Product Description 2008 release. Off With Their Heads could/should be described as being the first 'proper' Kaiser Chiefs' album with a solid base on which is constructed a series of tracks which come together as an altogether less frenetic and more cohesive piece of work than previous outings and is almost certainly the better for it. The album was produced by Mark Ronson and Eliot James at RAK and Eastcote Studios in London in the Spring of 2008 and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, LCD Soundsystem, Run DMC) at Soundtrack Studios, Includes the single 'Never Miss A Beat'. About the Artist A mere eighteen months since the release of their second album Yours Truly, Angry Mob, which saw Leeds' Kaiser Chiefs have the best selling UK rock album of last year, they are set to unleash their third long-player. The multi-million selling bands 3rd album, entitled Off With Their Heads, is slated for Stateside release via Universal Motown and was produced in its entirety by Mark Ronson. 2008's Producer of the Year Grammy winner, Mark Ronson has worked his magic again. Testing his skill with one of Britain's biggest rock bands, the team has created an impressive synergy and the record bears a more expansive sound of any Kaiser record to date. With backing vocals from Lily Allen and New Young Pony Club, it sees the band add to their ever bulging bag of hit singles. Kicking off with the somewhat incongruous "Spanish Metal" before launching into "Never Miss A Beat" - the first single off the record, the album has a powerful launch. "Like It Too Much" replete with lush orchestral arrangements from Bond & Bjork maestro David Arnold is a rousing classic Kaisers number which sits comfortably alongside the likes of album highlights "You Want History" and "Good Days Bad Days"; the latter underpinned by keyboard arrangements conjuring up New York disco morphed with Talking Heads-like brilliance, whilst in its wake creeps up the Kaiserdelic "Tomato In The Rain," heralded by its Hammond Organ and great lyrics. "Half The Truth" more than nods to the likes of XTC and comes with a contribution from UK grime artist Sway, meanwhile friend and musical ally Lily Allen contributes backing vocals to "Always Happens Like That" before the psychedelic bent continues when drummer Nick Hodgson resumes vocal duties on album closer "Remember You're Girl", sounding like a long lost John Lennon track from the mid-70's. Off With Their Heads was produced by Mark Ronson and Eliot James at RAK and Eastcote Studios in London in the Spring of 2008. It was mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, LCD Soundsystem, Run DMC) at Soundtrack Studios, New York.
J**N
It's cool to know nothing.
With their third album, Kaiser Chiefs correct the slight misstep of their second album, and return to what made them great on their debut--catchy, infectious English rock pop songs."Never Miss A Beat" is the perfect teen rant. "Like It Too Much", "You Want History" and "Good Days Bad Days" finish off the first half of the disc which gives way to a more subdued second half with "Tomato In The Rain", "Addicted To Drugs" and "Remember You're A Girl".This is not to say that "Off With Their Heads" is without detour, no, "Spanish Metal" is a mediocre album opener, "Can't Say What I Mean" is a bit bland, and "Half The Truth" and "Always Happens Like That" are just okay album fillers.Still, "Off With Their Heads" is a notch above "Yours Truly, Angry Mob". Here's hoping the band will continue to make more power pop masterpieces and here's my breakdown in context of the other Kaiser Chiefs' albums.2005 Employment: Four Stars2007 Yours Truly, Angry Mob: Three Stars2008 Off With Their Heads: Three and a Half Stars
J**S
Five Stars
Amazing quality will use again and again
K**Y
A great gift
this was a gift so I believe the recipient loved it, he is a loyal fan of the Kaiser Chiefs
J**L
kaiser chiefs-off with their heads
god cd with a lot of good songs in the set,they have put together a good group of song in this cd
C**T
Came very quickly. Very positive experience.
Came very quickly. Very positive experience.
R**H
Off With Their Heads Never Misses A Beat
With the future of The Kaiser Chiefs as bright just as ever and their own recording career turning increasingly prolific, they have scored an instant hit with their third CD as they rail against stupidity and conformity that the band did extremely well on there masterpiece Yours Truly, Angry Mob, which they perform on it with a smart, but witty manner. Produced by Mark Ronson, who have also produced other albums for Nikki Costa, Sean Paul, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Mos Def, Macy Gray, Jack White and Robbie Williams, Off With Their Heads, which came out in 2008, finds both the band and Ronson successfully imbuing the band’s spiky British rock virtuosity with his pop and dance music flair by throwing in the strings, synthesizers, exotic percussion, live or programmed drums and lots of guitar solos that are capped with a new wave/rave mix. Although nearly as perfect as Employment and Yours Truly, Angry Mob, it does showcase many of it’s best moments where the track list features You Want History (“there way”) that brisk on eclectic and surging synthesizing solos while other tracks Like It That Way and Addicted To Drugs get a extra kick on Ronson’s go-go bells by giving the song a kinetic beat, even though the rest of the track set is straight ahead guitar pop. Ronson brought in Allen as a guest vocalist for the excellent, but slightly paranoid Always Happens Like That (Allen covered Oh My God which was featured on Ronson’s all-star album Visions), and rapper Sway DeSafo gives one half of Half The Truth a sharper angry man edge, which make helps Off With There Heads such a special hit. Make sure you look out for the one with two bonus tracks.
R**R
Kaiser Chiefs - Off with Their Heads 8/10
The Kaiser Chiefs have always been one of the most likable bands to emerge from the Brit-rock scene that came about with the rise of bands like Franz Ferdinand and the Libertines. The Leeds quintet's potent blend of `60s Kinks guitar-pop and Britpop worship combined with frontman Ricky Wilson's irreverently clever lyrics and distinctive delivery made their debut Employment and, to a lesser extent, their sophomore record Yours Truly, Angry Mob two of the more exciting records to come out of England post-Ferdinand. Off With Their Heads continues this streak without remaining too similar to what came before, as the Chiefs enlist all-star Brit producer Mark Ronson and turn their always-sharp witticisms toward more worldly topics than before.There's nothing here as immediately catchy as Mob's ridiculously successful single "Ruby," but the band's sense of growth is palpable from the opening "Spanish Metal," a song that announces itself loud and clear with a threatening guitar line and a cascade of toms and crashes and is certainly one of the most "rockin'" songs the band has ever put down. Single "Never Miss A Beat" is vintage Kaiser Chiefs, a buzzing bass and twirling guitar line framing some of Wilson's most political lyrics yet. "It's cool to know nothing," he sings as the song's excellent guitar work takes off.Ronson's fingerprints are all over this record, and for the better. The funky stomp and soaring strings of "Like It Too Much," the synth-heavy, pulsating beat of "You Want History," the syncopated tribal drums and slashing guitar on "Good Days Bad Days," Ronson helps the Chiefs produce an album that is more musically diverse than any of their previous offerings. And even when they're still perfecting the art of XTC-inspired Britpop, Ronson still gives them the extra edge, as on the bouncy, bell-laden, quite ironic "Addicted to Drugs." But don't forget Wilson's contributions; his lyrics remain some of the most entertaining on that side of the Atlantic, and his voice is endlessly melodic and in-tune.There are a few missteps where the band takes one step too far, such as the out-of-place guest rap by Sway on "Half the Truth," or meander into formulaic rock like on "Can't Say What I Mean," but for the most part the Chiefs have succeeded in creating another gem of British rock `n roll. Here's to a new British invasion.
A**Y
Solid, enjoyable third album from The Chiefs
'Off With Their Heads', The Kaiser Chiefs' third album, hasn't been as well received as their first two albums by the general public and it seems as if people are getting bored with the charismatic Ricky Wilson and his band. I can't really see why because this album sticks to the tried and tested formula of the first couple of releases and if you really liked 'Employment' and 'Yours Truly Angry Mob' then it is highly likely that you will enjoy their latest album as well. There are a handful of really great tracks here, including the bleak state-of-the-nation anthem 'Never Miss A Beat' which features a humorous question and answer section ("What do you want for tea? I want crisps!") and a tasty New Wave organ sound. In fact, much of this album reminds me heavily of late 70's/early 80's British music in the same vein as XTC - dark, but melodic, spiky and rough-around-the-edges but with a real pop sensibility (The excellent 'Like It Too Much' could almost be an XTC track, as could 'Always Happens Like That').Other picks include the shouty, almost annoyingly catchy 'You Want History' which has an irresistible hook - one of those tracks you almost don't want to like but you have no choice. Another highlight is 'Good Days Bad Days' which sounds too much like The Clash for it to be mere coincidence, but it also happens to be a great, likeable song so it also doesn't offend in any way. 'Tomato In The Rain' is an atypically restrained, melodic Britpop near-classic and breaks the collection up nicely. Overall, 'Off With Their Heads' contains plenty of very good new, high energy tunes coupled with smart, cynical lyrics and will most likely keep the dedicated Kaiser Chiefs fans happy but also has enough to offer the casual fan to make this a worthwhile and enjoyable buy. If you have the first couple of albums then you've probably heard much of what this album has to offer before and, admittedly, this release doesn't exactly see the Leeds lads breaking new ground, but if you have the first couple of albums then it stands to reason you'll probably want this one too - and you probably won't be disappointed.
D**S
We need more Indie
Kaisers are awesome.
T**A
Great
At first, I almost agreed with the critics here - this album is not as good as Employment or YTAM. But it grew on me, and now, although it's not my favourite of their albums I still love it. Some very catchy songs - I'll admit, there have been times when I've jumped up and danced around to Never Miss A Beat, and I always sing along to Good Days, Bad Days. The only part that I don't like it the rapping at the end of Half the Truth, but I think that was probably down to Ronson!If you're a real Kaiser Chiefs fan, ignore the critics, just buy it!
M**Y
Wife’s favourite group
Was The Kaiser Chiefs
S**D
Five Stars
Great album!
K**D
Ricky et al, keep their heads on for this fine CD.
Some great tunes on here, to sing/shout along with.Ricky and the team, belting them out as usual.
M**T
Five Stars
A OK
C**N
Hats off to these guys
Not as good as their others but okaywell worth the money for sure
T**S
Five Stars
all ok
H**D
Brilliant Album, packed with great songs.
Arrived before the due date, we'll packaged. Great Album packed with great songs, had forgotten just how good Ricky Wilsons writing is.
A**E
great music
I you like the Kaiser Chiefs other music you'll love this album as well it's all good music i love it.
A**B
Not my fave KC album
Personally don't really like this album, much prefer Unemployment & Education, Education, Education & War. Delivery time was very good though.
D**B
Good stuff!
Great album, very please with it. Delivery was fast and arrived securely packaged.
P**N
Off with their heads
Love the sound of this record it's kaiser chiefs at there very best and sounds like a good live album
E**S
A Let Down
Well its much like all the other stuff...and for me its getting tired now. With the promise they showed on the fist 2 albums I thought this might be even better. I actually think its a bit Status Quo (forgive the pun) same chords and rhythms. Do yourself a favour and listen to it before you lay out hard cash on this! Oh and its just over half an hour long. Seemed like longer :(
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