Kaiser Chiefs

Employment arrived in 2005 with I Predict a Riot, Oh My God and Everyday I Love You Less and Less. Each has a different musical outline, but the band’s identity is already clear: tightly arranged guitars and keyboards, a strong rhythmic push and Ricky Wilson’s voice making an everyday phrase sound theatrical. The songs do not wait long to establish their character.

There is also a useful tension between the lively sound and the scenes in the writing. An energetic arrangement can carry irritation, social unease or a slightly absurd observation. Hearing the verses as closely as the choruses makes the album more interesting than a collection of crowd-pleasing chants alone.

Yours Truly, Angry Mob followed in 2007, with Ruby giving the band one of its most immediately recognisable melodic hooks. The title track takes another route, building a more pointed and repetitive dramatic movement. Off with Their Heads in 2008 continued the development through songs including Never Miss a Beat. The early records are particularly rewarding as a sequence because the group keeps finding new shapes for a familiar rhythmic energy. A keyboard accent, a shouted response or a brief change in pace can make the whole arrangement feel different. The later catalogue adds further settings, but the first run remains a clear account of a band turning sharp observations and compact musical ideas into songs that are easy to share without becoming anonymous.