Wow,
this album is boot-strappingly British. ‘Education, Education, Education &
War,’ is the newest album by a band close to my heart, ‘The Kaiser Chiefs.’
Fourteen years and five dynamite albums, churned out to the masses they are
still making moody, rowdy songs so popular that they are rocking stadiums up
and down the country. I was also a fan during my teens, and listening to this
one, I can see myself putting it on repeat; and I think you should to! But
enough of me, onto the review!
The
lads from Leeds have created an album that sings of confidence and power; and
even though missing their founding member, drummer Nick Hodgson, they do not
seem to have lost their ‘indie/rock’ power. The boys are back with their
politically empowered album that mixes coarse singing with keyboard-infused
killer chords seen in the stunning opening song, ‘The Factory Gates.’ The song
starts with riffs that scream of the old Kaiser Chiefs and it has the
underlying tone of rebellion right from the start. It opens with a burst of
riffs from the keyboard, and Wilson’s gritty voice singing over the top. Lyrics
include the damning, ‘you are contractually tied to death’s door.’ A song that
really links back to the roots of the band, but also bringing it right up to
date! ‘Coming Home,’ is a sing-along standout, it has a softer quality and
allows the lead singers voice to sing over the classic guitar chords and the
riffs of the rhythm guitar. The uplifting chords help to bring an inspirational
feel to the song. I can see teenagers and adult’s alike singing along to this
at festivals with their lighters in the air. What an absolute beauty!
Misery
Company is the next song on the album, and it has a much more powerful feel to
it. This is mirrored in the stop chords of the guitar. Wilson’s voice is
contained but drives the song forward making it feel almost like a march. The
song also features an addition of Wilson’s manic laughing that adds a darker
tone to the song that I wasn’t expecting. The song has so much pace that it
really sweeps the listener along. However it sings of a darker side of the
album, which overall has a rather angry tone as Ricky Wilson sings of
contemporary Britain, but with a side of sarcasm and satire. Punctuated with ‘jokey’
lyrics it adds an unbalance to the album that makes you question what the real
message is behind the songs. This leads the songs however at times to be
extremely frank with the listener; take the unequivocally quirky Coming Home,
the lyrics sings, ‘May I remind you that you’ve got nowhere to go?’ The lyrics
are speaking of the current binge-drinking epidemic, in which we as teens
appear to drown our sorrows of unemployment and disappointment in the bottom of
a vodka bottle!
Elsewhere
Wilson sweeps his weary eyes over the wannabe squaddies playing with replica
guns and pretending to be in battle in ‘Ruffians on Parade,’ and it sings of a
lack of knowledge of the dangers of corruption. It is a powerful song that
warns of the descent of Britain and how this has come about through the
mistakes of others. The album finishes with the song ‘Roses,’ which was my
favourite song on the album and although it still has a beat it is lulling and
allows Wilson’s voice to really sing. It shows that the Kaiser Chiefs have the
ability to grow and to sing in a Britpop style, rather than foot-tapping
indie/rock style and I hope that they will take this forward into their next
album, as it would definitely help to show a different edge that the band
ultimately has! This is an album full of foot-tapping riffs, with power chords
a gritty but beautiful lead voice and secret meanings about the decay of modern
Britain. What more could you want from one of Britain’s longest running
contemporary indie/rock bands. Some have argued in reviews that the songs are
shallow, however I think that this means the listener has to think more. I
always think that an album should never be taken on its face value and here it
is important to immerse yourself completely to understand exactly what the lads
are saying. This album is definitely worth a listen, and if you want to be
transported back to house parties, pretending to play the air-guitar this is
definitely for you!
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