Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Kasabian are back with their 3rd cd entitled West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. They took a page from Oasis and layered it up with haze and psychedelia. Track 1 "Underdog" has a familiar feel with fuzzy guitars and organs and could have come from their debut cd. While the song is good it doesn't scream a huge improvement or expansion of their sound. Track 2 " Where Did All The Love Go?" continues down the same path and could have been swapped with "Reason Is Treason". At this point I am a little disappointed since I have heard it all before. Yeah there are some different rhythms and a couple unique percussion but it's the same formula. Track 4 "Fast Fuse" finally takes you in a new direction. Hints of psychedelia mixed with loud guitars and harmonies fill out the song. Track 5 "Take Aim" may be one of the best songs on the cd, it starts off acoustic then builds into a swirling mess of fog and mid tempo rock. Track 6 "Thick As Thieves" doesn't even sound like Kasabian, think Beatles and 60s garage rock. At this point, Kasabian has settled into the theme for the record but for some reason felt the need rehash the opening 3 tracks in order to get here. Personally they should have pushed those to the end and focused more on the 60s vibe. Track 7 "West Ryder Silver Bullet" is a spaghetti western and full of haunting vocals, organs and a lazy guitar strum. On Track 8 "Vlad The Impaler" Kasabian turns up the heat and gets back to modern times. Heavy electronic beats, bass lines and pounding vocals dominate the song. Track 10 "Secret Alphabets" reverts back to the 60s with subtle Middle Eastern rhythms and full on murk. The cd closes with Track 12 "Happiness" a Rolling Stones piano ballad chalk full of gospel and hand claps. Its as if Primal Scream took over.
I have given the cd a number of listens and am quite happy but I am also disappointed with the way Kasabian played it safe and reverted back to the old standbys. They took a chance with the psychedelia and 60s sound but still felt the need to remind the listeners of their loud and boisterous side. It will definitely be in my top 10 and possibly top 5 but not the top cd of the year.
Posted by mardenhill 6/17/2009 09:09:00 PM
Labels: Music
