Written in just six weeks, Leicester born-and-bred rock band Kasabian are back with their sixth studio album called ‘For Crying out Loud’. This is an album full of variety, including hints of acid house, rock, Britpop, and dance music - and it all surprisingly works well together. With four albums that have previously reached number 1 on the UK charts, perhaps their new twelve-track album could make it five?
‘Ill Ray (The King)’ is a perfect opener for the album, it builds up a very energetic vibe and gets you pumped up for the rest of the album. This track creates an atmosphere whereby you would want to see how amazing it would be to watch this tune live, in a sold-out arena, with colourful, flashing spotlights synchronizing to the beats as everyone is dancing in unison. One of their most popular singles off ‘For Crying Out Loud’ is ‘You’re in Love With a Psycho’ - comedian Noel Fielding and actor from This is England and Snatch, Stephen Graham star in the music video in which a mental health nurse falls in love with one of her patients (a psycho). With its repetitive chorus’ of “You're in love with a psycho, and there's nothing you can do about it” the urge to sing-along is unbearable.
‘Twentyfourseven’ is a favourite amongst the rest, it holds the original and authentic Kasabian sound that creeps through on every album. Out of nowhere comes an insane guitar solo from Serge Pizzorno on lead, and afterwards lead singer, Tom Meighan creates a tension-filled build-up; repeating the title-line, then the track drops back into the lively chorus.
‘Wasted’ is a slow, and relaxed love song, and more of an indie-track in general. Meighan’s vocals take a stronger focus in the song so listeners will listen more attentively due to the lyrics discussing an intimate experience of falling in love, getting drunk together and listening to music that never dies.
Lead guitarist and songwriter Serge Pizzorno has discussed to NME that ‘For Crying Out Loud’ features ‘one of the best tunes he’s ever written’ and that tune is ‘Bless This Acid House’. This uplifting summer song is by far the standout-song on the album with its catchy lyrics and hedonistic preaching to acid house, a smile is bound to creep upon your face.
Closing track ‘Put Your Life On It’, sounds very 60’s Beatles with splashes of Britpop, it was a great track to close the album off with because it’s slow and calm so it rounds off the album very well. Another similar song on the album is called ‘The Party Never Ends’ - both are slow tracks that include hints of Britpop.
In conclusion Kasabian have still kept their distinctive and statement Kasabian sound throughout the album, ‘Comeback Kid’ and ‘Are You Looking For Action’ are perfect examples. Releasing the album in May is the perfect time to release a fantastic summer album like this, and although Kasabian usually has a couple of timeless tunes on each album, this album is FULL of them. ‘Are You Looking for Action?’ reflects some of the traits from ‘Treat’ off their 2014 album, '48:13'. Repetitive, upbeat, and a fucking tune. This is a dance tune with splashes of acid house influences, and speaking of acid house, ‘Bless This Acid House’ is the best single off the album, but a few tracks do come close. Even though this isn’t the best Kasabian album in comparison to their debut and 'Velociraptor', it is a good, strong, industrious album jam-packed with a variety of different songs for a variety of audiences.
10/10