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When a pope dies, a conclave is held, and after many black smokes, the new one comes to replace the old. "Formally" burying the Oasis brand and everything behind it, the scepter of champions of brit-rock passes to the Pizzorno-Meighan duo, who are as eccentric and ambitious as the Gallagher enterprise.
"Velociraptor!" is the album that definitively consecrates them to the large public, after the transitional "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum." A well-stuffed and flavorful sandwich that has a bit of everything inside.
A gathering of what has been done here so far.
A focused and concentrated work, that this time avoids the small moments of boredom that were evident in the previous LP.
It is an album that skillfully combines mainstream flavor while also seeking approval outside this world, without all this coming across as constructed and trivial. It seeks a more pop form compared to the previous work, without, however, denaturing itself.
To tell the truth, the aforementioned Oasis are barely felt, perhaps just in the brit-western of the single "Man Of Simple Pleasures" and little else. Speaking of which: let's draw a veil over the alternative version (was it really necessary?) by the guy from the ex Articolo 31.
From old-school rock tracks that smell of the past and vintage movies like the initial and missed soundtrack "Let's Roll Just Like We Used To" and "Days are forgotten" with a masterful liquid refrain, my personal earworm on endless coach journeys, to sweet and distant lullabies like "Goodbye Kiss" or "La Fée Verte", yawns will be nearly absent.
The title-track will instead make you jump with its almost festive atmosphere.
The major experimental peaks are recorded in the six oriental minutes of "Acid Turkish Bath (shelter from the storm)" and the final two tracks.
"Switchblade Smiles" is all about a continuous play between slow psychedelic parts and strong electro-rock influences with a majestic finale. "Neon Noon" somewhat like "Happiness" did for "West Ryder..." closes with expansive and mysterious atmospheres.
Even though it is slightly inferior to the splendid debut, it quickly remains in the wake.
Notoriety and talent can fit in the same sentence.
Rating 8.5
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Other reviews
By fibema90
With Velociraptor!, the band creates an album that is different not only from its predecessor but also from Kasabian's earlier work.
This 'Velociraptor!' will certainly make waves and divide the public and critics.
By GrantNicholas
"Velociraptor! is their most beautiful and complete album, and these two conclusions become clear after just a few listens."
"You are dragged on a journey with multiple and surprising facets from the opening to the concluding track."
By Gallagher87
"Only the album titles are the senseless thing about the English band."
"Kasabian confirm themselves once again as one of the pinnacle bands of the new British Music movement."
By definitelyalex
Velociraptor! actually turns out to be the most 'commercial' work of Kasabian’s career.
An album that captures you and confirms the great visionary capabilities of Sergio Pizzorno.
