Daily Archives: February 20, 2011

Feb 20 2011

Radiohead Weekend: First Impressions – Hail to the Thief

Last one here, and as we found out yesterday, I will keep buying Radiohead albums as long as they make good ones. I was never particularly enamoured with Pablo Honey, but The Bends, OK Computer and In Rainbows are among my favourite ever records. At the persuasion of The Internet, I’ve been forced at gunpoint to listen to the three Radiohead albums I didn’t have the patience with before, so here I am – for the last time – with Hail to the Thief.

2 + 2 = 5 opens strongly, but tapers rather than builds towards the centre. The explosion of sound in the second half sounds oddly muted – more of the vague angst of Pablo Honey than the middle class rage of The Bends. It’s almost punky, but without the energy.

By the time Sit Down Stand Up kicks in, I’ve worked out why I’m just not getting on with these albums. Let’s pause a moment to reflect on the good albums, and take the opening tracks:
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