Kasabian - Velociraptor!
BY BURAK ŞAHİN (IR/IV)
burak_s@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
Tom Meighan and Sergio Pizzorno didn’t want us to miss them too much, and so Kasabian has released its fourth studio album, "Velociraptor!" After reaching huge numbers of listeners with "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum," the band has kept on rocking with its new album. "Velociraptor!" was released on September 16. It's more psychedelic and electronic but doesn't lack rock elements. The album's first single, "Days Are Forgotten," has an alternative version featuring rapper LL Cool J.
The band still makes soundtracks for our lives, and of course for video games and movies. Although the album was released just last month, some of its songs have been used as soundtracks already. First of all, one of the best tracks, "La Fee Verte," was used in the film "London Boulevard," whose cast includes Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell. In addition, it has been officially confirmed that "Switchblade Smiles" will be used in "FIFA 12."
All of the magazines have given "Velociraptor!" high ratings and reviewed it as one of the best albums of 2011. I also think that the album has some brilliant tracks, namely "La Fee Verte," "I Hear Voices" and "Days Are Forgotten." Also, Kasabian has a surprise for their Turkish listeners, with a song is called "Acid Turkish Bath." It combines Arabic elements with a psychedelic melody.
I watched Kasabian live last summer. Their performance was really good. Sergio and Tom know what the audience wants, and they rock the stage. They keep recording hits that enrapture us. So, let's have a look at what we've listened to from Kasabian during the past decade:
Kasabian's Top 10 Songs
NME.com has chosen the 10 best Kasabian tracks. Although I don't agree with the list on some points, it's a good compilation, only with some tracks missing. Here's the list, along with some information on the tracks:
10- Cutt Off
From the album "Kasabian"
The band altered the single version for the album to include slightly different lyrics, a new drum track and a different mix.
9- Where Did All the Love Go?
From the album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum"
This song was inspired by the violence the band read about in the papers. Serge said, "We think [the love's missing], but we're not telling anyone what to do."
8- Underdog
From the album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum"
This song has appeared in TV shows, including "Misfits," "Top Gear" and "Mongrels."
7- Vlad the Impaler
From the album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum"
The first version of the song's music video featured Noel Fielding playing a vampire killer. The second version showed live footage from one of the band's gigs in Dublin.
6- Processed Beats
From the album "Kasabian"
The vinyl for the demo version has the words "tutti a la mossa" scratched into it, which roughly translates to "all in the move."
5- Empire
From the album "Empire"
Joana And The Wolf's Joana Glaza contributed backing vocals to the album version of this song.
4- Shoot the Runner
From the album "Empire"
The song's music video was directed by Alex & Martin, the same people behind the video for The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army."
3- Switchblade Smiles
From the album "Velociraptor!"
Serge Pizzorno has said that this song is an attempt to capture the adrenaline that kicks in right before a fight.
2- L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)
From the album "Kasabian"
This song was included on the soundtracks for the video games "FIFA 2004" and "SingStar Amped."
1- Fire
From the album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum"
As of the 2010-11 football season, this was the official song of the Premier League