Empire

Kasabian | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000HEVYQS
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,472 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #63 in Music > Alternative Rock > British Alternative > Britpop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It was easy to see where Kasabian was coming from on its self-titled 2004 debut: Take Oasis' classic rock bluster, slap it together with the Chemical Brothers' acid-soaked club beats, and shake fiercely. But how to improve on a formula the British band already perfected with early singles like "Club Foot" and "Reason Is Treason"? That's easy: more of the same, only louder. On Empire, the shaggy-haired quartet adds dizzying strings and a heavy glam-rock stomp to its new songs, delivering roof-quaking tracks like "Shoot The Runner," "Sun Rise Light Flies" and the monstrous title cut. Even if the songs don't always measure up to their predecessors, the sound is reassuringly riotous. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

2006 sophomore album from this danceably rockin' Britpop band. Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, the album was produced by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Editors, Ladytron) and Kasabian. 11 tracks including the first single, 'Empire'. Sony/BMG. 2006. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not like their first but still worthy, October 5, 2006

By 

Andrew T. Currier "atc626" (New Paltz, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Empire (Audio CD)

Kasabian's self titled first release is one that I found very enjoyable. Some of the tracks I rarely listened to but cuts like "Reason Is Treason," "Cutt Off," and "L.S.F." has this disc continually in moderate to heavy rotation in my car CD collection. The reasons I liked it so much was the use of electronica/keyboards along with great melodies and a real swagger.

This album is very different than their first one. Gone is their lead guitarist and keyboardist, who was fired due to creative differences with the rest of the band, so a major portion of what made the first album good has been replaced. I still enjoy "Empire," but there are very few semblances to "Kasabian." The first single, "Empire" is similar and very good, got a catchy chorus. "Apnoea" is very close to their first batch of songs, but it's less than two minutes long??! Why, guys, why make a track that sounds half-finished? The best track on the album though, I'd have to say is "Stuntman." You can hear in its entirety on their myspace page. It's extremely catchy and sounds similar to the first album. "By My Side" stands out too, as it has a minor tone which reminds me of some of their earlier material.

I wonder what this album would have sounded like had the band stayed intact? I sure would have loved to hear that, but overall this album still is worth a listen.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid sophomore album, September 21, 2006

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Empire (Audio CD)

Kasabian blasted onto the UK rock scene in 2004 with their impeccable self-titled debut album, boosted by several huge UK hits like "Reason is Treason" and "L.S.F.(Lost Souls Forever)", bringing a hard-charging sound, dipping into psychedelic rock. I loved their debut album, and was wondering whether the band could deliver on the second album. No worries!

"Empire" (11 tracks, 39 min.) starts off kicking and screaming with the title track (and first UK single) and right away my fears of a let-down are taken care off. This is a great album, from start to finish. Other highlights include "Me Plus One", "Seek & Destroy", and the standout track "Stuntman", with high energy all around, just great. The 5+ min. closer "The Doberman" is the perfect synposis of the album.

I saw Kasabian in concert when they were touring their debut album, and if anything the live experience was even better than the terrific debut album. Can't wait to see those guys again bringing the new album in concert. Highly recommended!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rule The Empire, September 3, 2006

By 

alex "Music Lover" (Barcelona, Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Empire (Audio CD)

Kasabian's new release is determined to be one the most celebrated cds of 2006. It's as narcicistic and pompous as its tittle indicates and truly succeeds on experimenting with new soundscapes creating a coherent cd, eventhough not all of the eleven tracks share the same creativity.

EMPIRE sets the tone for the whole album. Its marching military beat, the hypnotic violins during the chorus and the changing electronic bases make this song one of those that has to be heard to be understood. A really risky single, definitely not mainstream. A piece of musical art.

SHOOT THE RUNNER is a frentic melody, based on a set of clapping hands. Heard to be the 2nd single. It has the same musical aura of their first cd but sounds crispy new.

LAST TRIP is another fast paced song. Has a kind of retro feel, mostly due to its heavily-charged vocal background.

ME PLUS ONE keeps on incorporating an eastern flavour on the band's new sound. Begins semi-acousticly and keeps on with the rythm until a tricky violin melody is added at the end. Simply gorgeous.

SUN/RISE/LIGHT/FLIES serves as another example of what I've mentioned on the previous track. Is truly anthemic, makes you feel like travelling through space and time. Song like this has gained them comparison to the Stone Roses. Marvelous.

APNOEA it's a techno danceable interlude. Addictive but short.

BY MY SIDE sticks to your head instantly. Danceable donwtempo song, greately mixed and produced. Could crowd at the same time a chill out bar and a trendy disco.

STUNTMAN is another heavily electronic song. Mind blowing, fast, agressive, feels like a gunshot.

SEEK AND DESTROY relies on a looped videogame-like beat. Trippy.

BRITISH LEGION turns the album upside down before the grand finale as it's mainly acoustic. Sounds like a late Beatles era song.

THE DOBERMAN finishes the album as an apocalyptic anthem. Listen to the whole of it and explore the changes of rythm, the dums, the trumpets, the voices...

The curse about the sophomore release is over for Kasabian. They've reached to the musical maturity that some of us were anticipating since their self-titled album. Can't wait to see where they'll next be headed to.
Until then, there's plenty to enjoy here...