OK a few years ago, I would've gone nowhere near downloading an album early, but now... I don't care.

Radiohead's Hail To The Thief has hit the web.

If you don't want spoilers... don't read on!

"2 + 2 = 5": Kind of a trippy beginning, before it explodes. Thom is pretty intense.

"Sit Down. Stand Up.": Similar arrangement actually to the first song. It starts very gorgeous, piano tinkles, hypnotic melody... before building into a wild funky bassy jam.

"Sail to the Moon": The live version of this I have never did too much for me. It's nice and calm after the last two songs. In the style of "Pyramid Song."

"Backdrifts": Beginning sounds like "Like Spinning Plates" on Amnesiac... until the beat and Thom is off. Great lyrics too... "we're drifting... this far but no further... I'm hanging off a branch... I'm cheating on a brink of honey sweet... so fall asleep... I'm backsliding..." Sounds like one of their laptop type of songs.

"Go To Sleep": I imagine this could very easily be the second single. Very catchy, acoustic guitars, cool singing, funky ending... "something big is gonna happen!" "we don't want a monster taking over! tiptoe in and tie him down! we don't want the looneys taking over... tiptoe in and tie him down!" amazing song, really.

"Where I End and You Begin": Mesmerizing. Radiohead's secret weapon is Colin, the bassist. Though their other secret weapon is Jonny's Ondes Martenot instrument. Both in full force here.

"We Suck Young Blood": Slow and a little dreary, despite the handclaps. Not really into it yet.

"The Gloaming": Sounds like "Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" on Amnesiac in the beginning... maybe combined with "Worrywort"... I like it a lot... not sure what Thom is singing about, but lots about witching hours, genies in a bottle, and the like... another laptop-type song

"There There": the first single... with the success of all the new rock bands, I fully expect this to do really well... it rocks harder than any of them... some of my favorite lyrics of all-time too...

"I Will": A pretty song, Thom harmonizes with himself which is always cool... but not a standout to me... I'd have died to hear their other old unreleased song "Lift" instead...

"Punch Up at a Wedding": A mellow piano groove... it's grown on me a lot since I first heard the live boots of it last summer...

"Myxomatosis": Dirty buzzing guitar riff... Thom singing through clenched teeth... steals lyrics from my all-time favorite Radiohead song, "Cuttooth"...

"Scatterbrain": They're in cruise control now...

"A Wolf at the Door": Thom raps! The recording is better than the lvie version I've heard, by far. Interesting way to end the album though, but I like it there.

I don't really like to rate albums, so I won't say if I think this is better than their other stuff... especially after having it only for a day... but it does do well in combining Bends-style guitar riffs with Kid A-like computers... but at the same time, it feels like it's own thing, it's own world... which is exactly what I think fans want from them...

Sorry for all the ellipses... that's just how I take notes...

Anyone else hear this yet? What do you think?













[Edited on 31-3-2003 by seacaptain]

Aggghhh, I can't believe you broke your streak and downloaded an album in advance! You wouldn't even do that for the White Stripes, I recall.

I haven't heard it yet, but may devote a good hour tomorrow to pulling down "A Wolf At The Door" and "Go To Sleep," they sound intriguing. On to pollstar to see what the tour dates are.

Yea I wouldn't have dl'ed it if I hadn't heard 12 of the 14 songs from live concerts. Since I already knew them, I just went ahead.

I'm DYING here for the US tour dates. I'm hoping they hit before I start school, but it doesn't look likely. A venue in Utah says they'll be in there on Aug 28. Looks like they'll be in Europe in July and Japan in early August, which is when I'd be free to travel and see them.

There is a rumor of some festival in NY in early June though. I can't plan any of this though until I hear from those last two schools... argh what's taking them so long?

Turns out that the circulating mix is probably not the final one.

So now I'm glad I grabbed it!

I have to admit I wasn't extremely impressed when I first downloaded these tracks online.
But now that Ive bought the actual album, and listened to it for awhile I totally love it.
Wolf At the Door is my fav.

I forgot I wrote all that.

It's funny how looking at it, my opinion of the songs has pretty much stayed the same... even though I definitely agree with Daniel that the final mix is much more impressive. I'm still not into the same songs I wasn't back then, and my favorites on first listen are still my favorites now!

I'm totally underwhelmed [sic] by the album

Quote:

Originally posted by :Mark: I'm totally underwhelmed [sic] by the album

Get Brian Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets and Pere Ubu's Modern Dance.

Then say, where have I heard sounds like this before.

Then play Hail to the Thief again.

Thom's a pretty astute musical thief.

I saw them live a few weeks prior.

I LOVE RADIOHEAD! my fav band! just saw them live a bit ago the new album is great! payed for mine

All hail Thom Yorke as the misunderstood musical and lyrical genius he really is. By the way, i think I read something a couple of weeks ago, naming Radiohead the best band ever.

only ever downloaded 2 alBums, and they were the advanced/promo albums u get off soulseek. they were elbow-cast of thousand and funeral for a friend-casually dressed. i would never download an album i can buy in the stores, its just worong. but radiohead, yes, not bad, new album is ok, but not a patch on bands like doves,interpol and elbow. offered a ticket to the show next month in london, but £30, i dont think so! thom yorkes attitude also pisses me off, oh, and his hair

i like their hail to the thief album. i really love there, there. i haven't listened to it enough though bc a certain band has dominated most of my listening. haha.

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuckles All hail Thom Yorke as the misunderstood musical and lyrical genius he really is. By the way, i think I read something a couple of weeks ago, naming Radiohead the best band ever.

yes! hail to the great THOM! (and Jonny) can you tell I'm a BIG fan (see picture to the left) lol, anyway I think Radiohead is one of the best bands ever!
has anyone heard any Radiohead b-sides. I just love them. If you havn't your missing out on some great stuff!!!!!!!
Talk show host, polyethylene (pts. 1 and 2), banana co., kinetic...... all great stuff.
They are the BEST band I have seen live, ever!
:D I could go on and on about Radiohead! (can you tell)