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| Hail to the Thief | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hail to the Thief |
| Type | studio |
| Artist | Radiohead |
| Released | 9 June 2003 |
| Recorded | 2002–2003 |
| Studio | Ocean Way, Abbey Road, Ocean Studios, Carriage House, Tarbox Road |
| Length | 47:23 |
| Label | Parlophone, Capitol, EMI |
| Producer | Nigel Godrich, Radiohead |
Hail to the Thief
Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2003. The album synthesizes elements from the band's previous work on The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac while engaging with contemporary events such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq and debates involving Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and the United Nations; it features production by Nigel Godrich and contributions from Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, and Philip Selway. Critics noted its blending of alternative rock, electronic music, and art rock influenced by acts like Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Talk Talk, Can, and The Beatles.
Radiohead began writing the record after touring for Amnesiac and performing at festivals such as Glastonbury Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and Reading Festival. Sessions took place at studios including Abbey Road Studios, Ocean Way Recording, and Tarbox Road Studios with producer Nigel Godrich, drawing engineers familiar with projects by David Bowie, Paul McCartney, R.E.M., U2, and Coldplay. The band referenced techniques from albums like Revolver, Kid A, and Loveless while experimenting with synths from manufacturers such as Yamaha, Roland Corporation, and Moog Music. Recording personnel had histories with artists including Beck, Bjork, PJ Harvey, Nine Inch Nails, and Radiohead’s peers Tricky and Massive Attack. Sessions overlapped with political dialogues involving Noam Chomsky, George Monbiot, Alastair Campbell, and cultural responses tied to the Iraq War protests in cities like London, New York City, Paris, and Madrid.
Musically, the album juxtaposes guitar-driven tracks reminiscent of The Bends and textural electronics akin to Kid A, referencing rhythms found in works by Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and grooves linked to James Brown and Sly Stone. Thom Yorke’s lyrics address themes associated with figures such as George W. Bush, Tony Blair, José María Aznar, and institutions like the Central Intelligence Agency and the European Union; they also evoke imagery connected to locales including Baghdad, Washington, D.C., London, and Istanbul. Jonny Greenwood employed string and ondes Martenot techniques that recall composers Olivier Messiaen and Bernard Herrmann, and the arrangements nod to influences like Ennio Morricone, Kraftwerk, Can, and Brian Eno. Song structures alternate between the pop concision of The Beatles’s late work and the extended atmospherics of Pink Floyd and Radiohead-adjacent contemporaries Sigur Rós and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Radiohead released the album through labels including Parlophone, Emi Records, and Capitol Records and promoted it with singles and videos directed by filmmakers linked to Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, and Jonathan Glazer. They performed songs from the album on television programs such as Late Show with David Letterman, Top of the Pops, and Saturday Night Live, and at concert venues like Madison Square Garden, Royal Albert Hall, and festivals including Reading Festival and Glastonbury Festival. Marketing intersected with online distribution practices explored by Apple Inc. and debates involving Napster, Kazaa, and iTunes Store; the band navigated relationships with executives at EMI Group and managers with connections to Michael Jackson’s industry cohort and agents from WME and CAA.
Contemporary reviews compared the album to Radiohead’s previous milestones OK Computer and Kid A, with critics referencing publications such as Rolling Stone, NME, Pitchfork, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Independent, and Melody Maker. Commentators situated the work alongside experimental albums by Kate Bush, R.E.M., The Smiths, The Cure, U2, and Blur. Over time the record has been discussed in books and documentaries about Radiohead and modern rock alongside filmmakers and authors who have covered Britpop, Post-punk, Grunge, and Electronica. Its political overtones have been cited in analyses involving scholars like Mark Fisher and commentators such as Jon Savage and Greil Marcus, and it influenced artists from Coldplay to Arcade Fire, Interpol, The National, Muse, Foals, Alt-J, Sufjan Stevens, and Flying Lotus.
Standard editions featured tracks sequenced to evoke earlier albums such as The Bends and surreptitiously reference titles associated with Kid A sessions; formats included CD, vinyl LP, cassette, and digital releases on services like iTunes and platforms discussed alongside YouTube and Myspace. Special editions and Japanese releases contained bonus tracks and artwork produced in collaboration with designers linked to Storm Thorgerson, Stanley Donwood, Paul Smith, and agencies that have worked with Virgin Records and Universal Music Group.
Credits list band members Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Philip Selway; producer and engineer Nigel Godrich; contributing musicians and string players with ties to ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra and session engineers who worked with George Martin, Alan Parsons, Trevor Horn, Daniel Lanois, and Brian Eno. Packaging and art direction involved collaborators associated with Tate Modern, Saatchi Gallery, XL Recordings, and visual artists who have exhibited alongside Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.
The album debuted at number one in several markets including the United Kingdom Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, selling strongly in territories such as the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia. It achieved certifications from organizations like the British Phonographic Industry, the Recording Industry Association of America, and the Australian Recording Industry Association and featured on year-end charts compiled by Billboard, Official Charts Company, and Oricon.
Category:2003 albums Category:Radiohead albums