Queen bitch
The Empire Strikes Back
I have taken receipt of the new Kasabian album, Empire. It is a mighty beast. We've had the five-track sampler in the car for a couple of weeks and it has made the drive from Wimbledon to Reigate (one we make often) that much more epic. The downside is that we now know five of the tracks, including the single Empire - a number 9 hit, radically released on the same day as it was debuted on the radio last Monday - much better than the remaining six. This will soon be rectified. I know Kasabian are not to everyone's taste with their greasy hair, their messianic pronouncements and their Leicesterness, but they make music of such swagger and scope I can forgive them (not that I believe coming from the fine city of Leicester is something that needs forgiving). Their debut album, which turned my head relatively late at the very beginning of 2005 just as they had their biggest hit with Cutt Off, restored my faith in the inventiveness of British rock. It's dirty, loud, lyrically original ("John was a scientist/He was hooked on LSD/Interested in mind control/And how the monkey held the key") and it works as a cohesive whole. No laurel-rester, Empire is a great leap forward. It's still recognisably them, but they're pushing in a number of new directions, notably Glam on Shoot The Runner, Dylanesque on British Legion and Chemical Brothers-style dance on tracks whose names I don't yet have on the tip of my tongue. Could be one of my albums of the year. And if you haven't seen the epic Napoleonic war-themed video ("Stop!") watch it on their website. Anybody else hear the single and think of the Colourbox World Cup Theme? Back me up on this.
Oh, and nice to be back.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 7:53 AM
8 Comments
Contact
Andrew at
8 Comments:
Long time no see! I was having withdrawal symptoms. Kasabian, though? They're just not geeky enough for me.
They were potty mouths at Glastonbury last year, weren't they? That's usually not a good sign. I quite liked Cutt Off, if that's what it was called, but it was distinctly reminiscent of a Radiohead song, wasn't it? Is there a pattern emerging here?
Long time no see - where've you been? :-)
You know you don't feature on Chelsea's "famous alumni" list? You should get onto them about that - your book is still doing the rounds in my department.
Px
"Anybody else hear the single and think of the Colourbox World Cup Theme?"
I didn't. But I do now.
Cutt Off like Radiohead? No way! It's not dissimilar to Oasis but Radiohead?
Aidan: you might like to Google
"cutt off" radiohead just
Andrew: I was half asleep during today's show (my fault not yours) but would it be true to say you didn't play anything by Cud?
Dave, I forgot to play Cud. Will rectify in two weeks' time. Cud, though, are playing live on Gideon Coe's show this week on Wednesday! (I get the day off next Sunday as it's the Summer Sundae.)
Wow, thanks for flagging that up Andrew. I will be listening (and awake).
Post a Comment
<< Home