Kaiser Chiefs could have stuck to the tried and tested formula that served them very well on their first album but, to their credit, they’ve made a concerted effort to do something different.

The novelty feel of Employment does still permeate in places, chiefly Highroyds, which takes the throwaway approach and runs with it much too far, making it this album’s low point. After this track, the band struggle to raise the quality levels back to the promise of the first three tracks (particularly the excellent, Buzzcocks-influenced Heat Dies Down) and the middle of the album becomes sluggish as you wait for some more great pop but instead get the turgid Thank You Very Much.

Towards the end, that quality is finally restored fully and we get Try Your Best, which sounds like early Sloan mixed with Great Escape-era Blur, and the album’s big rock ending, Retirement.

It may not be perfect, but Yours Truly, Angry Mob is a clear step in the right direction if the band want to continue doing this for a while. They don’t sound like a band running out of ideas and they’ve got some great pop up their sleeves.

Label: B-unique
Website: www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk
Release date: 26th February 2007

Tracklist:

1. Ruby
2. The Angry Mob
3. Heat Dies Down
4. Highroyds
5. Love’s Not A Competition (But I’m Winning)
6. Thank You Very Much
7. I Can Do It Without You
8. My Kind Of Guy
9. Everything Is Average Nowadays
10. Boxing Champs
11. Learnt My Lesson Well
12. Try Your Best
13. Retirement