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THE REVIEW
October 2008: somewhat surprisingly, the third album by the Kaiser Chiefs is released, titled “Off With Their Heads.” It's a breath of fresh air, containing very fresh sounds following those of the somewhat heavy “Yours Truly Angry Mob.”
The opening is entrusted to “Spanish Metal”, with guitar riffs that I would describe as Muse-like (don't kill me for this statement!). Then comes the first single, “Never Miss A Beat”, very catchy, with the participation of Lily Allen on backing vocals. The track talks about bullies and how not knowing anything, in the general opinion of students, is very “cool.”
Next is “Like It Too Much”, a great track featuring strings, with reminiscences of Blur’s “Great Escape” period. Then comes one of the highlights: “You Want History”, more electronic (where you can tell better that the producer is Mark Ronson)… the melodies are captivating and quite original, a candidate for the third single (speaking of reminiscences of Blur, this feels a lot like “Girls & Boys”).
New sounds, a bit more funk in “Good Days Bad Days”, the second single, very catchy and singable. Other gems very much in the Blur style follow: listen to “Tomato In The Rain”, “Half The Truth”, and especially “Always Happens Like That”, which wouldn’t have been out of place in “Modern Life Is Rubbish” as a potential single. “Addicted To Drugs” starts with Latin percussion and becomes a brit track that at times reminds me of “Walk Away” by Franz Ferdinand… The chorus is easily singable! It all closes with “Remember You’re A Girl”, acoustic and very calm, always very Blur-esque…
The only track that is somewhat negligible is “Can’t Say What I Mean”, a bit banal and avoidable in an album with so many gems…
Flaws? The only one is that the ghost of the party-era Blur from ’93-’95 haunts too often within the 35 minutes of music on this album, but this can be a merit from the point of view of those, like me, who adored Blur…
The Kaiser Chiefs aren’t Blur, but they imitate them terribly well…
I therefore recommend this album to those looking for a new “Parklife” or “The Great Escape.”
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Summary by Bot
Kaiser Chiefs' third album, Off With Their Heads, offers fresh and catchy indie rock tunes, heavily influenced by Blur with a touch of funk and electronic elements. Standout tracks include 'Never Miss A Beat' featuring Lily Allen and 'You Want History' produced by Mark Ronson. While one track feels weak, the album is a vibrant and enjoyable listen for fans seeking a modern twist on classic Britpop sounds.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds, fronted by singer Ricky Wilson, known for hook-heavy songs and chant-along choruses.15 Reviews
Other reviews
By GrantNicholas
Oh yes, they never miss a beat.
The Chiefs brilliantly demonstrate that they’ve recaptured the verve that had so impressed in their excellent debut Employment.
By salv
This time, however, the approach is different: the album is not as immediate as the previous two but requires more listens to be appreciated.
"Spanish Metal" presents an atypical structure, not having a chorus for the first time, but it constitutes the ideal intro.
