Friday, May 10, 2013

My Amazon Reviews: The Kaiser Chiefs "Start The Revolution Without Me"

Revolution Bypassed
3 Out Of 5 Stars

As much as I enjoyed the Kaiser Chiefs' first two albums and found some things to like on "Off With Their Heads," "Start The Revolution Without Me" is a pedestrian record. Those early albums had a post new-wave snap to them that made the best of the early singles engaging; this new album is sorely lacking in that division. Lead singer Ricky Wilson sounds mostly uninspired, repetitive choruses go nowhere, the sense of fun is missing, and there are few memorable songs to be found.

The one really good song here is "I Heard It Break," which toys with a nifty synth-line and a clever one-liner chorus ("It feels like I broke my heart again, but it's just a sprain"). "Kinda Girl You Are" is peppy, reminding the listener of former glories, and the string laden "If You Will Have Me" (sung by drummer Nick Hodgson) is a serious moment that works. However, the Kaiser Chiefs previously had albums loaded with this kind of catchy Brit-pop. "Start The Revolution Without Me" unfortunately, feels like the sound of diminishing returns.

     

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