Radiohead Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009)
Radiohead's Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009) arrives as a bracing archive of live energy that reframes songs from the band's early-2000s era as urgent, politically charged performance pieces. Across two professional reviews, critics point to the record's ability to turn studio austerity into cathartic release, answering the practical question of whether Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009) is worth a listen with a largely affirmative critical consensus.
Critics consistently highlight standout live tracks that emerge as the record's core: “2 + 2 = 5 - Live”, “Myxomatosis - Live” and “There, There - Live”. Rolling Stone praises the visceral jolt of “There, There” and the hard-rocking momentum that channels political anger into palpable concert heat, while Pitchfork emphasizes how “2 + 2 = 5 - Live” and “Myxomatosis - Live” expand and sear with newfound immediacy. Both reviews also single out “Go To Sleep - Live” and “A Wolf At the Door - Live” for their manic buzz and theatrical bite, making clear answers to searches for the best songs on Hail To The Thief.
The package earned an 80.5/100 consensus score across 2 professional reviews, with reviewers agreeing that the release functions as an archival corrective and a document of performance catharsis. Some nuance appears in how much the live transformations improve upon the originals, but the critical consensus signals that fans and newcomers curious about the record's political unease and historical context will find the live takes both revealing and emotionally immediate. For those scanning Hail To The Thief reviews, the collection positions itself as a vital live companion to the studio era it revisits.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
There, There - Live
1 mention
"For some of us “There There” will always be the definitive Radiohead classic"— Rolling Stone
Myxomatosis - Live
2 mentions
""Myxomatosis," groovy but kind of nauseous on record, gets juiced here to wild levels of power, its main riff practically growing legs"— Pitchfork
2 + 2 = 5 - Live
2 mentions
"From the first crackling expansion of “2+2=5,” we meet a Radiohead who are very much cooking."— Pitchfork
For some of us “There There” will always be the definitive Radiohead classic
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
2 + 2 = 5 - Live
Sit Down. Stand Up - Live
Sail To The Moon - Live
Go To Sleep - Live
Where I End and You Begin - Live
We Suck Young Blood - Live
The Gloaming - Live
There, There - Live
I Will - Live
Myxomatosis - Live
Scatterbrain - Live
A Wolf At the Door - Live
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Radiohead’s Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009) feels like a furious document of a band at peak live ferocity, and the best songs here - notably “There, There” and “2 + 2 = 5” - practically leap off the stage. Rob Sheffield writes with that bar-room argument energy, insisting that for some of us “There, There” remains the definitive Radiohead classic and the electric jolt of those drums is unforgettable. He frames the package as a necessary archival corrective, celebrating the band’s political rage in hard-rocking momentum while still finding tenderness in quieter moments like “I Will”. The result answers searches for the best tracks on Hail To The Thief by pointing straight to those live standouts and the visceral intensity that makes them sing.
Key Points
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The live recording of “There, There” stands out as the definitive, electrifying showcase of Radiohead’s onstage power.
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The album’s core strengths are its ferocious live energy, political fury translated into hard-rock momentum, and occasional quiet catharsis.
Themes
Critic's Take
Radiohead’s Hail To The Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009) makes a persuasive case for why the best tracks on the album - notably “2+2=5” and “Myxomatosis” - feel bigger and more immediate live. The reviewer’s ear lingers on how “2+2=5” opens with a "crackling expansion" that announces a band "very much cooking," while “Myxomatosis” is described as being "juiced" to wild levels, its riff practically galloping. There is also praise for “Go to Sleep” and “A Wolf at the Door” for their manic buzz and caustic theatricality, respectively, making clear why listeners asking "best songs on Hail To The Thief" should start with these live takes. Overall the review emphasizes that the live versions transform studio austerity into cathartic immediacy, which is the album’s chief triumph.
Key Points
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The best song is the live “Myxomatosis” because it is "juiced" to wild power and its riff is vividly energized.
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The album’s core strength is transforming studio austerity into cathartic, immediate live performances.
Themes
