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Rating: The Kasabian are back and they're back with a bang. After the bland and inconclusive self-titled debut, they release "Empire" almost two years later, which I believe has all the credentials to be a masterpiece and above all, to become one.
The first self-titled album wasn't well received here on DeBaser, and I completely agree with the low ratings it received. "Empire" presents itself as an album quite varied, lasts 39 minutes, and gives off a lot of energy while being really well packaged. At least a month ago I listened to the first single, the title track, Empire in fact. I saw the video on the internet. Great video, well done! A very expensive video, featuring the poor Kasabian in a war with a grand finale: Tom Meighan bites the dust with a big gunshot to the head! But as for the song, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. I was careful not to assimilate the song, but gradually it got into my head like a virus and completely captivated me. You should have seen me at night, praying it wouldn't become a silly hit like "l.s.f" (and even earlier with Muse's "Time is running out"), that is, sung in the club or heard on the street by other idiots who whistle it without knowing a thing about Kasabian and especially about music since these people probably live on bread & house (or some other similar crap...).
BUT... that's another story... "Empire" is therefore the album's opener with its slightly danceable rhythms and that bass (in the style of the latest strokes) bouncing here and there, that slightly mystical and somewhat Middle-Eastern atmosphere, thanks to the use of violins, which are used magnificently (not like in a certain recent Muse album where they sound pompous and exaggerated!). "Shoot the runner" breaks the rules of the previous song a bit, resulting in fearsome riffs! The guitar is front and center and doesn't shy away from coming out. "Last trip (in flight)" is the number three! It has typically sixties flavors with its Beatles-style choruses (just remember their reason is treason, also similar to birthday by the Beatles, here come the Fab4 again). "Me plus one" is saved and appreciated only for its soft strings, then comes one of the album's gems: "Sun-Rise-Light-Flies". Here finally, the psychedelia so courted in the last 5 tracks pairs completely with the song's sound, perhaps with a little help from the never forgotten electronics (it could almost be a song by Mercury Rev).
"Apnoea" (what a title!?!?) divides the album in half with its scant 2 minutes. After that come the ghosts of the past, I refer to "By my side", "Stuntman" and "Seek & Destroy"... and don't get me wrong, I'm not at all saying they're to be discarded, but they undeniably recall the songs from the first album: electronic sampling at the forefront and sparse use of guitars. Of these 3, perhaps "Stuntman" is the least tolerable (but maybe that's just my taste, too much electronic for my liking). After the "nostalgic" encounter of the three Hail Marys, we have the second gem of the album: "British Legion", an ACOUSTIC introduction! Kasabian always starts strong in their songs, especially in this album, and listening to this song is a real surprise for the ears, if I may say so! The song is "explicitly" Brit (now I understand why Noel Gallagher "fucking" likes this album!). But dear readers, dear listeners... time to go... unfortunately... the album comes to an end with "The Doberman". Another fairly Brit song, featuring blaring trumpets in the middle of the song with a "Spanish nostalgia" sound. The final explosion of the song then sees a slowdown leading to a slow end with Meighan's almost tormented voice.
Short, direct and strong songs, really strong! An album that might become a real masterpiece over the years, though I'm sure initially it might not be appreciated. But one day... you will see!
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Empire (03:52)
Too much information
Well I said you can fall off it
Come on to the back
I said your needles count for something
Guess I'd better sell you now
Guess I'd be around
Singing for your questions
But you've stolen all of my answers
Too much entertainment drove
and thats not all the colour
Tell me that you've seen a ghost
I'll tell you what to fear the most
Stop!
I said it's happening again!
We're all wasting away!
We're all wasting away!
Too much information
Well I said you can fall off it
Stitch your part of counterfeit
I said your far out here
Taking at the roads
Where you're taken for the simple codes
Swimming with the fishes
While the serpent waves his tongue
With a belly full of splinters
Now you see that I'm the one
Tell me that you've seen a ghost
I'll tell you what to fear the most
Stop!
I said it's happening again!
We're all wasting away!
We're all wasting away!
02 Shoot the Runner (03:27)
Shoot the runner, shoot shoot the runner
I'm a king and she's my queen
Shoot the runner, shoot shoot the runner
I'm a king and she's my queen
Dream, dream again in your way
Always knew that you would
Lose yourself to the scene
Am I only a dream
Shoot the runner, shoot shoot the runner
I'm a king and she's my queen, bitch
Bang, bang away on my chang
Always knew that I can
Get you on to the floor
Absinthe make you a whore
Shoot the runner, shoot shoot the runner
I'm a king and she's my queen
Shoot the runner, shoot shoot the runner
I'm a king and she's my queen, bitch
Kings, kings they come and they go
By this sword you must know
All things come and then pass
Live your days like the rest
Aahh.. And you're my queen, that's it
Shoot shoot the runner
Cause I'm a King and you're my Queen, bitch.
03 Last Trip (In Flight) (02:51)
I don't sit alone 'cause I got you
Making tracks through these woods
I´m gonna get my blues
Just holding snacks
Dropping these tabs a hero comes
This is the last trip
Just wanna get you on your own (he's in flight)
I say this is the last trip
Just wanna get you on your own
It's a gas
Now I don't see no light
I don't taste no spit
Silent flash hear the bang
I'm gonna get my rush (this feeling)
No going back (this feeling)
Holding hands (this feeling)
With you (this feeling)
The circus comes (this feeling)
This feeling, this feeling
This feeling, this feeling, this feeling
This is the last trip
Just wanna get you on your own (he's in flight)
This is the last trip
Just wanna get you on your own (he's in flight)
This feeling
This feeling
This feeling
This feeling
This feeling
This feeling
This feeling
This feeling
04 Me Plus One (02:28)
I'm too messed up just at the thought of you.
Where'd you get that smile and the fine hair
I get my kicks from you walkin'
see that girl i see the pyramids,
say
you can't take me away
like a little white rabbit from yesterday
little things said have said enough
I should have shot myself on the run.
I want love love love.
I want love love love right now
I want love love love.
I want love love love right now so come on.
She comes back from the winter
Looking straight into my eyes
Now I'm standing like a Buddhist
I bet you feel I bet you see scared. Saying,
You come take me away,
like a little white rabbit from yesterday
little things said have said enough
I should have shot myself on the run.
I want love love love.
I want love love love right now
I want love love love.
I want love love love right now so come on.
06 Apnoea (01:45)
Dig demons up, you set demons free
Issue my fire
On the weakened liar
Last gang in town
Set to burn it down
I summoned you to the aftermath
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Get your boots in man
Get your boots in girl
See the piggies fly
See the system fail
Said it isn´t me
Said it isn´t you
Change made by all and not by one
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
Apnoea
Bearing down on me
07 By My Side (04:14)
Come on by my side
Come on both sides
Come on by my side
Come on both sides
Step out of the shadows
said the children to their saint
you create these zombies
just to keep them from their fate
no communication as the masses
cheat and steal
stars and constellations
now I notice who you are
Come on by my side
Come on both sides
Come on by my side
Come on both sides
come on.
No retaliation
said the poets to his kid
separate the idols
and commit your deadly sin
And all this put aside,
wanna finish what you start
I'll connect the numbers
you protect my heart
Come on by my side
Come on both sides
Come on by my side
Come on both sides
No communication
from the poets to his kin
separate the idols
and commit your deadly sin
no communication
wanna finish what you start
I'll connect the numbers
You protect my heart.
Come on by my side.
Come on both sides.
Come on by my side.
Come on both sides.
08 Stuntman (05:18)
No map looking for the one I love
Cause the one I love is here
No map looking for the one who stands
Cause he´s arming me from fear
We got tuned in by the other side
Lives spent digging holes for the ones that hide
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
More cuts taken for the one in silence
Now he sits between my ears
His moves in madness how I love the rush
Could you wipe away these tears
We got taken by
A rush of blood
My trains leaving now
How I wish I could
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
I´m a stuntman
See the white of my eyes
09 Seek & Destroy (02:14)
Seek and destroy
All you have
'Cos I know
Brother your fears
And my tears
'Cos you know
And all I have now
Is being here with you
Seek and destroy
All you have
'Cos I know
('Cos I know, know right now)
They will never be
(Cover your fear) Tuning in to what we know
And all I have now
Is being here with you
(Cover your fear)
(It´s all we know)
(Cover your fear)
(It´s all we know)
And all I have now
Is being here with you
And all I have now
Is being here with you
10 British Legion (03:19)
See, see how she dances,
With that cigarette in her hand.
And she, she romances, everybody, like she can.
And she, brings to light, and catches me again.
In life, I've seen some wonders, I've played my stupid games with you,
And sing to me like I know you can,
You're a girl without being.
And she, hits a snare, and catches me again.
And I guess, you know, to keep on, dancing. Like I know you can.
We're gonna make it through.
We're gonna make it through, now.
Cos we're gonna make it through.
We're gonna make it through, now.
And the circus leave this town,
We're gonna make it through, and win.
Say we're gonna make it through, now.
Yeah, we're gonna make it through.
I said, we're gonna make it through, now.
And the boys with their dreams, for the boys and their dreams.
I know you're carrying me.
11 The Doberman (05:33)
Silence in the yard
Doberman's asleep
You never have to lay your head down here
Watch them disappear
The truth is...
they never had no future
They never had no past
I was alone (alone alone)
I was alone again
This beatup London sky
Whiskey's almost dry
I smile 'cause I've already escaped
Just like to see how far I can take it
They never had no future
They never had no past
I was alone (alone alone)
I was alone again
They never had no future
They never had no past
I was alone (alone alone)
I was along again (That's how I like it)
(Musical interlude for 2:53 with some muttering of the chorus)
Silence in the yard
Doberman's asleep
You never have to lay your head down here
Watch them disappear
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Other reviews
By Sexbeatles
Kasabian have made musical non-conformity their creed.
Each track exudes passion and energy.
By Torre Ste
The record begins immediately with the title track and it becomes clear that the band has taken another musical direction.
With this work, Kasabian position themselves as one of the most important English bands today.
By GrantNicholas
If they wanted to surprise, they (mostly) succeeded; if they were aiming for a masterpiece, no such luck.
In terms of originality, the very flat Albion music scene owes something to these four guys.
