I'm old enough to have seen rock music recycle itself several times over. In some ways this makes me jaded, not easily impressed by the latest 'hot act'. However about once every decade or so artists come along who make such a huge impression on me that I buy everything they produce, never stop listening to them, and they take their place in the playlist I'll be jamming to when the guy with the long scythe comes for me. In the 60s it was Free (Paul Rodgers), Hendrix and Small Faces; in the 70s it was Bad Company (Paul Rodgers again), Skids (Stuart Adamson) and Santana; in the 80s it was Big Country (Stuart Adamson again), The Cure and R.E.M. In the 90s I was blown away by Pearl Jam and The Verve. Now, with no disrespect to The Cure and R.E.M., who both put out perhaps their best albums in 15 years in 2008, the last 5 years have for me been dominated by Kasabian and Interpol. About Kasabian: I have sons who are older than Tom, Serge & co but that doesn't detract from my awestruck reaction to Kasabian as a band. Everything I have ever loved about British music is emcompassed in Kasabian's first three albums and this latest offering, West Ryder, etc. is perhaps the best of them all. If a better album comes out this year I'll be surprised. Buy it, you won't be sorry.

Kasabian are an English Electro-Indie band and it seems they saved their best (so far, at least) for album #3 "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum". The album is a swirling richly layered Psychedelic affair with loads of chiming guitars, distorted effects and tight harmonies. Comprising a perfect dozen tracks, it has become a fast favourite of mine.

Lead-off single (and their biggest UK hit to date at #3) "Fire" starts off a gently galloping ballad that could soundtrack some Western movie, before kicking into an incredibly catchy Oasis-style rocker with cascading harmonies and a faint Disco feel. Brilliant, and possibly their best song yet!

Everything stands out really, from opening rocker "Underdog" (triumphant sounding stadium rocker with a blistering riff), the pulsing "Where did all the love go" (with a wall of Oo oo oos, a clap-filled chorus, and lyrics pondering "whatever happened to the youth of this generation?"), the brief instrumental "Swarfiga", the Lo Fi-sounding Garage rocker "Fast fuse" with crunchy guitars (The White Stripes would kill for this song), the wickedly catchy "Take aim" (theatrical intro, giving way to strummed and trilling guitars), and the pulverising bass/organ driven "Vlad the impaler" keeping the tempo up.

For ballads, we have the Spagetti Western-sounding pair of "Thick as thieves" (think The Kinks) and "Western rider silver bullet" (a poem recital by actress Rosario Dawson introduces this song festooned with spacey and Oriental sounding effects), the retro, echoing "Ladies and gentlemen (roll the dice)", the haunting shuffle of "Secret Alphabets", and closing acoustic ballad "Happiness" where they come all Radiohead/Oasis-like (backed by nice swelling choir harmonies).

Dressed like Napoleon on the album cover, and with swelling harmonies and cocky lyrics to match ("We are the last beatniks" from "Vlad the impaler") look for this to positively conquer.

I'm a long time Kasabian fan. After being let down with their 2nd release Empire I was a little hesitant about getting this album. All that melted away when I heard Underdog and Vlad the Impaler prior to release. Now after hearing the album in it's entirety, I'm left with that same feeling I had with Empire.

As with Empire, this release has 4-5 standout songs with the rest being garbage. Even on the standout songs (Fire, Underdog, Vlad, Where Did All the Love Go?) the lyrics are nonsensical. Sergio is a musical mastermind, but can't write a song to save his life. Kasabian has always had great music tracks, but on the last two releases the lyrical quality has plummeted. This probably has something to do with Karloff leaving the band. I realize it's not ALWAYS about the lyrics, but it's annoying that such great music can't get good lyrics with it.

Final Verdict: If you're a Kasabian fan, buy this. You won't be too disappointed.

If you're new to Kasabian, start with their first CD and work your way up to this one.

Let me preface this review by saying I normally don't write reviews. I usually read them. And the fact that this album has been met with mixed praise from critics makes me wonder what I sometimes miss by relying on the good folks at Popmatters, CMG, Pitchfork, etc.

This album is fairly good. I've enjoyed it a lot more than many other albums this year that I've checked out. I bought this along with 3 other albums recently, and I keep going back to it.

I don't know what to really say about it other than the songs are catchy and I've already listened to it repeatedly. Some albums you really need to sit down, pay attention, and maybe even listen to many, many times before they begin to grow on you. This is not one of those albums. You pop it in, turn it up, and enjoy.

From the first time I popped this CD in and started listening to it, I have not been disappointed. For me the mark of a really great album is one that feels like the artist is telling a story from the first track to the last. Not once have I been tempted to skip over any songs (as usually happens with most albums). In fact, I've had this CD playing nonstop for hours at a time and still haven't tired of it. I first discovered Kasabian several years ago and have always been pleased with their first self-titled CD. When Empire came out, I didn't initially embrace it as I have with West Ryder, although recently I've been listening to Empire again and have discovered a few jewels on the album that I didn't get the first time around. Kasabian have definitely made it into my Top 5 favorite bands and West Ryder is truly an excellent release. If you don't own it already, pick it up and you won't be sorry.