HAIL TO THE THIEF

Radiohead

Crossover Prog

3.44 | 513 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

My preferred albums from "Radiohead" so far were their debut "Pablo Honey" and their more famous "OK Computer". I'm afraid that "Hail To The Thief" doesn't reach these levels.

As a source of inspiration, the great "Echo & the Bunnymen" have always pleased me a lot more and as a follower, "Muse" produced much better stuff than "Radiohead" IMHHO.

Although there are some good songs featured here ("2+2= 5"), there are other painful ones like "Backdrifts" which reminds me too much of "Kid A" and its ambient/electro boring mood.

On the contrary of several reviewers, I don't have any problem with Yorke's voice; the problem resides more in the quality / feeling of the songs.

My favourite moment from this work is probably "Where I End and You Begin" although it sounds a bit as d�j� vu (hi "Echo"). At least it rocks a bit and its melody is pretty fine. But to stand the whole of "Suck Young Blood" is very difficult. It really sucks.press next to avoid total boredom. But it won't help you a lot, since you will have to face the extremely poor "The Gloaming". You know the story: press next again.

When the band reverts to a more straightforward rock, it is instantly better. Another one of my fave is "There There". Not extremely original, but a pleasant piece of rock music. No experimentation, just raw guitar and harmony. And convincing vocals.

The same year "Radiohead" released this album, "Muse" produced the great "Absolution". The latter band might well be compared as a clone of the former, but there are absolutely no comparison between both albums. This one is far to reach the brilliance, the grandeur of "Absolution". So, get the latter one instead.

This album holds too few good songs to deserve the three star rating. Somewhat dull and repetitive actually, just like "Punch Up At A Wedding". An EP would have done the job. Two stars.

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 | 2008-8-8

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