I predict a listen, I predict a listen. (Employment - Kaiser Chiefs)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Employment - Kaiser Chiefs
Date:	26/11/08 (316 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some 'to be' classics.

Disadvantages: None really.

Kaiser Chiefs - Employment

This debut album was released in 2005, some 8 years after the Leeds combo first formed, that shows perseverance at the very least...who are they?

Ricky Wilson
Andrew 'Whitey' White
Simon Rix
Nick 'Peanut' Baines
Nick Hodgson

What are they? Well, sort of UK Indie, come rock, come post punk. They are certainly different though, well, different to many of the dross UK indie bands around.

I'd like to mention the actual CD and insert booklet which I think are worthy of mention. The CD itself has a really cute multi coloured clock face entitled 'track selector', this is quite amusing. The back of the Cd has a track list preceded by the words 'Bumper 12-song Compendium'. This is all very tongues in cheek, cheeky chappie, and I like it.

The insert booklet is set out like an old games compendium with all the lyrics included, I still like to read lyrics.


1. Everyday I Love You Less And Less
Great opening track; brilliant energetic staccato drum and guitar beat, starts well, changes key up several times until we get to the chorus which has a real punk feel to it. The lyrics are simple yet clever, the tune catchy, the vocals reminiscent of Stiff Little Fingers or The Undertones, or The Jam. 8/10.

2. I Predict A Riot
This is even better than the first track and was a huge single hit (though I often think of the Chris Moyle's parody 'I predict a diet). Basically the song is social commentary and I love that, it feels real and is pretty much any Saturday night in any town. The lyrics are sublime:

"Girls scrabble round with no clothes on,
To borrow a pound for a condom,
If it wasn't for chip fat they'd be frozen"

The end gets faster and louder, as it should. 10/10 for me, destined to become a classic.

3. Modern Way
I have made one reference to The Jam already and one has to say the song title here evokes that further. A slower and more thoughtful track, introverted social commentary. This song reminds me of another but I cannot work it out, has a feel of Depeche Mode about it. I really like this, quite mournful in a way, which gets 'broken' by a great big rock type interlude mid song. 8/10.

4. Na Na Na Na Naa
Completely different again, this could be the Scissor Sisters, all disco rock like, quite fun and catchy but not the best, never the less, a solid 7/10.

5. You Can Have It All
A love song in it's own way, but quirky enough to be interesting. Again the lyrics are excellent, talking about itches in lost limbs. Musically it is more acoustic, but not totally so. Nice guitar and keyboards complementing each other with a very cool, laconic drum beat. I really like this it and often play it 2 or 3 times in a row. This is strange because it really is not my usual type of song. 8/10.

6. Oh My God
This is sheer class, the lyrics alone are sublime, the lead guitar is superb. Very Depeche Mode again and yet it builds and builds to become a full on rock number. I have to mention a lyrical line that is just brilliant:

"Knock me down I get right back up again, Come back stronger than a powered up Pac-Man".

The chorus is another that sits in the memory, brilliant, though I have to say I did love the Lily Allen/Mark Ronson version too. 9/10.

7. Born To Be A Dancer
Lyrically this could be The Jam without a shadow of a doubt, musically it is very definitely the Kaiser Chiefs, 7/10.

8. Saturday Night
This has real punk influences bit like the Ramones, X Ray Spex even. Simple beats, the vocals are just great, full of shouting, pouting arrogance. Energetic and at the same time very 'couldn't give a toss' type of music. Brilliant again. 9/10.

9. What Did I Ever Give You?
Great circus/fairground keyboard/organ, a sound a bit like a 70's Cockney rebel tune, really quite accomplished and interesting. Lyrically, again, fantastic. 7/10.

10. Time Honoured Tradition
Strange offering this, not bad, just a bit different...it never really gets going from the introductory bars, though right at the end we get a bit of a build up which is awfully like Klezmer music, how weird. 6/10.

11. Caroline, Yes
Clearly a song about betrayal and infidelity. I don't actually like this song. It is good musically and lyrically but not as good as the other tracks, it just does not have the same energy or commitment and seems to go on for ever. Weakest track on the CD but still a solid 5/10.

12. Team Mate
Another strange offering, all lamenting and soft lyrics. Quite good in a mournful kind of way, again not a favourite, but just better than last track 5.5/10.


~~~Finally~~~

Whilst they are not the Jam nor do they state that they are influenced by the Jam, the bass line is very similar in some tracks. The track titles and lyrics are also quite Jam like, 'Modern Way', 'Saturday' night to name but two. There are also clearly influences from bands like Depeche Mode, and yet they are very individual too. There are punk influences, rock influences, new romantic influences all churning up in a Northern, Cheeky Chappie, artic Monkeys (but better) Indie style.

Where this band and this CD stand out for me is in the ability to cross genres and in the song writing, lyrically it is a superb offering, a real keeper for any collection.

Summary: Kaisers debut.