At one point in
Kaiser Chiefs
' sixth album,
Stay Together
, frontman
Ricky Wilson
declares "Pop music. This is pop music. We are writing and recording pop music." Indeed,
marks a giant shift for the Leeds band. It's a cheery collection that celebrates love and life, incorporating electronic dance elements, funky bass rhythms, and a shiny sheen courtesy of
Xenomania
's
Brian Higgins
(
Kylie Minogue
,
Sugababes
New Order
), mixer
Serban Ghenea
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
), and songwriters
Wayne Hector
One Direction
Westlife
) and
MNEK
Beyonce
Madonna
). While
the Kaisers
may have started as
Blur
-lite party-starting lads, they're shooting for pop glory on
, in a fashion similar to
Coldplay
's jump on "A Sky Full of Stars" or
A Head Full of Dreams
. Taking it from the club to the disco, the party never stops, it's just the tempo that bobs and weaves. The main inspirations run the generational gamut. Classic
basslines abound. They channel
Iggy Pop
's "Lust for Life" on "Sunday Morning" and
Let's Dance
-era
Bowie
on the glorious opener, "We Stay Together," where
Wilson
does his best impression of
Damon Albarn
's falsetto commonly employed with his other band,
Gorillaz
. The distorted tropical vocal effects popularized by
Jack U
on the
Justin Bieber
hit "Where Are U Now" pop up on the explosively buoyant single "Hole in My Soul," while
Empire of the Sun
get a nod on the glimmering neo-disco jam "Indoor Firework." "Good Clean Fun" might be
' first song overtly about sex, where
dons an early-'90s
George Michael
jean jacket and gyrates his way through lines like "sex makes everything better." Most of these risks land without much distraction, but like the jarring addition of grime rap that appeared on
Off with Their Heads
will no doubt divide fans. For those who appreciate fearless exploration of new ideas from a band that is hungry for change and reinvigoration,
' brave step into the future is a fun diversion from their usual rollicking and energetic rock show. While the pop flair and immediately addictive nature of these songs may not be as nourishing or urgent as past "rock" efforts,
is undeniably upbeat and revels in its conviction to make you move. ~ Neil Z. Yeung