- Label
- Polydor
- Release date
- 20th October 2008
- Genre
- Indie
- Buy this album
- Order CD
Leeds upstarts return with Mark Ronson-produced novelty pop album
Kaiser Chiefs love a crap pun, and in keeping with their previous two albums – which gave us Caroline, Yes and Everybody's Average Nowadays - there's a twisted classic song title here in the shape of Addicted To Drugs (that's drugs, not love, geddit?). Luckily it's the album stand-out. The other great song here is another attempt at sardonic social commentary; well-meaning it may well be but the call and response in Never Miss A Beat of "What do you want for tea? I want crisps" is like a singing version of one of those patronising Jamie Oliver-teaching-us-common-people-to-eat-asparagus cookery shows. Irritating, but like much of Off With Their Heads, damn catchy.
Producer Mark Ronson piles in everything but a trumpet with plenty of oddball 60s sounds, strings, girl group backing vocals on Always Happens Like That and guest stars (including backing vocals from Lily Allen, string arrangements by Bond composer David Arnold and a rap from Sway during Half The Truth). If there's a problem it's that there are too many hooks and gimmicks – overlook that and it's just a great, silly pop album in the spirit of Madness and Blur's Parklife. Unbelievers should approach with extreme caution.
More to try: Lily Allen: Alright Still Blur: Parklife Madness: One Step Beyond Mark Ronson: Version
