HAIL TO THE THIEF

This was supposed to be a return of the guitar and thankfully it is back, just not as much as I would like. Overall this album still has a lot of electronics to it but they have tried to balance the songs that are songs, and the songs that focus on soundscapes. I like half this album quite a bit, while the other half I could take it or leave it.

"2+2=5" a title taken from the George Orwell book "1984" takes 2 minutes before it kicks in and the wait was worth it ! Nice opening track. Yes, there is some good guitar too. "Sit Down Stand Up" like the first song takes some time to develope. 3 minutes in we get some fast paced percussion,and the vocals also pick up the pace. Synths are shooting all over the place. "Sail To The Moon" is a dreamy tune with mournful vocals. Piano leads the way on this great song. "Backdrifts" features electronics, vocals and percussion. Piano comes in late.

"Go To Sleep" is one of my favourites with strummed guitar and more upbeat vocals. "Where I End And You Begin" has a good beat to it and instrumentally reminds me of the STONE ROSES. "We Suck Young Blood" has weak, fragile vocals and I don't really like this one. We do get an outburst 3 minutes in. "The Gloaming" is another one i'm not too fond of,too experimental. "There There" is another favourite with some good guitar 4 minutes in. This one is simple yet catchy. "I Will" is a mournful sounding song that could have fit well on "Ok Computer". "A Punchup At A Wedding" has a good groove to it with vocal melodies to open and close it. "Myxomatosis" actually has some energy ! It reminds me of Gary Numan at times. "Scatterbrain" might be the best song on the album. Guitars and drums are great. "A Wolf At The Door" is ok, the vocal melodies before 2 minutes are good.

Good but not essential.