Artist: Kasabian
Title: Velociraptor!
Genre: Indie-Rock
Release Date: 16th/19th September 2011
Label: Columbia/SonyBMG
Album Review
KASABIAN, a nice, British born and made band, who've been running for 12 years with four studio albums under their belt; a band that's been told to be one of the smartest bands around going above the radar of the general Indie music scene. If all this is true, then why are they basically releasing the same album over and over? The first track on the album, 'Let's Roll Like We Used To', really does say it in the music, not just the title, about how the song and the rest of the album is going to turn out. Yes, as a track on it's own it's sets a tone of attitude and a “yes, we're here again” sort of feel. But when you put it with the other tracks on the album, it doesn't stand out much. Which is a shame for a title track!
'Days Are Forgotten' brings back KASABIAN's rock and roll feel, but the “aah's” really do try to link it back to the first track too much, and doesn't contrast it enough. The album then drops the tone down slightly with the third track, 'Goodbye Kiss', and then keeps the slower tempo throughout the next track but picking up the positive feel, rock and roll back up (with a rather strange keyboard synth chord beginning) with 'La Fee Verte'. As soon as track 5 starts, it does hit you in the face. This is the height of KASABIAN's creatively and originally. No wonder it was the name of the album. The only thing I would point out is that leaving your talent to the fifth track isn't really a fair one on your fans who have patiently waited for another album from such good musicians. The vocals portray such huge attitude, and the music just makes you do some weird, bobbing dance move, like it's shooting at your feet for you to dance. Brilliant, simple brilliant.
The love for KASABIAN is short lived, when the weirdness and generics of the basic Indie band come back in to play like the first 4 songs on the album. 'I Hear Voices' brings an interesting and engaging synth line into the mix, but sadly it doesn't last long enough and a guitar takes over. It does come back in with the chorus and it completely throws you back into the track again. After the first chorus a new, more subtle synth line comes in over the second verse and just keeps your curiosity going for the rest of the song, as the vocal melody line and lyrics don't really do anything for the listener (especially myself). 'Re-Wired' is exactly as it says; a KASABIAN track from previous albums simply re-wired. Nothing new here. The album rounds off with 'Switchblade' bringing back some interesting synths, stepping them out of the generic Indie movement of the moment that we all know they are much better than. It then all ends with 'Neon Noon', slowing us right back down.
Overall, I think the band may have lost their way slightly. They are throwing new ideas in but not sticking to one, and it's confusing listeners and long-term lovers, because they're either trying to grow but then sticker too close to the safe side. They need to take the jump I say; become the band they are rumoured to be.
Tracklist
01. Let's Roll Just Like We Used To
02. Days Are Forgotten
03. Goodbye Kiss
04. La Fee Verte
05. Velociraptor!
06. Acid Turkish Bath (Shelter From The Storm)
07. I Hear Voices
08. Re-Wired
09. Man Of Simple Pleasures
10. Switchblade Smiles
11. Neon Noon
Line-up
Tom Meighan
Sergio Pizzorno
Chris Edwards
Ian Matthews
Jay Mehler
Website
http://www.kasabian.co.uk
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 5
Total: 6 / 10
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