The Future Is Medieval

The Future Is Medieval is the fourth studio album released by English rock band Kaiser Chiefs. The album was made available through the band's official website on 3 June 2011, before being released in shops on 27 June. It is the final album to feature original drummer Nick Hodgson before his departure from the band in December 2012. The album was later re-issued in North America, under the new title Start the Revolution Without Me. This version of the album was released on 6 March 2012, and includes the brand new track "On the Run", plus tracks previously only available on the digital version of the album. Around the same time, a special limited edition vinyl box set was released through the band's official website in the United Kingdom, containing the entire twenty-three tracks from the digital deluxe version of the album, spread across four 10" vinyl records.[7]

The Future Is Medieval / Start the Revolution Without Me
Studio album by Kaiser Chiefs
Released	3 June 2011 (The Future Is Medieval) 6 March 2012 (Start the Revolution Without Me)
Recorded	2009–2011
Genre	Indie rock
Length	45:13 (The Future Is Medieval) 47:22 (Start the Revolution Without Me)
Label	Fiction, B-Unique, Universal Music
Producer	Tony Visconti,[1] Ethan Johns
Kaiser Chiefs chronology
Off with Their Heads (2008) The Future Is Medieval / Start the Revolution Without Me (2011) Souvenir: The Singles 2004–2012 (2012)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	60/100[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
BBC	[4]
The Independent	[5]
Paste Magazine	(7/10)[6]

Background

Just days before the album was announced, a music video for the track "Little Shocks" was released online via the band's official website. The album's title is taken from the lyrics of the track "Child of the Jago". The album was uniquely promoted in the United Kingdom, as copies purchased from the band's website from 3 June could contain a track listing chosen by the purchaser. Each album could contain ten of any of the twenty-three tracks available on the digital deluxe version of the album, and each individual album artwork could be edited to the purchaser's design. Purchasers could also share their version of the album, and for every other buyer who chooses to purchase their version, they earn £1.

Track listing

The Future Is Medieval

All tracks written by Kaiser Chiefs.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Little Shocks"	3:42
2.	"Things Change"	3:45
3.	"Long Way from Celebrating"	3:02
4.	"Starts with Nothing"	5:31
5.	"Out of Focus"	4:09
6.	"Dead or in Serious Trouble"	2:37
7.	"When All Is Quiet"	3:27
8.	"Kinda Girl You Are"	2:36
9.	"Man on Mars"	4:14
10.	"Child of the Jago"	4:41
11.	"Heard It Break"	3:07
12.	"Coming Up for Air"	5:35
13.	"If You Will Have Me"	3:25
14.	"Howlaround" (track 14 on Australian pressings, track 1 on Japanese pressings renamed "Howlaround Boneshaker", hidden track on UK pressings after "If You Will Have Me")	3:51

Japanese edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
15.	"I Dare You" (alternative mix)	2:31

iTunes deluxe edition[8]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Howlaround"	3:51
2.	"Little Shocks"	3:42
3.	"Things Change"	3:45
4.	"Starts with Nothing"	5:31
5.	"Out of Focus"	4:09
6.	"Dead or in Serious Trouble"	2:37
7.	"When All Is Quiet"	3:27
8.	"Man on Mars"	4:14
9.	"Child of the Jago"	4:41
10.	"Heard It Break"	3:07
11.	"Coming Up for Air"	5:35
12.	"If You Will Have Me"	3:25
13.	"Kinda Girl You Are"	2:36
14.	"Long Way from Celebrating"	3:02
15.	"Back in December"	3:41
16.	"Can't Mind My Own Business"	3:47
17.	"City"	4:07
18.	"Cousin in the Bronx"	3:32
19.	"Fly on the Wall"	4:34
20.	"I Dare You"	3:56
21.	"My Place Is Here"	4:04
22.	"Problem Solved"	3:01
23.	"Saying Something"	4:06

Vinyl Edition

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Howlaround"	3:51
2.	"Little Shocks"	3:42
3.	"My Place Is Here"	4:04
4.	"Kinda Girl You Are"	2:36
5.	"Fly on the Wall"	4:34
6.	"Back in December"	3:41
7.	"Starts with Nothing"	5:31
8.	"Problem Solved"	3:01
9.	"Out of Focus"	4:09
10.	"Man on Mars"	4:14
11.	"Coming Up for Air"	5:35
12.	"Heard It Break"	3:07
13.	"Saying Something"	4:06
14.	"City"	4:07
15.	"Dead or in Serious Trouble"	2:37
16.	"When All Is Quiet"	3:27
17.	"Child of the Jago"	4:41
18.	"Things Change"	3:45
19.	"Long Way from Celebrating"	3:02
20.	"I Dare You"	3:56
21.	"Cousin in the Bronx"	3:32
22.	"Can't Mind My Own Business"	3:47
23.	"If You Will Have Me"	3:25

Start the Revolution Without Me

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Little Shocks"	3:42
2.	"On the Run"	4:02
3.	"Heard It Break"	3:07
4.	"Kinda Girl You Are"	2:36
5.	"Starts with Nothing"	5:31
6.	"When All Is Quiet"	3:27
7.	"Cousin in the Bronx"	3:32
8.	"Things Change"	3:45
9.	"Man on Mars" (radio edit)	3:44
10.	"Problem Solved"	3:01
11.	"Can't Mind My Own Business"	3:47
12.	"Child of the Jago"	4:41
13.	"If You Will Have Me"	3:25

Personnel

• Ricky Wilson – vocals
• Andrew 'Whitey' White – guitar
• Nick Hodgson – drums, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Man on Mars" and "If You Will Have Me"
• Simon Rix – bass
• Nick "Peanut" Baines – keyboards
• Tony Visconti – producer, engineer
• Ethan Johns – producer, engineer
• David Arnold – additional strings on several tracks
• Tim Hodgson – additional lyrics on "If You Will Have Me"

Chart performance

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[9]	25
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[10]	34
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[11]	37
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12]	40
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[13]	95
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14]	83
UK Albums (OCC)[15]	10

References

1. Kaiser Chiefs rejected David Bowie's lyrics for new album 'The Future Is Medieval' | News | NME.COM
2. "Start the Revolution Without Me Reviews, Ratings, Credits and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
3. Jon O'Brien. "The Future Is Medieval - Kaiser Chiefs - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
4. "BBC review".
5. "The Independent review". The Independent.
6. "Kaiser Chiefs:Start the Revolution Without Me". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
7. "Special Vinyl Edition Now Available!". Pastemagazine.com. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
8. iTunes - Music - The Future Is Medieval by Kaiser Chiefs
9. "Australiancharts.com – Kaiser Chiefs – The Future Is Medieval". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
10. "Ultratop.be – Kaiser Chiefs – The Future Is Medieval" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
11. "Ultratop.be – Kaiser Chiefs – The Future Is Medieval" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Kaiser Chiefs – The Future Is Medieval" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
13. "Spanishcharts.com – Kaiser Chiefs – The Future Is Medieval". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
14. "Swisscharts.com – Kaiser Chiefs – The Future Is Medieval". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
15. "Kaiser Chiefs | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 25 April 2014.