It has been a long time since I wrote review so I hope this goes alight. Lets just cut to the chase. I thought I would hark back to one of my favourite type of reviews, the album review.

Since I last lurked the halls of Ciao I have become interested in the new wave of bands. The likes of The Feeling, Keane and Scissor Sisters are reviews that I no doubt will do in the coming months but for this review Kasabian's latest offering Empire will provide the viewer with written joy.

~ Brief history ~

Kasabian first hit the big time with the album Kasabian (wonder how long it took to think that up) released September 2004 and is the bands first general release album. The singles Reason is Treason, Club Foot, L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever), Processed beast and Cutt Off may be familiar to some. It is because of the music being used in adverts that first caught my attention to the band and when I heard tracks from the album on the radio I immediately acquired Kasabian by Kasabian.

This brings us to Kasabian's second album called Empire, released in August 2006. I did not intend to buy this album but I saw it in the shop for 6.99 and thought why not.

~ The tracks ~

Here is quick rundown of the 11 tracks in my own unique styling:

1. Empire - This is the first single from the album and the title track. This is a very lively tune. It opens with someone speaking, I do not know who this is but lets not worry about it. Then it breaks in the main song, very lively and consistent low duh-duh-duh-duh base all the way through with a mixture of great sounding instruments. 'Stop we are all wasting away' could not have been sung better in any song. Rating 8.5/10. Length 3.52.

2. Shoot the Runner - Second single taken from the album. A heading bobbing, lip curling, belter of a track. 'Shoot the rider, shoot, shoot the rider', lyrics from the chorus speak for themselves. There is a mixture great guitar rifts and clapping compliment the main body of the song, that itself something nearing a masterstroke of writing once again. Rating 9/10. Length 3.27

3. Last Trip (In Flight) - From the start this track has me with visions of swooping supersonically through clouds, with some carnage thrown in. I guess that compliments the title. Good beat all the way through although the music drowns out the song, which in a good way sort of throws me back to that carnage thing again. Rating 8/10. Length 2.52.

4. Me Plus One - This track is the current single from the album. Another very lively and heading bobbing affair. Slurry lyrics are a feature of this one. There a Beatles feel to this one with a high pitched, what can only be described as a flute, played fast. The track is a bit short for me, it is over before it has even started, I felt more could have been made of this track but still gets a good score for the light heartedness of the track. Rating 8.5/10. Length 2.28.

5. Sun Rise Light Flies - First impressions immediately spring to mind of an Oasis sound (surely the Gallagher brothers would approve). Lyrics are fairly short and repetitive but a great combination of guitar and violins work well, some clear sounds of the keyboard as well. Still happens to be my favourite non-single from the album despite that. Rating 9/10. Length 4.08

6. Apnoea - The dictionary defines apnoea as 'the temporary inability to sleep'. Well this track might just cause you to adopt this condition. A somewhat strange song, almost but not quite sounding like someone dubbed some strange trance like music over the top. If I described this as not so dissimilar to what I imagine being in a rave is like I think I would not be far off the mark. Rating 6/10. Length 1.45.

7. By My Side - An echo-induced introduction precedes an electric drumbeat of a tune. Mid-way through the track lowers then a harmonic sounding violin comes in then quickly trans forms in to a rather cool wave or surf like tune. Lyric wise, there is not a great deal to comment on, for long a period in the middle to end there are no lyrics at all. To sum this one up, hollowing and cool at the same time. Rating 9/10. Length 4.12.

8. Stuntman - The beginning to this track sounds very mysterious but soon bursts in to another head shaking tune, funky beats all round with low toned lyrics, slurred the raw bone. I almost want to start scratching some records because it has so much of that raw sound to it. I can safely describe this as travelling tune. Lyrics are well written once again, possibly my favourite lyrics on the album due to impending way they have been used in contrast with the music. Rating 9/10. Length 5.18.

9. Seek & Destroy - Very electric and quick beat to this one. Very airy sound, like the wind blowing, compared to the previous tracks this is lighter on the head. This is a very short track and as such has very short lyrics as a result I think the track is just a bit too short. Rating 9/10. Length 2.15.

10. British Legion - Completely different and very light tune. Focus is on the lyrics with only piano/keyboard and guitar for company at the start. It picks up pace near to the middle, more lively, makes slowly sway the head form side to side. Slows right down again near the end. Rating 9/10. Length 3.18.

11. The Doberman - Very nice tune, not overly fussy on the percussion of the track. A mid tempo to the track precedes what can only be described as carnage in the second half of the track. Near the end we hear a saxophone in a Cuban style then the tune gets very light and focus comes right back on to the lyrics. The Lyrics are sung sublimely to accompany another light tune, an outstanding finale to the album. Rating 9/10. Length 5.33.

Album length 39.23.

~ Personal opinion ~

I love this album, first and foremost. I have a lot of time for Kasabian, not afraid to experiment and put in twists on what they have done before. Having listened to this album what must be over a dozen times now and being only the bands second release I have come to the conclusion that the band have more soulful songs in them as was tried here in British Legion and parts of the Doberman, both of which could make good singles. Lyrically, as I have stressed in the track-by-track review, they cannot really be faltered, especially when combined with some great percussion. Although some lyrics would have suited lighter music, all of the tracks are great fun in there own way, 'Shoot the Runner' and 'Empire' being obvious contenders. Probably why they made great singles. The length of the album is disappointing, as a I mentioned with some of the singles, I though they were a bit short, an album that does not even get to forty minutes long is an album wasted in my opinion.

~ Packaging and CD design ~

I was always a fan of good CD packaging by that I am talking about the album booklet. This version of the album comes with a very basic booklet, in fact it is a four page fold out booklet. The album cover is shown in the image accompanying this review. It has the bands name (also doubles as their logo) across the middle on a cream background on which is the design of a playing card, the King of Clubs. The design shows a portrait of knight or warrior person holding a petit naked woman, not dissimilar to old portraits of naked women, and a red banner near the bottom with the album name Empire on it. Inside the booklet on a white background are pen and ink sketches of which I presume are the band members, one on each page with a small motto/ caption. On the back of these is watercolour of the Empire logo in elaborate writing, the King of Clubs logo is on another and the final one is for the album credits. The CD is completely red with empire log etched into the red print.

Overall a very smart design, not very different to other bands designs but I guess there is only so much you, I like the water colours of the band members, so much more interesting than photographs. The painting idea with the warrior person and the naked woman I particularly liked, if I saw this in store I would definitely pick it up.

~ The band and production team for the album ~

The band is made up of Tom Meighan, Sergio Pizzzorne, Chris Edwards and Ian Matthews.

Tracks mastered by George Marino, Sterling Sound New York.

Album Published my EMI Music Publishing.

Band Manager: Graeme Lowe

Album illustrations by Julie Verhoven, design and layout by Andy Hayes.

Further information can be found at:

www.kasabian.co.uk

www.columbia.co.uk

~ How does this compare to their other albums ~

I personally prefer Kasabian's first album Kasabian but it is a close call and I am in no way saying that Kasabian have taken a step back. I think this album could be a precursor of better things to come. I think this is down to my personal preference for more soulful tunes and less grungy or electric style tunes.

This album has it moments as did the first but for an all round album get Kasabian: Empire, for a classic album get Kasabian: Kasabian.

~ Final verdict on the album~

I bought Kasabian: Empire for 6.99 in HMV Newcastle and is probably value for money.

My final verdict is really based on comparisons made with there previous therefore I give Empire by Kasabian:

8/10