Off with Their Heads by Kaiser Chiefs

Off with Their Heads has been billed as the album to silence the critics and the non-believers. And hopes were high for the Leeds lads when ‘Never Miss a Beat’ flooded onto the radio. With its driving verse coupled with their trademark infectious chorus, which has flashes of Ruby’s anthemia yet is nowhere near as annoying, ‘Never Miss a Beat’ seemed to prove the Kaiser Chiefs’ worth. Unfortunately, the remaining ten songs that comprise the album reflect little of this early triumph.

Many a critic has praised the Kaiser Chiefs for being one of the few British indie bands, who have the chutzpah to be political. The title of the album alone implies a certain political angst, and sure enough we see the Kaisers enraged at our apathetic youth, however their political writing runs about as deep as ‘American Idiot’. Such lyrics as “What do you want for tea? I want crisps” sees Ricky and co. simply restating the common opinion as opposed to providing a deeper or unique standpoint. Whilst this may qualify as political writing in 2008, compare it to a Dylan standard and the limits of their statements are obvious. Sadly to say, such transparent political comment continues, and on the self explanatory ‘Half the Truth’ the KC’s even succumb to Bush bashing, which with the growing Obama mania, is decreasingly valid and incredibly tiresome.

The choice of Mark Ronson as producer must have made their publicist’s year, however his work on the album is predictably disappointing. Ronson’s production shows all the hallmarks of a celebrity producer. Whilst he provides the retro sensibilities we have come to expect, he fails in taking far too few risks. The string arrangement added over the dull ‘Like It Too Much’, sees the Anglo-American button pusher flex his orchestral muscle, but with very little success. Not to attack the insufferable bore that is Mark Ronson, but it would seem that a trained monkey could have produced a similar result.

The material is by no means terrible; tracks such as ‘Spanish Metal’ even have flashes of brilliance, but any promise these songs show, is soon extinguished by a lack-lustre chorus or a droning middle eight. The Lennonesque closer ‘Remember You’re a Girl’, sung by drummer Nick Hodgson, is indicative of the effect the album has on the listener: This song simply washes over you, leaving more questions than answers.

This remains a solid Kaiser Chiefs work, but Off with Theirs Heads sees them take one step forward and six steps back. Their energy is undeniable but even this has been caged at times by mediocre song composition and Ronson’s sedate touch. Whilst in an attempt to be more overtly political, the KC’s sacrifice fun for a supposed greater meaning. So if it isn’t fun and its fails at being political, one has to wonder; what purpose does it serve? Off with Theirs Heads is sure to please fans eager for another taste of Kaiserdom, but it is unlikely that this will be the album to convert the non-believers.