bolle88, Nov 24, 2005
Probably the most underrated "rock"-album ever done in my opinion! I say "rock" because it is far from a pure rock album, it has so much more to give.
Now Im going to tell you a short story about my "relationship" with Radiohead:
Ive been a hardcore Radiohead-fan since "OK Computer". I was like 8-9 years old and didnt listen to anything else than rock this kind of depressing, emotional brit-pop. My interest for EDM didnt start for real around 2000. After "OK Computer" Radiohead changed their sound radically with the "Kid A" and "Amnesiac" albums. At the first listenings of those albums I didnt understand a shit! My good old Radiohead were now all about experimenting, and at first I got pretty angry. But after a couple of listenings I started to understand the music. The beauty of the good old Radiohead was there, you just had to search for it. So called "intelligent music".
But even though I started to love these two new albums I kind of missed the OK Computer-Radiohead. It was like the guitar-driven Radiohead were gone...forever...
And so they released "Hail to the thief" - the mix of the old and new Radiohead. Starting off with their first pure rock-song ("2+2=5") since OK Computer, and then it only get better! "Go to sleep", "Where I end and you begin", "Scatterbrain" and "There there" are pure pre-Kid A material, in a modern package. And then we have the more experimental tracks: "Sit down, stand up" with the drumnbass beats and "Backdrifts" and "The gloaming" are, even their total uniqueness and originality, two of the most beautiful tracks on the album. My favourite-track, though, is the groovy, piano-lead "A punchup at the wedding" which, at the right moment, could bring tears to my eyes. Extremely beautiful!
Arent there any traditional Radiohead-ballads here, you might ask. Of course there are, I say then. "Sail to the moon" and "I will" are, as usual when Radiohead slow down their music, two of the most beautful songs ever done in my opinion!
Radiohead are together with Pink Floyd not only the best, but also the most innovative rock-band ever in my opinion. And "Hail to the thief" is the best proof of that! =)