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KASABIAN
RATING: 7
PLAY THESE: CLUB FOOT, TEST TRANSMISSION, U BOATS
SKIP THESE: NONE
Finally! It's about time one of these over hyped new British bands actually delivered the goods. And electronic rock newcomers Kasabian (cool name!) do just that on their eponymous debut album, and in so doing restore my faith in the future of British music. So what do these guys sound like? The Stone Roses and Primal Scream immediately spring to mind, as does Pop era U2, which comes as a bit of a surprise (to me, at least). The main riff in the album opener 'Club Foot' sounds quite a lot like 'Discotheque,' and 'Test Transmission' sounds quite a lot like something else U2 has done that I can't quite put my finger on.
Influences aside, Kasabian has something special going on, whether its the catchy hooks, the huge made-for-arena riffs, the ear-catching FX, or singer Tom Meighan's druggy Jagger-like vocals - these guys have the potential to do something really, really big in the future. The aforementioned 'Club Foot, ' is one of the most powerful new songs I've heard in a while, and 'Processed Beats' effortlessly takes old school Madchester beats and catchy Britpop hooks and updates them for the new millennium. Really, there's nothing to criticize about this album, although I suppose that the incessant dance beats start to sound a little bit samey in the middle of the album. However, the haunting epic ballad 'U Boats' is certainly a nice unexpected surprise at the very end, and points to future greatness (if they don't get too deep into the drug culture, that it). Wow, that track is good.
All in all, I really like this album, and would highly recommend it. I truly only decided to review this album because I'll be seeing Kasabian open for Oasis and Jet in Vancouver next week, and I wanted to get the scoop on them. Needless to say, I won't be showing up late - I want to see how this band performs live.
RATING: 7
PLAY THESE: SHOOT THE RUNNER, BY MY SIDE, STUNTMAN
SKIP THESE: ME PLUS ONE
Not that bad, but not that good either, Kasabian's second album 'Empire' has positioned the band as one of the future hopes of the Brit rock music scene in spite of its obvious shortcomings. OK, the first sentence was a little harsh, but I still don't think this one is a consistent as the debut album. There are a few songs that absolutely scream "FILLER!!" (like the baffling straight ahead pop of 'Me Plus One'), and it goes without saying that the band was scrambling at the last minute to get the album finished just before due date. Why? Kasabian's been on the road alot lately. These guys are probably pretty tired, so I guess that the album is just fine for what it is.
There are quite a few songs that kick considerable ass on Empire. Among them are the dance-club/heavy guitar hybrid 'Aponea," which is anything but sleep-inducing, as well as the title track, which brims with a stoned, measured confidence that only a great band can pull off. 'Shoot The Runner' is the song of the album. It would sound great in an arena, with a shout-along chorus that most bands will kill to be able to write with the ease that Kasabian seems to. The George Martin-wannabe strings mesh well with the heavy, propulsive drums and ubiquitous samples on 'By My Side,' and the synthesizer loops on the futuristic-sounding 'Stuntman' are more than a little reminiscent of 'On The Run' from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The fact that there's a hook in the chorus only adds to the track's quality - a definite highlight.
If you want to know if this is an album that needs to be listened to, the answer is an emphatic "yes." That being said, the main thing that sticks out about this album is that it shows what Kasabian could be capable of in the future if things continue to work in the band's favor. If these guys can stay off the hard drugs for a few more years they could very well be one of the best bands in the world, and if given enough time to properly complete a new album, Kasabian could produce a classic one.
Related Reviews: Oasis and Jet