Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009)

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009)



Kasabian’s 3rd album is certainly nothing short of huge in scale. Right from the synthesiser intro, you can immediately tell that the Leicester lads aren't out to disappoint their devoted fans. Scorching opener Underdog sets the tempo high with its rolling drums and Tom Meighan’s chanting vocals. Serge’s signature sleazy riffs add depth and a somewhat gritty whine to the rousing single. The album then rolls on with Where did all the love go?, A song that seems to have been crafted with the specific purpose of being sung in chorus with a stadium full of people, as it maintains the epic scale of the previous track. WRPLA is not a one trick pony however, alongside the rousing anthems built for venues such as their beloved King Power Stadium (ground of Leicester City F.C), but also more mellow, beatles-esque tracks such as Ladies and Gentlemen (Roll the dice), tracks that feel just as a home on a turntable in a candle-lit room as it would being sung by thousands of people in a strobe-lit stadium. This forms the first part of the album’s ‘comedown’, the part of the album that is equivalent to the end of the night, people have started to go home, and people become closer. The instruments become far more stripped back, the tempo drops and the songs become more intimate. This is refreshing from a band typically known for their high energy sing-along anthems and uniquely British style. The album closes with the spectacularly high energy, up tempo Fire, an unexpected burst of energy and chanting vocals from an album that feels as though it tails off towards the end, a small annoyance rectified by a brilliant single.




WRPLA remains on the stunning form Kasabian have maintained throughout their explosive career, while introducing new, more americanised influences, from the sleazy, blues-y fast fuse, to the Neil Diamond-esque Secret Alphabets, these often typically British lads have shown themselves to be layered and multi dimensional artists with their latest effort.




Overall, this is a solid album that simultaneously remains on form for the band and explores new influences to provide a fresh take on their tried and tested formula. The sleazy riffs provided by Pizzorno, when combined with the rolling drums and synthesisers provided a depth in the songs that was lacking in previous Kasabian albums, and a real breath of fresh air for their loyal fanbase.