Yours Truly Angry Mob - Kaiser Chiefs

Joseph Smith | 23 May 2007

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In 2007, the Kaiser Chiefs are the best of British indie rock. They have catchy but original hooks and enough clever lyrics to keep you thinking as you listen.

Album opener and chart hit Ruby will be familiar to Triple J listeners, but it’s the title track The Angry Mob that makes you realise this is a band with some truly worthwhile things to say. The repeated refrain at the end of the song, “We are the angry mob, we read the papers everyday day, we like who like, we hate who we hate, but we’re also easily swayed,” is a strong critique on the fickleness and danger of mob mentality.

Sadly, it is the kind of mentality that can easily creep into the broader community and even into the church. It’s a warning to be on guard against following the crowd without thinking through the issues in a deep and considered way. It’s also a reminder to Christians that we must approach all people with love, even when we disagree with them. Mob mentality and violence is never a solution to a problem.

Several tracks on the album look back on days of youth with a sense of regret, whether it’s relationships or the stupid things that young people get up to. The lyricist seems to recognise his faults and his inability to make things right.

In Love’s Not A Competition (But I’m Winning) the singer recognises he has been disappointing to his partner and suggests that the truly loving thing for him to do is leave. However, he ironically observes the behaviour commonly displayed by people in relationship arguments, with the point-scoring and apportioning of blame to the other.

“When every good thing that I do is listed and you’re keeping score, Love’s not a competition but I’m winning.”

In My Kind of Guy the vocalist takes on the persona of a female who always chases the types of male partners who lead to trouble. They enjoy “the thrill of the chase” but end up “crushing ribs and smashing hips”. The question of why some women chase men who are not good for them is a vexing one, but the Kaiser Chiefs’ chorus makes a valid suggestion, “You’re my kind of guy, Cos I like your style, And you sound as horrible as me, And I don’t mind if you’re unkind, Cos you’re reminding me of me.”

Perhaps these women who lack strong values see something of themselves in these men. Therefore, they end up reaping what they sew as men of similarly bad values don’t treat their women as they ought. The Bible has several passages that show us how marriage relationships should be conducted, and consistently they suggest love, service and honour for the other as core values.

Everything is Average Nowadays is a great upbeat pop/rock track with an interesting line in its chorus that says there is “Not much to believe in”. The Kaiser Chiefs have made an accurate observation that most people nowadays are satisfied with mediocrity where it counts most – in matters of God. Too often people are just “following the craze” and missing out on the big picture. It can seem like there is indeed “not much to believe in”. However, the Bible shows us we have the best thing to believe in through the person of Jesus Christ.

The album is rounded out with a mixture of upbeat and slower paced rock songs that fall somewhere between Blur, The Arcade Fire and Green Day in style.

Lyrically, the songs cover ground as diverse as lost youth and lost opportunities to fulfil ones potential in the world of sport and the workplace.

The last track of the album, aptly titled Retirement continues and expands upon this theme.

“I want to retire, No longer required …With a heart full of pride, I must go out on a high.”

The vocalist recognises his missed opportunities and has a feeling of inadequacy and lack of purpose. Yet he still has a deep conviction that he has something to offer and wants to enjoy the glory that comes with a great achievement.

Like the writer of Ecclesiastes, the vocalist, recognises a futility and meaninglessness to things of the world. Similarly, the vocalist also recognises a need for the simple enjoyment of our gifts and successes.

Yours Truly, Angry Mob is a very thoughtful album that never overtly addresses issues of God or even spirituality, but it does seek to look at life and ask relevant questions about society, relationships and morality. The fact that it’s backed by some creative rock music performances is a great bonus.