The boys from Leeds finally figure out how to balance the vibes of their anthemic, pub-friendly early-era fare with their pop-polished late-2010s material on the fun, summer-ready Kaiser Chiefs Easy Eighth Album. Every track is custom-designed to inspire a good time, whether thats the soundtrack to a bit of love (or lust) or a full-on dance party. The glam-funk "Feeling Alright" struts like Bowie, while the pulsing disco-rock "How 2 Dance" benefits from Nile Rodgers decades of dancefloor-filling expertise. The yearning "Burning in Flames" takes a similar approach, cutting sparkling production with dramatic strings and another juicy bassline. Meanwhile, the surprisingly sweet "Beautiful Girl" blends the energetic indie rock jangle of their debut era with an arena-sized chorus that showcases how far Ricky Wilsons voice has developed in two decades, just as the quirky slink of "Sentimental Love Songs" flips sweet to saucy, turning "Super Freak" into an indie sleaze standout. Dipping back into the working-class malaise that defines many of their best tunes, "The Job Centre Shuffle" (featuring Hak Baker) injects an aggressive, churning chorus into the mix to remind listeners that the Kaisers can still get gritty and bare their teeth. Likewise, the glam-rock stomp of "Reasons to Stay Alive" employs that familiar Gary Glitter riff to maximum effect. Of all their post-aughts output, Easy Eighth has the best chance of re-engaging fans that might have been lost when the group evolved their sound in the mid-2010s (obvious plea "The Lads" is evidence enough that the band are more self-aware than they seem). Think of it as another Off with Their Heads, if that happens to be your cuppa. While Kaiser Chiefs arent starting many riots these days, these shiny tunes will keep the body bouncing and the spirits high. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Rovi