Kasabian - 'Fire'
Hahaha! Oh my good Lord! Have you seen the new Kasabian video? The one which is like a mini-spaghetti western crossed with Reservoir Dogs? It's amazing...just the funniest thing, like, EVER. I think someone in the band or their management is worried about depicting tense, violent exchanges between renegade outlaws - guess who the outlaws are? Damn right - and the police, especially when film tradition dictates that some of these people must get shot and die.
So, what they've done...what they've done is...ah ha...AHAHAH...what they....HAHAHAHA!...what they've done is take all the guns out, right...and...and...just a second, have to wipe my eyes...they've replaced the guns with guitars.
*one solid day of continuous gut-busting laughter later*
(. Don't start me off again.)
I can't even concentrate on the music, because whenever the chorus kicks in, I find myself thinking about Serge keeping guard over the customers in the bank - the bank they're stealing SHEET MUSIC from! - holding his Rickenbacker and trying to look mean. He just looks like a sulky busker.
And the shoot-out scene! The shoot-out scene is ridiculous! I always knew that Kasabian had a foot in both the sonic invention AND meat/potatoes dadrock camps, but the metaphor of rock musician as wild-eyed outlaw whose music can have a literally devastating effect...well it was silly in the '60s, and that was a time when people genuinely believed that one protest song could stop a war. In the '00s it just looks daft (and not a little bit delusional).
I have no problem with daft, and I hope the band know how funny this is. In a way it would be funnier if they were serious, but for the sake of my aching sides, I sincerely hope not. Enough is enough.
Download: Out now
CD Released: June 1st
91Èȱ¬ Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll are all here and plenty more besides."
"I bet we'll hear it in the background of the latest action movie promo or an apple commercial"
Comment number 1.
At 30th May 2009, thranjax wrote:Plus, Kasabian seem to have changed their name to You Me at Six which is unexpected! Even their song has a hint of Finders Keepers about it...
or possibly you've pasted the wrong link in....
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Comment number 2.
At 30th May 2009, thranjax wrote:This is the kind of song where the star rating is difficult to tell. It's all over the place really, starting off in a Sergio Leone vibe with a hint of the Lizard King, then kicking into a grungy crawl: it could work if the darkness was played up a little more, but to me the choruses and verses still seem a little disjointed.
As for the video... this guitars as weapon metaphor is already well played out.
Perhaps it would be funnier (if that is their intention) if there was also a keyboard player: which end of a keyboard is the business end after all? I suppose a synthesizer could fire brown noise at the cops.
The drummer could shoot sticks out of a specially adapted cowbell, thus also satisfying the "more cowbell" philosophy. It would be a bit unfair on him at the end however, running away carrying a guitar is much easier than attempting a quick getaway with a drum throne. On the other hand he could flick cymbals at the police for purposes of decapitation, a bit like OddJob.
Finally, when you think they are down and dead they could whip castanets and triangles out of their .. breeches (?) to dispose of their attackers. The one or two who make it to the getaway car.. well it would have to be an ice cream van really, with a front mounted klaxon rather than a missile launcher.
The fact that the video is so distracting is really what causes this songs downfall for me at the moment.
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Comment number 3.
At 30th May 2009, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:Bah! You try copying and pasting a video link with tears of laughter running down your chops. All fixed now.
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Comment number 4.
At 30th May 2009, spirit wrote:Well it's a fun review of the video , but try as I might I can't find a review of the song..........where's it gone ?
I like Tom's voice and phrasing on the verses and the chorus has a really strong hook, and the chanted lines after each chorus is memorable and pure Kasabian.
Somehow though for me , the chorus needed to sound more powerful and be even more strident.
It sounds a little unfinished and could have been even better, with more powerful instrumentation.
Nonetheless it will prove to be a top 20 hit, and will probably be used to advertise various things in the future...
The album...West rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum is out on June 8th.
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Comment number 5.
At 30th May 2009, spirit wrote:Hey Jax do you know that in your comment 2 , you inadvertently mentioned 4 bands who have had top ten hits !
Can you name the 4 ?
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Comment number 6.
At 30th May 2009, thranjax wrote:The Darkness
Klaxons (I said Klaxon actually)
Cars (Ditto)
The Police
Is there not a band called Downfall? Maybe not in the charts.
Obviously the Ice Cream Van immediately calls to mind the mighty KLF.
"Purposes of Decapitation" must be a black metal band, if not we must form it NOW.
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Comment number 7.
At 30th May 2009, thranjax wrote:Oh, and "King" of course Spirit..
Na na na na na na na na na nah na na na na...
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Comment number 8.
At 30th May 2009, spirit wrote:Forget Diversity...
You have a talent that Britain should be really proud.. and I can't wait to see you perform in front of the Queen !
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Comment number 9.
At 31st May 2009, tattooinkguard wrote:I love the on this guy. I guess im a fetishist.
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Comment number 10.
At 31st May 2009, thranjax wrote:tatooinkguard I get the impression you like tattoos?
out of interest, what is a tatoo ink guard? Does it prevent the ink from leaking where it shouldn't oughta?
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Comment number 11.
At 31st May 2009, thranjax wrote:Spirit, are you saying that my rendition of Love and Pride by King is BETTER than Susan Boyle? I mean, you are of course right, and very perceptive...
What do you think Purposes of Decapitation's first album should be called?
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Comment number 12.
At 31st May 2009, thranjax wrote:sorry what am i talking about, not love and pride, the other one, alone without you ...
D'OH!
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Comment number 13.
At 1st Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Purposes of Decapitation's first album will be called......
"Fill your head with rock ! " lol lol
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Comment number 14.
At 1st Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:Absolutely, it is a little known fact that after decapitation one can still mosh for at least fifteen seconds :-)
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Comment number 15.
At 1st Jun 2009, spirit wrote:While we are enjoying dialogue... what is your take on my gentle nudging of Fraser for new categories on this excellent blog.. as listed in comments 2 and 3 of the la la land review ?
Or do you maybe have even better ideas ?
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Comment number 16.
At 1st Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:Absolutely agree the chartblog could do with extending a bit into a forum style with areas for us to exchange views and ideas. I don't think it would be hugely complex to set up.
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Comment number 17.
At 1st Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:Anyway, bed time! More productive reworking of the 91Èȱ¬ website to come!
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Comment number 18.
At 1st Jun 2009, spirit wrote:And Fraser needs to do another How to Destroy...
Kasabian , Empire of the sun , Purposes of Decapitation !... anyone really...
The return of Jimmy Saville's cigar is, I must admit something in life I am so lookin forward to .
Have you read all his comments... that interplay was so. so entertaining !
More please.
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Comment number 19.
At 1st Jun 2009, Ashleynorris wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 20.
At 4th Jun 2009, CurtainJerker wrote:I actually quite like The More Cowbell Philosophy as a band name as well. Or maybe an album by Purposes of Decapitation.
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Comment number 21.
At 4th Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:Possibly you've hit something there curtain, the difficult second album by Purposes of Decapitation: Faster, Louder, Stronger, Cowbeller...
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Comment number 22.
At 5th Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:it's certainly a lot better as a band or album name than, for example, Hamfatter.... that particular investment hasn't yielded much yet... mr. jones.
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Comment number 23.
At 11th Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Kasabian- Fire
Number 3... their biggest hit single since Cutt Off reached number 8......
They really are on the crest of a wave.... The Oasis gigs.... and the album is odds on to go to number 1.......
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Comment number 24.
At 15th Jun 2009, spirit wrote:Kasabian were superb supporting Oasis at Cardiff on Friday... these boys now have a very strong catalogue of songs and certain ly know how to swagger !
How did Fire get only 3 stars ?
The album is now number 1 !
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Comment number 25.
At 19th Jun 2009, thranjax wrote:One word spirit - killer cowbells.
Two words.
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Comment number 26.
At 28th Jun 2009, Steveycrow wrote:Been listening to the new album - the track Fast Fuse sounds like a clear rip off of 'The Train Kept on Rolling' by Jeff Beck and the Yardbirds. The riff is very similar, the melody is also very similar, where one guy shouts the lyrics and someone else in the background repeats similar things but slightly behind the beat of the main singer (similar technique used in the chorus of Fire)
NOT original!!!
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Comment number 27.
At 24th Mar 2010, BloggingLiam wrote:Just spotted that this was a 3 star review. Clearly wrong. 5 stars. Bye.
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Comment number 28.
At 24th Mar 2010, spirit wrote:Yeah Fraser gives Fire by Kasabian 3 stars and Jedward 5 stars .
He will hate me for doing this , but feel free to discuss !
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