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Alternative Rock: Radiohead - Hail to the Thief (2003)

69 / 100
Hail to the Thief isn’t a failure—it’s just a sprawling album whose gems are scattered rather than clustered.
Radiohead’s sixth album still managed to chart, but after several listens, all I felt was fatigue and emptiness. It might even lose to their latest album, which already gave me a “good” impression after only a brief taste.

After assembling two boxes of experimentation, Hail to the Thief—born in 2003—returns to an alternative rock configuration with a primary electronic touch. Although it begins with a famous energetic opener followed by a mechanical brew, I’m more comfortable with the conventional ballad “Sail to the Moon.” “Go to Sleep” brings a 60s cowboy-town vibe through its acoustic opening, though it doesn’t fully captivate. My feelings are mixed about the post-punk/new wave influence in “Where I End and You Begin,” so that one needs special consideration.

I turned away from several tracks, then “A Punch at a Wedding” stopped me in my tracks. Another piece that suits my ears well, thanks to its kinship with “Sail to the Moon.” Radiohead also introduces a kind of drone/industrial-rock à la Muse in “Myxomatosis,” which feels different from their other electronic offerings. Another ballad? Again? Well, well, well. “Scatterbrain” moves slowly but with a simpler composition than the two tracks mentioned above. Also one to consider. “A Wolf at the Door” completes the album’s 14 parts with a vocal style reminiscent of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Korn, making it quite a fitting closer.

The electronic music here seems better suited to be enjoyed in purely instrumental form—like “Sit Down. Stand Up,” “Backdrifts,” and “The Gloaming.” Perhaps because I’ve grown used to instrumental electronic performances on Bandcamp.

While I do have some appreciation for this album, I’m not sure whether that impression will last longer than their debut, considering I’m more willing to skip several tracks here than on their other albums.

Best tracks: Sail to the Moon, A Punch at a Wedding, A Wolf at the Door;
Honourable mention: Where I End and You Begin, Myxomatosis, and Scatterbrain.
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