The Kaiser Chiefs formed in Leeds, England, in 2003.Their debut album, Employment, released in 2005, was hailed by the music press as the savior of British rock, and in many ways, that assessment was correct. Songs such as "Everyday I Love You Less and Less" and "I Predict a Riot" were loud, vibrant, witty, and fresh. It was a new sound for a new millennium, and the combination of clever songwriting and fervent guitar-playing made Employment a modern indie classic.
Unfortunately, the sophomore slump has afflicted one more neo-new-wave band, just as it did with the Killers and Franz Ferdinand. Don't be misguided; there are certainly many great songs on Yours Truly, Angry Mob. It's just that the album lacks the vitality and originality of its predecessor.
The Chiefs' trademark theatrical, tense, and passionate style is still present. So are the band's main inspirations: '60s Brit-pop, '70s punk, and '80s new wave. But Yours Truly, Angry Mob differs in many ways from Employment. For starters, it is much more rock-oriented than the Chiefs' electro/indie debut.
Perhaps the greatest difference, however, is in the lyrics. While Employment was all about rejecting the status quo and rebelling against "the man," Yours Truly tries to hide from him. The Chiefs' lyrics are more pessimistic, and the new formula works quite well for a few songs - after a while, though, the songs become too depressing for their own good and the excessive cynicism leaves the listener feeling hopeless rather than energized.
Despite this setback, Yours Truly is a great time capsule album. Just like the Clash's debut in 1977 and Blur's Modern Life is Rubbish in 1993, the Kaiser Chiefs have captured life in England in their own era.
This album is about being young, bored, idealistic, and anxious, as if the Chiefs are all dressed up with no place to go. This is the album to listen to after spending hours getting ready to go out on a Saturday night, only to end up staying home anyway.
By far, the overriding theme of Yours Truly is frustration and disillusionment with fame. Employment sold over 3 million copies worldwide and was one of the most successful debut albums of the 21st century, but now the Chiefs are jaded by their success.
Much of the album reflects their conflicting desires: they want to leave the spotlight, but they also want to be recognized for doing so. "Thank You Very Much," for example, is about an obsessive fan who corners vocalist Ricky Wilson after a show. "Learnt My Lesson Well" reveals the Chiefs' self-loathing in the wake of their sudden fame. In "Retirement," Wilson wishes he could have invented something practical so that he could give up music and live a life of comfort and solitude.
Still, the Chiefs are unlikely to garner sympathy from their fans for being too famous. Unsurprisingly, the best moments on the album come when the band stops being so serious and self-pitying and starts to have fun again. Lead single "Ruby" is energetic and catchy, while the riot-inducing fervor of the final two minutes of "Angry Mob" is perhaps the greatest moment of the album.
The Kaiser Chiefs' refusal to accept fame lightly could propel them to make relevant music for years to come - the worst thing to happen to a young band is financial stability, which almost always brings complacency and mediocrity. Judging by Yours Truly, Angry Mob, the Chiefs are far from that point. B
Be the first to comment on this article!