"Modern Way" is the fourth and final single released from English

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

band

Kaiser Chiefs Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who originally formed in 1996 as Runston Parva, before reforming as Parva in 2000, and releasing one studio album, ''22'', in 2003, before renaming and establishing themselves in their cur ...

' 2005 debut album, ''

Employment Employment is a relationship between two party (law), parties Regulation, regulating the provision of paid Labour (human activity), labour services. Usually based on a employment contract, contract, one party, the employer, which might be a cor ...

'', on 7 November 2005. It entered the UK Singles Chart at 11 and became a minor hit in Ireland and the Netherlands.

Music video

The song's music video marked the directorial debut of the band's lead singer, Ricky Wilson and was co-directed by prolific video director Scott Lyon. It tells of the success of William Green, a juggler who has a unique skill for balancing tennis balls on his face, and the impact that he has made on the public. The band appears throughout as extras, donning glasses and facial hair. During Green's climatic performance, they appear as themselves.

Track listings

UK CD1 # "Modern Way" – 3:31 # "People Need Light" – 3:06 UK CD2 # "Modern Way" – 3:31 # "Moon" – 2:51 # "It Ain't Easy" (demo) – 2:25 # "Modern Way" (video) UK 7-inch single :A. "Modern Way" – 3:31 :B. "Run Again" – 2:40

Reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

called it the song "moody-yet-stylish".

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

called it "sublime" comparing it to Blur's

Popscene "Popscene" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, released as a non-album single on 30 March 1992. Despite its relatively low chart placing, it has since become critically praised and regarded as one of the pioneering songs of the B ...

, and PlayLouder.com similarly compared it to

Modern Life Is Rubbish ''Modern Life Is Rubbish'' is the second studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released in May 1993. Although their debut album '' Leisure'' (1991) had been commercially successful, Blur faced a severe media backlash soon afte ...

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

's Joe Tangari reviewed the album and called ''Modern Way'' "the only song on the LP that is truly dynamic" praising the "fluid verses" and build up to the "towering chorus". He does concede that the song makes him imagine the band during recording asking for " More Cowbell".

Charts

Other versions

One of Kaiser Chiefs' contemporary bands from Yorkshire,

the Cribs The Cribs are a British indie rock band originally from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, that formed in 2001. The band consists of twins Gary Jarman, Gary and Ryan Jarman and their younger brother Ross Jarman. They were subsequently joined by ex-The ...

, covered "Modern Way" in 2005, as a B-side to their single " Mirror Kissers". In 2006, the song was reworked for the

Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club was a musical ensemble primarily made up of Cuban musicians, formed in 1996. The project was organized by World Circuit (record label), World Circuit executive Nick Gold, produced by American guitarist Ry Cooder and dire ...

album '' Rhythms del Mundo''.

References

External links

Modern Way
official video (YouTube) {{Authority control 2004 songs 2005 singles Kaiser Chiefs songs Song recordings produced by Stephen Street Songs written by Andrew White (musician) Songs written by Nick "Peanut" Baines Songs written by Nick Hodgson Songs written by Ricky Wilson (singer) Songs written by Simon Rix