Radiohead

Item: Hail to the Thief
Author: Trae Cadenhead

Hail to the Thief

(2003)

Reviewed by Trae Cadenhead

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Label Capitol RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2003

alternative rock art rock experimental

It's difficult, almost impossible, to sum up the significance of the influence that Radiohead has had on the music world as a whole over the past decade. Between the albums The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A, Radiohead has developed a dedicated following few bands have enjoyed in recent history. Known for its musical innovation, every release from the band has pushed the envelope musically, bringing Radiohead into new territory at every turn.

Given that fact, there aren't a whole lot of new places that the long-awaited Hail to the Thief album could go musically. The music on this release uses elements of all of the former Radiohead releases, mixing them in a way that is still very original and cohesive. The biggest influence from early Radiohead on the new album is probably OK Computer, but this album dabbles in equally experimental ways with rock and electronic sounds.

In the long run, what really sets this album apart from other Radiohead outings is the lyrics. This dark, doubt-filled collection of songs sees the world as a frightening place, largely devoid of any kind of goodness. Songs like "Sit Down, Stand Up" ("Sit down, stand up / Walk into the jaws of hell") and "Go to Sleep" ("This is how I ended up sucked in / Over my dead body / I'm gonna go to sleep / And let this wash all over me / We don't really want a monster taking over") are good examples of the sense of dread that is expressed on Hail to the Thief.

The album's themes almost beg to be called apocalyptic, depicting a time in which the end is near. The album opener "2+2=5" pleads, "Go up to the king, and the sky is falling in." The songs seem to have mixed feelings on God's place in the midst of it all. "Where I End and You Begin" says, "I am up in the clouds / And I can't come down" then continues later in the song to warn of judgment: "I will eat you alive / There'll be no more lies." This idea of judgment is mingled with the idea of God as a protector in "I Will": "I won't let this happen to my children / Meet the real world coming out of your shell." "Sail to the Moon" is a song written to give some kind of hope to the children: "Maybe you'll be president / But know right from wrong / Or in the flood / You'll build an ark."

The songs on the album can also be taken from a political sense, especially considering that the album's title Hail to the Thief could be a reference to President Bush's victory in the election. It seems like most people in Europe are bitter with Bush these days, and making it known through music has become a common idea.

Hail to the Thief is most meaningful when seen as a look at the world through the eyes of someone with serious concern. The Radiohead idea of the human condition is seen through the song "Backdrifts": "We're rotten fruit / We're damaged goods / What the hell we've got nothing more to lose / One burst and we will probably crumble / We're backdrifting."

Here we have an album that mixes meaning with chaos in a way that will have people scratching their heads for years to come. Hail to the Thief may not be the most enjoyable album that Radiohead has made, but it is one of the most important, as it paints a picture of the modern world with strokes few artists could manage.

4.5 tocks