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Review of Radiohead's live collection revisiting the Hail to the Thief era through performances from 2003 to 2009.

Radiohead Reissues Hail to the Thief Live Recordings Capture a Turbulent Era

Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief Live Recordings gathers performances from 2003 to 2009, drawn from Dublin, Amsterdam, London and Buenos Aires. The package mirrors the studio album’s track list but presents the songs in electric, crowd-ready forms. The vinyl edition tightens the set to 12 tracks and 47 minutes, dropping Backdrifts and A Punchup at a Wedding.

The project grew from Thom Yorke's Hamlet inspired concept, with the band discovering an energy in the archive that felt almost like a different version of themselves. The decision to mix and release these performances turns what could have stayed in the vault into a cathartic public document, and it hints at more archival material to come.

The release reframes a politically charged record as a living, kinetic show, inviting listeners to hear how Radiohead improvised and how the crowd helped shape the night. It also highlights the balance of aggression and restraint that defined much of their live work in the 2000s, a contrast some fans feel is softened in studio versions.

By opening the vault, the band risks reigniting debates about the era’s politics but gains a broader window into their evolution. If more live material surfaces, it could deepen the sense of Radiohead as a band of moments rather than a fixed narrative, and it may recalibrate how listeners understand the Hail to the Thief period.

Highlights

The vault holds more stories than the stage ever told.