On Hail to the Thief, Radiohead took advantage of their longest running time to date to quench the thirsts of resolute Bends devotees without losing their sense of adventurous drive or experimentation. Guitars churn and chime and sound like guitars more often than not; drums are more likely to be played by a human; and discernible verses are more frequently trailed by discernible choruses. At nearly an hour in length, the album doesn't unleash the terse blow delivered by its two predecessors. However, although it seems more like a bunch of songs on a disc rather than a singular body, its impact is substantial. Regardless of all the debates surrounding the group, Radiohead entered a second decade of record-making with a surplus of momentum. ~ Andy Kellman