Hey- Just recorded my first CD- have a listen at http://www.myspace.com/thomasw lesq. Would really ...
Hey- Just recorded my first CD- have a listen at http://www.myspace.com/thomasw lesq. Would really appreciate any comments. The lyrics for 'Every Beat' can be found in my Ciao reviews section. Thanks, Thom
Member since:10.09.2004
Reviews:35
Members who trust:25
Very rarely does a band hailing from Leicester receive the sort of acclaim and hype that Kasabian have recently in the British press. They are currently all over the national air-waves as well as regular appearances on music television on the back of an indie revival sparker by the likes of Snow Patrol, Keane and Coldplay. Kasabian seem to have become a ‘trendy’ band to a certain extent, all the ‘cool’ kids like them. This popularity is perhaps surprising when considering that their sound is heavily influenced by the indie movement of the 1990s.
Indeed, musically, Kasabian sound like the Stone Roses at their best- killer melodies, danceable beats and a distinctly ‘northern’ vocal accent. Many of the songs are bass-driven, with an array of synth and electronic sounds to add edge, depth and atmosphere. Lyrically, comparisons can be drawn to another indie big-hitter, Oasis- the words are punchy, often rhyme, repeat and appear to have no meaning- though it sounds ‘good’; “I’m on it, get on it, the troops are on fire”. One thing Kasabian do seem to have in abundance is a certain ‘groove’.
The Band:
Tom Meighan: Vocals Sergio
Pizzorno: Guitar/Vocals Christopher Karloff: Guitar Chris Edwards: Bass Guitar Ian Matthews: Percussion
Track-Listing:
(There are 2 mini-tracks of synth noise on hear entitled ‘Orange’ & ‘Pinch Roller’).
1. Club Foot - Eeery synth intro leads into fuzzy guitar riff before drums kick in and we’re under way. Catchy chorus if slightly repetitive. Outro sees the return of the electronic synth wizardry. Nice and atmospheric. A solid start. 7 out of 10
2. Processed Beats - The song of the album. A fantastic baseline pulsates throughout the entire track in great rhythmic tandem with 4/4 drumming. An interesting instrumental bridge adds intrigue. The chorus is utterly anthemic, reminiscent of the Stone Roses. Cool, ‘free-style’ vocals. 9 out of 10
3. Reason is Treason - A great song title. Up-beat drumming with monotone guitar intro. Good tempo is maintained throughout. Sounds like a more chilled version of the Cooper Temple Clause. Cuts out half way through for some more ‘snazzy’ electronic effects- very 80s, very ‘Blue Monday’ (was that an eighties song??…answers on a postcard). Lyrics seem to mean little ‘You came along and Ill say goodbye to you…don’t turn around cos reason is treason. 7 out of 10
4. I.D. - Elaborate OTT instrumental intro that lasts over a minute. Nice use of loud/soft dynamics on the musical accompaniment during the vocal parts. Atmospheric yet lacking substance and a real hook to sing along to. 6 out of 10
5. LSF - The band’s biggest hit to date. Features the distinctive ‘echoing’ backing vocals. The verse is by far the most memorable part, a coolly delivered refrain that combines the percussion with the bass sound to provide something to wiggle those hips to. Clever ‘electronic’ bridge and outro. 8 out of 10
6. Running Battle - Another ‘sinister’ sounding instrumental beginning. However, this track showcases Tom Meighan vocal talents perhaps more than any other, the vocal melody basically leads the track. A dark, brooding track. 7 out of 10
7. Test Transmission - The first use of the classic indie ‘hand-clapping’. This is a rather dull song. A poor man’s Charlatans. The song has little drive or soul. Definitely a bit of a filler track. The melody gets somewhat hidden behind the irritating electronic noises here. 5 out of 10
8. Cutt Off - ‘John was a scientist, he was hooked on LSD, interested in mind control and how the monkey held the key’. Yes, one of the more curious lyrics on the album. This song is great though- very diverse, quite quirky, many changes, good use of dynamics. Nice and punchy, although it suffers from having no ‘flow’. An odd, but good song. 7 out of 10
9. Butcher Blues - Classic bass rock n roll intro. Lyrically deals with the issue of drug abuse with the refrain ‘I just can’t stop losing control’ constituting the chorus. A stoner track if you like- slow, chilled….you can almost here the apathy. 6 out of 10
10. Ovary Stripe - Horrible, horrible squeaky intro. A purely instrumental track. Mildly pleasing collage of zany noise and ‘keyboard-style’ violin & piano effects. 5 out of 10
11. U Boat - The most downbeat song of the album, reflects upon ‘selling guns to strangers’. A disappointingly weak ending, a fading out of yet more instrumental nonsense (I’m really getting sick of it by now!). 5 out of 10
12. (Hidden Track- Reason is Treason, again) - Why Kasabian decided to put the song ‘Reason is Treason’ on the album again is up for debate. This version is a slightly different mix. However, its pretty much the same and doesn’t warrant a rating.
Listening to the album as a whole highlights the lack of diversity on offer here. Many of the tracks seem to blend together rather than standing out on their own. This album does not nearly enough to captivate your attention and will pass you by without concentration. The mini instrumental tracks are somewhat pretentious but do help to add to the whole ‘feel’ of the album. A solid debut by a good band who perhaps need to broaden their horizons to become ‘great’.
Label: BMG UK
Info: www.kasabian.co.uk
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: A superb album, with swagger, great vocals, invention, clever melodies, and powerful rhythms Disadvantages: It took me so long to find them...
jonwebb5 24.06.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kasabian - Kasabian
Advantages: Really shines through the wall of bland indie rubbish around in britain today Disadvantages: Listen for too long and you'll never get the songs out of your head
amessagetoyou 26.10.2005 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Kasabian - Kasabian
Oct 4th, 2004
very helpful by (86%):
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