Entertainment.ie

Log in
    Home > Music > Album Review > Kasabian - Empire

    Kasabian - Empire

    Reviewer Rating:
    Add Your Rating:

    4902

      Share with Facebook            
    Judging by the manner in which Leicester four-piece Kasabian have talked-up their sophomore album, ('absolutely f***ing amazing'; 'a classic'; 'rivals Definitely Maybe', according to singer Tom Meighan), Empire is set to be the album of the century. If there's one band on earth who can talk the talk, it's Kasabian. Then again, their vocal bravado hasn't done them any harm thus far; despite 'bypassing critics', according to the press release, their dire, derivative and direction-lessly drab debut sold over 700,000 copies, positioning them as heirs to Oasis's far-reaching, mass-appealing empire. So then, more of the same with installment number two? Not quite. Empire, though it certainly ploughs the same furrow as the debut, all twisted riffs, languid indie drone and surging dance beats, sees Meighan and co. take a more reflective musical stance. In other words, there's marginally less loutish sloganeering, in-your-face power chords and drug-addled, nonsensical lyrics; marginally more intelligent production, controlled confidence and experimentation. The opening title track sees a clever change in tempo mid-song, a barbed interjection amidst a spooky Doctor Who-esque swoosh; Shoot the Runner's beefy glam-rock scuffle pays homage to Bowie with its 'Queen Bitch' refrain, and Stuntman's electro-heavy slur is surprisingly likeable. For the most part, though, Empire fails to ignite; Meighan's 'disaffected' yelp becomes tiresome after a few songs, much of the album is an extension of the debut (the eastern strings on the 'Let Forever Be' swagger of Sun/Rise/Light/Flies, the uninspiring and effects-burdened Seek and Destroy) and it's simply too predictable to be incendiary in any way. At least, though, we're provided with a good laugh on The British Legion, which sees guitarist Pizzorno take over vocal duties. Its acoustic trappings are both misplaced and a bizarre addition to the album's tracklisting; but Pizzorno's forced Bob Dylan impression is certain to ensure him a spot on the next Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes. If Kasabian hadn't attempted to build their Empire by recounting its wonderment prematurely, it might have stood a chance; instead, their audacity just proves them to be, unsurprisingly, more geezer, less Caesar.

    Subscribe on

    • Subscribe Itunes
    • Subscribe Itunes
    • Subscribe Tunein
    • Subscribe Libsyn
    • Subscribe Stitcher
    • Subscribe Overcast
    • Subscribe Podcast Land
    • Subscribe Blubrry

    4902

      Share with Facebook            

    Review by Lauren Murphy   | 09:00 | Thursday 31st August 2006 | Album Review

    • Neosupervital - NeosupervitalPreviousNeosupervital - Neosupervital
    • View all
    • OutKast - IdlewildNextOutKast - Idlewild

    Comments

    Log in to leave a comment

    Entertainment.ie login Facebook login

    Login or register to leave a comment

    Lost Your Password?

    Cinema Listings

    Most Viewed

    • Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Photos
    • News
    • 1 A Quiet PlaceA Quiet Place
      28016 views2 comments
    • 2 The CuredThe Cured
      823 views
    • 3 The Leisure SeekerThe Leisure Seeker
      1519 views
    • 4 Love, SimonLove, Simon
      11304 views
    • 5 Never Steady, Never StillNever Steady, Never Still
      218 views
    • The Cured The Cured
    • A Quiet Place A Quiet...
    • Rampage Rampage
    • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society The...
    • Truth or Dare Truth or...
    • Making the Grade Making the...
    • Blockers Blockers
    • The Leisure Seeker The Leisure...
    • The Son of Bigfoot The Son of...
    • National Television Awards 2015 National...
    • National Television Awards 2016 - Red Carpet National...
    • Bank of Ireland's Junk Kouture 2018 Final Bank of...
    • Golden Globes 2018 - Red Carpet Golden...
    • Green & Black's Chocolate and Wine Pairing Event Green &...
    • Famous faces drop by Casa Bacardi at Electric Picnic 2017 Famous...
    • Lucy Mecklenburgh voted Best Bikini Body Lucy...
    • Aoife Cogan and Gordon D'Arcy wed in Monaghan Aoife Cogan...
    • Les Miserables World Premiere Les...
    • 1 Roddy Doyle's first original screenplay in nearly 20 years is headed to the screenRoddy Doyle's first original screenplay in...
    • 2 Watch: In case you need reminding, this modern 70mm trailer for 2001 is proof that it's agelessWatch: In case you need reminding, this...
    • 3 Netflix is reportedly looking to buy up cinemas in the US to bolster Oscar chancesNetflix is reportedly looking to buy up...
    • 4 The 10 Sexiest Films Ever MadeThe 10 Sexiest Films Ever Made
    • 5 Watch: Final trailer for Deadpool 2 introduces Terry Crews, Zazie Beetz and... Rob Delaney?Watch: Final trailer for Deadpool 2...

    Latest Trending

    • Watch: Tom Hiddleston, Vin Diesel and Josh Brolin have been going around surprising Avengers fansWatch: Tom Hiddleston, Vin Diesel and Josh Brolin have been going around surprising Avengers fans
    • Millie Bobby Brown is the youngest name to ever feature on Time's 'Most Influential' listMillie Bobby Brown is the youngest name to ever feature on Time's 'Most Influential' list
    • This guy's tweet about his deceased dad's rubber ducks has gone viralThis guy's tweet about his deceased dad's rubber ducks has gone viral
    • Watch: Jordan Peele creates 'deepfake' video of Barrack Obama to highlight dangers of fake mediaWatch: Jordan Peele creates 'deepfake' video of Barrack Obama to highlight dangers of fake media
    • Someone discovered the 18th century version of the distracted boyfriend meme and it's brilliantSomeone discovered the 18th century version of the distracted boyfriend meme and it's brilliant
    • Watch: These bears' discovery of a hammock is the best video you'll see todayWatch: These bears' discovery of a hammock is the best video you'll see today

    Entertainment.ie

    • TV
      • TV Listings
      • What's On Now
      • Highlights
      • Tonight's TV
      • Netflix
      • Soap Watch
    • Cinema
      • Cinema Listings
      • Movie Reviews
      • Trailers
      • Movie News
      • Coming Soon
      • Movie Features
    • Music
      • Music News
      • Gig Reviews
      • Festivals
      • Albums
      •  
      •  

    • What's On
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Theatre & Dance
      • Clubbing
      • Special Screenings
    • Trending
      • Games
      • Videos
      • Competitions
    • Celebrity
      • Celebrity Gossip
      • Photos
      • Red Carpet
      • eTV
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Popular Photos
    • More…
      • Lotto
      • Lotto Archives
      • Horoscopes
      • Weather

    Our Team

    • Micheál Scully
    • Mike Sheridan
    • David Bryan
    • David O'Shaughnessy
    • Jessica Hickey
    • Sharon Gray
    • Brian Lloyd
    • Rosie Tutty

    Meet all the team

    Mobile Apps

    Entertainment.ie TV iPhone app Entertainment.ie Cinema iPhone app Entertain Me! iPhone app

    Read More

    Connect

    Entertainment.ie on FacebookJoin us on Facebook Entertainment.ie on TwitterFollow us on Twitter

    Entertainment.ie on InstagramJoin us on Instagram

    Contact Us | Advertise | Submit Listing | Partner Login | Reporting a Problem | Feedback | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Site Directory


    © 2018 Entertainment Media Networks Ltd., 3rd Floor, Castleforbes House, Castleforbes Road, Dublin 1 | Web Development by Fusio
    Please use our partners:
    wideeyemedia.com | beaut.ie