So... having released twenty tracks online as part of an interesting experiment (see "The Kaisers are Back") where punters can construct their own ten-track album, the Kaisers have released 'The Future Is Medieval' as a traditional CD release. And, though the album is worth the purchase if you didn't take up their online offer, they have created a rod for their own back in doing so.
Because, like me, you'll be left scratching your head going 'this wouldn't have been the album I'd have created' before getting into all sorts of arguments of personal taste. To me, the absense of 'Problem Solved' and 'Can't Mind My Own Business' is a travesty as they are two of the best songs from the twenty-strong pool, especially when songs such as 'Long Way From Celebrating', 'Things Change' and 'When All Is Quiet' have been included.
The opening track and single 'Little Shocks' is fresh - but equally classic - Kaiser Chiefs and, though I could get into arguments about starting with the single, deserves its place even with its single status. 'Things Change' and 'Long Way From Celebrating' are questionable inclusions this early on, though 'Starts With Nothing' and the excellent 'Out of Focus', make up for it, though it's followed by the borderline 'Dead Or In Serious Trouble' and 'When All Is Quiet'.
Next single and track not available from the download pool 'Kinda Girl You Are' is a catchy, rip-roaring track and definitely deserves to be here, though it brings with it more questions of why this wasn't available in the custom collection. Because it's single material? Am I being cynical? Especially when I've now given the Leodensians almost £25 of my hard earned money to download all twenty tracks and buy the physical album?
The album continuing with 'Man on Mars' and 'Child of the Jago' is no problem with me (if you think I'm rushing through tracks, follow that link from earlier, as I reviewed most of them then) and the highlight of the album is after in 'Heard It Break', closely followed by the emotive 'Coming Up For Air'.
I can understand why the band chose to end on 'If You Will Have Me', a song about the death of one of the members' father, sung by that member, and the lyrics are certainly touching, but he doesn't have the voice to pull the track off sadly. Then, the albums tapers off with a massive gap of six minutes or so before an instrumental conclusion.
As a stand alone album, 'The Future Is Medieval' is good, maybe not up to the three predecessors but certainly a good mix of fresh styles and experimentation. Unfortunately, with the knowledge of tracks missed off it's difficult to not wish for something more. Even with the inclusion of a great extra track (and, of course, a questionable instrumental) I can't help feeling that the band should have had the courage of the convinctions and stuck with the online model. But, like Radiohead before them who did a traditional release of their 'pay anything' album 'In Rainbows', they couldn't resist going down the traditional route to the detriment of those who bought the album online and could create it as they wanted to hear it.
A good album but pales in the shadow of an interesting online concept that, in the end, turns out to have just been a publicity stunt. An album that's great, full of quality tunes, but could have been so much better.
At least according to my tastes that is.
[5/10]
Monday 11 July 2011
REVIEW: Kaiser Chiefs - The Future Is Medieval
Posted on 00:26 by Unknown
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