Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Member since:29.08.2002
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Once again I've come across with a pretty decent debut album by a very good new band. The Kooks are the latest product of what seems to be quite a vibrant Indie scene in Brighton, which previously brought us The Ordinary Boys. The Kooks released their debut album in January this year and seem to have quickly set about making a name for themselves. With appearances on Jo Wiley and Zane Lowe's shows on radio 1 and the band already confirmed to play Reading and the Isle of Wight it is bound to raise their profile by the end of the year.
The band mix a whole range of styles and influences within their music. From glimpses of the Kinks deeply immersed within a number of the tracks to the more recent happy go lucky pop sounds of Supergrass. It would seem that a return to the "I Should Coco" era Supergrass style is quite evident from the bands music. There can also be comparisons with both Athlete and The Coral, as The Kooks style really does seem to be that diverse. The best way to really
describe The Kooks style though has to be the way they are dusting off Brit Pop Indie and bringing it back to the masses.
In front man Luke Pritchard the band seem to have an incredibly talented musician, whose vocals really manage to make the band stand out. While Brit Pop and Indie seem to have been pushed to the back of modern musical culture by the likes of pre processed pop and the latest summer dance tunes. There is still quite an inexperienced sound to The Kooks debut but it also has a rawness that seems to add to its appeal. It isn't an over produced album and that also makes it much more appealing. The album blends this production value with quite a mellow, addictive sound.
The Kooks seem to blend quite edgy and bouncy pop guitar riffs with a nice solid beat. Each track seems to have quite a cool, laid back feel to it and the lead guitars, although quite awkward sound fantastic. There is quite a bouncy feel to it and although Athlete have a similar style, The Kooks seem to be a much more upbeat band. It's musically quite a summer sounding album, with a couple of the tracks giving a relaxing mood to them, whilst still remaining upbeat.
As I already mentioned it is lead singer Pritchard that really gives the band a unique sound and defines them from the majority. There is also a subtle quality to the lyrics of their tracks and the mixture of Pritchard's vocals and excellent musical styling bring the best out in these tracks. While this is a good album there is a bit of room for improvement and I'm sure they will return next year with a more mature sound but in the mean time this album really offers everything a listener could expect.
Each track in its own right could easily make it as a single for the band. For me though there are a couple of tracks that sound amazing and really got me into The Kooks in a big way. The first of these is current single "Naïve", it's perhaps one of the best songs I've heard in years. It has a slow relaxing start that steadily builds as the track goes on. Both Pritchard's vocals and the musical accompaniment make it a superb track. The other stand out for me has to be "Eddies Gun". In contrast to "Naïve" it starts of at a fast pace and with the guitars leading the way it really is the best example of that bouncy sound The Kooks do so well.
There is only one real downside to the album and that is the ending. I felt that "Got No Love", while a decent track shouldn't have been the one to end the album. It is far too mellow and really would have been better somewhere in the middle. After such a good album it needed something upbeat to round it all off but other than that I can't really fault The Kooks debut effort.
Overall it's a great album and a fantastic addition to the 2006 Indie Rock fraternity. Every year there are a number of young pretenders come along but for the band with the David Bowie influenced name I think they'll be around for a while. For fans of Athlete and Supergrass I'd certainly recommend giving Inside In/Inside Out a try as I'm 99% sure you'll love it. If your not convinced then listen to a couple of tracks, in particular "Naïve" and "You Don't Love Me" and I'm sure it wont take long for the album to become part of your collection.
Amazon: £6.99 Amazon marketplace: £5.52
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
On their debut album Inside In/Inside Out, Brighton band The Kooks demonstrate a real ... more
potential for greatness. That's because this young band have two crucial things going for them: a wealth of ideas and an awareness of their place in their musical lin...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Contains the music arranged from the actual recordings in the original keys and features ... more
full lyrics and chord symbols to each song. This work includes the singles "Ooh La", "Naive", and their cover of "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. It also contains songs ...
Advantages: Upbeat,tuneful rough garage hippie sound.Some strong songs on the album. Disadvantages: They arent really the sort of band that make massive musical waves,although they are charming.
Apr 16th, 2006
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