I first heard The Kooks supporting Weezer in Brixton, August 05 I believe. They were unknown to mostly the whole audience, but this didn't seem to faze them as they staggered round the stage brimming with life, Luke in perfect rock star pose like he was famous already. On first glance, you knew they were cool and you knew they were good.
I was delighted to find 'Inside..' in the charts less than a year later, and have been following them since I heard of their rise to stardom.
The album doesn't disappoint. The magical thing about it is the way it seems to break away from the radio friendly Pop culture that Indie Rock has somehow blended into with the help of bands like Babyshambles and We Are Scientists and breathes individuality and originality into modern day music, temporarily shadowing the bland sound of commercialism.
Standout tracks include tracks 1, 4, 6-9 and 11
'Seaside' is a short introduction, a mellow acoustic number that's echoed towards the end of the album. 'Eddie's Gun' is a major contender for this year's summer anthem with its infectious melody and Luke's wonderful voice creating a surge of shivers and smiles. 'She Moves..' is a personal favourite, a light, uplifting track with fantastic lyrics and a pretty chord pattern. 'Nieve', the new single, is a brilliant track if not a little over-killed on the radio. Nevertheless, a catchy sing-a-long chorus and a nice rhythm to nod your indie head to, similar to the previous track 'Matchbox'. 'If Only' is a full-out dirty rock n roll tune, a hot-headed track crammed to bursting point with attitude, dance and raw vocals.
Although this album truly is a masterpiece of the modern day, the last few tracks start to lack the pace, immediacy and spontaneity of the tracks listed above. Don't be fooled, the tracks not mentioned before 'If Only' are good, but not standout.
A superb act that I hope will go from strength to strength. Believe the hype.