Kasabian - 'Where Did All The Love Go?'
Anyone who has read a music blog or Twitter feed since the announcement of this year's Mercury Prize nominations will tell you that Kasabian are a troublesome band. Actually, they probably enjoy this fact. They probably tell themselves it's their duty as artists to rub some people up the wrong way, just as long as they raise a land army of The Kids On The Street while they're at it. They probably look back over the history of rockular music - and make no mistake, as far as attitude are concerned, Kasabian are all about The Rock and The History - and reassure themselves that they're doing everything right.
The Stones were outcasts, rebels against an outmoded society, the Who were sonic visionaries, using the very latest technology to break boundaries in sound. Somewhere between these two archetypes - and 40 years on - here's Tom and Serge and the bass player who looks like a bored Eddie Izzard and the drummer, makin' waves, rockin' houses, changin' vintage guitars for other vintage guitars with every song, and generally acting like curators of the great rock archive.
That's the attitude, anyway. As far as The Actual Music is concerned, things are very different. For starters, the six-string electric guitar - the instrument which defines rock music - is not a prominent noise in their records. Fuzz bass, yes, but guitar? Less than you'd think. And barely any here.
(, which seems to have been filmed backstage at the Take That tour...or maybe the Britney tour?)
Kasabian are one of the few meat-and-potatoes guitar rock bands to have successfully integrated the best of modern (meaning post-hip hop, really) production techniques and sweeping, cinematic string motifs into their sound. They get hip hop producers to help mix their albums, they clearly think a lot about what kind of noises they want on their songs - and often make surprising choices.
This song, for example, contains a very prominent vibraslap. A blimming VIBRASLAP! That's a comedy percussion instrument which is in no way as rude as its name suggests and sounds not unlike someone twanging a rattlesnake on the edge of a table, the way schoolboys do with rulers.
There's an extended violins and fuzz bass breakdown section, there's a wafty samples-and-claves moment, there's a double-speed electric tambourine in the chorus. For all that the popsnobs claim the band as ridiculous old guitar bores, they don't half cram their songs with arresting ideas.
Oh sure, the lyrics are just plain silly, and for some people Kasabian will always be a boorish, dumb lads' band, but so long as they keep bashing ideas together like this and making pretty patterns from the sparks, their reputation as pop troublemakers in rock clobber is assured.
Download: Out now
CD Released: August 10th
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 24th Jul 2009, spirit wrote:Where did all the love go ? , is a worthy addition to a fine line of Kasabian singles .
This has all the Kasabian trademarks , vocals with attitude , a big chorus , rock with a sense of rhythm , and lots of underlying magic.
Fire got to number 3 , (their biggest hit ! ) and is the favourite rock song of the Summer for some of my friends . ( I am still not sure how Fraser only gave it 3 stars ! ) It is a great song.
West Rider pauper lunatic asylum was a number 1 album , and is one of the favourites to win the Mercury Music Prize.
In many ways Kasabian are going from strength to strength.
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Comment number 2.
At 25th Jul 2009, spirit wrote:OK here comes some news on future hits and releases.
Jay Z , Rhianna and Kanye will release " Run this town " in the near future . A hit , it will be .
SINGLES
3/8
TINCHY STRYDER/AMELLE- NEVER LEAVE YOU
10/8
CALVIN HARRIS - READY 4 THE WEEKEND
24/8
NOAH AND THE WHALE-BLUE SKIES.
31/8
FRIENDLY FIRES - KISS OF LIFE (a new one woo-hoo !)
PIXIE LOTT - BOYS AND GIRLS
ASHER ROTH - SHE DON'T WANNA MAN
THE YEAH YOUS - GETTIN UP WTH YOU.
7/9
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE - DRUMMING SONG
3OH!3- STARSTRUKK
DAVID GRAY-FUGITIVE
PEARL JAM- THE FIXER
Other singles and albums news appear on the JLS and CHICANE posts .
I will post the new albums information , as soon as I get sent it , hopefully tomorrow.
Spirit.
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Comment number 3.
At 25th Jul 2009, spirit wrote:OK .. heres some new album news ..
17/08
TINCHY STRYDER - CATCH 22
CALVIN HARRIS - READY FOR THE WEEKEND
The above shhould be a good battle for the top.
24/8
MARIAH CAREY - MEMOIRS OF AN IMPERFECT ANGEL
DAVID GUETTA - ONE LOVE
JUST JACK - ALL NIGHT CINEMA
AIR - LOVE 2 - 12/ 10
CHIPMUNK- I AM CHIPMUNK - 21/9
TAIO CRUZ - THIS WAY OUT - OCTOBER
JAMIE CULLUM - THE PURSUIT - NOVEMBER
NATALIE IMBRUGLIA - COME ALIVE - SEPTEMBER
FLAMING LIPS - EMBRYONIC -SEPTEMBER
DAVID GRAY - DRAW THE LINE - SEPTEMBER
PARAMORE - BRAND NEW EYES - SEPTEMBER
PEARL JAM - BACKSPACER - SEPTEMBER
FRANK TURNER - POETRY OF THE DEED - SEPTEMBER
Any one lookin forward to any of these releases ?
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Comment number 4.
At 26th Jul 2009, flatknees wrote:there must be a general chart discussion page for such... discussion.. let us talk kasabian.. a good track but i was almost certain that 'Fast Fuse' would be the next single.. really punchy track with bucket-loads of attitude..
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Comment number 5.
At 26th Jul 2009, spirit wrote:Hi again Flat knees , I agree that Fast fuse is a great track.
I understand Fraser is busy building a future hits section of Chartblog , for me and others to share info about new stuff , that will sizzle the charts and peoples hearts .
Until then I am placing it , after discussion , on the Friday review.
I am sure Serge and co. would be cool with this.
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Comment number 6.
At 19th Aug 2009, spirit wrote:This song is set to chart on Sunday !
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