Are the Kaiser Chiefs the smartest rock band in Britain? They certainly make a compelling case for themselves with their third album, Off With Their Heads. And what makes them so smart? Well, for starters, there’s their decision to enlist ace producer Mark Ronson, who brought his Midas touch to certified English popstars Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse and works more of the same magic here, providing all the right bells and whistles– literally, in some cases– to turn these righteous rock anthems into terrific slices of pure pop. Ronson beefs up these compositions with relentlessly thumping drums, New Wave synths, rave-worthy guitars, subtle string flourishes, and even cameos from Allen and UK rapper Sway; he’s a dance/pop guru with an ear for rock and roll, and, consequently, these songs sparkle, shimmer, and kick hard. But of course, bells and whistles alone do not good pop songs make, and, for all of Ronson’s polish, it’s the songwriting itself that makes this record a blast. Sidestepping the weary cynicism of Yours Truly, Angry Mob, Ricky Wilson proves here to be not just one of Britain’s most provocative and political songwriters, but one of the slyest, as well; with tongue in cheek and middle finger hoisted high, Wilson rails against a culture that celebrates ignorance and leaders who try to sell us lies and half-truths, making for an album that’s reminiscent of early Elvis Costello for its indictment of shallowness and stupidity, and of prime Blur for its economy and its deceptively simple sketches of British culture. Indeed, with their smart writing, sophisticated compositions, and sharp hooks, the Chiefs may well be auditioning for the role of their generation’s Blur, a career move that could prove lucrative if they keep making albums as strong and winsomely snarky as this one.

I search for Kaiser Chiefs nearly every month on emusic hoping their catalogue will go up there one of these days.