I don't usually impulse buy CDs but one day whilst in Sainsbury's, Inside In Inside Out by the Kooks came jumping off the shelf into my basket. Really impressed with the only song I knew from them, She Moves In Her Own Way, I decided this CD should move into my kitchen.
The kitchen is where I listen to most music and it amused me to think I could be Kooking in the kitchen (yes yes, I know, I don't get out enough). But anyway, I couldn't wait to listen to this new purchase so I decided to go home and bake a cake or something so I could listen all the way through without getting distracted by something in another room.
Some people buy music for the lyrics. I can honestly say that this was not the case for me with this one. She Moves In Her Own Way is a song which initially had me turning the car radio up, and always had me singing along with it. Hmmm but what are those lyrics going on about…'the furby kiss….she moves in her own way…?'
Inside In Inside Out is the debut album from The Kooks, a band made up of four males from Brighton comprising Luke Pritchard (lead vocals, guitar), Hugh Harris (lead guitar), Max Rafferty (bass guitar) and Paul Garred (drums & percussion). Their style of music is Indie Rock and similar to bands like Razorlight, Coldplay and Maroon Five. This album has been out since January of this year and has spent months in the top 20 and has sold in excess of 1 million copies.
No less than six of these tracks (marked with an asterisk in the listing below) have been released as singles
in the UK. There are 14 tracks most are between 2 and 3 minutes in length.
1. Seaside 2. See the World 3. Sofa Song * 4. Eddie's Gun * 5. Ooh La * 6. You Don't Love Me * 7. She Moves in Her Own Way * 8. Matchbox 9. Naïve * 10. I Want You 11. If Only 12. Jackie Big Tits 13. Time Awaits 14. Got No Love
The biggest hit being from the album is undoubtedly She Moves in Her Own Way, my favourite track on the album and the sole reason I bought it. So, what do I think of it all..?
My initial response was disappointment. She Moves In Her Own Way stands out as the best track by far for me and some tracks were just what I would call pure NOISE. However, after many listens the album is growing on me although there are still one or two tracks that I just can't stand and have to skip.
The Good *☼*☼*☼* She Moves in Her Own Way is my favourite track. It is a song that it is almost impossible to keep still or quiet to and I'm sure most people will have heard in a café, bar or restaurant if not on the TV or radio. The rhythm is fast and the tune fun with guitar and gentle percussion accompanying the singing. Some of the lyrics are easy to pick out 'you don't pull my strings cause I'm a better man moving on to better things' whilst there are Furby Kisses in there somewhere. Turning to the CD case in search of the actual wording for this line is a fruitless task since the lyrics are microscopic font size 3 or similar. Good old Google tells me that this line is in fact 'I love her because'. Would you believe it? No it's Furby kisses when you listen, please tell me if you hear this too.
Another great track (and absolute confirmation that I don't like it for the lyrics) is Jackie Big Tits. A fun song with a lovely guitar introduction. Another one to sing aloud to and shake your booty around the kitchen (so glad we are not overlooked from behind). How can a good song be about big tits, I'm not a fan of those but then that's probably 'cause I don't have them. Anyway all the nice boys say that more than handful is a waste. Shove over Jordan.
The first track on the album, Seaside, starts off with the intellectually unchallenging lyrics 'Do you want to go to the seaside'? It's a song where the lyrics are clear and simple, accompanied by guitar. It's only one and half minutes long but it's easy listening.
Got No Love stands out as the most different of the tracks on the album. It is a slow song with few lyrics, 'you aint got no love today, don't let them bring me down, got no love'. It is moody but good with a background of guitar and drums.
Ooh La is a fun and upbeat track and it is thought that the lyrics refer to the fame awaiting Luke's ex, Katie Melua. 'And don't be a star, it's such a drag , Take care of yourself, don't begin to lag , It's a hard life to live, so live it well ...ooh la, she was such a good girl to me , And ooh la, the world just chewed her up, and spat her out'.
The Pretty Good *☼*☼*☼*☼*☼* Sofa Song and Matchbox are both tracks that I can listen to without skipping. They both have loads of energy and percussion. Eddie's Gun falls into the OK category for me, I can't quite decide whether I love it or hate it and have decided it depends on my mood. It has an air of NOISE about it in parts.
Naïve is a song with lyrics about a cheating girl who is a little naïve 'How could this be done, by such a smiling sweetheart , oh and your sweet and pretty face, in such an ugly way something so beautiful, everytime I look inside'. It's OK but nothing really special.
Time Awaits is a song that starts with a dreary feel but improves with time and is the longest track at just over 5 minutes. There are parts of the song which sound very U2ish.
The Noise *☼*☼*☼* Do You Want to See the World starts off with a few bars very similar to Blondie's One Way or Another. It goes severely downhill after this with loads of bass guitar and noise. Fans of heavier rock may like this but I don't. The words are a blur and it's just plain noise to my ears.
You Don't Love Me is another track I feel irritated by. It does have a really good electric guitar instrumental half way though but overall it is monotonous and noisy and doesn't make me dance.
If Only is another of the noisy songs on the album. It is fast and then slow and has a dreariness about it which bursts into high tempo at odd periods. This one's a noise I can do without.
Overall *☼*☼* As an impulse buy, I felt on first listening that this album was a real disappointment and I'd have been better downloading a couple of tracks instead (but since I don't have an MP3, then that would have been a bit silly). After many listens I am enjoying the album much more than I thought. It has certainly had more listens than Maroon Five (another impulse buy bought on the strength of She Will Be Loved). Ah déjà vu. I still prefer my most recent CD Eyes Open by Snow Patrol but Inside In Inside Out has plenty of good tracks and it seems to get better with age. Recommended for Furby Kisses in the Kitchen at the very least.
Have a listen for yourself at: http://uk.music.yahoo.com/ar-28534119---The-Kooks
Available widely for around £7. Thanks for reading.
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.
Dec 4th, 2006
exceptional by (1%):
very helpful by (98%):
helpful by (2%):
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
![I'm Not Dead [PA] - Pink](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/580/prod_small-6397580.jpg)
