Entertainment For Lively Minds
Dropping the 'K' Bomb
Posted by Dave Amitri on 12 September 2011 - 11:13pm.
Kasabian are back, it's time to vent those spleens chaps. I have to say I find them on the good side of preposterous, I think a lot of their interview tosh is with tongue firmly in cheek and they are sharp operators with an ear for a tune filling a gap in the market that bands from The Rolling Stones through Slade and The Sweet, right up to Oasis and Blur were happy to fill. The "What is that noise?", "What do they look like?" and "Who do they think they are?" market. It seems to be working for them anyway, quite a live show too.
"Days Are Forgotten" Kasabian
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On the other hand
Awful band!
(Sorry. Spleen now vented.)
Gosh Dave
The Dels and Kasabian.
Good man!
Practically
everything i hate about post Oasis stadium filling macho posture rock personified.
Scum, basically.
OOAA.
Nothing to do with the thread content
What does OOAA mean?
I think Drilltime uses it as an abbreviation for
Other opinions are available.
I have to say
That I'm on the verge on coming round. I used to dislike them but I heard 'On Fire' the other day and really quite enjoyed it. I might well be in the market for a greatest hits when it arrives sometime next year...
However in the interestes of full disclosure I should point out that I am guilty of thoughtcrime against the Massive in that I like a bit of a lad swagger in music.
It's
The Bay City Rollers.
But less well turned out.
Kasabian
They're alright really. A few good tunes and the singer is endearingly daft.
Had a listen to the new album yesterday
A few good tunes, More very average ones.
So business as usual.
Oh Dave.
I always want to support you in stuff like this, because some of the more populist end of the rock spectrum doesn't half get a routine kicking from the Massive. But Kasabian? Sorry, I can't.
They pretty much encapsulate everything I hate in a band: sports-casual faux "attitude", self-belief in precise inverse proportion to their ability, a cockish belief that proclaiming yourself "working class" gives you more of a right to be in a rock band than anyone else, macho posturing, willingness to be photographed draped in a bevy of "adoring" "beauties", absolutely no self-awareness. I could go on.
In fact, I will. Tunelessness, shit messianic stage moves, being liked by "lads", being the sort of band that know-nothing "real music" bores like to give as an example of "real music", absolute indebtedness to their "influences" (especially when your main influence is Oasis, for fuck's sake), no thought of doing something interesting or new with those influences, authentically risible lyrics...
Right, I'm really going to stop now. Don't know if you picked up on it, but I'm not keen. ;-)
(That said, Dave, keep on keeping on. It'd be a sad lookout if we only ever had threads about prog and folk.)
Kasabian
Not only do they claim to be working-class, they once claimed to be 'Northern'. I think the Oasis influence is a bit of red-herring, as Kasabian have always been a bit dancey. In fact, I'd go as far as to say Kasabian were influencing Oasis on Dig Out Your Soul.
The whole working class thing is a tricky one. I think, on the whole, that the working-class do almost have a monopoly on cool. So much so that the middle-classes often ape the style of the working class in order to appear cooler.
I think that's mostly punk's fault.
The fictional punk narrative - and I mostly blame Burchillnparsons for this - was that punk was the clarion call of the "real", "authentic", "cool" working class to take up arms against the stuffy, public-school, university-educated rock aristocracy. The NME was still flogging that one up until a few years ago when I stopped reading it, and Burchill still enthusiastically canonises her imaginary idea of what working class people are like every chance she gets.
'Course, it's bollocks on practically every level. Firstly, as we've seen, punk wasn't a reaction against seventies rock: loads of punkers liked both. And there were probably just as many middle class punkers as there were working-class proggers - quite a lot. I guess the whole story just fit the romantic and silly idea of rock n'roll as a rebellious force for change, which it's never been. But it suited - and still suits - pretty much everyone involved in the industry to keep it going, because kids want to feel like they're rebelling and plenty of grown-ups want to make sure no-one thinks they're square.
I always feel a bit sad about the spurious class narrative that got superimposed on pop music in the late seventies, because unfortunately it sort of has become self-fulfilling. If you're middle class and in a band, there's tremendous pressure to sort of "prole down", which is crackers. People *do* associate having had a comfortable upbringing with being unqualified to make certain types of art, which is demonstrable shite, but has taken root at quite a deep level.
It's just a shame. It works in two directions, as well: middle class kids aren't "allowed" to be rock stars and working class kids aren't allowed to be orchestral conductors, by and large. It'd be nice if nobody cared. It'd be nice if anyone could be anything. But people defend these strange little stratifications pretty vociferously, which seems self-defeating and spurious and odd. To me, at least.
I just wish it didn't matter, and half the time it seems like it only matters because people want it to.
I doubt James Blunt's
losing any sleep over it.
I dunno.
I wouldn't be surprised if he really craves a bit of credibility. You often get that with popular-but-reviled types: they just want someone to take them seriously.
That said, his appearance on HIGNFY suggests he's got his head screwed on. Still shite, though, obvs.
My comment was mere frippery, dear Bob.
A more serious comment would be: how much more middle class could you get than, say, The Stones, The Fabs and The Floyd to name but three?
The Fabs
I take it you mean The Beatles? If so, only John was middle-class really. Ringo was from the Dingle for God's sake!
Well yes, was in two minds about
putting them on the list but I just thought John being quite a huge part of the group justified the inclusion. Also, things change and Macca certainly comes across as fairly middle class. Maybe I should have said Coldplay? Keane? The Kooks? The Libertines? The charts have been chock full of middle class artists the last decade, if anything maybe punk was a rare time where working class acts could break through like Joe Strummer....er....music's generally middle class here isn't it? Apart from Cliff Richard of course.
Macca
He comes across as middle-class because he comes from a generation of working class people who aspired upwards. Dressing as smart as possible, speaking 'proper' and that. My nan was from Speke (like 'The Quiet one'). Poor all her life, but if I ever used slang in her presence she'd tell me to 'speak the Queen's English!" No dropped aitches allowed.
Yes. I'm
aware of that. (About Macca, not your Nan). It's all a bit of a grey area in a way. My parents are of the Beatles generation and come from working class backgrounds in the north, but would have described themselves as middle class for most of their adult lives.
Paul was from Speke
The Quiet One (assuming this to be George) was from Wavertree.
Paul
I thought Paul was from Allerton? Harrison definitely lived in Speke at some stage. McCartney's mum was the midwife for Speke too.
I thought the Maccas moved to Speke
when Mrs Mac got the job of district midwife there.
I think he was
in Allerton when they got famous, down the side of the Police College in what my grandmother snootily called 'the corporation houses'
James Blunt
Was on Top Gear once. Seemed a nice fella. Though that may have just been in contrast to the Top Gear presenters.
Good response
I never thought about where it emerged from, but your suggestion that it came from punk seems valid. Strangely, people tend to use it against bands they hate, and ignore it if it's a band they love. I've got mates who'll deride Keane for being posh lads, whilst wearing a Strokes t-shirt. I guess Keane's crime is to not hide their upbringing behind leather jackets and torn keks.
Suspect it's more to do
with The Strokes looking a million times cooler than Keane.
Which in a round about way
...is the point I was making. The Strokes looked cool because they emerged dressed in leather jackets, ripped jeans and converse, rather than the Armani suits and expensive yachting jackets they could no doubt afford. Dressing down basically. Poor is cool.
Working class chic
That's a sixties invention surely? A necessary adjustment to address the excessive deferential, I know my place status quo whereby being young and working class is the coolest thing to be, as seen in kitchen sink drama movies, footballers and pop stars getting famous and speaking in their regional accents, with The Beatles as cheer leaders (and with partly working class backgrounds themselves), though there was of course much fake proletarianism, but it was all part of a genuine social revolution. Jagger puts on his cockney to appear tough and street but can go all fey and posh to chat with Malcolm Muggeridge and the like. A social chameleon. The posh and middle class trendy kinds wanted to be like common people - but not too much. Among mods there was a sense of being working class and proud. But then it changed a bit and if you were folk and prog stars in the 70s you could be openly posh hippies in the 'underground'. In a way I think punk went a bit back to the 60s idea as part of it's back to basics, back to three minute singles approach. The 60s still define us now in many ways.
Oh Bob
no need to worry on my account "Dropping the "K" Bomb" gives a clue as to what I was expecting and to be fair it's all been as good natured as I would expect. "Just on the good side of preposterous" indicates that while I find them entertaining, occasionally stick them on loud in the car and would happily shell out £ 40 for a live ticket they don't fill the hallowed ground in my collection reserved for you know who. There will always be a place in my heart for bands who ham it up a bit and I genuinely believe Serge and the boys do just that, the nearly went to far with "Empire" dressing up as soldiers and "Shoot the Runner" etc but I think they've found their place and whether we like it or not they are on their way to being the biggest British band out there so they could quite rightly indulge in some "macho posturing". I will however disagree with the Oasis comparison, Noel and Liam would give their big bushy eyebrows for one ounce of Serge and Tom's sense of theatre, drama and dance beats. I have seen them both live on the same night, they really couldn't be any different.
(And I will keep keeping on, next The Enemy.......)
I'm with you all the way Dave
Have my tickets for Nov 26th in Dublin! You speaketh my feelings exactly!
*sees this*
*cancels plans to go to Dublin as organiser is clearly mad*
(only kidding, its still very much a possibility)
I hope you make it
Want to talk to you about your wonderful stash of musical oddities! I also promise to keep the Orange Juice flowing!
what this?
And thats only the Costello stuff (apart from about 150 boot CDs of poorer quality that are in the loft)
The horror....the horror....
BTW I've just replaced that unit. Look at the bend on that poor top shelf
My friend Gemma fancies Serge.
And she's blonde with long legs and HUGE gazongas. So they're obviously doing something right.
Mind you, she does come from Leicester.
I think they're great...
Far more interesting that anything Oasis threw up. And I'm 41, so presumably way off the target audience!
This was good...
but then again it involves football, not music.
I was never a fan of
I was never a fan of Kasabian until I saw them live a few times (around the time the album with Fire on came out) First up was at Glastonbury on a Friday night when they were very impressive & I saw them supporting Oasis at Wembley a few weeks later - they were excellent & Oasis were utter tosh.
They wont change the world but they do throw a few good songs in to it - can't grumble with that :)
They make out they're really edgy
and that but basically they're just a smellier, hairier version of Coldplay.
I've said it once and I'll say it again
Serge is just laughable to look at. Like someone going to a fancy dress party as Russell Brand. Just ludicrous.
If that is the case...
then who the hell did Russell Brand take off with his fancy dress?
Kasabian
I was always brought up to say nothing if you couldn't say anything nice, so the post'll end here.
Yes. It would be very interesting
to see the internet if only everyone took your sage advice!
Cack forever
because of this lyrical gem:
John was a scientist
He was hooked on LSD
Interested in mind control
And how monkeys held the key
Correction
It's 'And how the monkey held the key'.
See! Doesn't sound so silly now does it?! ;-)
The reviews
Are surprisingly good.
http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/3658/Kasabian-Velociraptor.aspx
Still can't stand, them, mind. (And really, a 10/10 review?)
The BBC review is pretty spot on.
It's better than the people who dismiss them think but it's no why the classic the band think it is.
Can't stand 'em but love this.....
Cut to the chase and go to 1.40....Love the "You cannot make an omelette without breaking some eggs" line....Grade A Twunt..
What a....
Tosser!
Ah.
I don't like being a negative Norman on the internet.
I try and keep the bulk of my comments on here positive, supportive and light. Though this isn't always the case.
Given that, here follows my positive and supportive comment on the above:
I've never...
read an interview with the band, seen them live, and other than the freeze-frames above don't even have much of an idea of what they look like, however I think they're ... alright. I don't own any of their music, but when they come on the radio I rather enjoy the sound they make. "Fire" in particular is a fantastic rock single. As Chimney Singing has already said, I'd certainly buy their greatest hits whenever it's released.
I just can't see why they inspire such loathing in some people. They're deemed to be sub-Oasis copycats but to me they're much more interesting than that. Reserve your bile instead for The Stereophonics - surely the most turgid, cliche-ridden, unimaginative landfill-indie that exists today (okay - Scouting for Girls are probably worse though they're not accused of being Oasis copies).
"I just can't see why they inspire such loathing"
It's easy to hate a band who combine such intense mediocrity with such irritating personalities and such inexplicable popularity. That's, like, a perfect storm.
(Sorry to whoever put "perfect storm" in the "Words that should be banned" thread.)
Bob
you are one of the last people on here I want to disagree with but I can't help feeling that your first sentence says more about you than it does Kasabian. You think they are mediocre and irritating therefore can't possibly understand why they are hugely popular. Just a thought ;o)
Oh sure, 'sall subjective innit.
I think they're shit, so I don't understand their popularity. I can deal with shit, but they only make me cross because they're also popular. If I liked them, their popularity would probably please me. But I don't. So it doesn't. :-)
Agreed
I wouldn't normally be bothered about the likes of Mumford & Sons or Ed Sheeran. It's the fact that 'the kids' go mental for their insipid folky bollocks that sends me into a rage.
Spartacus
I thought it was just me that hated that nu folk load of utter twee bollocks! I can't abide it!
Surely it's well-established
that most of us can't stand the Mumfords? I'd just about prefer to listen to nonesense like Kasabian or Oasis they're that bad!
I'm not sure
There've been a few pro-Mumford comments on here, to the effect of "Isn't it great that kids are getting into *real* music?"
Actually I've got a feeling the
first time I saw mention of them was an advert at the top of this very website so you may be right.
They
probably are better than later Oasis but who isn't really? However that wimpy stylophone (?) riff in Fire is surely the lamest solo ever recorded. Do people really like that song? Is it better than Fire by Hendrix? Or I'm On Fire by the Boss? Or Fire by the Pointer Sisters? Or Fire Brigade by The Move? Or Fire by Arthur Brown?
In order
No, definitely, yes, yes and probably.
You another one of those pesky Roy Wood haters?
Bloody bane of my life they are!
Not a hater
More of an indifferenter. I do absolutely LOVE 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day' though, if that helps. It's my favourite Christmas record
Well you should love this aswell it's great.
I Don't Like Them Really
too sneering and laddish,despite that quite liked Club Foot and a couple of others,but one or two songs isn't enough,interesting the Oasis comparisons since they sound more like a sub Happy Mondays to me especially with the dance element in their music.
I watched this on Sky Arts last night
and to be honest it probably goes to show that while Serge is an ordinary bloke he is obviously a little affected by his success, he is not however the devil and he genuinely has a musical gift. Whether he uses that gift for good or bad is up to the listener.
Kasabian Songbook Part 1 (other parts are available)
I must say
I listened to the album today on the Grauniad site and was pretty surprised. Take away the single and a couple more Primals/Mondays groove retreads and there are some rather cool tracks there, the kind of song I never knew they could do. I'm talking sixties - more guitarry, songy, soundtracky. The opener Let's roll Just Like We Used To is bloody superb, like an updated Yardbirds. As for Goodbye Kiss - wow - fifties doo wop pop chords changes with a drop of Merseybeat, lovely stuff. I hope they release some of this stuff as singles as it would be great to hear this kind of thing in the charts. I never in a million years thought Kasabian would release a track that made me well up but Goodbye Kiss did just that. You live and learn.
i went to school with the
i went to school with the drummer so he's very much not northern, although at a push bristol is north of cornwall i guess, and he's not a young rocknroller.
Serge plays a Rickenbacker.
ergo they are ace.
QED.