Customer Reviews

Empire

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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!

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...

A review from someone not "poisoned" by having heard their first album. No expectations, no preconceived notions. I found it at a listening station in a record store.

Fantastic. If you don't like the stand-out tracks of Doberman, a non-linear opus that takes you for a ride, the wonderfully rocking Stuntman, or attention grabbing Empire, then there is no hope for you.

Regardless of what they've done in the past, this album by itself, IS GREAT. If they (perhaps) made a better album previously, that doesn't lessen the value of this one at all.

Learn to appreciate good music, this would be a good start.

Kasabian's new album does not have the same number of instantly catchy songs the first album in known for. Listening to the album just once may be disappointing, especially if you are expecting the exact same edgy style. Not to despair; "Empire" is truly an album to let grow on you. Over time I have come to appreciate it even more than "Kasabian." The new Kasabian sounds very familiar to a new band from Norway called KEN, whose new album "STOP! LOOK! Sing Songs of Revolution!" sounds like a combination of Kasabian and the Beatles.

I have to admit, when I first listened to this cd, I was disappointed. I loved the first 2 songs, but felt like the cd went downhill from there. I've listened to it a lot more and have grown to really like it. I also actually saw them live last night in my town. The songs that I didnt really like on this cd were great live. It changed my whole perspective on the songs. After seeing them live and listening to the album again, I really, really like it. I could even say I like it better than their first. Their debut still only has maybe 5 songs I really like.

This album simply blew my mind. I don't see how anyone could say otherwise. From first to last every song on this cd is brilliant. All of the songs have gotten better and it's coming through in the lyrics! Kasabian does it again with this album. There's no other way to put it besides amazing. If your a fan of their first cd or if you even like just a few songs off of it, BUY THIS ALBUM! BRILLIANT!!!

Although I would credit Kasabian's self-titled debut with being the better release, I can't see any reason that fans of their first album would not enjoy "Empire" as well. The band's style has not dramatically changed from what it was prior to this album; they have merely become a trifle less electronic while keeping their admirable song structure fully intact. This album also isn't afraid to get in your face a little more, with often outgoing fuzzy guitar like on "Shoot the Runner" and oftentimes a more up-tempo beat than was found on their debut. Overall I found this album somewhat in the style of Muse, which is probably my favorite rock group, and preferably I'd call it one of the finer albums of the year so far. I most recommend the awesome songs "Stuntman" and "Shoot the Runner", which have great beats to offer and rank up there with past hits "Club Foot" and "Reason Is Treason". "British Legion" also stands out since it is the first acoustic track I've heard from Kasabian; this song marks the goodness that can be found in Kasabian's slight change of style since an acoustic track would not have been able to blend in among the dominantly electronic melodies of the debut. Really I can't find any criticism for this CD, other than the chorus of "Sun Rise Light Flies" sounding vaguely like "Let Forever Be" by The Chemical Brothers. The similarity isn't significant, however, and I would still give "Empire" a five-star rating for its unique take on electronic rock, which is a glimmering example of Kasabian's talent as a band.

Very heavy rock beats pervade this album, so it's not my usual musical fare of Tony Lucca and soft folk music. Yet, more and more I find Kasabian's rough and visceral music to be increasingly compelling.

"Empire" the album's lead track sets this tone well with an anguished lyrical selection, making the album's intentions quite clear, and the development over the next few tracks is very evident, showing painstaking attention to the fine art of musical arrangement.

Overall, Empire's not exactly my preferred cup of tea, but that's not for its own lack of merit, rather appreciated as a musical experience, Empire is amazing. And as a musical endeavor outside of my comfort zone, I genuinely enjoy Empire.

Bought this after seeing them live and owning the 1st album and was sorely disappointed. On a second listen, though, it's not bad at all. "Sun Rise Light Flies" is a fantastic tune and for that alone I'm glad I kept this CD around.