Off With Their Heads

iTunes Review

Like other infectious singles by England’s Kaiser Chiefs, “Never Miss a Beat” is enormously catchy, with a propulsive bassline threaded through needle-sharp guitars and vintage-sounding keyboards, and singer Ricky Wilson aping age-old, cheeky ideas like street smarts trumping academic achievement. It’s a beaut. Other tracks on Off With Their Heads, the band’s third full-length release, cover a range of moods, although the goal of keeping the listener’s feet moving persists throughout. A "Mission: Impossible"-influenced surf riff drives the fluid “Spanish Metal,” while “Like It Too Much” and “You Want History” march along on crunchy guitars and sharp-pointed keyboards. “Good Days Bad Days” has all the charm of their earlier gem, “Na Na Na Na Naa,” bubbling along with a philosophically uplifting message that will get anyone through the gloomiest of days. The set brims with memorable lines, such as “I will not lie to you/but I’ll definitely only give you half the truth” from the explosive “Half the Truth” and “I can’t say you’re unattractive/ but I’m outta practice/at this sort of thing” from the wonderfully lyric-driven “Can’t Say What I Mean.” The band admirably shows its love for the Kinks on the utterly charming “Remember You’re a Girl.” Produced by Amy Winehouse sound maestro and performer Mark Ronson, Heads offers plenty of pure pop punch, aimed directly at your feet.