Candid Article 5

Kasabian vs. Blink 182

The last fortnight has seen the release of two records that have been highly anticipated.

Let’s start with the album cover. I expected Blink’s comeback to boast some impressive artwork, if only to draw attention to the fact that they are ready for action. However, graphic designer Mike Grant has depicted a simple industrial styled monochrome skyline, with the band’s name emblazoned across the front, which I found a bit disappointing. In comparison to Kasabian’s cover, a cartoon style optical illusion featuring a bearded man’s face, it just doesn’t have that wow factor. Though perhaps with Kasabian winning an NME award for best album artwork with their last album, they felt the pressure to keep up to the standard they had already set.

‘Velociraptor!’ is the fourth studio album from Leicester’s famous Kasabian, while ‘Neighbourhoods’ is the first album to be released in six years from rock-pop trio Blink 182. Although the bands are miles apart in the music world, not least because they hail from opposite sides of the pond, I thought it would be good to compare the two albums, to discover the merits and pitfalls of both, and if they are worth a listen. Both bands have released two tracks off the albums prior to their release.

First impressions aside, the crucial thing of course is the music itself. Tom DeLonge, lead singer with Blink 182, describes their latest effort as ‘ambitious, weird and expansive’, and it is unquestionably their darkest album yet. This has been put down to the events which have inspired the member’s song writing, most notably their substantial career break, when disagreements led to a parting of the ways. As well as this, drummer Travis Barker was injured in a serious plane crash, and the producer of all the band’s previous albums, Jerry Finn, died suddenly of a cerebral haemorrhage.

However, despite the more serious subject matter, the album remains quintessentially Blink, still using ‘fast sunny hooks’ as was described of their original sound. Track 8 on the album, ‘This Is Home’, is definitely the catchiest tune, and harks back to the band’s more carefree songs of the late 90s.

The problem with the record overall is that having been produced solely by the band members for the first time, as well as being recorded mainly at three separate studios to suit each of them, means that the finished product feels slightly disjointed and erratic at times. Barker’s drumming hints at his more hip-hop based projects, while bassist Mark Hoppus admits he has manipulated ‘weird indie rock’ into some of the songs he wrote. It is however, a good attempt to break back into the market, and will no doubt have old fans queuing up to see them tour the UK next year, despite them cancelling their previous one due to delays in album production.

Kasabian’s ‘Velociraptor!’ has been put together much more quickly (work started in November 2010) but by no means does it impair the quality of the outcome. It is a widely varied album, with 80s inspired beats such as on ‘I Hear Voices’, as well as unmistakeably Kasabian tracks such as latest release ‘Days Are Forgotten’ and opening song ‘Let’s Roll Like We Used To’. Having already made it to the top spot of BBC Radio 1’s Album Chart in just a week, it looks like it is set to rival the awards won by their previous albums, which include a Q award for Best Album in 2009, and an NME award for Best Album in 2010, both for ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’.

Music magazine ‘Rolling Stone’ has been very complimentary of both the band’s latest work; awarding 3 out of 5 stars for ‘Neighbourhoods’, and announcing ‘Velociraptor!’ as Kasabian’s best album yet, predicting an even bigger future for the foursome. With ‘Neighbourhoods’ recent release (27^th September) we’ll have to wait until Sunday to find out if Kasabian will be knocked off the top spot by the popular US band’s eagerly awaited 7^th album. Until then, I’d recommend downloading them both, and casting an ear to the latest offerings from these two successful bands.