Customer Reviews

Education, Education, Education & War

It has seemed for the last few years that the Kaiser Chiefs had become a little, well, predictable. An excellent live band, but suffering from the law of diminishing returns when it came to new material. After their excellent debut Employment and it's follow up Yours Truly, Angry Mob, their subsequent offerings have been increasingly disappointing.

With the release of the greatest hits offering Souvenir, you could be forgiving for thinking that would be that and they would shuffle off to be remembered fondly by their fans and those who had enjoyed a sing-a-long at a festival or two. It seems Nick Hodgson (their drummer and the main creative driving force behind the band) agreed, announcing his departure to pursue new projects.

That there is a new Kaiser Chiefs album at all is therefore something of a surprise, and it has been written and recorded by a band who feel they have something to prove - to their former drummer, to the public, and perhaps most of all to themselves.

And prove something they have done, with one or two reservations.

At times the album feels like standard fare for the Kaiser Chiefs (The Factory Gates and Bows and Arrows, for example) and such offerings they have done better previously, although that's not to say these are bad tracks - far from it. But they are no "I Predict A Riot" or "Ruby".

But elsewhere on the album they exhibit a willingness to take risks and try something different. Coming Home is certainly a departure in style for the band, but such safe middle of the road territory is thankfully atypical - in fact, despite being the lead single for the album it feels rather out of place here.

Misery Company is probably the stand out track, featuring a chorus of Rick laughing like some sort of demented Laughing Policeman. Cannons is another strong song, featuring poetry recited by Bill Nighy - not something previously heard on a Kaisers album!

What the album lacks, compared to their earlier efforts, is the strong catchy hooks that launched them to stardom. It is a collection of strong, and in many cases interesting songs but lacking the obvious hits needed to turn a good album into a great one.

But there is no shame in writing a merely "good" album, and it is certainly better than not only their more recent efforts but most other new albums you will hear this year.

Newcomers to the band would be better served by purchasing their first two albums, but to anyone who has already bought those and is wondering if they need another Kaiser Chiefs album in their collection I would say buy this and give it a chance - you will probably be pleasantly surprised.

So, just imagine you're sitting an exam and this question comes up: summarise in bullet points the KAISER CHIEFS' new album, EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION & WAR. Yes, happy to do that, makes a pleasant change from Lord of the Flies. Okay, thirty minutes, shhh, here we go...

* Tony Blair probably won't appreciate the clever title, so that's a good start. In my opinion, of course.
* Unusual WW1 and beyond-style artwork for the insert but it does reinforce the working-class call to duty theme throughout. No pics of the boys this time around either, unless there's more to those line drawings than meets the eye. No offence, but if so then your guess is as good as mine (suggest no-one lets the artist into any high court proceedings as confusion and disappointment is sure to follow).
* Ten songs, seven of which are simply excellent. The remaining three 'Coming Home', 'Meanwhile Up In Heaven' and 'Roses' are okay but bordering on the bland. And 'Coming Home' is a poor choice for a single, too mainstream and lacking in character (GQ magazine's 'Made for summer stadiums' is hardly a recommendation). Opening number 'The Factory Gates' would have been so much better.
* Bill Nighy may be the new, er, Pete Best (the sixth Kaiser?), judging from his performance in 'Cannons'. Heavy and quite weird, Bill, was there a temptingly helium-filled balloon nearby? 'Cannons' is also the almost-title track, a major pulse-thumping epic. Note to all dwarf-Druids: this could turn out to be the new 'Stonehenge', so don't knock it.
* Hard and driving pop music permeates the majority of this album and thank God the quirkiness is still there for all to hear (see directly above). It's what makes the Kaiser Chiefs special.
* A couple of catchy anthem sing-alongs are included for good measure, especially effective (and amusing) is the mildly creepy laughing chorus of 'Misery Company' and the Adam Ant-type vocal stretches in 'One More Last Song'.
* EEE&W; is every bit as impressive as 'The Future is Medieval' and proves that maturity hasn't stunted musical progression or creativity.
* There's a small but rather sad typo in the printed lyrics to 'The Factory Gates' which could only have been set by a younger member of the art department. Michael Palin may be no spring chicken but, please, it's Alan Whicker (not Wicker, fGs) and he had his passport stamped first, tch.
* Every member of the Kaisers puts in a great performance and Ricky Wilson's voice is in particularly good shape. He remains an integral part of the band's overall personality and sound - that plus an amiable and well-adjusted transition to tv...I predict if not a riot, then at least an enhanced set of future career options for the frontman (he stole my vote just for saying 'records' when he really meant 'cds'). Now that's cool.
* There are times when the production becomes very dense and the sound gets a little murky as a result, as though every instrument in the studio cupboard - with the possible exception of the kazoo - was used, sans restraint.
* There's a new drummer in town hammering on the skins but, yeah, he seems to have slotted in nicely.
* The songs that stand out most and resonate unconditionally with my musical tastebuds are: 'The Factory Gates', 'One More Last Song', 'Bows & Arrows' and 'Misery Company'. Total winners.
* This album will probably not feature on TB's wish list. His loss.
* Finally, and most importantly: five albums in and Leeds' finest are still at the top of their game. A few minor quibbles and concerns maybe (e.g. don't EVER end up like Coldplay), but a five-star product all the same. It will be played often.

That's it, time's up, pens down, please try to file out in an orderly manner. Yes, not bad this education thing.

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I must admit I was astonished. This is a return to The Kaiser Chiefs' roots. In my opinion, it's on a par with Employment which is something I never expected. The fabulous tongue-in-cheek lyrics are still there, Vijay's drumming is alive'n'kickin'. The keyboards have matured - very similar to The Stranglers' - a good thing. The guitars and bass are even better rockier than earlier albums. "The Voice", Ricky's that is, has more ethereal quality than in previously released tracks and increasingly powerful and energetic. "The Factory Gates" is a fabulous choice for the opening track, and to be perfectly honest, the rest of the album keeps up the pace and the haunting track, "Roses" closes the album with giving you a lot of food for thought. If anyone was in danger of thinking "The Kaiser Chiefs" were past it - THINK AGAIN - they've definitely still got what it takes!!! Lookin' forward to the festival season to see them again! Keep on rockin' boys!

Personally, I found this album slightly hard to approach. After the first listen I didn't quite understand what they were doing with the whole concept of war and day-to-day working class hardships, and I thought the whole thing somehow didn't feel relevant... But I couldn't have been more wrong. Honestly I think it may be one of the best albums they've done (certainly better than the last two, although I liked them lots), it's a very well polished collection of songs that takes the Kaiser Chiefs to whole new level of brilliant. Every single song gets better and better each time you listen to it (terrible cliche I know, but seriously, I've never known anything to grow on me so much). Maybe this isn't the best album for the casual listener, but to a Kaiser Chiefs fan it's pretty damn good.

They're Back !!!!!!! Love it ,Love it, Love it !! This is The Kaiser Chiefs ...... Well on form. Buy It !!

This Album is Brilliant! I don't know much about music, I don't know what makes a song good or bad but as the title says 'I Like What I Like' and I like the Kaiser Chiefs. This review is just for fans, or possible fans, on the edge, wondering whether or not to purchase this Album. I am a massive fan of the Kaiser Chiefs but I will try to not be bias in my opinion. To be honest I really didn't like The Future is Medieval apart from 3 songs (those being 1. Child of the Jago 2. Man on Mars 3. Coming Up for Air) so I was worried that this Album might also fail to deliver, combine that with the bands original drummer having left and there is more than enough room left for fair doubt. But there is no need to fear, the Kaiser Chiefs have made a wonderful album that I am glued to 24/7. I love every song. And as for the drumming, well, its fantastic, its different in a way that still fits the band really well. So I will call their new drummer, bless him, one of the Chiefs.

People say that the band sounds different compared too their first and second albums and I agree but this is not a bad thing like so many people claim. Everything changes and a group of individuals music is no different. All anyone can do is try to see that it changes in the right way. Like I think this has.

There are two songs on this album which I think came right out of one of their first, second or third albums; The Factory Gates and Misery Company. The Albums single 'Coming Home' feels a bit out of place here but is still top notch but my favourite song by far is 'Ruffians On Parade', I cant stop listening to it! All the songs on this Album are Ace and, apart from my previously mentioned favourite, I have to give special mention to 'Meanwhile Up in Heaven' and 'Roses'.

Over all I think that this Album is suberb and would highly recommend it to any one who enjoys the Kaiser Chiefs earlier work. Peace. #alwaysonetypo

This is more like it,after their last two albums being abit of a let down this one is really back on track
I loved every track and felt their are no fillers and at this price its a bargain.
With Ricky doing The Voice it should pave the way for success,it deserves it.

Great to have Kaiser Chiefs back with an album as good as either of their previous efforts. Would recommend to anyone with good taste in music.

Very very good album, may nto be as good as the old ones (e.g. Employment or Your Truly Angry Mob). But new Kaiser Cheifs sound definitely great.

Packaging + Delivery was great - it even arrived before offcial release!

Finally an album where I haven't needed to skip a single track. Listened to it twice through already and I am very impressed.