Employment (album)

Last updated

Employment
Employment kaiser chiefs.jpg
Studio album by
Released7 March 2005
RecordedSummer–December 2004
StudioChapel Studios, Lincoln
Genre Alternative rock, [1] [2] indie rock, [3] [4] post-punk revival [5]
Length44:06 (40:42 without bonus track)
Label B-Unique
Producer Stephen Street, Stephen Harris
Kaiser Chiefs chronology
22
(2003)
Employment
(2005)
Yours Truly, Angry Mob
(2007)
Singles from Employment
  1. "Oh My God"
    Released: 17 May 2004
  2. "I Predict a Riot"
    Released: 1 November 2004
  3. "Everyday I Love You Less and Less"
    Released: 16 May 2005
  4. "Modern Way"
    Released: 7 November 2005
  5. "You Can Have It All"
    Released: Christmas 2005

Employment is the debut studio album by English indie rock [6] band Kaiser Chiefs, released in March 2005 on B-Unique Records. Employment takes its inspirations from the Britpop and new wave movements, 1970s-era punk rock and Beach Boys-esque West Coast music.

Contents

The album originally charted at number three in the UK Albums Chart on 13 March 2005, but charted at number two almost a year after its release, due to the band's success at the Brit Awards. Employment went on to become the fourth best-selling album in the United Kingdom that year.

Background

It was Kaiser Chiefs themselves that chose to work with producer Stephen Street. According to Street he had been introduced to Nick Hodgson after an Ordinary Boys gig in which Kaiser Chiefs were the support act. Hodgson gave Street a demo CD and said that they would love to work with him. [7] The band's new label B-Unique suggested they try a test session with Street. In mid-August 2004 they visited the producer at a basement studio space at Olympic Studios he was renting with engineer Cenzo Townsend and recorded "I Predict a Riot". [7]

According to manager James Sandom in an interview with HitQuarters, the album was recorded in a rush because the band were under very tight time constraints and touring at the time. As a result, they did not have enough time to get to know Stephen Street and relax in his company. [8] The motorbike that appears at the beginning of "Saturday Night" is owned and 'played' by Graham Coxon. The sleeve notes read "Graham Coxon's motorbike, (1935 Kaiser 'Chief' 750cc Manx TT Works Racer) appears courtesy of Transcopic Records". "Caroline, Yes" is named in reference to The Beach Boys' song "Caroline, No". The track's original working title was called "Hail to the Chief", according to Kaiser Chiefs' book A Record of Employment.

A DVD titled Enjoyment , featuring music videos and live performances of the album's songs, was also released.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 78/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Entertainment Weekly B [11]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Pitchfork 6.7/10 [15]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Spin B+ [18]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]

On Metacritic the album has a weighted average score of 78% based on reviews from 27 critics, indicating "Generally favorable reviews". [9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ricky Wilson, Andrew White, Simon Rix, Nick Baines, and Nick Hodgson

No.TitleLength
1."Everyday I Love You Less and Less"3:37
2."I Predict a Riot"3:53
3."Modern Way"4:03
4."Na Na Na Na Naa"3:00
5."You Can Have It All"4:35
6."Oh My God"3:34
7."Born to Be a Dancer"3:30
8."Saturday Night"3:26
9."What Did I Ever Give You?"4:09
10."Time Honoured Tradition"2:45
11."Caroline, Yes"4:10
12."Team Mate" (not included on some editions)3:24
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Take My Temperature"2:44
14."Wrecking Ball"3:50
Limited edition bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Hard Times Send Me" (live)2:47
2."Modern Way" (live)3:55
3."I Predict a Riot" (live)4:01
4."Time Honoured Tradition" (live)3:13
5."Na Na Na Na Naa" (live)3:09
6."Oh My God" (live)3:40

Personnel

Kaiser Chiefs

Technical personnel

Charts and certifications

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