Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool isn't just an album; it's an experience. A poignant exploration of loss, longing, and the quiet beauty of melancholy, it continues to resonate with listeners years after its release. If you're searching for the definitive ranking of the best songs on A Moon Shaped Pool, you've come to the right place. This isn't just a list; it's a journey through the album's emotional landscape, highlighting the tracks that truly capture its ethereal brilliance and undeniable power. Whether you're a seasoned Radiohead fan or a curious newcomer, discovering the gems within A Moon Shaped Pool is a rewarding experience. We'll delve into the intricate arrangements, the haunting vocals, and the sheer emotional depth that makes this album a modern classic. Prepare to rediscover – or discover for the first time – the tracks that cement A Moon Shaped Pool's place in musical history.
| Song | Listens |
|---|---|
| 1. Daydreaming | 69M+ |
| 2. Burn the Witch | 42M+ |
| 3. The Numbers | 26M+ |
| 4. Present Tense | 20M+ |
| 5. Ful Stop | 4M+ |
| 6. Identikit | 2M+ |
| 7. True Love Waits | 2M+ |
1. Daydreaming
Daydreaming
Sound: A swirling, psychedelic soundscape built on a hypnotic bassline and intricate instrumentation, creating a uniquely immersive listening experience perfectly suited for late-night contemplation.
Emotional Impact: Evokes a sense of dreamy introspection and wistful longing, making it ideal for reflective moments under the moon.
Vocal Performance: Thom Yorke's vocals are especially poignant here, weaving through the soundscape with a vulnerability that enhances the song's overall emotional resonance.
2. Burn the Witch (2016)
Sound: "Burn the Witch" opens with a deceptively whimsical folk-inspired melody, which then builds into a more unsettling, orchestral arrangement, perfectly capturing the album's overall duality.
Emotional Impact: The song's unsettling atmosphere and lyrics create a sense of unease and foreboding, making it a truly captivating and memorable listen within the context of *A Moon Shaped Pool*'s overall mood.
Rhythm: The song's driving rhythm and insistent tempo create a sense of unease and momentum, mirroring the song's lyrical themes of societal anxieties.
3. The Numbers (Radiohead - 2025)
Sound: "The Numbers" features Radiohead's signature atmospheric soundscapes, building from subtle piano chords to a more expansive, layered soundscape that perfectly complements the album's melancholic mood.
Emotional Impact: The song's unsettling yet beautiful melody, coupled with Thom Yorke's vulnerable vocals, creates a deeply introspective and emotionally resonant experience, ideal for late-night listening on *A Moon Shaped Pool*.
Rhythm: The song's shifting rhythms and tempos add to its unsettling yet captivating quality, making it a standout track for its unique and memorable musical journey.
4. Present Tense
Sound: Present Tense's understated beauty lies in its delicate interplay of piano, strings, and Thom Yorke's subtly layered vocals, creating a soundscape both intimate and expansive, perfectly suited for late-night listening.
Emotional Impact: The song evokes a poignant sense of longing and reflection, its melancholic melody and introspective lyrics resonating deeply with the album's overall thematic exploration of emotional vulnerability.
Rhythm: Its slow, deliberate rhythm allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in the song's emotional core, enhancing the feeling of introspection and quiet contemplation.
5. Ful Stop
Ful Stop
Sound: A deceptively simple arrangement builds to a stunning crescendo, showcasing Radiohead's mastery of dynamic range and tension.
Emotional Impact: The song's melancholic beauty and yearning atmosphere perfectly capture the album's reflective and introspective mood, creating a poignant listening experience ideal for late-night contemplation.
Vocals: Thom Yorke's vocals are understated yet emotionally resonant, adding to the song's quiet power and making it a perfect addition to any late-night listening session.
6. Identikit
Sound: "Identikit" boasts a characteristic Radiohead soundscape: a blend of shimmering guitars, subtly unsettling synths, and a driving, almost anxious rhythm section that perfectly captures the album's pensive yet unsettling atmosphere.
Vocals: Thom Yorke's vocals are particularly affecting here, delivered with a restrained intensity that perfectly complements the song's underlying tension, adding to its emotional weight.
Emotional Impact: The track's unsettling yet beautiful soundscape, coupled with Yorke's evocative delivery, creates a lingering sense of unease and mystery, making it a truly memorable addition to *A Moon Shaped Pool*.
7. True Love Waits (Radiohead)
Haunting Melody: "True Love Waits" features a sparse, melancholic melody that perfectly captures the album's introspective mood, making it ideal for late-night listening under the moon.
Thom Yorke's Vocals: Yorke's vulnerable and emotionally resonant vocals are central to the song's impact, conveying a sense of longing and quiet desperation that resonates deeply.
Minimalist Arrangement: The song's stripped-down arrangement, with its delicate piano and subtle percussion, enhances its intimacy and creates a space for the listener to fully immerse themselves in its emotional landscape, fitting perfectly within the overall contemplative nature of *A Moon Shaped Pool*.
8. Glass Eyes (Radiohead - 2025)
Glass Eyes - Radiohead
Haunting Melody: The song's melancholic melody perfectly captures the introspective mood often associated with A Moon Shaped Pool, creating a sense of yearning and reflection.
Textural Depth: Layers of instrumentation, including subtle electronic elements and Jonny Greenwood's distinctive guitar work, build a rich and immersive soundscape ideal for late-night listening.
Emotional Resonance: Thom Yorke's emotionally raw vocals convey a sense of vulnerability and longing, making "Glass Eyes" a deeply affecting addition to the album's overall emotional arc.
9. Desert Island Disk
Haunting Melodies: "Desert Island Disk" features Radiohead's signature melancholic melodies, perfectly suited for introspective listening under the moon's glow, adding to the album's overall ethereal atmosphere.
Lyrical Depth: Thom Yorke's lyrics are cryptic yet emotionally resonant, inviting repeated listens and deeper engagement with the themes explored throughout *A Moon Shaped Pool*.
Textural Complexity: The song's intricate arrangement, blending delicate piano with building orchestral layers, creates a soundscape ideal for a late-night, contemplative mood.
10. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief
Haunting Melodies: "Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief" features Radiohead's signature atmospheric soundscapes, creating a melancholic yet captivating soundscape perfectly suited for introspective moonlit listening.
Lyrical Depth: The song's cryptic lyrics and unsettling imagery evoke a sense of unease and mystery, adding layers of intrigue to the already captivating soundscape.
Emotional Resonance: Its slow, deliberate pace and Thom Yorke's emotive vocals create a powerfully emotional experience, ideal for contemplation under the moon.
11Decks Dark
Radiohead
2016