Kasabian: Empire
Kasabian's new album takes things up a notch
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Monday, 28, Aug 2006 10:44
Columbia (Sony BMG), out now.
In a nutshell.
Frantic, imaginative, inspiring, authoritative, colossal
What's it all about?
Empire is Kasabian's second album following on from their hugely successful self titled LP released in 2004. This record is an amalgamation of the success the band has since had, the people they've met and the experiences that they've enjoyed. Me Plus One was written to get a stadium size crowd jumping and British Legion to finish off a festival defining set. Where the first album could sometimes become repetitive, Empire is full of ideas and continually surprises. At first The Doberman feels like another ID, just a track that gets you going and then quickly diminishes after a few listens. However as the track develops you realize the thought that's gone into it, just when you think it's finished Kasabian unleash some hellish noise that leaves you wanting to skip right back to the beginning. In basic terms, Empire was written not only to fill stadiums, but to provide real depth and emotion. The title suggests an album to oversee all others, and it doesn't disappoint. As Tom and Serge would no doubt have hoped this album paints the world red, or whatever colour Kasabian is.
Who's it by
Kasabian are a Leicester four piece who burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut and never looked back. They've headlined Hyde Park, left their mark at Glastonbury and sold a serious amount of records. Club Foot, LSF, Processed Beats and Reason is Treason are all popular anthems for a wide assortment of people. In their exploits they've attracted some impressive plaudits, perhaps none more so than Oasis. Both Liam and Noel both see something special in the band. Maybe it's because Tom and Serge form the focus and centre of Kasabian and will stop at nothing to see success, or maybe it's just because Noel knows a good tune when he hears one. Either way, expect Kasabian to be massive this year and cherish the fact that they're one of the few bands that Liam Gallagher doesn't want to do some serious damage to.
As an example.
"Shoot the runner/Shoot Shoot the Runner/ I'm the King and she's my Queen"
Shoot the Runner typifies Kasabian, the attitude and the arrogance combined with an extremely addictive tune and Tom and Serge's dystopian lyrics.
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Empire will more than likely be nominated for some big awards in the coming year. Some NME nominations are fairly likely as indeed are Brits. Kasabian have done well in America so far, so expect some US billboard activity.
What the others say
Observer Music Monthly: "4* - Empire is a massive record, as grandiloquent as Led Zep (check the rai strings on Me Plus One), as ear-shreddingly disco-fried as vintage Chemical Brothers (Apnoea), and fizzing with lager-aloft epics like Shoot the Runner"
So is it any good?
Empire is an instant classic; it will make the serious side of the music industry stand up and take notice as well as supplying the everyday fan with some addictive tunes and catchy lyrics. So much of the first album was repetition and stamping home a message; the lyrics were simple, the marketing effective and the live performances impressive. However this album takes it up a notch, awkward hooks and creativity replaces the repetitiveness and Empire demands another listen.
An ideal comparison would be with Oasis, imagine if What's the Story had come first and Definitely Maybe second. Definitely Maybe would still be the classic that sets the standard and What's the Story would be selling tickets to the average CD buyer who just loves to hear Wonderwall on a loop. The same will go with Kasabian, Empire has set the bar and it's a rarity these days to see a band deliver a second album that jumps up and down on the first.
If you look over Empire's individual tracks you see the thumping, attention grabbing attitude of Shoot the Runner, The Doberman, Stuntman and Empire. But you also see the interesting and diverse Last Trip (In Flight), British Legion, By My Side and Me Plus One.
This album can be operatic, joyous, reflective and inspiring all in the same package. There's a dark and creative side to Kasabian that can be seen not just in B-sides but in every note of Empire. Stand out tracks are most definitely Shoot the Runner and The Doberman. Stuntman is a possible second single, but this album's gems are in the tracks you wouldn't label as instantly Kasabian. British Legion is slow and mournful before becoming more jumpy and Apnoea sounds a little like something lost from Radiohead's Kid A.
From a negative perspective you could criticise the record for being too short, but it still packs a punch and there's no shortage of B-sides for the keen fan to explore. If this album had been a failure you couldn't fault Kasabian for effort, thankfully for them and us, Empire comes up trumps.
8/10
Karl Pike
To listen to the album click here.