Opiate

just starting a little thread to see who here has heard it and what they think of it.

i only bought my copy yesterday and havent had a good chance to listen to it properly, though from what ive heard its a quality cd.

i dont really know that much radiohead, only recently getting into them, but ive digested Ok Computer and the bends and ive noticed hail to the thief has a slightly softer sound throughout it compared to the older cd's which i actually quite like. but then again this is only basing it on one listen the whole way through...

so far im really enjoying the first, second and ninth tracks.

ill get back to you all once ive had a proper listen a few times through

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Derwood

I just got it at Best Buy ($9.99...what a deal) and am listening to it as I type.

I really like it so far, and here is why. The band has successfully amalgamated the two sides of their musical personality on this disc. Whereas "The Bends" is a straightup guitar/bass/drums type album, and "Kid A" is very much based in electronica, "Hail to the Thief" nicely mixes the two. And I don't mean that it has some good "rock" songs and some good "electronic" songs. What I mean is that both styles are melded into the same songs. The song I'm listening to right now, "Myxamatosis", is just that. Real drums, real bass, some guitar overlay, but also some synthesized stuff for texture.

The song also has a return to some piano and acoustic guitar stuff that I really like. Overall, it's a continuation from "Amnesiac", which I really didn't think was that similar to "Kid A" like all the critics said. "Pyramid Song", "Knives Out", etc. on "Amnesiac" were mostly acoustic instruments, as are most tracks on "Hail to the Thief".

Sorry that this was a bit rambling, but haven't had enough listens to fully form my thoughts. Basically, I really like it.

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rockzilla

Wow, I didn't realize it was out already. I broke down and listened to a few of the leaked tracks a few months ago, and was immediately resolved to buy it when it came out. I think I'll have to wait until payday though.

Mr Scorcex

The few songs I managed to download were fantastic. Especially 'We Suck Young Blood" The hands clapping in the backround throughout were a pretty spooky effect. I really ought to buy it, but I have to wait until the little independent store in town gets it in.

apetaster

If you are big into them, Time just came out with some longish (for Time) article/interview with Yorke on the progression from OK Computer to Kid A to the new one. Was sort of written in a 'hipper than thou' manner but still might interest fans.

Mr.Deflok

Though I liked the last two albums (Kid A and Amnesiac) I didn't want a Boards of Canada style Radiohead album, more OK Computer is what I wanted.

So what I wanna know is if Hail to the Thief is more like OK Computer or if it's just media hype?

y2ktenchi

I'd say it's more "OK Computer" than "Kid A" or "Amnesiac". I think I would definitely agree that this album does a great job of combining the two styles of their albums into a happy medium.

I had a full length copy of the leaked album. I still bought the "special edition" release of this album when I saw it at Best Buy ($13.99).

Worth every single penny!

If you have a chance to see it, check out the video for "There, There".

Oh! For those with MTV2, Radiohead will be featured via their $2 Bill program. MTV2 filmed a live performance from the other week at the Beacon Theater in NYC. Jun 17th. Not sure what time though.

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fuelmyfire

what's with Coldplay and Radiohead being so alike?

even the There There video looks like some coldplay video that i don't know the name of right now.

by the way, this post is in favour of Radiohead.

Nooze2k

Just bought it today... well yesterday technically... for $12.99 CAN at Future Shop, marked down from $22.99. Can't go wrong with that! Listened through the whole album twice so far, and yes I listened to the leaked version a while back. From what I can tell, there is no difference whatsoever.

Great album though! Like others have said, it's basically the combination of all their previous "sounds" all rolled into one. A couple songs are a little too electronic for my tastes, like Backdrifts (track 4). Other than that though it gets an A+ in my books.

BTW... whats added to the special edition to make it "special"?

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Scipio

Coldplay and Radiohead aren't that similar if you listen to them. They're in the same genre, more or less, but Coldplay is much easier to listen to.

I just downloaded HttF, and 4 tracks in, I like it. No surprises there. I'll agree that it's a move toward rock from where Kid A was, but it's not the rock album that Ok Computer was.

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Derwood

Please don't compare Coldplay and Radiohead. I love both bands, but they are coming from two different planets as far as how they write music. Coldplay is a lot more straightforward, while Radiohead will (and does) try everything.

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Scipio

Tracks 1, 2, 9, and 12 are real cool. I like hail to the thief. Nothing revolutionary, but it's more radiohead to listen to.

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Eggy

"2+2=5" and "There, There" are my favorite tracks. "A Punchup at a Wedding" and "Go To Sleep" are good too.

Spektr

My opinion is totally biased because I fucking love Radiohead. I think Hail to the Thief is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. They're a very cocky band and this album, along with their others gives them MORE than enough reason to be. No band can experiment to the degree they do and come off as legitimate. I can't say enough about this album. It's just...amazing.

Tha Sewer

i love radiohead but it seems their last 3 cds are all the exact same. i mean if you put all three cds together and on random...you couldnt tell which was off what cd. i know that amnesiac and kid a were recorded all at once but i thought they would kinda change it up a little. regardless, its a great cd and i recommend it to anyone.

Derwood

I couldn't disagree more, but to each his own. I don't even think that Amnesiac sounds at all like Kid A...

conversequietus

I heard the album a couple of days after it came out and it's good. I still think OK Computer is their best, but this is good. It sounds like more of a mesh of Kid A and The Bends, IMO. That's all.

Tom Thumb

Radiohead may be the only truly important band right now. They're the only seriously innovative mainstream band. At least, the only one I can think of that isn't emulating previous music.

HTTT, naturally, is excellent.

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bleeckerx

hey guys i got the early stuff that got leaked online, enjoyed it. however the band claimed it was an early mix and the final version was very different. Is this true? Who here has heard the leak and then the final version??

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The Hollow

I'm big Radiohead fan, and I've gotta say, HTTT is fantastic. IMO, it's quite a bit better than Kid A an Amnesiac, and just below Ok Computer. The Bends reigns supreme for me though.

Tom Thumb: Lateralus has brought Tool into the mainstream somewhat, and IMO they are almost as important, if not just as much.

Tom Thumb

bleeckerx: It was a rough mix, though some songs, like "There There" haven't changed much. I'd recommend buying it either way. The packaging is even great.

The Hollow: I haven't liked the Tool I've heard so far, but I'll try again sometime.

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Tempboy

Just bought it yesterday..
haven't listened to it that much yet..
but it's fantastic so far.

Nothing beats OK Computer yet though.

Sleepyjack

HTTF is really a bit of a mix of OK Computer and Kid A/Amnesiac with a bit of where they are heading in the future mixed in. The one track that i don't particulary like is The Gloaming. Nor did i like Pulk pull revolving doors on Amnesiac. I don't really see how it fits in, although unlike Kid A and perhaps Ok Computer the tracks don't really follow each other or link together that well. Still a great album on its own merits.

As for music in general, i think the two most important and unique current day bands are Radiohead and Tool. And i recommend you try as hard as you can to get into Tool.

Sleepyjack

Oh, The Flmaing Lips are another important band. Perhaps not as well known or mainstream as Radiohead or Tool.

y2ktenchi

Sorry, I haven't been around much.

The "special edition" is in a paperboard single-fold case. It flips open. The top part has the lyrics/credits booklet attached to it and an additional fold-out section that is a poster-sized ... poster of the album cover.

The CD slips into the lower half.

I haven't heard much difference between the leaked version (I have it) and the released version aside from the fact that the released version sounds much "cleaner" because it hadn't gone through the MP3 ripping process.

Definitely worth buying.

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sdkh

Hail to the Thief, to me, is Radiohead's ever-present distinction of being experimental but I feel that they're also getting back to their "rock" roots as well. I think it's an excellent album. I had all the tracks about a month before it came out and loved it.
When I heard "There There" on the radio the DJ described Kid A and Amnesiac as "weird noise but the new album has guitars and stuff... IT'S COOL" which just shows you how appreciative even local "pop" icons are of diversity in a band's repertoire.
Radiohead has probably gotten the most exposure and promotion for this album than any other band I've seen. Luckily they're all smart enough to stay out of the mainstream sound.
I don't have a favorite Radiohead album. I love all of them and just consider them all part of a volume of one great piece of music. Radiohead rules!!!
Oh, and about comparing them to Coldplay: Coldplay is much more easy listening than Radiohead for the masses. It's not quite as artistic, IMO. Radiohead is by far my favorite band.

yeah.

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Derwood

That DJ you heard is a fucking idiot! Weird Noise? Did he listend to Amnesiac? Pyramid Song, Knives Out? This has no guitars, drums, piano?

I hate people

ThatOnePerson

i loved this album, i cant describe why though. as far as tool being super great... i used to like them, but they ae way too anti-religion for me...

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druptight

i think it's better than Kid A and Amnesiac, and close behind OK Computer. I only wish it was longer. i'm a huge radiohead fan, i can't wait to see them in Boston on August 13th!!! rock and roll.

fuelmyfire

"We Suck Young Blood" has been the only thing coming out of my CD player as of late.

...what's with the Copy Protection thing on the CD?

I don't understand what they're trying to accomplish. I can rip the tracks no problem (i was only experimenting)

Any info about this?

trouble

"coldplay is Radiohead for dummies"

fuelmyfire

well said. that about sums it up.

Derwood

Sorry, but you are an idiot. Coldplay doesn't try to sound like Radiohead, they don't try to act like Radiohead....why does everyone compare them? "UM, they are both British, and they have shoes, and some of them have hair and stuff."

STFU!

fuelmyfire

oh well, this just one of those things where everyone has their own opinion....and they are both, equally valid.

i will always believe (as a huge Radiohead fan, but not so much a Coldplay fan) that Coldplay sounds like old Radiohead.
nothing can convince me otherwise.

Maybe if i were more of a Coldplay fan i would have a developed taste for their sound and the Radiohead undertones would disappear.

so, how about we leave it at that.

Troublebot

Radiohead is one of the few bands today that I'll pick up without hearing a track off their new album. I just know I'm going to like where they went, even if they're only playing accordians and timbale.

I've gone through HTTT a few times and find it more palpable than the last couple albums. More instruments. More sparce and a little less atmospheric. However, it draws some qualities of the last albums in. It's an excellent mix.

Plus, I can't get "Punchup at a Wedding" out of my head.

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Derwood

Yes, let's leave it at that. Sorry I snapped, but I hear this comparison all the time, and being big fans of both bands, I just don't see it (or see any need to compare any two bands).

I say let them do their own thing....they are both powerful enough to do what they want to do, and there is no reason we can't enjoy both.

Eviltree

The video for 'there there' is ultra-wicked. I also downloaded the song, but plan on buying the album.

emopwr

Perfect cd to chill out and smoke a j to.

chocolatyshatnr

Anyone really interested in Radiohead should check out Tago Mago, Future Days, and Ege Bamyasi by Can. I think you can really hear the influence they had on later Radiohead.

nico

Good album