Whenever I listen to Kasabian, I always feel like I should be running on a European street, either away from the police or towards a party.  It doesn’t matter which one because the emotion involved is the same.

Their new album, The West Ryder Pauper, offers that same kind of adrenaline-laden rock with a sinister undertone with the opener “Underdog.”

By the third track, called “Swarfiga,” you’ll feel like you’re inside the soundtrack of a drug-induced film. The song has a rolling beat, and it’s easy to imagine it being played live, with hipsters repeating the same dance move over and over and over again. Even when you think a song is going to be slow, such as the single “Fire,” it picks up in the middle, sending you down another strange aural path.

And, as always, it makes me feel like running out and committing vandalism or, at the very least, causing a public disturbance all in the name of a good song.

Thankfully, the band appears to realize its power over the feeble-minded and incorporated the down-tempo song “Happiness” to end the album. Without it, some people may not be able to calm down.

It’s that kind of weird mixture that has always attracted me to this band. It’s as if they know when I want to hear the club rock mix and when I need the soft color and tones of a lounge.

Kasabian – Fire

May 29 2009 8:00P De Montfort Hall Leicester

May 30 2009 8:00P De Montford Hall Leicester

May 31 2009 8:00P De Montford Hall Leicester

Jun 4 2009 8:00P Heaton Park (supporting Oasis) Manchester

Jun 6 2009 8:00P Heaton Park (supporting Oasis) Manchester

Jun 7 2009 8:00P Heaton Park (supporting Oasis) Manchester

Jun 8 2009 6:00P HMV, 90 Market Street Manchester

Jun 9 2009 8:00P O2 Academy Newcastle

Jun 10 2009 8:00P Stadium of Light (supporting Oasis) Sunderland

Jun 12 2009 8:00P Millenium Stadium (supporting Oasis) Cardiff

Jun 13 2009 8:00P Oasis Swindon

Jun 14 2009 8:00P Spa Bridlington

Jun 16 2009 8:00P Caird Hall Dundee

Jun 17 2009 8:00P Murrayfield (supporting Oasis) Edinburgh

Jun 18 2009 8:00P O2 Academy Glasgow

Jun 22 2009 8:00P St Georges Market Belfast

Jun 24 2009 8:00P Rock City Nottingham

Jun 25 2009 8:00P University Liverpool

Jun 29 2009 8:00P O2 Academy Sheffield

Jun 30 2009 8:00P O2 Academy Manchester

Jul 2 2009 8:00P Guildhall Southampton

Jul 3 2009 8:00P Centre Newport

Jul 4 2009 8:00P Eden Sessions, Eden Project Cornwall

Jul 6 2009 8:00P Guildhall Portsmouth

Jul 7 2009 8:00P Corn Exchange Cambridge

Jul 9 2009 8:00P Wembley Stadium (supporting Oasis) London

Jul 11 2009 8:00P Wembley Stadium (supporting Oasis) London

Jul 12 2009 8:00P Wembley Stadium (supporting Oasis) London

Jul 16 2009 8:00P Brixton O2 Academy London

Jul 17 2009 8:00P Brixton O2 Academy London

Jul 22 2009 8:00P iTunes Festival – Roundhouse Camden London

Aug 24 2009 8:00P Civic Hall Wolverhampton

Aug 25 2009 8:00P Civic Hall Wolverhampton