Kaiser Chiefs 'not dropped by record label'
Ricky Wilson and co deny tabloid claims

May 17, 2009
http://www.nme.com/news/kaiser-chiefs/44721



Kaiser Chiefs have denied tabloid reports that they have been dropped by their record label.

A story in today's (May 17) News Of The World suggested the band's agreement with B-Unique had been terminated.

However, a spokesman for the band told NME.COM there is "no contractual change to report".

"The band has two records left to run on an existing contract," they said. "Kaiser Chiefs will take their first break in six years at the end of the summer. As with many successful artists, the band is considering creative options to improve the way their music reaches people ahead of their fourth album."

The representative did confirm one part of the news report was true, however - that guitarist Andrew 'Whitey' White is to become a father "any day now".

They be crazy (the label) to drop these guys. Their latest album is a "fun" record and one of the best of the year.

Rick A.

Kaiser Chiefs at Leeds Festival: 'We're not splitting up'
Band respond to Twitter rumour

August 30, 2009
http://www.nme.com/news/kaiser-chiefs/47050



Kaiser Chiefs' Nick Hodgson has declared that the band are not splitting up, following rumours on Twitter that the Leeds act were set to wind down and not release any more albums.

Earlier today (August 30), XFM news reporter Sunta Templeton posted messages on Twitter claiming after an interview with them that there would be no more albums from the band. She also claimed that their Main Stage show today at the Leeds Festival "could be the end" for them.

The band also currently have no future dates scheduled for the year.

However, after reading the tweet, Hodgson told NME.COM: "People only write sensationalist stuff on Twitter so people will read it. I can definitely confirm that XFM have got it wrong."

Kaiser Chiefs 'needed to get bored' before beginning work on their new album
Ricky Wilson: 'I haven't felt this creative since we first started'

February 10, 2010
http://www.nme.com/news/kaiser-chiefs/49674



Kaiser Chiefs' frontman Ricky Wilson has revealed the band "needed to get bored" in order to rediscover their hunger for writing new music.

The Leeds band decided to take a break following their homecoming appearance at last August's Leeds festival, but are now working on a follow-up to 2008's 'Off With Their Heads'.

"After a couple of months [off] we got bored," Ricky Wilson told BBC. "Then I got really bored, then mind-numbingly bored and that's when you start thinking about the fact you want to get up and do something again."

Currently recording new material in drummer Nick Hodgson's newly built studio, Wilson gave an update on proceedings.

"I haven't felt this creative since we first started," he explained. "We're playing around at the moment, I'm sending him [Hodgson] words and lyrics in the mail. He's sending me CD's in the mail."

He added: "There's no release date - what would be the point? It's funny, I read on the internet people going, 'When is the new album coming out?' Give us a chance."

Beyond that, I'd say that Never Miss A Beat is the best single by anybody in the decade that just ended.

Wow...wildly different sound for them. More of a Radiohead influence than their usual mix of Duran Duran and The Clash. Not particularly hooky, but may be a grower for me.

I didn't really get side 2 of their second album until I'd worn out their third, so I think there's hope.

Thanks for the linkage!

New album, "The Future is Medieval," is out TODAY. Available only from the band's website at http://www.kaiserchiefs.com . The way it's working is that there are 20 tracks, and you can select 10 and make your own album, customizing your cover as well. Download yours or anyone else's creation for £7.50. Get £1 every time someone downloads your album. Have a look, sample all 20 tracks, scratch your head, and I'll see you back here.

No word on when physical copies might be available.

Weird - more shades of Radiohead:

(From Facebook)



So you go to the website, and you can choose 10 out of 20 songs in the order you like, design your own artwork and then put it up for sale. Your copy is GBP7.50, and you then get a link for others to buy your version. For everyone who does, you get a quid back.

I see no easy way to buy all 20 songs.

The only easy way to get 20 songs is to buy a random selection someone else has made, then make your own using the remaining 10 tracks. Some guy gets a quid, and for £15 you get a double-album's worth of MP3s.

OK...I picked Ricky Wilson's own version as my CD1, and then made my own from the rest of the tracks:

CD1: http://www.kaiserchiefs.com/rickyw
CD2: http://www.kaiserchiefs.com/hankamania

I will happily donate anything I make from that link to the IMWAN Hosting Fund.

Physical CD of this is now showing a release date of June 27 with the following track listing:
1. Little Shocks
2. Things Change
3. Long Way From Celebrating
4. Starts With Nothing
5. Out Of Focus
6. Dead Or In Serious Trouble
7. When All Is Quiet
8. Kinda Girl You Are
9. Man On Mars
10. Child Of The Jago
11. Heard It Break
12. Coming Up For Air
13. If You Will Have Me

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054DFIIM/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0054DFIIM/?tag=imwan-21

Yay-a US release with 5 bonus tracks. Good for me as I didn't get it yet and was waiting for a US issue.

From antimusic.com:



Kaiser Chiefs have set a March 6, 2012 North American release date for their next release, Start The Revolution Without Me.
The new release, Start The Revolution Without Me (Fiction/Cooperative Music/Downtown), will feature five never-before released tracks.

Next year, the band will be hitting the road for a North American tour in March and April.

First track on the album and the band's 14th BBC Radio 1 playlist hit in 7 years, "Little Shocks" features a fantastically creepy keyboard riff, and sets the tone for the record's sonic electronic experimentations.

Full track listing for Start The Revolution Without Me:
1. Little Shocks
2. On The Run
3. Heard It Break
4. Kinda Girl You Are
5. Starts With Nothing
6. When All Is Quiet
7. Cousin In The Bronx
8. Things Change
9. Man On Mars
10. Problem Solved
11. Can't Mind My Own Business
12. Child Of The Jago
13. If You Will Have Me

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006Z94KW4/?tag=imwan-20

US Tour Dates:
March 6 Boston, MA @ House Of Blues
March 8 New York, NY @ Terminal 5
March 9 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
March 10 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
March 12 Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
March 14 Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
March 20 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
March 22 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
March 23 Seattle, WA @ Showbox Theatre
March 24 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
April 17 Toronto, ONT @ Phoenix Theatre
April 19 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

A quick review of my phone's music library says that only one song is previously unreleased: "On The Run." All the rest, minus "Kinda Girl You Are" were part of the initial TFIM download project. That song was completed shortly after the download project, and is on the UK release. I'm guessing that "On The Run" will be a single aimed at the US market.

Yes, indeed. I have all but the one new track to the US edition, and for my money, I think the UK track listing is better. Still, nice to see a US release.

Oh, and I'm going to that March 23rd show. It was originally supposed to be back in October, but they're honoring the tickets.

So the US version of this came out today. As expected, "On The Run" is definite single material. The other change is that "Man On Mars" had its first 30 seconds or so trimmed off, potentially to make it more radio-friendly as well.

Side 1 seems pretty cohesive as being synth-heavy, and the whole thing hangs together much better than I expected when the 20-song download experiment first came out 9 months ago.

Note to other bands: Don't try this experiment yourselves. The download project was a visionless mess to wade through, and it ultimately dulled my enthusiasm for when the "official" album finally dropped. Lesson learned.

Interesting point Hank. Throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks (my view) may not be the way to go.

Rick A.

PS I need to get this this week.