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Radiohead vs. Coldplay

Tunes From the Thames, BBCAmerica.com’s music section, was unveiled last week, and among the site’s Top 10 lists categorizing the best pop music Britain has to offer, Coldplay and Radiohead went head to head on one list. On the Top 10 Current British Artists in the U.S. list, Coldplay and Radiohead emerged as the top contenders—in that order. Coldplay has long since been hailed an imitator of Radiohead, and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has even expressed his love of Radiohead. They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but the list sparked a debate on the site nonetheless.

In arguing for Radiohead, BBCAmerica.com states Radiohead’s credentials as the band’s staying power in the industry, critical success, innovation musically (which has extended into the way in which they release albums), and their successful U.S. tours. BBCAmerica.com also begs the question, “Who else could launch an album as a name-your-own-price download online—and still hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 for their full-price, in-store release?” On the Coldplay side, BBCAmerica.com suggests that the band may be “the most successful UK rock group since Duran Duran.” Although this is largely because of the band’s knack for creating a career out of “re-writing Radiohead’s ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ and ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’ as sappy indie ballads.”

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