KAISER CHIEFS- OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

Down that Ronson-shaped rabbit hole is a creative dead-end for the Leeds mob


In interviews running up to the release of the Kaiser Chiefs album, producer wonderkid Mark Ronson was suggesting the forthcoming LP was “an eccentric record” and a real departure from what had come before.

A brave move indeed considering the success of the previous albums, debut Employment and winning follow up Yours Truly, Angry Mob producing hit single after hit single.

But sadly Mr Ronson is either a liar or completely deluded. Despite it’s great title, “Off With Their Heads” is a safe album that rather than pushing forward employs its reverse gear.

Lead single Never Miss A Beat was promising enough filled with witty lyrics that capture the zeitgeist (“What do you want for tea/ I want crisps”) paired with the sort of terrace chorus that the Chiefs do so well. It’s great fun, but its hardly the leap forward we were told to prepare for.

There are two other great songs on offer here, and they, along with Never Miss A Beat, come at the start of the album. You Want History’s use of synths get the heart pumping and is simply fantastic. Its end refrain of “If the girls start moving/The boys start moving/if the girls stop moving/the boys will stand still” will hopefully provide the album’s ubiquitous hit if released as a single.

Meanwhile, Like It Too Much is suggestive of the surge forward Ronson was talking about , by using the stirring 60s style strings of Bond producer David Arnold. With the lyric “You are decended from animals/and you are constructed of chemicals” putting the human race in its place, it’s the best track on offer here.

The rest of the album ranges wildly from forgettably average to absolute dirge. Opening track Spanish Metal is as stupid and tune-free as its title suggests. Half The Truth (with an embarrassing guest spot from rapper Sway) should be called Half-Hearted and drummer Nick Hodgson makes the mistake of taking the lead on closer Remember You’re A Girl.

Worst of the lot is Addicted To Drugs (“You might as well face it you’re addicted to drugs”- yes, that’s a Robert Palmer pun). Its chorus is toe-curling and its verses “cleverly” recycle Never Miss A Beat’s wit.

Talking of wit, the lyrics that hold it that were once a joy now just feel tired. They attempt to be meaningful on Tomato In The Rain, but the couplet “Like a beetle on its back/I’ve got to get back on track” will just produce a sorry sigh.

Comparing the Kaiser Chiefs to blur may be an old cliché, but it has to be done. If Yours Truly, Angry Mob was their Parklife, this is most definitely The Great Escape. However where blur went next was bold and exciting, so it’s clear a change is desperately needed. Sources suggest that this was originally meant as an EP. Maybe if they kept it like that things would be a bit sunnier.

2/5

PURE
(PS3/XBOX 360)

The racing videogame market is a crowded place which can be split exactly in half: those who swear by the likes of Sony’s Gran Tourismo behemoth for the realistic driving experience and the less experienced squad who just want to have fun.

Pure falls in that latter category. It’s published by, of all people, Disney and mixes the arcade feel of Project Gotham Racing with the button bashing trick system of the Tony Hawk games. It’s a winning combination that might not suit gamers out for the hardcore experience, but is still ridiculously enjoyable.

You start out by creating your ATV from scratch and are thrust straight into the action after a quick tutorial. From here it’s instantly playable. There are three sets of tricks to use, depending on the size of jumps you’ve been launched into. Successfully landing it adds to your boost bar, which in turn can be used or saved up to fire into a near-impossible special trick, for an instant refill.

It takes a couple of races to get into, but this simple system is hugely rewarding and will frequently bring a smile to your face. Races are unlocked fairly easily, which means you won’t find yourself getting stuck, but going back to get that elusive first place provides the challenge. The races are well paced as well, meaning you’ll never get too far behind.

As well as this the visuals are so impressive that you’ll find yourself gasping as you leap several hundred feet into the air with the world below you. Online multiplayer is equally entertaining, as up to 16 players jostle for position online. It provides a non-shooter party experience that this generation has needed.

Overall Pure will pass by hardcore gamers due to its simplicity, but if you want pure enjoyment, get it here.