The Kooks take their name from a David Bowie album, Hunky Dory, they're a punky band with modern rock flare. They come from the South Coast and are a Brighton based band. Brighton has produced bands like The Electric Soft Parade and British Sea Power, and it's a fantastic night out! The band met at college and started sending out demos to record companies, the band eventually managed to secure a record deal with Virgin despite only being together for about two or here months. Virgin also have bands like The Rolling Stones and The Thrills signed to them. They're all aged between 18 and 22 years of age. The band lineup consists of :-

Hugh Harris - Lead Guitar
Luke Pritchard - Vocals, Guitar
Max Rafferty - Bass Guitar
Paul Garred - Drums

The Kooks regard artists such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Stone Roses, The Doors and The Kinks as influences to their music, which is quite obvious on their Britpop/Psychedelic/Eclectic debut album. The debut song 'Eddie's Gun' charted in the top 40 (number 35) when it was released and it was then that people started to notice them. They're also performing at various sold out gigs across the country. The album is full of cheery strumming patterns and upbeat lyrics which grab the audience's attention.

The Kooks are likened to Razorlight and are often said to be a "second rate Razorlight" in my personal opinion I find The Kooks so much more fun and with much better songs. Razorlight have the odd good song, but the majority I find dull and pretty boring. The Kooks pride themselves on not conforming to one type of music, and create music that's different in every respect.

The Kooks released their Debut studio album -Inside in/Inside out on 23rd of January this year. This album has definitely been one of my favourite albums of the year. It has a running time of 40.51 minutes which is quite a short album, the majority of the songs are about 3 minutes long, they're short, catchy and fun songs. The album has 14 tracks which stretch across a wide range of textures and styles. The album was produced by Tony Hoffer who has produced albums for bands like Air, Beck, and Supergrass. I'm a huge music fan with preferences towards indie/electronic sounds so after hearing the first song I knew I'd buy the album, and since doing this it hasn't left my CD player. The album is very addictive and definitely one that goes on repeat a lot.

The Kooks have a unique sound, mainly due to the lead singer Luke Pritchard's unusual voice. I think it's partly youth and inexperience, and raw music talent. He has a beautiful lazy style and is pretty cute as well!

Track 1 - Seaside (1:09)

Despite being a short track I like this. It starts off very ballad like, but builds up into a fun lively acoustic number. It's a very simple and easy on the ear song, the lyrics are simple and repetitive. I find myself repeating the line "Do you want to go to the seaside?" over and over when im sitting in the sun which I guess is quite apt. It's a summery song with a single guitar background. It's a nice little song, but doesn't really leave a lasting impression.

Track 2 - See The World ( 2:38)

The song is full of raw guitars with varying speeds throughout. This is a punky song which is driven by drums and bass throughout. Its attention grabbing with lyrics like "Do you want to see the world? In a different way" It's one of the strongest songs on the album.

Track 3 - Sofa Song (2:13)

This is one of the songs that has been released into the charts. It's a cynical track with lines about loaded guns and getting laid. The catchiest line being "Won't you come on over at the side of my sofa". I like it; it's a fun catchy song (no surprise there!). It's a summery, chilled out song, which is great to listen to when you're driving down to festivals with your mates.

Track 4 - Eddie's Gun ( 2.13)

Another song that's been released, this one being the debut single. This has smooth vocals and bright guitars. Apparently it's about erectile problems, hence the "And in the barrel of my gun , I hope I'm not the only one". It has a John Squires-esque, guitar solo which is energetic throughout.

Track 5 - Ooh La (3:38)

This song replaces the stead flow of electric guitar with acoustic. It's an upbeat song, and apparently is a warning to the lead singers ex girlfriend who happens to be Katie Melua. It's about the dangers of fame. The first time I heard this song I thought the lyrics "Your pretty pretty petticoat" were quite a bit different! I won't say what I thought they were, but it's something that I think would sound better if it was about an ex, well maybe just one of my ex's! I like my lyrics better to that bit anyway! It's a good song, but a bit repetitive, or maybe I dislike it because I can't stand Katie Melua?

Track 6 - You Don't Love Me ( 2:35)

This has an emotional feel to it. It has high pitched lyrics and again is very catchy guitar pop song. Again, this is a track that has been released as a single. It has a spring youthful edge to it and is definitely another song that'll be heard a lot over the summer.

Track 7 - She Moves In Her Own Way (2:49)

I like this track, it's an acoustic song which is a song recently released into the charts. It's a summery piece of indie music that fits in perfectly with the way music is going at the moment. It's a song about dysfunctional love and with lyrics like "But uh oh, I love her because, She moves in her own way". This is probably one of my favourite tracks on the album, probably because it's so catchy but has a bit substance to the lyrics than some of the other songs.

Track 8 - Matchbox (3:09)
I like the lyrics in this song, they're fun and funky they make me think of young lads having a laugh, "All of us, we're going out tonight , We're gonna walk all over your cars, The Kooks are out in the streets, Oh were gonna steal your signs". It's a lively track but with drawn out lyrics like "Oh my Juliet, I'll never betray you my love (it's true), Oh my Juliet, I'll never betray you my love". I think it takes a while to grow on you, more so than some of the others on the album. It's not as catchy as some of the other songs.

Track 9 - Naïve (3:23)

This is the track that made me like the Kooks. It was released as a single in March this year and is a real attention grabber. This shoes a fairly subdued and sensitive side of the band and is so laid back. I love the song, but it did start to irritate me a bit after it was constantly played on the radio. The lyrics are a bid hard to decipher. I thought it was "I'm not from the Ruskin" but actually turned out to be "I'm

not fond of asking". It's a very professional sounding song and a lot less raw that some of the other tracks. It's still a really good track and one you can't help singing along to.

Track 10 - I Want You (3:26)

I like this song. It's much more melancholic that the other tracks. It comes across as a bit deeper than some of the other tracks. This a good strong indie song, as it starts softly, before slowly building to an almighty beast of a song. "Take me back to the place where I, Loved that girl for all time". It's not one of the strongest on the album but it's still a good track.

Track 11 - If Only (2:01)

Its indie guitar rock with strong lyrics. It's quite a short song and is over very quickly. With lyrics like "Oh, if only, if only, Oh, he wasn't so lonely, He'd have someone to play with". It's sweet on the ear but leaves a lasting impression. It's an ok song, but not one of my favourites.

Track 12 - Jackie Big Tit's (2:32)

When I saw this on the album cover I thought it would be a cheesy song especially with a name like that, but it's probably one of my favourite tracks. It's an acoustic song which is very catchy and you'll find yourself singing "Jackie Big Tits" and getting the odd look off people. It's up beat and Luke Pritchard singing "You only go around, round, round sounds great in his heavily accented voice.

Track 13 - Time Awaits (5:08)

Staring off with "hold on don't leave this town, hold on don't leave this town" with a bluesy intro, it's a string belter of a song and I love it, it builds up into a ballsy song and the singers voice sounds great on it.

Track 14 - Got No Love (3:37)

The album is brought to a fine ending with a closing track that makes you want to listen to the album again. It isn't one of my favourite tracks, I prefer the more upbeat catchy tunes on the album, but it's still an equally well written and listenable song. It's very single with very minimalist lyrics. "You, you aint got no love today, Don't let them bring you down". It's repetitive but definitely one that you'll sing along to.

Overall I really love this album, it's been in my CD player for ages and it's especially great to drive too, because you can shout along. The Kooks are a feel good band who makes you smile. The singers voice is totally inclusive and unique and makes you feel as though you're part of the songs. In comparison to bands like The Arctic Monkeys and Dirty Pretty Things I think the Kooks lack a little, as the songs are much simpler and without the lyrical genius of people like Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys I don't think the Kooks will be around forever. While they're here though enjoy them. They're fun, summer and they make you smile, definitely one of my favourite albums of the year.

The album is avilable from most supermarkets for approximately £9.99 depending on where you shop. It's also available in HMV for £12.99. Look about online for a cheaper one, I recently saw it sell on Ebay for £3.50.

A 9/10 from me!