Filling the gulf between OK Computer's epic progressive rock and Kid A's skittering electronic theatrics, Hail to the Thief borrows equally from each. Its title implies that this will be a collection filled with songs of anger and dissent, but Radiohead no longer howl at the moon like they did on 1995's The Bends. Instead, they use eloquent metaphors and complicated arrangements to express the uncertainty, fear and anger arising from the 2000 U.S. presidential election and a post-9/11 world. There's no doubt about where Thom Yorke and company stand; the prog-rock break on "2 + 2 = 5" and Yorke's terror at the thought of being "put in a dock" make that immediately clear. But there's a prevailing sense of powerlessness here. The tinkling piano behind the cold sonic surface of "Backdrifts" and the brief, swooping melody in the middle of "Sail to the Moon" are islands in a sea of confusion. Like the band's best work, Thief requires more than a few listens to fully appreciate, but those who stick around will be richly rewarded. --Matthew Cooke

uuid:	B1F6115E-B05F-4978-971E-2AB281402418
upc:	0724358454321
tracklisting:	2 + 2 = 5 Sit down. Stand up. Sail to the Moon. Backdrifts. Go to Sleep. Where I End and You Begin. We suck Young Blood. The Gloaming. There there. I will. A Punchup at a Wedding. Myxomatosis. Scatterbrain. A Wolf at the Door.
title:	Hail To The Thief
rating:	4
purchase date:	09-05-2005
published:	10-06-2003
price:	$18.98
net Rating:	4
last lookup time:	137385408
fullTitle:	Hail To The Thief
currentValue:	$5.44
created:	137385392
country:	us
aspect:	Audio CD
asin:	B000092ZYX
artist:	Radiohead