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Rating: An unfortunate career for the Kaiser Chiefs: convincing debut, half-disappointing second album, third album offering no hope for the future.
Meanwhile, let's focus on the first (and only album I'll review from the band in question, as it is more interesting), "Employment", released in 2005. The Kaiser Chiefs are a band from Leeds, named after the Kaizer Chiefs, a South African football team where their idol played at the start of his career, Lucas Radebe, captain of Leeds United from '97 to 2001.
The group, led by Ricky Wilson, a wacky singer who's a mix between Damon Albarn and a Robbie Williams under the influence of alcohol, is fun and enjoyable, capable of blending the garage/rock sounds characteristic of these years in Albion with the more synth and LCD SoundSystem-like styles. The Kaiser Chiefs are essentially the Blur in a modern key (listen to Ruby, Modern Way, and Caroline, Yes) to notice the similarity of the Kaiser with the Colchester group), and upon debuting in 2005 with this record, they disappoint no one.
The album opens with "Everyday I Love You Less And Less", a highly appreciable song with a frenetic and engaging rhythm and a decidedly amusing lyric ("Everyday I love you less and less, I can't believe once you and me did sex, it makes me sick to think of you undressed"). After a great, energetic, and convincing start, we move on to the second track, "I Predict A Riot", similar in style and structure to the previous song, Ricky Wilson proves to be a decent singer and the drummer, Nick Hodgson, who wrote all the lyrics, is a good lyricist. After two amazing singles, we transition to a much calmer and more mature song (and perhaps this is a bit of what people expected from them over time), "Modern Way", whose video I find absolutely brilliant. While with Na Na Na Na Naa the album doesn't gain anything except indeed some annoying "Na Na Na Na Naa" emitted by Nick Hodgson (a copycat song to the first two in goal, namely to get you moving), with the subsequent "You Can Have It All" (nice) but especially with the album's emblematic song "Oh My God", the band reaches the highlight of their work: who wouldn't find themselves tapping their feet and shouting along with the singer "Oh my goood I can't believe It!!" outside of any rational framework?
With "Born To Be A Dancer" and "Saturday Night", two songs certainly enjoyable with good rhythm and an incredible energy, the album confirms itself as pleasant and fast in how it harnesses its energy. With the last 4 songs (excluding the nice Caroline, Yes), nothing significant is added to the album, and it closes leaving the listener not entirely satisfied, likely wondering what might happen to a band that churns out 12 nice songs, but all practically the same; indeed, the band will attempt again 2 years later, not convincing the public and critics with "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" (which overall isn’t dreadful) and in 2008 with "Off With Their Heads", in my opinion a complete disaster. Perhaps on Ricky Wilson's group's part, there was too much eagerness to do everything in a short time, hoping to convince everyone they were a prodigy band: unfortunately for the Kaiser Chiefs, they didn't succeed, "Employment" turns out to be a nice record, but it's good to listen to once, twice, maybe thrice... but in the end, it becomes tiring, and when a band starts creating not only all the same songs, but also all the same albums, it starts to exhaust you too. Had they taken a different path from the second album (writing more songs like Modern Way or Love's Not A Competition, But I'm Winning, the latter being on the second album) they might now be better regarded by the global critics and audience.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Everyday I Love You Less and Less (03:37)
Everyday I love you less and less
It's good to see that you’ve become obsessed
I got to get this message to the press
That everyday I love you less and less
And everyday I love you less and less
I’ve got to get this feeling off my chest
The doctor says all I need is some rest
Since everyday I love you less and less
Unless, unless
I know, I feel it in my bones,
I’m sick, I’m tired
Of staying in control
Oh yes, I feel, a rat upon the wheel
I got to know what's not and what is real
Oh yes, I’m stressed
I’m sorry I digress
Impressed, you dressed to S.O.S.
Oooooh and my parents love me
Oooooh and my girlfriend loves me
Oooooh
Everyday I love you less and less
I can't believe onceyou and me did sex
It makes me sick to think of you undressed
Since everyday I love you less and less
And everyday I love you less and less
You’re turning into something I detest
And everybody says that you're a mess
Since everyday I love you less and less
Unless unless
I know, I feel it in my bones,
I’m sick I’m tired
Of staying in control
Oh yes, I feel, a rat upon the wheel
I got to know what's not and what is real
Oh yes, I’m stressed
I’m sorry I digress
Impressed, you dressed to S.O.S.
Oooooh and my parents love me
Oooooh and my girlfriend loves me
Oooooh they keep photos of me
Oooooh that's enough love for me
Oooooh
Oooooh and my parents love me
Oooooh and my girlfriend loves me
Oooooh they keep photos of me
Oooooh that's enough love for me
Oooooh
02 I Predict a Riot (03:53)
Watching the people get lairy
Is not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
And not very sensible either
A friend of a friend he got beaten
He looked the wrong way at a policeman
Would never have happened to Smeaton
And old Leodiensian
La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I tried to get in my taxi
A man in a tracksuit attacked me
He said that he saw it before me
Wants to get things a bit gory
Girls run around with no clothes on
To borrow a pound for a condom
If it wasn't for chip fat, well they'd be frozen
They're not very sensible
La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there
Watching the people get lairy
Is not very pretty I tell thee
Walking through town is quite scary
And not very sensible
La-ah-ah, la la lalala la
Ah-ah-ah, la la lalala la
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
And if there's anybody left in here
That doesn't want to be out there
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
I predict a riot, I predict a riot
03 Modern Way (04:03)
I know cause I've seen it
It was grey and I want it
There's no point in sitting
Going crazy on my own
Do you know what
I was put here in the world for
Could you tell me
In three words or more?
It's the only way of getting out of here
It's the only way of getting out of here
Take a lesson
From the ones who have been there
My brain is not damaged
But in need of some repair
Hold on to the basics
But we can't change all our tactics
There's no point sitting
Going crazy on your own
It's the only way of getting out of here
It's the only way of getting out of here
This is the modern way
Faking it everyday
Taking it as we come
We're not the only ones
Is that what we used to say
This is the modern way?
I know where I'm going
And that we are ever knowing
I will stop at nothing
Just to get what I want
It's the only way of getting out of here
It's the only way of getting out of here
This is the modern way
Faking it everyday
Taking it as we come
We're not the only ones
Is that what we used to say
This is the modern way?
This is the modern way
Faking it everyday
Taking them as we come
We're not the only ones
Is that what we used to say
This is the modern way?
04 Na Na Na Na Naa (03:01)
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
It does not move me it does not get me going at all
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
It does not shift me it's not the kind of thing that I like
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
It does not move me it's not the kind of thing that I like
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
She does not listen she's too wrapped up with all of her things
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
This does not get to me 'cos she's not the kind of girl that I like
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
She does not move me she's not the kind of girl that I like
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
It does not move me it's not the kind of thing that I like
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
It does not move me (it does not move me) it does not get me going at all
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
It does not shift me (it does not shift me) it's not the kind of thing that I like
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
It does not move me it's not the kind of thing that I like
Na Na Na Na Naa
Na Na Na Na Naa
06 Oh My God (03:35)
Time on your side that will never end
The most beautiful thing you can ever spend
But you work in a shirt with your nametag on it
Drifting apart like a plate tectonic
It don't matter to me
Cause all I wanted to be
Is a million miles from here
Somewhere more familiar
Too much time spent dragging the past up
I didn't see you not looking when I messed up
Settling down in your early twenties
Sucked more blood than a backstreet dentist
It don't matter to me
Cause all I wanted to be
Is a million miles from here
Somewhere more familiar
Oh my god, I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
Great rulers look for greater glory
The only thing growing is our history
Knock me down I'll get right back up again
It comes back stronger than a powered up Pac-Man
It don't matter to me
Cause all I wanted to be
Was a million miles from here
Somewhere more familiar
Oh my god, I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
Oh my god, I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
And Oh my, god I can't believe it
I've never been this far away from home
07 Born to Be a Dancer (03:30)
You and me were made (it's impossible to say)
To be together always
Then you moved away to the capital of England
I hoped you'd stay there
Once you ask me what I'm thinking
I lay back and think of England
Do you know my real answer
I was born to be a dancer
I came down at your (on the national express)
Request to touch your breasts and
There I found that you, you were hanging with a crowd
A load of cheats and liars
Do you know what I've been thinking
I lay back and think of England
Do you know my real answer
I was born to be a dancer
Once you ask me what I'm thinking
I lay back and think of England
Do you know my real answer
I was born to be a dancer
Do you know what I've been thinking
I lay back and think of England
Do you know my real answer
I was born to be a dancer
08 Saturday Night (03:27)
Suddenly there's a knock at your head
Don't let them in because they're trying to take your TV set
Happiness is the ball in your hand
You've got to try and throw this party just as far as you can
Creosote is pouring out of my brain
I swear I heard the floorboards, they were creaking your name
Get a room, get ahead, get a hat
We're going to hell anyway, let's travel first class
Cut through the city on a Saturday night
Watching the boys on their motorbikes
I wanna be like those guys
I wanna wear my clothes tight
With Matching jackets and a fistful of notes
New sneakers and a fresh pack of smokes
Pneumothorax is a word that is long
They're just trying to put some punk back into punctured lung
Panic over, party off, party on
Cause we are birds of a feather and you can be the fat one
Cut through the city on a Saturday night
Over your heads like a satellite
I wanna see what they see
I wanna love you like crazy
Cause camera are pointing right at your face
Can see into your room from outer space
Cut through the city on a Saturday night
It's not the size of the man in the fight
I wanna know what that does
I wanna show what matters
Cause it's the size of the fight in the man
That makes the difference and decides who is champ
Cut through the city on a Saturday night
Cause you and me are we're on the edge of the knife
Cut through the city on a Saturday night
I asked your mother and she said it's alright
We're getting married when we're thirty
I wanna do it on your birthday
Cause I don't wanna waste a moment with you
I just wanna live the whole night through
Cut through the city on a Saturday night
Cause you and me we're on the edge of the knife
09 What Did I Ever Give You? (04:09)
Head down, keep your head down
Keep your rent down over time
Hold tight, to your red stripe
Why do we fight every time?
I wish that you could see me in the day
I hope that you'll remember me that way
Nightclub, marlboro light stub
stuck to my gum all the time
I treat you
like you're see-through
I don't mean to
everytime
I wish that you could see me in the day
I hope that you'll remember me that way
What did I ever give you
When you wanted me to
All I gave you was pain
And a look of distain
What did I ever give you
When you wanted me to
All I gave you was grief
Are you sick to your teeth?
Disgraced
back to my place
I'm a complete waste
of your time
I'm asleep
before the first sheep
Until the last bleep
of all time
I wish that you could see me in the day
I hope that you'll remember me that way
What did I ever give you
When you wanted me to
All I gave you was pain
And a look of distain
What did I ever give you
When you wanted me to
All I gave you was grief
Are you sick to your teeth
What did I ever give you
When you wanted me to
All I gave you was pain
And a look of distain
What did I ever give you
When you wanted me to
All I gave you was grief
Are you sick to your teeth
What did I ever give you
When you wanted me to
All i gave you was grief
And a look of distain
What did i ever give you
When you wanted me to
All i gave you was grief
Are you sick to your teeth
What did i ever give you..
10 Time Honoured Tradition (02:45)
Well it's time honoured tradition
To get enough nutrition
Stay alive until you die
And that is the end of you
And I pity the fools
Who don't recognize the rules
We cannot cheat the reapers reap
And that is the end of that
That is the end of that
That is the end of that
That is the end of that
Ho ho ho ho...
Well it's not an old wives tale
Too much red meat and ale
Will make you pay get five a day
Or that is the end of you
And it's a common misconception
But true without exception
These nights of booze catch up with you's
And that is an actual fact
That is the end of that
That is the end of that
That is the end of that
Ho ho ho ho...
La lalala...
(instrumental)
Ho ho ho ho...
La lalala...
It's time honoured tradition
To get enough nutrition
Stay alive until you die
And that is the end of you
And I pity the fools
Who don't recognize the rules
We cannot cheat the reapers reap
And that is the end of that
11 Caroline, Yes (04:12)
You've done well my boy, my oh my
I bet you thought that you had one this time
Watch your back because revenge is sweet
And you are everything I wanna be
You got everything so why oh why
Did you have to take Caroline?
I bet you thought that was the death of me
Cause you are everything I wanna be
In my life
In my life
You got your way now and I got mine
But mine is better and it took less time
People say now that you look like me
Cause you are everything I wanna be
In my life
In my life
Aaaah...
Cause you are everything I wanna be
In my life
In my life
In my life
In my life
12 Team Mate (03:24)
We used to go out nightly
To the armoury
You used to be my team mate
Or that's the way it seemed
We lost our friends
Because you wanted to
They had no faith in you
I had faith in you
You said we don't need anybody new
It's just me and you
On a bicycle for two
Ah ah ahhh
We used to hold on tightly
And you relied on me
I used to to be your team mate
Or that's the way it seemed
We lost our friends
Because you wanted to
They had no faith in you
I had faith in you
We've been everything you wanted to
It was just me and you
On a bicycle for two
Ah ah ahhh
Ah ah ahhh
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Other reviews
By NorthernSoul
The problem is that it seems like dealing with 'interchangeable' bands.
They really add nothing to what is the modern rock scene, no innovation at the vocal level, let alone instrumental.
By BlurredFigure
The best comes with "I Predict A Riot" REALLY VERY BEAUTIFUL and I already think of electing Kaiser Chiefs heroes of the day.
Certainly to be avoided if you’re among those who hate lalalalala.
By Adil
The Kaiser Chiefs are less interesting than the explanation behind their sudden success.
Our five lads from Leeds still have much to learn if they want to release at least another couple of records before disappearing.
By Zerstorer
This English band offers an Indie Rock with electronic nuances, which is brilliant and original.
The most rock (and perhaps the best) piece of the entire album.
