HAIL TO THE THIEF

This is an album that was initially hailed as a masterpiece by a great many critics when it was released, but seems to have suffered some critical devaluation in the ensuing years. While I expect the same thing to happen with IN RAINBOWS (I personally prefer Thom Yorke's solo album THE ERASER), this really is a fine album. The best moments on this album are highlights in the band's overall oeuvre. These include the first four tracks (wow, what a way to begin an album!), the closer "A Wolf at the Door," "The Gloaming" and "There There," and several other tracks.

Unfortunately, the album is uneven, although I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps there are just too many tracks; perhaps some songs simply don't sit comfortably next to others. Of course, the band could not possibly keep making masterpieces that transcended mere critical appreciation into something more culturally important.

What is clear, however, is that the band is still at their height when making this album.