The title to Kasabian’s 3rd album (West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum) certainly has the skill to intrigue, and from a personal view, it has the music to support it. It seems that after two relatively good albums from the band and 3 years work, Kasabian have finally found their ‘niche’ with tracks such as ‘Underdog’ and ‘Fire’ catapulting the band into ‘Headline’ material.
 
Serge Pizzorno (guitarist) certainly comes out from the dark on this record, with a variety of different rifts that grab the audience from the moment they hear them. ‘Fast Fuse’ for example, tricks the listener into thinking a raucous hammering of a guitar will confront them when instead a quite hearty and jumpy melody follows, this emphasising how this new album not only excites but also interests the listener.
 
Tom Meighan’s role (lead vocals) is also elevated on this album, with his voice having to adapt to the new approach Kasabian have undergone. He pulls it off well.  On ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ Meighan really exerts a matter of feeling through his voice, bringing the track together to create a deep moving sound.
 
The only slight criticism I have of this album is that there are a couple of ‘filler’ tracks (a Kasabian speciality) ‘Where Did All the Love Go’ (the recent single) for example seems as though it would be better represented on Kasabian’s debut album ‘Kasabian’ where the bands inexperience was clearly visible.
 
Q magazine though recently branded West Ryder ‘Album of the Year’, quite an achievement, when you consider the albums that 2009 has seen. ‘Humbug’ by the Arctic Monkeys and ‘No Line on the Horizon’ from U2 show that Kasabian really are equipped to fight against the big guns in Indie/Rock.
 
Comedian and Pub Landlord Al Murray commented on this album explaining how he felt it sounded like “The Rolling Stones have teleported in from the 60’s but their DNA’s got scrambled with Chas & Dave and a Casio keyboard”. Not a direct link from my personal point of view but not far from it, to all avid Kasabian fans West Ryder is a must buy, and is available in shops now.
 
Maxwell Stott