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Kaiser Chiefs - Employment

Rating

RIYL

Futureheads
Bloc Party
New Order
The Clash

Label

Universal Republic

Tracklist

1. Everyday I Love You Less and Less
2. I Predict A Riot
3. Modern Way
4. Na Na Na Na Naa
5. You Can Have It All
6. Oh My God
7. Born To Be A Dancer
8. Saturday Night
9. What Did I Ever Give You
10. Time Honoured Tradition
11. Caroline, Yes
12. Team Mate

The UK has made its way into America many times in many different forms. Those forms come in fashion, cooking, drinking, technology, and many others. (Put on your sarcasm caps) Oh yeah, there is also that teeny tiny bit of musical influence that the U.S. has taken from them too. So with England’s latest invasion into the states, we have a band known as Kaiser Chiefs.

Employment is the latest offering from the UK’s Kaiser Chiefs. This Leeds quintet has been stirring up quite the Britpop buzz not only in England, but also here in the states. Taking nods from the likes of The Clash, and Madness, and also sounding a bit like Franz Ferdinand, and The Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs are looking to the past while running to the future.

The fist pumping fun of Employment stays steady throughout the first half of the album. Then the latter half is a bit sporadic on the more up-tempo songs, and the disc slows down a great deal on the last fourth of the disc. The hit single on this disc is “I Predict a Riot” although any song could easily be chosen due to it’s excellent crafting and an irresistibly poppy sound. Even the slower tunes toward the end of the album have some sweet pop sensibilities.

Of the few slower tracks on this album there is a track that stands out in particular. It is a tune called “Time Honoured Tradition.” It starts with a verse that sounds quite akin to Irish drinking songs, and the choruses then break into a chorus of “oh oh’s and la la’s” then settles back into the verses. The song fluctuates between highs and lows, but finally ends as a picture of stein-filled fists clanking together comes to mind.

So overall this disc is something that is worth several spins in your player, but it might not keep itself around all too long. However, you should at least do yourself and check this disc out. Whether it be full-time, part-time, or one time, give Kaiser Chiefs employment in your cd player.

-Brandon Carter