ''[[Billboard 200]]'',<ref name="US1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/968437.stm|title=US adopts Kid A|date=12 October 2000|work=BBC News|access-date=22 March 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203052923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/968437.stm|archive-date=3 February 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> selling more than 207,000 copies in its first week.<ref name="Sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicRadiohead/oct18_radiohead-can.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031192406/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicRadiohead/oct18_radiohead-can.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2004|title=Radiohead sales fall, but 'Kid' still No. 1|access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref> It was Radiohead's first US top-20 album, and the first US number one in three years for any British act.<ref name="COHEN" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1389135.stm|title=US Success for Radiohead|date=14 June 2001|work=BBC News|access-date=22 March 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313150734/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1389135.stm|archive-date=13 March 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Kid A'' also debuted at number one in Canada, where it sold more than 44,000 copies in its first week,<ref name="Sales"/> and in France, Ireland and New Zealand. European sales slowed on 2 October 2000, the day of release, when EMI recalled 150,000 faulty CDs.<ref name="DEBUT" /> By June 2001, ''Kid A'' had sold 310,000 copies in the UK, less than a third of ''OK Computer'' sales.<ref name=Petridis-Amnesiac>{{cite news|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|title=CD of the week: Radiohead: ''Amnesiac''|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/jun/01/shopping.artsfeatures1|date=1 June 2001|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906155527/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/jun/01/shopping.artsfeatures1|archive-date=6 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It is [[certified platinum]] in the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Japan and the US.

== Critical reception ==
{{Album reviews
| title = Contemporary reviews
| MC = 80/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/kid-a/radiohead |title=Reviews for Kid A by Radiohead |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=14 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625223223/http://www.metacritic.com/music/kid-a/radiohead |archive-date=25 June 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''
| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4565554.html |title='Kid A' tops new album class |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=3 October 2000 |access-date=8 July 2015 |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |author-link=Jim DeRogatis |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008201752/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4565554.html |archive-date=8 October 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2score = B+<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2000/10/06/music-review-kid |title=Kid A |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=562 |issn=1049-0434 |date=6 October 2000 |access-date=8 September 2011 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715202506/http://www.ew.com/article/2000/10/06/music-review-kid |archive-date=15 July 2015}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev3score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,374450,00.html |title=Mourning glories |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=29 September 2000 |access-date=3 July 2017 |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Sweeting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033216/http://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0%2C%2C374450%2C00.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Melody Maker]]''
| rev4score = {{rating|1.5|5}}<ref name="MMreview"/>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5score = 7/10<ref name="NME3">{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000926060052.html |title=Radiohead&nbsp;– Kid A |journal=[[NME]] |date=26 September 2000 |access-date=15 March 2015 |last=Cameron |first=Keith |archive-url=https://archive.today/20001017164459/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000926060052.html |archive-date=17 October 2000 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6score = 10/10<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/6656-kid-a |title=Radiohead: Kid A |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=2 October 2000 |access-date=8 September 2011 |last=DiCrescenzo |first=Brent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822223049/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/6656-kid-a/ |archive-date=22 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Radio Ga Ga |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=170 |date=November 2000 |last=Maconie |first=Stuart |author-link=Stuart Maconie |page=96}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Fricke">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/kid-a-20001012 |title=Kid A |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=12 October 2000 |access-date=23 May 2012 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424161811/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/kid-a-20001012 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev9score = 9/10<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTMuhxamaFEC&pg=PA171 |title=Radio Chaos |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=October 2000 |volume=16 |issue=10 |pages=171–72 |access-date=8 July 2015 |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Reynolds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226173549/https://books.google.com/books?id=HTMuhxamaFEC&pg=PA171 |archive-date=26 December 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10score = A−<ref name="Christgau">{{cite news |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2001/02/06/pazz-jop-preview/ |title=Pazz & Jop Preview |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=13 February 2001 |access-date=8 July 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |df=dmy-all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916003923/https://www.villagevoice.com/2001/02/06/pazz-jop-preview/ |archive-date=16 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
''Kid A'' was widely anticipated.<ref name="The Irish Times">{{Cite news |title=Are Radiohead OK? |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/are-radiohead-ok-1.1103060 |access-date=2018-11-15}}</ref><ref name="MM2" /> ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' described it as the most anticipated rock record since the 1993 [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] album ''[[In Utero]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Borow|first=Zev|date=November 2000|title=The difference engine|url=http://students.ceid.upatras.gr/~kakaletr/articles/spin.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305004203/http://students.ceid.upatras.gr/~kakaletr/articles/spin.htm|archive-date=5 March 2007|access-date=20 March 2007|website=Spin Magazine|df=dmy-all}}</ref> According to Andrew Harrison, the editor of ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'', journalists expected it to provide more of the "rousing, cathartic, lots-of-guitar, Saturday-night-at-[[Glastonbury]] big future rock moments" of ''OK Computer''.<ref name="Harrison-2020" /> Months before its release, Pat Blashill of ''[[Melody Maker]]'' wrote: "If there's one band that promises to return rock to us, it's Radiohead."<ref name="MM2"/>

After ''Kid A'' had been played for critics, many bemoaned the lack of guitar, the obscured vocals and the unconventional song structures.<ref name="ZORIC" /> Some called it "a commercial suicide note".<ref name="SMITH" /> ''The Guardian'' wrote of the "muted electronic hums, pulses and tones", predicting that it would confuse listeners.<ref name="ZORIC" /> In ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'', [[Jim Irvin]] wrote that "upon first listen, ''Kid A'' is just awful ... Too often it sounds like the fragments that they began the writing process with&nbsp;– a loop, a riff, a mumbled line of text, have been set in concrete and had other, lesser ideas piled on top."<ref name="mojo">{{Cite journal |last=Irvin |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Irvin |date=October 2000 |title=Boys in the bubble |journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]}}</ref> The ''Guardian'' critic [[Adam Sweeting]] wrote that "even listeners raised on [[krautrock]] or [[Ornette Coleman]] will find ''Kid A'' a mystifying experience", and that it pandered to "the worst cliches" about Radiohead's "relentless miserabilism".<ref name="guardian" /> Several critics found the [[free jazz]] of "The National Anthem" discordant and unpleasant.<ref name="Hornby-2000" /><ref name="Beaumont-2010" /><ref name="Sheffield-2015" />

Several critics felt ''Kid A'' was pretentious or deliberately obscure. The ''[[The Irish Times|Irish Times]]'' bemoaned the lack of conventional song structures and panned the album as "deliberately abstruse, wilfully esoteric and wantonly unfathomable ... The only thing challenging about ''Kid A'' is the very real challenge to your attention span."<ref name="The Irish Times" /> In the ''[[The New Yorker|New Yorker]]'', the novelist [[Nick Hornby]] wrote that it was "morbid proof that this sort of self-indulgence results in a weird kind of anonymity rather than something distinctive and original".<ref name="Hornby-2000">{{Cite magazine |last=Hornby |first=Nick |author-link=Nick Hornby |date=30 October 2000 |title=Beyond the Pale |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/10/30/beyond-the-pale-3 |url-status=live |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125356/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/10/30/beyond-the-pale-3 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=14 March 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The ''Melody Maker'' critic [[Mark Beaumont (journalist)|Mark Beaumont]] called it "tubby, ostentatious, self-congratulatory, look-ma-I-can-suck-my-own-cock whiny old rubbish ... About 60 songs were started that no one had a bloody clue how to finish."<ref name="MMreview">{{cite journal|url=http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=85|journal=[[Melody Maker]]|title=Radiohead Kid A|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist)|date=20 September 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528134048/http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=2000&cutting=85|archive-date=28 May 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=25 April 2007}}</ref> [[Alexis Petridis]] of ''The Guardian'' described it as "self-consciously awkward and bloody-minded, the noise made by a band trying so hard to make a 'difficult' album that they felt it beneath them to write any songs".<ref name=Petridis-Amnesiac/> ''Rolling Stone'' published a piece mocking ''Kid A'' as humourless, derivative and lacking in songs: "Because it was decided that Radiohead were Important and Significant last time around, no one can accept the album as the crackpot art project it so obviously is."<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Kungman|first1=Michael|last2=Cohen|first2=Jason|date=24 October 2000|title=This Week: ''Kid A'' to Zzzzz — A Radiohead Reaction-ary|url=http://rollingstone.com/sections/news/text/newsarticle.asp?afl=&NewsID=12059&ArtistID=236|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001203192800/http://rollingstone.com/sections/news/text/newsarticle.asp?afl=&NewsID=12059&ArtistID=236|archive-date=3 December 2000|access-date=2021-11-06|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> 

Some critics felt ''Kid A'' was unoriginal. In the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'', Howard Hampton dismissed Radiohead as a "rock composite" and wrote that ''Kid A'' "recycles [[Pink Floyd]]'s dark-side-of-the-moon solipsism to Me-Decade perfection".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hampton |first=Howard |title=70ss Rock: The Bad Vibes Continue |language=en |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=14 January 2001 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/14/arts/music-70-s-rock-the-bad-vibes-continue.html |url-status=live |access-date=2018-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202024623/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/14/arts/music-70-s-rock-the-bad-vibes-continue.html |archive-date=2 December 2018}}</ref> Beaumont said Radiohead were "simply ploughing furrows dug by [[DJ Shadow]] and [[Brian Eno]] before them".<ref name="MMreview" /> The ''Irish Times'' felt the ambient elements were inferior to Eno's 1978 album ''[[Music for Airports|Music For Airports]]'' and its "scary" elements inferior to [[Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker]]'s 1995 album ''[[Tilt (Scott Walker album)|Tilt]]''.<ref name="The Irish Times" /> ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' wrote: "What do they want for sounding like the Aphex Twin circa 1993, a medal?"<ref name="Sheffield-2015" /> In an ''[[NME]]'' editorial, James Oldham wrote that the electronic influences were "mired in compromise", with Radiohead still operating as a rock band, and concluded: "Time will judge it. But right now, ''Kid A'' has the ring of a lengthy, over-analysed mistake."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=James|first=Oldham|date=30 September 2000|title=I was a complete fucking mess when ''OK Computer'' finished|journal=[[NME]]}}</ref> The ''Rolling Stone'' journalist [[Rob Sheffield]] wrote that the "mastery of Warp-style electronic effects" appeared "clumsy and dated".<ref name="Sheffield-2015" /> Rob Mitchell, the co-founder of Warp, felt ''Kid A'' was not "gratuitously" electronic, nor as radical as Warp acts such as Aphex Twin and Autechre, but instead represented "an honest interpretation of [Warp] influences" that was "totally authentic". He said it was an "excellent" album, and predicted it might one day be seen in the same way as [[David Bowie]]'s 1977 album ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]'', which alienated some Bowie fans but was later acclaimed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Oldham |first=James |date=2020 |title=I was basically becoming unhinged... completely unhinged. |url=https://go.readly.com/magazines/5e551761d9e840113f4ee8b0/5e8c5fa703c6b71b7fcfda0e/1 |url-status=live |journal=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut Ultimate Music Guide: Radiohead]] |pages=55 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405075354/https://go.readly.com/magazines/5e551761d9e840113f4ee8b0/5e8c5fa703c6b71b7fcfda0e/1 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>

[[AllMusic]] gave ''Kid A'' a favourable review, but wrote that it "never is as visionary or stunning as ''OK Computer'', nor does it really repay the intensive time it demands in order for it to sink in".<ref name="Letts2010" /> The ''NME'' was also positive, but described some songs as "meandering" and "anticlimactic", and concluded: "For all its feats of brinkmanship, the patently magnificent construct called ''Kid A'' betrays a band playing one-handed just to prove they can, scared to commit itself emotionally."<ref name="NME" /> In ''Rolling Stone'', [[David Fricke]] called ''Kid A'' "a work of deliberately inky, often irritating obsession&nbsp;... But this ''is'' pop, a music of ornery, glistening guile and honest ache, and it will feel good under your skin once you let it get there."<ref name="Fricke" />

''Spin'' said ''Kid A'' was "not the act of career suicide or feat of self-indulgence it will be castigated as", and predicted that fans would recognise it as Radiohead's best and "bravest" album.<ref name="Reynolds" /> ''Billboard'' described it as "an ocean of unparalleled musical depth" and "the first truly groundbreaking album of the 21st century".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/reviews/reviewdisplay.asp?ID=87891 |title=RADIOHEAD Kid A |access-date=15 March 2015 |magazine=Billboard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001204001200/http://www.billboard.com/reviews/reviewdisplay.asp?ID=87891 |archive-date=4 December 2000 }}</ref> The critic [[Robert Christgau]] wrote that ''Kid A'' was "an imaginative, imitative variation on a pop staple: sadness made pretty".<ref name="Christgau" /> ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called it "oblique oblique oblique&nbsp;... Also incredibly beautiful."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |date=2000-10-03 |title=Like Our New Direction? |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2000/10/03/like-our-new-direction/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=[[The Village Voice]] |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405075352/https://www.villagevoice.com/2000/10/03/like-our-new-direction/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Brent DiCrescenzo of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' gave ''Kid A'' a perfect score, calling it "cacophonous yet tranquil, experimental yet familiar, foreign yet womb-like, spacious yet visceral, textured yet vaporous, awakening yet dreamlike". He concluded that Radiohead "must be the greatest band alive, if not the best since you know who".<ref name="pitchfork" /> One of the first ''Kid A'' reviews published online, it helped popularise ''Pitchfork'' and became notorious for its "obtuse" writing.<ref name="Leonard-2017">{{cite web |last=Leonard |first=Devin |date=3 May 2017 |title=''Pitchfork'' grows up |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-05-03/pitchfork-grows-up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121120412/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-05-03/pitchfork-grows-up |archive-date=21 November 2018 |access-date=21 November 2018 |website=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref><ref name="Enis-2020">{{Cite magazine |last=Enis |first=Eli |date=2020-03-26 |title=Everything In Its Right Place: How a Perfect 10.0 Review of Radiohead's ''Kid A'' Changed Music Criticism 20 Years Ago |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/radiohead-kid-a-pitchfork-review-brent-discrescenzo-2000-9342543/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Yorke said Radiohead had not attempted to alienate or confound, but that their musical interests had changed.<ref name="Kot-2001" /> Jonny Greenwood argued that the tracks were short and melodic, and suggested that "people basically want their hands held through 12 '[[Mull of Kintyre (song)|Mull Of Kintyre]]'s".<ref name="REYNOLDS" /> Yorke recalled that Radiohead had been "white as a sheet" before early performances on the ''Kid A'' tour, thinking they had been "absolutely trashed". At the same time, the reaction motivated them: "There was a sense of a fight to convince people, which was actually really exciting."<ref name="Crack">{{cite web |last=Frost |first=Thomas |date=May 2019 |title=Thom Yorke: Daydream nation |url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/thom-yorke-daydream-nation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620185517/https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/thom-yorke-daydream-nation/ |archive-date=20 June 2019 |access-date=21 June 2019 |website=[[Crack Magazine]]}}</ref> He said Radiohead felt "incredibly vindicated and happy" after ''Kid A'' reached number one in the US.<ref name="Kot-2001" />

At [[Metacritic]], which aggregates ratings from critics, ''Kid A'' has a score of 80 based on 24 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".<ref name="MC" /> It was named one of the year's best albums by publications including the ''[[The Wire (magazine)|Wire]]'',<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 2001 |title=2000 rewind |url=https://www.thewire.co.uk/issues/charts/2000-rewind |journal=[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]] |issue=203 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730114041/https://www.thewire.co.uk/issues/charts/2000-rewind |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Record Collector]]'',<ref>{{Cite journal |last=The Best of 2000 (Issue #257, January 2001) |date=January 2001 |title=The best of 2000 |journal=[[Record Collector]] |issue=257}}</ref> ''Spin'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2000 |title=The 20 Best Albums Of 2000 |url=http://www.spin.com/new/2000top20/staffpicks/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010606235113/http://www.spin.com/new/2000top20/staffpicks/ |archive-date=6 June 2001 |access-date=30 July 2023 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> ''NME''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soghomonian |first=Talia |date=2009-11-06 |title=Best Albums Of 2000 - Have Your Say |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/best-albums-of-2000-have-your-say-773517 |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730114030/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/best-albums-of-2000-have-your-say-773517 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the ''Village Voice''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=2019-02-01 |title=2000 Pazz & Jop: Albums While They Last |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2019/02/01/2000-pazz-jop-albums-while-they-last/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=[[The Village Voice]] |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730114030/https://www.villagevoice.com/2019/02/01/2000-pazz-jop-albums-while-they-last/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[43rd Annual Grammy Awards|2001 Grammy Awards]], ''Kid A'' was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] and won for [[Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album|Best Alternative Album]].<ref>{{cite web |title=43rd Annual Grammy Awards Winners |url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=&year=2000&genre=All |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095007/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=&year=2000&genre=All |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=8 March 2015 |work=Grammy.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=43rd Annual Grammy Awards – 2001 |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2001/grammys.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311012724/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2001/grammys.htm |archive-date=11 March 2015 |access-date=9 March 2015 |work=Rock on the Net |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
{{Album reviews
| title = Retrospective reviews
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/kid-a-mw0000620999 |title=Kid A&nbsp;– Radiohead |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=8 September 2011 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603193556/http://www.allmusic.com/album/kid-a-mw0000620999 |archive-date=3 June 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev2score = A<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/radiohead-ikid-ai-iamnesiaci-ihail-to-the-thief-de-32301 |title=Radiohead: Kid A / Amnesiac / Hail To The Thief (Deluxe Editions) |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=1 September 2009 |access-date=8 September 2011 |last=Phipps |first=Keith |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009182623/http://www.avclub.com/review/radiohead-ikid-ai-iamnesiaci-ihail-to-the-thief-de-32301 |archive-date=9 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Drowned in Sound]]''
| rev3score = 10/10<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tudor |first1=Alexander |title=Radiohead's Kid A - the DiS Reappraisal |url=https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4136425-radioheads-kid-a-the-dis-re-appraisal |website=Drowned in Sound |access-date=25 February 2024 |date=27 March 2009 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225171222/https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4136425-radioheads-kid-a-the-dis-re-appraisal |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|volume=6|chapter=Radiohead|page=736{{ndash}}7|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0006unse/page/737/}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Martin C. Strong|The Great Rock Discography]]''
| rev5Score = 9/10<ref name="Strong">{{cite book |last1=Strong |first1=Martin C. |title=The Great Rock Discography |date=2006 |publisher=Canongate Books |location=Edinburgh |isbn=1-84195-827-1 |chapter=Radiohead |page=888}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6score = 10/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13385-kid-a-special-collectors-edition |title=Radiohead: Kid A: Special Collectors Edition |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=25 August 2009 |access-date=8 September 2011 |last=Mitchum |first=Rob |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825105105/http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13385-kid-a-special-collectors-edition/ |archive-date=25 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Radiohead: Kid A |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=362 |date=August 2016 |page=107}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Record Collector]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Radiohead: Kid A |journal=[[Record Collector]] |page=92 |quote=[S]uitably liberated... These are recordings with soul...}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Radiohead |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/671 671–72] }}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]]''
| rev10score = 10/10<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Jim |title=Radiohead Kid A: Special Collectors Edition Capitol |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/kid_a_special_collectors_edition |website=Under the Radar |access-date=25 February 2024 |date=3 November 2009 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225171217/https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/kid_a_special_collectors_edition |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

In the years following its release, ''Kid A'' attracted acclaim. In 2005, ''Pitchfork'' wrote that it had "challenged and confounded" Radiohead's audience, and subsequently "transformed into an intellectual symbol of sorts&nbsp;... Owning it became 'getting it'; getting it became 'anointing it'."<ref name="pitchfork-top">{{cite web|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|title=Top 100 albums of 2000–2004|date=7 February 2005 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5956-the-top-100-albums-of-2000-04-part-one/10/|access-date=15 March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330001819/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5956-the-top-100-albums-of-2000-04-part-one/10/|archive-date=30 March 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2015, Sheffield likened Radiohead's change in style to [[Electric Dylan controversy|Bob Dylan's controversial move to rock music]], writing that critics now hesitated to say they had disliked it at the time.<ref name="Sheffield-2015">{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=2 October 2015 |title=How Radiohead shocked the world: a 15th-anniversary salute to ''Kid A'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/how-radiohead-shocked-the-world-a-15th-anniversary-salute-to-kid-a-20151002 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803130122/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/how-radiohead-shocked-the-world-a-15th-anniversary-salute-to-kid-a-20151002 |archive-date=3 August 2017 |access-date=24 June 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> He described ''Kid A'' as the "defining moment in the Radiohead legend".<ref name="Sheffield-2015" /> In 2016, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' argued that ''Kid A'' was the first album since Bowie's ''Low'' to have moved "rock and electronic music forward in such a mature fashion".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lynch |first1=Joe |title=David Bowie Influenced More Musical Genres Than Any Other Rock Star |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6843061/david-bowie-influence-genres-rock-star |magazine=Billboard |access-date=3 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418011502/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6843061/david-bowie-influence-genres-rock-star |archive-date=18 April 2021 |date=14 January 2016}}</ref> In an article for ''Kid A's'' 20th anniversary, the ''[[The Quietus|Quietus]]'' suggested that the negative reviews had been motivated by [[Rockism and poptimism|rockism]], the tendency to venerate rock music over other genres.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cornish|first=Dale|date=2020-09-28|title=Talking Heads Gone Bleep Techno: Radiohead's Kid A Turns 20|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/28987-kid-a-radiohead-review-anniversary|access-date=2020-09-28|website=[[The Quietus]]|language=en-us}}</ref>

In a 2011 ''Guardian'' article about his negative ''Melody Maker'' review, Beaumont wrote that though his opinion had not changed, "''Kid A''{{'s}} status as a cultural cornerstone has proved me, if not wrong, then very much in the minority&nbsp;... People whose opinions I trust claim it to be their favourite album ever."<ref name="Beaumont-2010">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/oct/11/radiohead-kid-a-10-years|title=Radiohead's Kid A: still not much cop|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist)|date=11 October 2010|website=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165723/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/oct/11/radiohead-kid-a-10-years|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live|access-date=15 March 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2014, Brice Ezell of ''[[PopMatters]]'' wrote that ''Kid A'' is "more fun to think and write about than it is to actually listen to" and a "far less compelling representation of the band's talents than ''[[The Bends (album)|The Bends]]'' and ''OK Computer''".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.popmatters.com/feature/185769-is-everything-in-its-right-place-kid-a-and-the-problem-of-narrative|title=Is Everything in Its Right Place? A (Polite) Dissent to 'Kid A'|last=Ezell|first=Brice|magazine=[[PopMatters]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629135144/http://www.popmatters.com/feature/185769-is-everything-in-its-right-place-kid-a-and-the-problem-of-narrative/|archive-date=29 June 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2016, Dorian Lynskey wrote in ''The Guardian'': "At times, ''Kid A'' is dull enough to make you fervently wish that they'd merged the highlights with the best bits of the similarly spotty ''Amnesiac'' ... Yorke had given up on coherent lyrics so one can only guess at what he was worrying about."<ref name="guardian-flawed">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/14/kid-a-to-straight-outta-compton-five-flawed-albums-became-classics|title=From Kid A to Straight Outta Compton&nbsp;– five flawed albums that became classics|last=Lynskey|first=Dorian|date=14 January 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529084621/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/14/kid-a-to-straight-outta-compton-five-flawed-albums-became-classics|archive-date=29 May 2017|url-status=live|access-date=24 June 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

''[[Grantland]]'' credited ''Kid A'' for pioneering the use of internet to stream and promote music, writing: "For many music fans of a certain age and persuasion, ''Kid A'' was the first album experienced primarily via the internet&nbsp;– it's where you went to hear it, read the reviews, and argue about whether it was a masterpiece&nbsp;... Listen early, form an opinion quickly, state it publicly, and move on to the next big record by the official release date. In that way, ''Kid A'' invented modern music culture as we know it."<ref name="Grantland" /> In his 2005 book ''[[Killing Yourself to Live]]'', the critic [[Chuck Klosterman]] interpreted ''Kid A'' as a prediction of the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="Beaumont-2010" /> Speaking at Radiohead's induction to the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] 2019, [[David Byrne]] of [[Talking Heads]], one of Radiohead's formative influences, said: "What was really weird and very encouraging was that [''Kid A''] was popular. It was a hit! It proved to me that the artistic risk paid off and music fans sometimes are not stupid."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |last2=Wang |first2=Amy X. |date=30 March 2019 |title=Read David Byrne's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Tribute to Radiohead |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-david-byrne-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-814063/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330195046/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-david-byrne-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-814063/ |archive-date=30 March 2019 |access-date=30 March 2019}}</ref> In 2020, ''Billboard'' wrote that the success of the "challenging" ''Kid A'' established Radiohead as "heavy hitters in the business for the long run".<ref name="Billboard" />

=== Accolades ===
In 2020, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked ''Kid A'' number 20 on its updated "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]" list, describing it as "a new, uniquely fearless kind of rock record for a new, increasingly fearful century ... [It] remains one of the more stunning sonic makeovers in music history."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2020-09-22 |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |access-date=2020-09-23 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200922150118/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/roberta-flack-first-take-1062782/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In previous versions of the list, ''Kid A'' ranked at number 67 (2012)<ref>{{cite magazine|date=31 May 2012|title=Radiohead, 'Kid A' – 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/radiohead-kid-a-20120524|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302053346/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/radiohead-kid-a-20120524|archive-date=2 March 2015|access-date=8 March 2015|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and number 428 (2003).<ref name="rockonthenet.com">{{cite web|title=RollingStone, '500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2003/rs500albums5.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905194438/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2003/rs500albums5.htm|archive-date=5 September 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2005, ''[[Stylus Magazine|Stylus]]''<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Burns |first=Todd |date=18 January 2005 |title=The Top 50 albums, 2000–2005 |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1430 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306095656/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1430 |archive-date=6 March 2005 |access-date=1 April 2007 |work=[[Stylus Magazine]]}}</ref> and ''Pitchfork'' named ''Kid A'' the best album of the previous five years, with ''Pitchfork'' calling it "the perfect record for its time: ominous, surreal, and impossibly millennial".<ref name="pitchfork-top" />

In 2006, [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] named ''Kid A ''one of the 100 best albums, calling it "the opposite of easy listening, and the weirdest album to ever sell a million copies, but ... also a testament to just how complicated pop music can be".<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine|date=13 November 2006|title=The All-Time 100 Albums|url=http://www.time.com/time/2006/100albums/index.html|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424141858/http://www.time.com/time/2006/100albums/index.html|archive-date=24 April 2011|access-date=3 March 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> At the end of the decade, ''Rolling Stone'',<ref name="100 Best Albums of the Decade">{{Cite magazine |date=2011-07-18 |title=100 Best Albums of the 2000s |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-153375/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701005627/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-153375/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Pitchfork''<ref name=":3" /> and the ''[[The Times|Times]]''<ref name="The Times-2009" /> ranked ''Kid A'' the greatest album of the 2000s. ''The Guardian'' ranked it second best, calling it "a jittery premonition of the troubled, disconnected, overloaded decade to come. The sound of today, in other words, a decade early."<ref name="Guardian decade" /> In 2021, ''Pitchfork'' readers voted ''Kid A'' the greatest album of the previous 25 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-15 |title=The 200 best albums of the last 25 years, according to ''Pitchfork'' readers |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/peoples-list-25th-anniversary/ |access-date=2021-10-15 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |language=en-US |archive-date=15 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015193750/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/peoples-list-25th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, ''Rolling Stone'' named it the second-greatest album of the century so far, writing that it "foresaw a darker 21st century, one marked by fear, loneliness, dislocation, and technological advancements that only divide us further ... And 25 years later, there's near-universal sentiment that ''Kid A'' is not only a towering achievement by the greatest band of its time, but also a warning call that went completely unheeded."<ref name="rollingstone2025"/>

In 2011, ''Rolling Stone'' named "Everything in Its Right Place" the 24th-best song of the 2000s, describing it as "oddness at its most hummable".<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=17 June 2011|title=100 Best Songs of the 2000s|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-the-aughts-20110617/radiohead-everything-in-its-right-place-20110616|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616080415/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-the-aughts-20110617/radiohead-everything-in-its-right-place-20110616|archive-date=16 June 2018|access-date=16 June 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> "Idioteque" was named one of the best songs of the decade by ''Pitchfork''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-08-21|title=The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7693-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-20-1/2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525092629/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7693-the-top-500-tracks-of-the-2000s-20-1/2/|archive-date=2012-05-25|access-date=2010-03-13|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|publisher=}}</ref> and ''Rolling Stone'',<ref>{{cite magazine|title=100 Best Songs of the 2000s|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-the-aughts-20110617/radiohead-idioteque-20110617|url-status=live|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106234310/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-songs-of-the-aughts-20110617/radiohead-idioteque-20110617|archive-date=6 November 2012|access-date=17 November 2012}}</ref> and ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it #33 on its 2018 list of the "greatest songs of the century so far".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=100 Greatest Songs of the Century - So Far|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-songs-of-the-century-so-far-666874/idioteque-radiohead-667067|url-status=live|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029193324/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-songs-of-the-century-so-far-666874/idioteque-radiohead-667067/|archive-date=29 October 2019|access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Accolades for ''Kid A''
! Publication
! Country
! Accolade
! Year
! Rank
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Consequence of Sound]]''
| US
| Top 100 Albums Ever<ref>{{cite web |title=Consequence of Sound's Top 100 Albums Ever |url=https://consequence.net/2010/09/consequence-of-sounds-top-100-albums-ever/full-post/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116161753/https://consequence.net/2010/09/consequence-of-sounds-top-100-albums-ever/full-post/ |archive-date=16 November 2018 |date=15 September 2010 }}</ref>
| 2010
| style="text-align:center;"| 73
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]''
| UK
| The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s|url=http://www.factmag.com/2010/12/01/100-best-albums-of-the-decade/10|work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|date=1 December 2010|access-date=25 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719225833/http://www.factmag.com/2010/12/01/100-best-albums-of-the-decade/10/|archive-date=19 July 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| 2010
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2| ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rowspan=2| UK
| Albums of the decade<ref name="Guardian decade">{{cite news |last=Thomson |first=Graeme |date=27 November 2009 |title=Albums of the decade: No 2: Radiohead&nbsp;– ''Kid A'' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2009/nov/28/album-decade-radiohead-kid-a |url-status=live |access-date=10 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908071257/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2009/nov/28/album-decade-radiohead-kid-a |archive-date=8 September 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
| The 100 Best Albums of the 21st Century<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/100-best-albums-of-the-21st-century|title=The 100 best albums of the 21st century|date=13 September 2019|website=[[The Guardian]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913091456/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/100-best-albums-of-the-21st-century|archive-date=13 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref>
| 2019
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| UK
| The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime 1993–2006<ref>{{cite web|url = http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=0&msgid=0|title = The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime 1993–2006|year = 2006|access-date = 25 April 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120429094515/http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=0&msgid=0|archive-date = 29 April 2012|url-status = live}}</ref>
| 2006
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2| ''[[NME]]''
| rowspan=2| UK
| The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nmes_100_best_albums.htm#Greatest%20British%20Albums|title = The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever|work = NME|year = 2006|access-date = 25 April 2007|url-status = usurped|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150202225144/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nmes_100_best_albums.htm#Greatest%20British%20Albums|archive-date = 2 February 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref>
| 2006
| style="text-align:center;"| 65
|-
| The Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/list/the-top-100-greatest-albums-of-the-decade-1381|title=The Top 100 Greatest Albums of The Decade|work=[[NME]]|date=11 November 2009|access-date=25 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711220245/http://www.nme.com/list/the-top-100-greatest-albums-of-the-decade-1381|archive-date=11 July 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| 14
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''
| US
| The 50 Best Albums Of The Decade<ref>{{cite web |last=Brandon Stosuy |title=Paste's 50 Best Albums Of The Decade |url=https://www.stereogum.com/98731/pastes_50_best_albums_of_the_decade/franchises/list/ |website=Paste |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503021702/https://www.stereogum.com/98731/pastes_50_best_albums_of_the_decade/franchises/list/ |archive-date=3 May 2019 |date=2 November 2009}}</ref>
| 2010
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| US
| Top 200 Albums of the 2000s<ref name=":3">{{cite web |year=2009 |title=The top 200 albums of the 2000s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7710-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-20-1/?page=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314045640/http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7710-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-20-1/?page=2 |archive-date=14 March 2016 |access-date=19 October 2009 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
! scope="row"| ''Platendraaier''
| The Netherlands
| Top 30 Albums of the 2000s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.platendraaier.nl/toplijsten/top-30-albums-van-de-jaren-00/|title=Top 30 albums van de jaren 00|publisher=Platendraaier|year=2015|access-date=16 September 2015|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420142137/https://www.platendraaier.nl/toplijsten/top-30-albums-van-de-jaren-00/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 2015
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[PopMatters]]''
| UK/US
| The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s<ref>{{cite web |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s: 5-1 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/186499-the-100-best-albums-of-the-00s-20-1-2495607673.html?rebelltitem=4 |website=PopMatters |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101031349/https://www.popmatters.com/186499-the-100-best-albums-of-the-00s-20-1-2495607673.html?rebelltitem=4 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |date=9 October 2014}}</ref>
| 2014
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
! scope="row" |''Porcys''
|Poland
|The Best Albums of 2000-2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.porcys.com/ranking/100-plyt-2000-2009-na-swiecie/10/|title = 100 Płyt 2000-2009 Na Świecie|publisher=Porcys|year=2010|access-date=22 August 2020}}</ref>
|2010
| style="text-align:center;" |2
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=4| ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rowspan=4| US
| The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/radiohead-kid-a-4-1063213/|title = The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine = Rolling Stone|year = 2020|access-date = 2 October 2020|df = dmy-all|archive-date = 1 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201001120559/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/radiohead-kid-a-4-1063213|url-status = live}}</ref>
| 2020
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
|-
| The 100 Best Albums of the Decade<ref name="100 Best Albums of the Decade"/>
| 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
| The 40 Greatest Stoner Albums<ref name=":1" />
| 2013
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
|-
| The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century<ref name="rollingstone2025">{{cite magazine|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-21st-century-1235177256/radiohead-kid-a-6-1235188695/|title = The Best Albums of the 21st Century So Far|magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]|year = 2025|access-date = 11 January 2025|df = dmy-all|archive-date = 10 January 2025|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250110220203/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-21st-century-1235177256/radiohead-kid-a-6-1235188695/|url-status = live}}</ref>
| 2025
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| US
| Top 100 Albums of the Last 20 Years<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2005/06/100-greatest-albums-1985-2005/ |title=100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005 |work=Spin Magazine |year=2005 |access-date=14 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804123605/https://www.spin.com/2005/06/100-greatest-albums-1985-2005/ |archive-date= 4 August 2009 }}</ref>
| 2005
| style="text-align:center;"| 48
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Stylus Magazine|Stylus]]''
| US
| The 50 Best Albums of 2000–2004<ref name=":2" />
| 2005
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''
| US
| The All-Time 100 Albums<ref>{{cite news|url = https://entertainment.time.com/2006/11/02/the-all-time-100-albums/slide/turn-back-the-years-essential-hank-williams-collection/#kid-a|access-date = 5 May 2007|title = The All-Time 100 albums|last = Tyrangiel|first = Josh|author2 = Light, Alan|date = 13 November 2006|magazine = Time|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111021213318/http://entertainment.time.com/2006/11/02/the-all-time-100-albums/slide/turn-back-the-years-essential-hank-williams-collection/#kid-a|archive-date = 21 October 2011|df = dmy-all}}</ref>
| 2006
| style="text-align:center;"| *
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Times]]''
| UK
| The 100 Best Pop Albums of the Noughties<ref name="The Times-2009">{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6922991.ece?offset=180 |title=The 100 best pop albums of the Noughties |date=21 November 2009 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |access-date=26 December 2009}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''
| US
| 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die<ref>{{cite book|last=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=23 March 2010|publisher=Universe|isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}}</ref>
| 2010
| style="text-align:center;"| *
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Musikexpress]]''
| Germany
| The 50 Best Albums of the New Millennium<ref>{{cite web |title=2000-2015: The 50 best albums of the new millennium |url=https://www.musikexpress.de/2000-2015-die-50-besten-alben-des-neuen-jahrtausends-291037/8/ |website=Musikexpress |access-date=24 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624194423/https://www.musikexpress.de/2000-2015-die-50-besten-alben-des-neuen-jahrtausends-291037/8/ |archive-date=24 June 2019 |date=23 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| 2015
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[La Vanguardia]]''
| Spain
| The Best Albums of the Decade<ref>{{cite web |last=Josep Massot |title='La Vanguardia' elige los álbumes de la década |url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/cultura/noticias/20091227/53854202399/la-vanguardia-elige-los-albumes-de-la-decada-bob-dylan-lou-reed-myspace-devendra-banhart-billie-holi.html |website=La Vanguardia |access-date=4 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405060802/http://www.lavanguardia.es/cultura/noticias/20091227/53854202399/la-vanguardia-elige-los-albumes-de-la-decada-bob-dylan-lou-reed-myspace-devendra-banhart-billie-holi.html |archive-date=5 April 2010 |language=es |date=27 December 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 2010
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| US
|The Best Music of the Decade<ref name=tavc09>{{Cite news| last=Murray| first=Noel| title=The Best Music of the Decade| url=https://music.avclub.com/the-best-music-of-the-decade-1798221680,35540/5/| magazine=[[The A.V. Club]]| access-date=July 14, 2013| date=November 19, 2009| publisher=The Onion, Inc.| location=[[Chicago]]}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|}

<small>(*) designates unordered list</small>

=== Later releases ===
Radiohead left EMI after their contract ended in 2003.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |last=Nestruck |first=Kelly |date=8 November 2007 |title=EMI stab Radiohead in the back catalogue |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher= |location=London |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2207489,00.html |access-date=22 November 2007 |archive-date=19 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519013024/http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2207489,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After a period of being [[out of print]] on vinyl, ''Kid A'' was reissued as a double LP on 19 August 2008 as part of the "From the Capitol Vaults" series, along with other Radiohead albums.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 July 2008 |title=Coldplay, Radiohead to be reissued on vinyl |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/coldplay-396-1336094 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216012653/http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/37969 |archive-date=16 February 2012 |access-date=2 November 2011 |work=[[NME]] |df=dmy}}</ref> In 2007, EMI released ''[[Radiohead Box Set]]'', a compilation of albums recorded while Radiohead were signed to EMI, including ''Kid A.<ref name="Guardian" />'' On 25 August 2009, EMI reissued ''Kid A'' in a two-CD "Collector's Edition" and a "Special Collector's Edition" containing an additional DVD. Both versions feature live tracks, taken mostly from television performances. Radiohead had no input into the reissues and the music was not remastered.<ref name="MCCARTHY2">{{cite magazine |last=McCarthy |first=Sean |date=18 December 2009 |title=The Best Re-Issues of 2009: 18: Radiohead: ''Pablo Honey'' / ''The Bends'' / ''OK Computer'' / ''Kid A'' / ''Amnesiac'' / ''Hail to the Thief'' |url=https://www.popmatters.com/best-album-re-issues-2009-2496140735.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[PopMatters]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220175703/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/117848-the-best-re-issues-of-2009/ |archive-date=20 December 2009 |access-date=29 August 2011}}</ref> 

The EMI reissues were discontinued after Radiohead's back catalogue transferred to [[XL Recordings]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/7318966/radioheads-early-catalog-moves-from-warner-bros-to-xl|title=Radiohead's Early Catalog Moves From Warner Bros. to XL|last=Christman|first=Ed|date=4 April 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410121349/https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/7318966/radioheads-early-catalog-moves-from-warner-bros-to-xl|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2016, XL reissued ''Kid A'' on vinyl, along with the rest of Radiohead's back catalogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/radiohead-reissue-entire-catalogue-vinyl/|title=Radiohead to reissue entire catalogue on vinyl|last=Spice|first=Anton|date=6 May 2016|website=thevinylfactory.com|access-date=6 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826093045/http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/radiohead-reissue-entire-catalogue-vinyl/|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> An early demo of "The National Anthem" was included in the special edition of the 2017 ''OK Computer'' reissue ''[[OKNOTOK 1997 2017]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Atkins|first=Jamie|date=22 June 2017|title=''OK Computer – OKNOTOK 1997-2017''|url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/ok-computer-oknotok-1997-2017|access-date=23 June 2017|website=[[Record Collector]]|archive-date=25 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625083556/http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/ok-computer-oknotok-1997-2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2020, Radiohead released an extended version of "Treefingers", previously released on the soundtrack for the 2000 film ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'', to digital platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pearis|first=Bill|title=Radiohead share extended "Treefingers" and rare remixes to digital archive|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/radiohead-share-extended-treefingers-rare-remixes-to-digital-archive/|access-date=2021-12-09|website=[[BrooklynVegan]]|date=22 February 2020|language=en|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209194943/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/radiohead-share-extended-treefingers-rare-remixes-to-digital-archive/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 5, 2021, Radiohead released ''[[Kid A Mnesia]]'', an anniversary reissue compiling ''Kid A'' and ''Amnesiac''. It includes a third album, ''Kid Amnesiae'', comprising previously unreleased material from the sessions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=2021-11-04|title=Radiohead – ''Kid Amnesiae'' review: a haunting secret history of two classic records|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/radiohead-kid-amnesiae-review-3087188|access-date=2021-11-04|website=[[NME]]|language=en-GB|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104114425/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/radiohead-kid-amnesiae-review-3087188|url-status=live}}</ref> Radiohead promoted the reissue with singles for the previously unreleased tracks "[[If You Say the Word]]" and "[[Follow Me Around]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Martoccio|first=Angie|date=2021-11-01|title=Radiohead's 'Follow Me Around' is a holy grail for fans. 20 years later, it's here|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-follow-me-around-video-guy-pearce-1251279/|access-date=2021-11-01|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|archive-date=16 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116033602/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-follow-me-around-video-guy-pearce-1251279/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Kid A Mnesia Exhibition]]'', an interactive experience with music and artwork from the albums, was released on November 18 for [[PlayStation 5]], [[macOS]] and [[Windows]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tarantola|first=A.|date=9 September 2021|title=Radiohead and Epic Games team up for a virtual ''Kid A Mnesia'' exhibit|url=https://www.engadget.com/radiohead-and-epic-games-team-up-for-the-kid-a-mnesia-exhibit-215738766.html|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Engadget|language=en-US|archive-date=9 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909234920/https://www.engadget.com/radiohead-and-epic-games-team-up-for-the-kid-a-mnesia-exhibit-215738766.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Track listing ==

All songs written by [[Radiohead]], except "[[Idioteque]]", which samples "Mild und Leise" by [[Paul Lansky]] and "Short Piece" by Arthur Kreiger.

# "[[Everything in Its Right Place]]" – 4:11
# "Kid A" – 4:44
# "[[The National Anthem (Radiohead song)|The National Anthem]]" – 5:51
# "[[How to Disappear Completely]]" – 5:56
# "Treefingers" – 3:42
# "[[Optimistic (Radiohead song)|Optimistic]]" – 5:15
# "In Limbo" – 3:31
# "[[Idioteque]]" – 5:09
# "Morning Bell" – 4:35
# "Motion Picture Soundtrack" – 7:01
#* Untitled hidden track – 0:52

'''Note:''' Track 10 ends at 3:20; includes an untitled hidden track from 4:17 until 5:09, followed by 1:51 of silence. On streaming services, the hidden track is listed as a separate track.

== Personnel ==
Credits adapted from liner notes.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Production'''
* [[Nigel Godrich]]&nbsp;– production, engineering, mixing
* Radiohead&nbsp;– production
* Gerard Navarro&nbsp;– production assistance, additional engineering
* Graeme Stewart&nbsp;– additional engineering
* [[Stanley Donwood|Stanley]]&nbsp;– artwork {{small|("Landscapes, Knives and Glue")}}
* [[Thom Yorke|Tchock]]&nbsp;– artwork {{small|("Landscapes, Knives and Glue")}}
* Chris Blair&nbsp;– mastering
{{col-2}}
'''Additional musicians'''
* [[Orchestra of St John's]]&nbsp;– strings
** [[John Lubbock (conductor)|John Lubbock]]&nbsp;– conducting
** [[Jonny Greenwood]]&nbsp;– scoring
* Horns on "The National Anthem"
** Andy Bush&nbsp;– trumpet
** Steve Hamilton&nbsp;– alto saxophone{{efn|Credited simply as "alto"}}
** Martin Hathaway&nbsp;– alto saxophone {{small|(etc.)}}
** [[Andy Hamilton (pop saxophonist)|Andy Hamilton]]&nbsp;– tenor saxophone
** [[Mark Lockheart]]&nbsp;– tenor saxophone
** [[Stan Harrison]]&nbsp;– baritone saxophone
** Liam Kirkham&nbsp;– trombone
** Mike Kearsey&nbsp;– bass trombone
* [[Zero 7|Henry Binns]]&nbsp;– rhythm sampling on "The National Anthem"
{{col-end}}

==Charts==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Kid A''
!scope="col"| Chart (2000)
!scope="col"| Peak <br /> position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|5|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|3|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|4|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
!scope="row"|Danish Albums ([[Hitlisten]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-10-28.pdf|title=Top National Sellers: Denmark|work=[[Music & Media]]|page=17|date=28 October 2000}}</ref>
|align="center"|2
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|4|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|2|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=24 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|France|1|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|4|album=Kid A|artist=Radiohead|id=3437|rowheader=true|access-date=24 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Ireland|1|week=40|year=2000|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Italy|3|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=24 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|1|date=20001008|rowheader=true|access-date=17 November 2021}}
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|align="center"|22
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|3|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|8|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|1|date=20001008|rowheader=true|access-date=17 November 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Radiohead|album=Kid A|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2017}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+2000 year-end chart performance for ''Kid A''
! Chart (2000)
! Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2000/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2000|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101182711/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2000/albums-chart|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|70
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2000&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2000|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-date=10 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410215353/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2000&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|71
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2000&cat=a|title=Rapports Annuels 2000|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-date=1 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601093835/https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2000&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|82
|-
! scope="row"|Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812032100/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_1.html|archivedate=August 12, 2004|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_1.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000|website=[[Jam!]]|accessdate=March 24, 2022}}</ref>
| align=center| 59
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2000&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2000|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625023621/https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2000&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|84
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2000|title=Top de l'année Top Albums 2000|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-date=20 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120142614/https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2000|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|64
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20000109/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2000|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=17 August 2020|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123112613/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20000109/37502/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|50
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Billboard 200 - 2000 Year-end charts|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=2 January 2013|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=26 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526051757/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align="center"|190
|}
{{col-end}}

== Certifications and sales ==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales certifications for ''Kid A''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2001}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2018|access-date=5 September 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Chile|type=album|nocert=true|salesamount=25,000|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|relyear=2000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|title=WARNER, EMI DEMONSTRATE DIFFERENT STYLES IN CHILE|magazine = Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8A4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=Madonna%2C+Luis+Miguel+Chile&pg=PA89|date=22 April 2000|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=53, 89|access-date=27 January 2022|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2008|access-date=24 April 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2022|note=sales since 2009|access-date=4 April 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=レディオヘッド|title=キッドA	|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|certmonth=6|access-date=5 October 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|award=Gold|type=album|id=2001-01-26|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=2000}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2001}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|salesamount=479,000|id=3613-1730-2|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/galleries/albums-turning-20-years-old-in-2021/?31992|title=Albums turning 20 years old in 2021|work=[[Official Charts]]|access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102165730/https://www.officialcharts.com/galleries/albums-turning-20-years-old-in-2021/?31992|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Radiohead|title=Kid A|award=Platinum|salesamount=1,480,000|salesref=<ref name=Forbes>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickdesantis/2016/05/10/radioheads-digital-album-sales-visualized/#40b286fd3a87|title=Radiohead's Digital Album Sales, Visualized|first=Nick|last=DeSantis|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190222204347/https://www.forbes.com/#40b286fd3a87|archive-date=22 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>|type=album|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|access-date=17 June 2017}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|type=album|title=Kid A|artist=Radiohead|award=Platinum|certyear=2000|access-date=2 February 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=false}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book|last1=Randall|first1=Mac|title=Exit Music: The Radiohead Story|year=2004|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|isbn=1-84449-183-8|edition=2nd}}
* {{cite book |last1=Randall |first1=Mac |title=Exit Music: The Radiohead Story: The Radiohead Story |year=2011 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London, England |isbn=978-0-85712-695-5 |edition=3rd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GU9QmQEpLoYC}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book
 | last = Lin
 | first = Marvin
 | date = 25 November 2010
 | publisher = Continuum International Publishing Group
 | title = Radiohead's Kid A
 | location = New York
 | isbn = 978-0-8264-2343-6
 | series = [[33⅓]] series
}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070413133839/http://www.greenplastic.com/coldstorage/articles/edsdiary/index.php Ed's Diary:]}} Ed O'Brien's studio diary from ''Kid A''/''Amnesiac'' recording sessions, 1999–2000 (archived at Green Plastic)
* Marzorati, Gerald. "[http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001001mag-radiohead.html The Post-Rock Band]". ''The New York Times''. 1 October 2000. Retrieved on 4 November 2010.
* "[https://www.popmatters.com/pm/special/section/all-things-reconsidered-the-10th-anniversary-of-radioheads-kid-a/ All Things Reconsidered: The 10th Anniversary of Radiohead's 'Kid A']" (a collection of articles). [[PopMatters]]. November 2010. Retrieved on 4 November 2010.
* {{Cite book 
 | last = Hyden 
 | first = Steven
 | date = 29 September 2020
 | publisher = Hachette Books
 | title = This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "Kid A" and the Beginning of the 21st Century  
 | location = New York
 | isbn = 978-0-3068-4568-0
}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|type=album|21501|name=Kid A}}

{{Radiohead}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album}}
{{Pitchfork}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2000 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Nigel Godrich]]
[[Category:Capitol Records albums]]
[[Category:Electronic albums by English artists]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album]]
[[Category:Parlophone albums]]
[[Category:Post-rock albums by English artists]]
[[Category:Ambient pop albums]]
[[Category:Radiohead albums]]