The Cover

Hail to the Thief is the closest content-wise that they've come to OK Computer's pessimistic future-world view. Instead of speaking of androids, aliens and Big Brother dystopian elements, Radiohead has touched on the real world and its way of making one feel trapped.

Let's just break it down, shall we?

Track One: 2+2=5 (3:19)
We plug in, expect a certain kind of melancholy sound, then the damn thing breaks and turns into a wonderfully catchy commercial ditty in which we hail to the thief. A great, unexpected start.
Sounds Like Radiohead's: Paranoid Android (OK Computer) with head twisting rock.

Track Two: Sit Down, Stand Up (4:19)
Evokes memories of their last two albums. Little beeps and longing lyrics and singing by Yorke create a hypnotic round (you know, like Row, Row, Row Your Boat.)
Sounds Like Radiohead's: Morning Bells (Amnesiac version)

Track Three: Sail to the Moon (4:18)
A stripped down sound: electric guitar, piano and wailing singing. Very haunting and slow. Like a modern version of The Beatles' Good Night.
Sounds Like Radiohead's: Exit Music (OK Computer)

Track Four: Backdrifts (5:22)
Immediately: Kid A. Singing over a strong synth beat with sampled piano. Melodic and instantly catchy.
Sounds Like Radiohead's: Idioteque (Kid A)

Track Five: Go to Sleep (3:21)
One thing springs to mind, and I love it. This is sounds like a classic Who song. Strictly acoustic guitars (until the break of course) and lyrics / music that invoke the spirit of the west as interpreted by a British rock band.
Sounds Like: The Who's Behind Blue Eyes

Track Six: Where I End and You Begin (4:29)
More synth-y goodness. Complex drumming makes the song sound like buttered popcorn.
Sounds Like Radiohead's: Kid A (Kid A)

Track Seven: We Suck Young Blood (4:56)
Let's call this one a goth anthem. I can imagine some ancient group of vampires singing this in the courtyard, after letting a fresh one get away. It's made all the more creepy by the handclaps in the background. This sounds like an old song, a chant. Pure instrumentation with strong piano melody.
Sounds Like Radiohead's (well, not really): Motion Picture Soundtrack (Kid A)

Track Eight: The Gloaming (3:32)
Synthy and repetitive, not the best track.
Sounds Like Radiohead's: The National Anthem (Kid A)...but not as good

Track Nine: There There (5:23)
By far my favorite. A catchy acoustic riff. This song would be downright snappy if not for the fact that it's sung in a minor key and is a little depressing.
Sounds Like: Queens of the Stone Age / The Who / Radiohead's Paranoid Android (Kid A)

Track Ten: I Will (1:59)
Plaintive singing, short and sweet
Sounds Like Radiohead's: Climbing Up the Walls (OK Computer)

The Radio-headed gang.

Track Eleven: A Punchup at a Wedding (4:57)
This is unlike most any song they've done. It's traditional, even if the subject matter about getting drunk and fighting at a wedding isn't. It's an anthem of sorts. My second favorite track.
Sounds Like Radiohead's: High and Dry (The Bends)

Track Twelve: Myxomatosis (3:52)
Sticks in your head. Myxomatosis is a rabbit disease. This song is like an actual disease. It sounds dirty, it sticks in you and you can get away from it. Now I'm not quite sure if this is good thing or not...
Sounds Like Radiohead's: The Nation Anthem (Kid A)

Track Thirteen: Scatterbrain (3:21)
More of Thom's high singing. It's like a song you would sing to your scatterbrained girlfriend. It's sweet, I think. I can never tell the extent of irony in any of their songs.
Sounds Like Radiohead's: A Bends B-side

Track Fourteen: A Wolf at the Door (3:21)
I've noticed that the best songs on this album are the ones that sound much different from their other albums. This is one of those along the lines of We Suck Young Blood and A Punchup... it's mostly acoustic and features interesting turns in the music and lyrics.
Sounds Like: A kidnapper's last thoughts

Radiohead has a way of growing on you. I'm never sure what to make of it until I hear it many times. Hail to the Thief is one of those albums that digs its roots into your head, and for the most part, never lets go. How is it that one band's al bums could all be masterpieces? Every album is near perfect and revolutionary. This is another one to add to that list.

Music Grade: A

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