Sound: Fuzzy guitars, electro hip-hop beats, anthemic, fist-pumping choruses and epic, psychedelic journeys are what you expect from Kasabian, and West Ryder has all of the above. But there are some unexpected surprises on here - Kinks-like, jangly acoustic guitar, classic Brit poppy melodies and more traditional song structures (as opposed to extended, club-friendly grooves).
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Take Aim”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Where Did All the Love Go?”; “Vlad the Impaler”; “Fire”; “Underdog”; “Fast Fuse”
Recommended: For all the ambition and bombast on display on West Ryder—and everything Kasabian does—the end result actually sounds pretty safe and simplistic. The songs are all fairly catchy—though none super-memorable or impressive—and if you’re a fan of classic Brit pop or psychedelic British rock, the sounds will be pleasing to your ears. It’s an accomplished effort, but little on here captures the excitement of the standout tracks of their first two albums or their live show.
Grade: B

Listen to Tracks/Buy Music:
On iTunes
On amazon.com