Album Review: Kasabian - Velociraptor!

With Oasis gone and Beady Eye unremarkable in every way, Kasabian were left with the mantle of lad-rock band all to themselves. Yet the same year as Oasis’ acrimonious break-up, Kasabian released Mercury-nominated and critically acclaimed West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, an album that marked the band’s determination to add a different dimension to their music. 

Whilst it wasn’t a complete departure from the lad-rock stylings of their first two albums, West Ryder... was a quality psychedelic rock album that propelled them to festival headliners.

With expectations high following the plaudits showered on West Ryder..., Kasabian have returned with Velociraptor!, the band’s fourth album. In fact, if expectations weren’t already high, they were certainly given an injection by Kasabian’s creative force Sergio Pizzorno, boasting “It’s been 15 or 16 years since the last truly classic album, but I think we’ve done it”. Modesty at its best. 

However, whilst there is nothing wrong with overblown statements such as this one, it is important to back them up. And although Velociraptor! is a confident, and at times, impressive follow-up to West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, it is by no means a classic.

Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix

The guitars have been plugged back in for Bombay Bicycle Club’s third album, A Different Kind of Fix, yet the London four-piece have not simply reverted back to the formula of their highly popular debut album. Bombay’s first album, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, was an album full of indie dance floor hits in-waiting.

Combining infectious hooks with frontman Jack Steadman’s unique and emotive voice, Bombay Bicycle Club found a formula that instantly found its way into the hearts of thousands of indie fans, quickly building a passionate fanbase.

However, the Bombay boys didn’t rest on their laurels after the success of their breakthrough album, quickly returning with their follow-up album, the acoustic effort Flaws. Once again, Steadman and Co. found themselves showered with critical praise, with an album that managed to break away from the sudden explosion of folk music acts, such Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling.

Album Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

It’s been five years since the last offering from Red Hot Chili Peppers, in the form of the double album, Stadium Arcadium. However, the return of Red Hot Chili Peppers has yet again been punctuated by the departure of guitarist John Frusciante, who many consider to be central to the band’s best albums, such as Californication, Blood Sex Sugar Magik and By The Way. So, how does the band’s tenth studio album, I’m With You, sound without the instrumental influence of Frusciante?

Well, it’s pretty much a standard Red Hot Chili Peppers affair, minus John Frusciante. Josh Klinghoffer - the replacement that Frusciante himself suggested - never really gets a chance to put his stamp on I’m With You. There is no sense that he has added anything new to the Chili Peppers’ sound, instead, he has just slotted in comfortably. First single from I’m With You, ‘The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie’, is probably Klinghoffer’s spotlight moment, with some interesting hooks layered on top of Flea’s addictive bass line.

In fact, Frusciante’s departure has given Flea more freedom, something that is evident from opening song ‘Monarchy Of Roses’. The song kicks off with the fusion of Chad Smith’s rumbling drum beat and Flea’s bass before Anthony Kiedis’ distorted vocals thunder over the top.