No one would ever accuse Kasabian of trying to invent anything; its 2004 debut more often than not sounded like XTRMNTR: The Sequel (though as imagined by the Stone Roses). The excellent, dancefloor-friendly Empire contains much of the same bombast and electro-swagger check the squalling guitars that finish "Shoot the Runner" or vocalist Tom Meighan's anguished sneer throughout that should be familiar to even casual Primal Scream fans. But Kasabian is best enjoyed when considered separate from its obvious influences; only then can one truly delve into and appreciate "Me Plus One" a trippy synth stomp that's somewhat like the Happy Mondays without the lazy-itis or "Sun/Rise/Light/Flies," a soaring, string-laden anthem that splits the difference between the Chemical Brothers and Oasis.