Kaiser Chiefs: ‘We’re a singles band’

Ricky Wilson also reveals his favourite of Kaiser Chiefs' 16 singles

Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson has admitted that he and his bandmates are now ”a singles band”.

‘Souvenir: The Singles 2004 – 2012’ features 16 tracks in all, including two brand new tracks ‘Listen To Your Head’ and ‘On The Run’. The collection also includes material from across the band’s four studio albums and features hit singles ‘Oh My God’, ‘Ruby’, ‘I Predict A Riot’ and ‘Modern Way’. It was released on Monday (June 4).

Speaking to NME about the compilation, Wilson said that he thought it was fitting that the band compile all their hits in this manner as people think of them as “a singles band.”

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He said of this: “People like to refer to us as a singles band and I guess we are a singles band. It’s not something we set out to do. We wanted to make albums, but people don’t think of us that way. Albums these days seem to adverts for singles with some tracks to bulk them out. It used to be the other way round.”

The singer also said he had been partly motivated to put out ‘Souvenir’ as he believed a lot of younger fans could get into the Kaiser Chiefs through a ‘Best Of’ compilation.

He said of this: “I got into bands through ‘Best Ofs’. That’s how I got into The Smiths, The Kinks, The Small Faces. They’re great to have in the car too, that’s what I always listen to when I drive.”

Wilson also revealed what his favourite of the band’s singles was, naming ‘Oh My God’ as his pick.

Asked what his favourite was, he replied: “‘Oh My God’. It was one of the first songs we wrote and it gave us the blueprint for what we were. It’s odd and yet we managed to smuggle it on to ‘Top Of The Pops’ and all over the radio. When we wrote it we didn’t have an audience and it gave us one. We end with it most nights too.”

You can watch a video interview with the band from this year’s NME Awards by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking.

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The tracklisting for ‘Souvenir: The Singles 2004 – 2012’ is as follows:

‘Oh My God’
‘Ruby’
‘I Predict A Riot’
‘Never Miss A Beat’
‘Everything Is Average Nowadays’
‘The Angry Mob’
‘Listen To Your Head’
‘Every Day I Love You Less and Less’
‘Little Shocks’
‘Love’s Not A Competition (But I’m Winning)’
‘Good Days Bad Days’
‘On The Run’
‘You Can Have It All’
‘Modern Way’
‘Man On Mars’
‘Kinda Girl You Are’

Kaiser Chiefs are playing at this year’s T In The Park, which is taking place July 6-8 in Balado Park, Kinross. To check the availability of T In The Park 2012 tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

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