{"id":1004,"date":"2017-05-06T07:28:02","date_gmt":"2017-05-05T21:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/2017\/05\/06\/httptheblurb-com-aureviewsstay-together-by-kaiser-chiefs-music-review\/"},"modified":"2017-05-06T19:28:20","modified_gmt":"2017-05-06T09:28:20","slug":"stay-together-by-kaiser-chiefs-music-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/stay-together-by-kaiser-chiefs-music-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Together by Kaiser Chiefs – music review"},"content":{"rendered":"

On their 6th album in a little over a decade, Kaiser Chiefs, the British indie rockers have turned in from their more political, guitar-driven garage rock in a decidedly poppy direction. Once you learn that leader Ricky Wilson was a celebrity judge on the British version of The Voice<\/em>, the singer contest\/reality show, and it\u2019s not too hard to imagine the motivation in this creative shift.<\/p>\n

If there was any doubt in the band\u2019s current direction, Wilson introduces \u201cPress Rewind\u201d with the announcement that \u201cThis is pop music. We are writing and recording pop music.\u201d Which explains the presence of modern pop producer Brian Higgins, best known as the writer of dance\/pop tracks like \u201cAll I Wanna Do\u201d by Dannii Minogue and \u201cBelieve\u201d by Cher, and production behind one hit wonders from Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue and Bananarama.<\/p>\n

So the edgy political context behind \u201808\u2019s Off With Their Heads<\/em> and \u201814\u2019s Education\u2026 & War<\/em>, and the fun guitar pop of their hit single \u201cRuby\u201d are jettisoned in favor or Stay Together\u2019s<\/em> reflection on love and romance. The musical goal is obviously an attempt to land on modern dance\/pop radio playlists, but what they achieve on songs like \u201cIndoor Firework\u201d is a less satisfying imitation of something by Coldplay\u2019s Chris Martin, although the title harkens back to a wonderful song written by Elvis Costello.
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