Kaiser Chiefs are something of a phenomenon in the U.K., but they have yet to catch on here in the states. It's possible to be a fan of Kaiser Chiefs, but it doesn't quite seem possible to be a Kaiser Chiefs Fan; to define one's musical tastes through a band that lacks its own discernable identity just doesn't feel right. Their third LP, "Off With Their Heads," with its 11 tracks weighing in at just over a half-hour, is simply more of the same inconsequential, guilt-free Brit-pop-rock that they have been churning out since their debut, "Employment," in 2005.
The album's opener, "Spanish Metal," is quick and largely indistinguishable from the rest of the songs on the album. "Never Miss a Beat," the second track, is a good introduction to Kaiser Chiefs' more typical sound. It starts out fast and stays fast until it ends — again, too soon. The track features backing vocals by British singer-songwriter Lily Allen, though her part can be easily overlooked, as well as tight production by Mark Ronson. The lyrics are simple: "It's cool to know nothing" is the meat and bones of the vocals on the track, leading one to wonder if this isn't also the band's philosophy for song writing as well.
"Like it too Much" starts out sounding incredibly similar to "Never Miss a Beat," but as soon as the violins kick in the differences between the tracks are readily apparent. "Like It too Much" features an orchestral section and a soaring chorus, and it is easily one of the stand outs on the album.
A major change in the band's sound comes with "You Want History," a song that sounds like some lesser 1980s Brit-pop, yet is a welcome change. The bass line moves the track forward and the repetitive synthesizer and tribal drum section spice the sound up.
Many of the tracks suffer the same problem: They sound exactly like the song that came before. Frontman Ricky Wilson and company have certain formulas that they're obviously comfortable with, and they stick to them. "Can't Say What I Mean" could have been on either of their previous albums, and very well may have been in some form. Most listeners probably wouldn't really notice a direct duplicate when all the songs sound alike.
The band has managed to maintain some level of success because their singing is pleasant, their guitar is fun, their keyboards are sufficiently jaunty and their drumming manages to keep the tempo up. They really do try, and the effort shows, but they don't do anything revolutionary.
The second half of the album continues in the same vein as the first, although "Tomato in the Rain," a half-hearted attempt to sound like The Beatles, comes across as an insult. It's one of the album's slower songs, but each time Wilson's voice rises, we're painfully reminded that he is no John Lennon. He's not even Rick Astley. No one will ever be Kaiser-rolled. These songs just aren't that catchy.
"Addicted to Drugs" begins and ends with a clanging cowbell, a fun instrument recently embraced by dance and electro acts to add extra ‘oomph' to songs. Somehow, it just doesn't work in this context. Like most of the tracks on "Off With Their Heads" it has its heart in the right place but sometimes good intentions aren't enough. The song is reminiscent of Weezer's similarly-titled "We Are All on Drugs" from the band's lackluster "Make Believe" (2005) in that it is too long and too dull to leave an impression.
On the album's closer, "Remember You're a Girl," the band slows the pace. Its lyrics — "You're going down the wrong road/ And it doesn't even matter/ You're living in the wrong time/ But it doesn't even matter" — work perfectly to describe the band. Kaiser Chiefs could have been something special had existed in another time, possibly two decades ago, but today there are dozens of bands with extremely similar sounds.
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with Kaiser Chiefs' sound — it is entirely enjoyable, but all-together forgettable. They have good ideas but they never follow through, making "Off With Their Heads" an ultimately frustrating album. Each song promises but fails to deliver, and just as a track gets its legs and really starts moving, it comes to a sudden, jolting end. "Off With Their Heads" has some truly fun moments, but shows little growth for Kaiser Chiefs and most likely won't convert any new fans or even any casual listeners.
