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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
On Employment, raffish, trilby-clad young Leeds quintet Kaiser Chiefs prove themselves the logical heirs to the Britpop throne previously warmed by the likes of Blur and Supergrass, twinning expectant verses with rollicking choruses and generally acting very much like indie-rock's latest swaggering young Jack the Lads.
There's no doubt, the Kaisers know their rock history: "Oh My God" and "Every Day I Love You Less and Less" barrel along with something of Madness' playful charm, while "You Can Have It All" and the lush "Caroline, Yes" appear to be conscious nods to the sleepy, harmony-laden Californian pop vision of Brian Wilson. The lyrics of frontman Ricky Wilson, however, are rooted in a very English sensibility--one often traditional and occasionally, bizarrely archaic: "Walking through town is quite scary/ It's not very pretty, I tell thee," he gasps on adrenaline-fuelled urban nightmare "I Predict A Riot". It's the sort of pleasingly unusual idiosyncrasy that sees Employment stand out from the fashionable indie pack, and assuming the Chiefs can continue to keep their foibles the right side of irksome, any attitude is thoroughly justified. --Louis Pattison
Review
Employment is the sparkling debut from Leeds lads Ricky Wilson (lead vocals), Andrew 'Whitey' White (guitar), Simon Rix (bass) and Nick 'Peanut' Baines (keyboards). Formerly known as Parva but thankfully reincarnated as Kaiser Chiefs in the summer of 2003, 2004 has seen the band take the opening slot on the NME Awards tour and make their first moves on the USA.
With "Oh My God" nestled up behind artists such as J-Lo and Girls Aloud in the UK top ten, Employment is the final jewel in the crown of the past eighteen months. Jump out of your seat for 45 minutes of a perfectly pop blend of indie, electronica and everything in between.
With producer Stephen Street working his magic on the album and the sound of Graham Coxon's motorbike opening "Saturday Night", it's all too easy to draw comparisons with Blur. Simon Rix concedes "We kind of did that to ourselves because we like Blur. There are a couple of songs on there where we nod to Blur...We do have things in there that are meant to say 'we like this band'". So prepare yourself for a journey through the eras that made British music what it is.
Employment's notable feature is undoubtedly the quirky lyrics that will turn over in your mind for hours after your first listen. 'Pn-n-n-neumothorax is a word that is long but I'm just tryin' to put some punk back into punctured lung' is a personal favourite. Combine these lyrics with an array of kitsch rhymes and polished harmonies and you're left with a tantalising catchiness that begs you to skip to the beginning and listen all over again.
Eccentric tracks like "Time Honoured Tradition" suggest that the Chiefs don't quite fit in. But the swirling melodies, soaring vocals and scintillating lyrics blend together to produce a mêlée of everything that's been missing in pop in recent years. Out of twelve tracks, all twelve entice. Employment reflects a sense of self-indulgent freedom and it's a heck of a lot of fun. --Shalinee Singh
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Employment is a truly addictive album, you'll find yourself singing along in no time. It seems like the Kasier Chiefs might have lost their rhyming dictionary when they wrote this album, so look out for some comedy rhyming (since when did 'beaten' and 'police men' rhyme?? but they pull it off!)
This is very upbeat, the kind of music to pull you out of a bad mood and make you want to dance like a mad thing. There are occasional air guitar moments, head banging moments and dozens of sing out loud opportunities. A real must if you're looking for something a little different to spice up your record collection and keep you smiling for months to come.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
My 15 year old daughter introduced me to this album. She has good taste, but I am 53 and very little music has impressed me in recent years. She says this is the KC's first album. To be honest I'm amazed. She plays it a lot, and I listen to it, a lot! It's excellent, though I wouldn't have a clue as to what style of music it is, no doubt she will enlighten me. I detect some quality 60's, elements of 70's and some Punk (which I hated at the time). If this is their first album, what will follow? So, why only 4 stars? Age and experience! But, I'm still impressed.
60 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Hype, hype, hype, and errr a bit more hype. "Grown up" music these days (by that, I mean indie/alt rock etc) is turning into just as much of a publicity contest as the Pop-Idol stuff. Another year, another clutch of 5-star debut albums from NME - "the best debut album since... oooh, last week!" You can rely on them almost as much as you can rely on the second album being slagged off, no-one buying it, and the band drifting into irrelevance. But people, I am here to tell you that Kaiser Chiefs are genuinely something different.
As a whole, the sound is so old, it's new! It's also a real mixed bag - there are elements of The Jam, XTC, glam rock, 80s electronic music, the list goes on. The first three tracks alone are probably worth the price of the album, and the sheer energy from a loud play of I Predict A Riot is probably enough to power your house for a few weeks!
But I have request to make: PLEASE don't let this album get hyped up too much, go out, buy it, enjoy it, but don't push them up only to let them crash again - it happens far too much these days...
As a whole, the sound is so old, it's new! It's also a real mixed bag - there are elements of The Jam, XTC, glam rock, 80s electronic music, the list goes on. The first three tracks alone are probably worth the price of the album, and the sheer energy from a loud play of I Predict A Riot is probably enough to power your house for a few weeks!
But I have request to make: PLEASE don't let this album get hyped up too much, go out, buy it, enjoy it, but don't push them up only to let them crash again - it happens far too much these days...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I predict a load of old rubbish
I'm at a loss to explain the popularity of The Kaisers and their particularly charmless brand of urchin rock. Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2009 by J. Jenkins
Best Debue ever, 4 indie rock
i bought this album after i heard 'i predict a riot'. every song is great, and the lyrics. GREAT sound 4 a debue even. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2008 by Stephen J. Charlton
excellent debut
"Excellent debut album ! favourite tracks...Everyday I Love You Less and Less,I Predict A Riot,Modern Way,You Can Have It All"
Published on 28 Aug 2007 by There'd be plenty of stars And not too many
A bit Blur-lite
Watching the TV coverage of the Glastonbury Festival in 2005, Kaiser Chiefs seemed to be on all the time. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2007 by Greg Farefield-Rose
Great
Sorry for the boring title but its all I can think of at the moment. I personally think that Employment is great.
Published on 6 Aug 2007 by Darkmaster
Enjoy them now
On hearing this album I was struck by the fact that there's two sort of songs - a fast one and a slow one. Each type of song has the same feel, same structure, same sound. Read more
Published on 6 July 2007 by Fried Egg Sandwich
Doesn't stand the test of time
Before too long you will discard this CD to the CD rack and thats probably where it will stay. There are only really 4 good songs on this album the rest are just there to fill up... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2007 by T. Brooks
What is the opposite of 'Grows on you'?
I heard the singles, I liked them. I bought the album. I liked it. For about three listens. Then, how can I put this... Read more
Published on 18 May 2007 by Holf
Everyday you will love this less and less
Back in 2006 this was nominated for best album at the Brit Awards. How undeserving they are for being even nominated. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2007 by BXMAN2000
Gets tiresome after a while!
This is a good CD at first and when you first buy it you can't help but sing along! You buy it, listen to it and think 'what a damn good buy! Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2007 by John
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