Kasabian claimed that this is the album to "change your life". I took this statement to suggest that Velociraptor! is just going to ride the afterwaves of last year's success, and you'd be forgiven that thinking all these song were going to be half-written, rushed tracks that weren't quite good enough to put in "West Ryder..."
However, this really deserves that exclamation point in it's name, it's an angry album that sometimes doesn't quite make for easy listening. It's a good compilation that i deffinatley enjoy and has convinced me that i want to see them live, but don't altogether adore, and I can't quite decide why. Ordinarily, i would say that i LOVE Kasabian, and I admire their experimentation with synth and dance-beats, but i think a couple of tracks such as I Hear Voices are carried on the back of others, such as Velociraptor! and These Days... The songs i like by Kasabian i adore, but there are some that i can be completely indifferent to and, as i'm analysing the album as a whole, i don't think that's a characteristic of a "Life changing" album. Anyway, here's the breakdown:
I'll start with the song Velociraptor! This is track that the album will be remembered for, and not just because of the name. Rather than saying "Velociraptor is on that great album," they will say "That's the album that great song Velociraptor is on." That's not necessarily a bad thing either. It's a fearless song, it goes on the attack right from the word go. There's no gentle introduction, it boldly shouts "Blast Off!"over the heavy musical support of the band and charges straight into the chorus: "Velociraptor, he's gonna get ya" is sang quite melodically, followed by more yells of "Velocirap-TUH! (A cool touch if ever i saw one, and there are none more swaggeringly-cool than rock artists Kasabian.)
Stepping back from the critically acclaimed, i want to mention my favourite of the album, Switchblade Smiles, which was released as the taster back in June. It does sound a little like the last dreggs of 'West Ryder's Asylum', but is altogether a brilliant song. The intro seemed a little Muse-like, with the pulsating bass/synth, which we have former hip-hop producer Dan 'the Automator' to thank for. The introduction of the dubstep-influenced drum beat at around 1 minute is bulked up yet more by the guitar and the perfectly timed lyrics lyrics "Can you feel it coming? -Boom." This part is so catchy you itch to tap your hands along to it. (A note on dubstep infiltrating the rock world, take a listen to Korn's new song)
"Let's Roll Just Like We Used To" is frankly, a frightening song. I hate the disembodied groans you hear in the introduction. I'm quite a jumpy person anyway, but when the trumpets and what sounds to me like marching soldiers come in, i just get too freaked out. This may make me weird, but i don't care, it's just not pleasant listening. (However i will say that Tom's voice sounds a lot like Alex Turner's in this.) Thankfully, it is followed by the brilliant These Days Are Forgotten. It's all in the intro; the clunky guitar riff with that drum beat clicks across your brain. Unlike the impenetrable wall of noise that many bands seem to favour, Kasabian appreciate the importance of a catchy chorus, and time and time again, there's those few lines that you just cannot get out of your head.
A quick mention for La Fee Verte. I like songs with clever references that make the listener feel 'in' on the joke. This appeals to this geek-lobe in my brain and i piece together that they are referring to Absinthe, the potent French drink. There is even an accordion around 2.20 that adds another hint of Je Ne Sais Pas to the song. The sliding notes that are sung creates the 'off-your-face' mood; although in truth, although i like this track, i tend to flick to the next one before this is finished.
I Hear Voices and Re-wired sound like throwbacks from the 80s, which i admit i don't fully get. But then, i guess that's a matter of taste. Personally i think it's a little annoying and out of place, but not altogether crap.
The dark, creepy, but yet delightful A Man Of Simple Pleasures sounds a little Arctic Monkeys-ish, pre-'Humbug.' Which can only be a bloody good thing. I know i've mentioned this already, but are Kasabian jumping into the grave that the Monkeys lads have left vacant since their dissapointing album "Suck it and see" ? If this song is anything to go by then maybe. Some say Kasabian can't outrun the shadow of Oasis. Waffle, it's Arctic Monkeys they can't seem to out-grow.
If there are songs that i haven't mentioned then it's because they are neither great nor awful- referring back to what i said about being indifferent to the odd Kasabian song. On the other hand, the songs that are good, are mind-blowing, which makes rating this album very difficult....
7/10
It's a must-buy, and i really want tickets to see these guys it's just a shame that the album dips somewhat in the middle.
Track list:
Let's Roll Just Like We Used To
Days Are Forgotten
Goodbye Kiss
La Fee Verte
Velociraptor!
Acid Turkish Bath
I Hear Voices
Re-wired
Man Of Simple Pleasures
Swichblade Smiles
Neon noon
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