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Employment (album)

Employment is the debut studio album by English indie rock[6] band Kaiser Chiefs, released in March 2005 on B-Unique Records. Employment takes its inspirations from the Britpop and new wave movements, 1970s-era punk rock and Beach Boys-esque West Coast music.

Employment
Studio album by
Kaiser Chiefs
Released7 March 2005
RecordedSummer–December 2004
StudioChapel Studios, Lincoln
GenreAlternative rock,[1][2] indie rock,[3][4] post-punk revival[5]
Length44:06 (40:42 without bonus track)
LabelB-Unique
ProducerStephen Street, Stephen Harris
Kaiser Chiefs chronology
22
(2003) 		Employment
(2005) 		Yours Truly, Angry Mob
(2007)
Singles from Employment
  1. "Oh My God"
    Released: 17 May 2004
  2. "I Predict a Riot"
    Released: 1 November 2004
  3. "Everyday I Love You Less and Less"
    Released: 16 May 2005
  4. "Modern Way"
    Released: 7 November 2005
  5. "You Can Have It All"
    Released: Christmas 2005

The album originally charted at number three in the UK Albums Chart on 13 March 2005, but charted at number two almost a year after its release, due to the band's success at the Brit Awards. Employment went on to become the fourth best-selling album in the United Kingdom that year.

Background

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It was Kaiser Chiefs themselves that chose to work with producer Stephen Street. According to Street he had been introduced to Nick Hodgson after an Ordinary Boys gig in which Kaiser Chiefs were the support act. Hodgson gave Street a demo CD and said that they would love to work with him.[7] The band's new label B-Unique suggested they try a test session with Street. In mid-August 2004 they visited the producer at a basement studio space at Olympic Studios he was renting with engineer Cenzo Townsend and recorded "I Predict a Riot".[7]

According to manager James Sandom in an interview with HitQuarters, the album was recorded in a rush because the band were under very tight time constraints and touring at the time. As a result, they did not have enough time to get to know Stephen Street and relax in his company.[8] The motorbike that appears at the beginning of "Saturday Night" is owned and 'played' by Graham Coxon. The sleeve notes read "Graham Coxon's motorbike, (1935 Kaiser 'Chief' 750cc Manx TT Works Racer) appears courtesy of Transcopic Records". "Caroline, Yes" is named in reference to The Beach Boys' song "Caroline, No". The track's original working title was called "Hail to the Chief", according to Kaiser Chiefs' book A Record of Employment.

A DVD titled Enjoyment, featuring music videos and live performances of the album's songs, was also released.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [10]
Entertainment WeeklyB[11]
The Guardian     [12]
Los Angeles Times    [13]
Mojo     [14]
Pitchfork6.7/10[15]
Q     [16]
Rolling Stone     [17]
SpinB+[18]
Uncut     [19]

On Metacritic the album has a weighted average score of 78% based on reviews from 27 critics, indicating "Generally favorable reviews".[9]

  • Rolling Stone (p. 76) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Danceable art-punk gems full of guitar fuzz, na-na-na choruses and boyish energy..."[17]
  • Spin (p. 62) - Ranked #19 in Spin's "40 Best Albums of 2005" - "A cohesive debut that recalls the glory days of Britpop and second-wave punk."
  • Spin (p. 102) - "The quintet bash through nervy, synth-stoked guitar pop....With a dedication to daffy English humor and bouncy music-hall folderol that creates the illusion of cultural import." - Grade: B+
  • Entertainment Weekly (No. 814, p. 64) - "The Leeds five have polished their ability to craft catchy songs so well that any attempt at sincere artistry is subverted." - Grade: B.[11]
  • Uncut (p. 105) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Employment is a gem...In the smart-pop steeplechase, Hot Hot Heat have got serious competition."
  • Yahoo Music - "finally, a worthy successor to Blur." - 8 out of 10[20]
  • Mojo (p. 64) - Ranked #50 in Mojo's "The 50 Best Albums of 2005" - "Ricky Wilson's cheeky chappies proved the power of knowing daftness."
  • Mojo (p. 109) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Employing ill-fitting suits, tongue-in-cheek lyricism and a jerky guitar attack that smelts the classic rock canon into an infectious, head-spinning punch."
  • AllMusic - 4 stars out of 5 - "Employment is an uneven but still very promising debut that suggests that one day the Kaiser Chiefs will pull off something even more ambitious."[10]
  • Pitchfork rated it 6.7 out of 10[15]
  • Steve Hochman of the Los Angeles Times rated it 3 stars out of 5.[13]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Ricky Wilson, Andrew White, Simon Rix, Nick Baines, and Nick Hodgson

No.TitleLength
1."Everyday I Love You Less and Less"3:37
2."I Predict a Riot"3:53
3."Modern Way"4:03
4."Na Na Na Na Naa"3:00
5."You Can Have It All"4:35
6."Oh My God"3:34
7."Born to Be a Dancer"3:30
8."Saturday Night"3:26
9."What Did I Ever Give You?"4:09
10."Time Honoured Tradition"2:45
11."Caroline, Yes"4:10
12."Team Mate" (not included on some editions)3:24
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Take My Temperature"2:44
14."Wrecking Ball"3:50
Limited edition bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Hard Times Send Me" (live)2:47
2."Modern Way" (live)3:55
3."I Predict a Riot" (live)4:01
4."Time Honoured Tradition" (live)3:13
5."Na Na Na Na Naa" (live)3:09
6."Oh My God" (live)3:40

Personnel

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Kaiser Chiefs

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Technical personnel

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  • Stephen Street – production
  • Stephen Harris – production

Charts and certifications

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References

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  1. ^ "Apple Music: Employment". Apple Music. Apple. Retrieved 18 April 2021. [...]England's Kaiser Chiefs had made an imprint on the alt-pop scenes on both sides of the Atlantic
  2. ^ Sutton, Michael (2008). "Employment". AlbumLinerNotes. Retrieved 18 April 2021. [...]Kaiser Chiefs[...]crash-landed on some of the biggest U.S. alternative stations with the "I Predict a Riot" import single in late 2004.
  3. ^ Peters, Charlie (26 March 2020). "'Employment' at 15: Kaiser Chiefs' British charm only increases with age". The Boar. University of Warwick, Coventry, England. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. ^ Foley, Jack. "Kaiser Chiefs - Employment". Indie London. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  5. ^ Campbell, Erica (27 March 2017). "The 10 Best Post-Punk Revival Albums To Own On Vinyl". Vinyl Me Please. Offbeat Ventures, LLC. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  6. ^ "BBC - Seven Ages of Rock "What the World Is Waiting For"". Seven Ages of Rock. 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Interview with Stephen Street". HitQuarters. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  8. ^ "Interview with James Sandom". HitQuarters. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Reviews for Employment by Kaiser Chiefs". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Employment – Kaiser Chiefs". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  11. ^ a b Gunatilaka, Timothy (4 April 2005). "EW reviews two British bands". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  12. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (4 March 2005). "Kaiser Chiefs, Employment". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  13. ^ a b Hochman, Steve (10 April 2005). "After a false start, the Chiefs ring true". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Kaiser Chiefs: Employment". Mojo (138): 109. May 2005.
  15. ^ a b Tangari, Joe (15 March 2005). "Kaiser Chiefs: Employment". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  16. ^ "Kaiser Chiefs: Employment". Q (225): 120. April 2005.
  17. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (24 March 2005). "Kaiser Chiefs: Employment". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  18. ^ Wood, Mikael (May 2005). "Kaiser Chiefs: Employment / British Sea Power: Open Season". Spin. 21 (5): 102–03. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Kaiser Chiefs: Employment". Uncut (95): 105. April 2005.
  20. ^ "LAUNCH, Music on Yahoo! - Kaiser Chiefs - Employment". Yahoo! Music. 16 March 2005. Archived from the original on 17 March 2005.
  21. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 150.
  22. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  25. ^ "Lescharts.com – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  26. ^ "Officialcharts.de – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  27. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 33, 2005". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  28. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  29. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  30. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  31. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Christie Scores Top Selling Uk Single of 2005". contactmusic.com. 3 January 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  33. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 - 2006". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  34. ^ "UK Year-End Charts 2007" (PDF). Official Charts Company. ChartsPlus. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  35. ^ "2008 Year-End UK Charts" (PDF). ChartPlus. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  36. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  38. ^ "Guld og platin i august og september". pladebranchen.nu. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  39. ^ "Ελληνικό Chart – Top 50 Ξένων Aλμπουμ" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  40. ^ "The Irish Charts - 2005 Certification Awards - Multi Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  41. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 15 October 2021. Enter Employment in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2007 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  42. ^ "British album certifications – Kaiser Chiefs – Employment". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  43. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2005". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
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