Radiohead: Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003–2009)

After three brilliant, experimental, studio-focused albums (OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac), Radiohead was in the mood to change things up. 2003’s Hail to the Thief was its bid to return to the aggressive rock found in 1995’s The Bends. Songs became shorter, and studio sessions shrunk from painstaking years to weeks of quick takes. Importantly, and by design, every song, even those with heavy electronic elements, could be performed live. So it was natural that, 20 years after Hail’s release, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke would revisit the many live recordings of the album’s songs. He found the band nearly unrecognizable, stating, “I was shocked at the energy behind the way we played.” Indeed, though the studio versions are by no means moribund, the live performances teem with Nirvana-like power. This is Radiohead at its performative best. Besides being more engaging, the enthusiastic playing helps counterbalance the pervasively pessimistic lyrics. Live or not, Hail remains an incongruous mix of Radiohead excellence and dispensable electronica. But when the crowd literally and contagiously goes wild at the opening to “There, There,” it’s clear that this Hail is essential for Radiohead fans. As a bonus, the sound is clear and open.