Employment

Even before their near-win of the 2005 Mercury Music Prize, Leeds, England’s Kaiser Chiefs had made an imprint on the alt-pop scenes on both sides of the Atlantic; even Lucinda Williams was heard to sing their praises. “I Predict a Riot,” the lead U.S. single from <i>Employment</i>, their debut, was a long-running rock-radio hit that was pretty much impossible to remove from one’s cranium after a couple of spins. Their brisk three-minute slices of modish New Wave recall everything from the early Who (“Riot”) to Cool Britannia-era Blur (“Oh My God”). <i>Employment</i> also finds them throwing in change-ups like “You Can Have It All,” which could be theme music for a remake of <i>Georgy Girl</i>, and the wobbly “What Did I Ever Give You.”