Year in Rock 2011 Nominee: Kasabian

KASABIAN
Man of Simple Pleasures

From: Velociraptor!
Released: September 20

Seemingly eternal poster boys for "adored in the UK but ignored in the US", Kasabian have built a really devoted following among British critics and fans in their short career.  In seven years, they've released four albums, each expanding their fan base and scoring higher success.  Their previous album, 2009's deliciously odd West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, was even shortlisted for that year's Mercury Prize, the UK's most prestigious music award.  Released to rave reviews in September, Velociraptor! debuted at #1 in the UK, yet failed to even crack the top 200 in the US.  It's a bit of a headscratcher, although when you consider Kasabian's biggest American success, it starts to make a little more sense.

Back in 2004 when Kasabian released their self titled debut, it was promoted in the States with lead single Club Foot, a song you've likely heard even if you don't think you recognize it.  See, Club Foot has been used in about twenty video games, movies, TV shows, etc.  It's a bouncy, slamming electro-rock stomper that's been considered synonymous with the band in many circles ever since.  They've since largely abandoned club bangers, recruiting garage rock and psychadelia to stand alongside their electronic tendencies as primary influences.  Indeed, Velociraptor! is a shockingly straightforward psych-rock album when played front to back.  It's earned their highest reviews yet, and is poised to win some major British awards in the coming months.  Of course, that's all lost on the Americans, who pay no mind even when Kasabian gives them a quasi-sequel to Club Foot in the form of Days Are Forgotten, which is either a last ditch effort to break through or a fading reminder of their early years.  Either way, it's deserved attention that not enough people have paid it, but I don't feel it represents the album fairly.  So instead, I implore you to check it out for yourself after enjoying Man of Simple Pleasures, the true highlight of the album and the fully realized bastard son of Gorillaz and Stone Roses that Kasabian has threatened to become from the start.  It's such a great track that, should they release it as a single, I guarantee two things: it will be a massive smash in Britain, and no one in North America will give a fuck.