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Product Description
Review
The Kooks' 2006 debut LP, Inside In/Inside Out, has sold an outstanding two million copies; their 2008 follow-up Konk entered the charts at the top, taking the number one spot from Duffy. There's little doubt, however, that time has diluted the effectiveness of Luke Pritchard's once attractively fey yet laddish squawk. While common sentiment in a song can still paralyse the purse-strings, The Kooks' gormless image and strained ambiguities now feel even more cynical.
Junk of the Heart seems to want to transport The Kooks into adulthood, but it doesn't know how. It's certainly not through the lyrics - the obvious tack - because Pritchard's lazy, nasal SATs-level similes are more gloryless than ever. "Eskimo Kiss"' bewildering "She's like the rose without a thorn / She's like the sunflower that never looks back at the sun" offers the vision of a frontman desperately picking at half-rhymes to impress the teacher, more than anything else.
The Kooks' best singles had vigour, silliness and gold-standard choruses, but there's none of that here. "Time Above the Earth" is admirably futile and literal, detailing "a thousand thoughts flashing through my brain" mid-air on a flight, barely luxuriating in a tiny bath of pizzicato strings. Runaway aims briefly at the electric excitement of Mystery Jets' second album before drowning in a mire of ska and Liam Gallagher-style mic-assaulting.
The highlights are "Is It Me"'s turbo-charged janglepop, and the jaunty and light 80s lounge-pop introduction of "Killing Me", which quickly descends into X Factor Winning Song territory with the immortal line, "I know you didn't mean to creep into my dreams". Any hint at excitement on this album is quickly picked up on and thrown away, in favour of keeping the 'serious band' hook consistent. Mr. Nice Guy pickpockets David Bowie's Let's Dance, which certainly sounds like a band having a good time, but quickly becomes the opposite of fun.
There's very little drive in Junk of the Heart, just a messy selection of meandering verses that surely can't be the product of three years' work. The misspelt words of the liner notes say it all, and quite why The Kooks' terrible lyrics are showcased here at all is a wonder - it's patronising even to loyal Kooks fans, surely. While token strings cut in on "Runaway" - and the leather jackets have been replaced by a more current double-denim look in the sleeve's band shots - it seems that whoever had faith in this record had taken shelter long before its tracklisting made the final cut.
--Natalie Shaw
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CD Description
Written by The Kooks, produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Belle & Sebastian), and recorded in The Sound Factory (Los Angeles) and Sarm Studios (London), the band's third album sees them consolidating their position as a bona fide album band with trademark breeziness and catchy hooks. Kicking off with a dramatic breakbeat, the opening track builds across acoustic guitar and warm washes of synth before collapsing into a chorus you'll be singing for days. It shows, that despite the change in their influences, the band still have a firm grasp on how to write killer hooks and pop songs without compare.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can't recommend the kooks highly enough, and with this third album they've definately kept the ball rolling.The tracks are just as catchy as ever and will have you whistling along almost immediately ( I know I was ) don't know what more you could want for a fiver !! Enjoy.
Format:Audio CD
hey so yeah good quality and all that jazz :D
personally i didnt much fancy the kooks last album, konks. But i loved inside in/inside out, and i love this.
If your a kooks fan buy it ! its fab !! if you dont like it? ah well its not that expensive is it?xxx
personally i didnt much fancy the kooks last album, konks. But i loved inside in/inside out, and i love this.
If your a kooks fan buy it ! its fab !! if you dont like it? ah well its not that expensive is it?xxx
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
Good album but has been a long time coming!
Am not as keen on this one as I was on 'inside in/Inside out' or 'Konk'- seems a bit heavier but still glad to hear new stuff!
Am not as keen on this one as I was on 'inside in/Inside out' or 'Konk'- seems a bit heavier but still glad to hear new stuff!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The kooks-junk of the heart
Loved this CD, was a good listen especially they're new song 'is it me' Arrived the next day, was very pleased with this service :)
Published 5 months ago by Hea1her
perfect!
thankyou very much, arrived within dates given. In condition which was specified and am enjoying listening to it very much!
Published 7 months ago by Gloria Royer
A grower - but worth perservering!!!
I pre-ordered this album as I'm a massive Kooks fan. On first listening I liked most of the tracks, but wasn't sure about a couple of the middle ones. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Emxxx
The Kooks - Junk of the Heart
If you like the Kooks, you'll love this album, typical Kooks sound and instantly recognisable. Catchy tunes for an easy listening experience.
Published 7 months ago by Ms. Patricia A. Ruddell
AMAZING
I LOVE IT SOSOSOOSOSOSOSO MUCH, THE KOOKS ARE AMAZINNNGGGGGGGGGG, i saw them last night at brixton and i am in love with luke the singer! Read more
Published 7 months ago by zoezero71
Lukey and the Boys are back!
Luke and the boys are back with a great third album, didn't expect anything less of course. Luke's voice is as distinctive as ever on all tracks, and Junk of The Heart track is a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Dave TW8
A Nifty LP
On first listen I just didn't like this album. On second listen it started to sound a bit fetchy. Now, after 5 or 6 play throughs it really does start to shine through. Read more
Published 8 months ago by David Bentley Newman
Junk Of The Heart cd
Just i need know where is my cd because you send me email must coming 22 september and i still don't haved...
Published 8 months ago by Jozef Hanzely
MOR pleasant pop.
Having already positioned 2008's "Konk" as their "mainstream bid," these Britpop traditionalists return with a rather-quite-poppier follow-up that may be both their best and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ollie Olugooden
LOVE
i have been waiting for years for this album, now it's finally here. i still haven't bought it but heard some of the songs already and i know i'll love it... Read more
Published 8 months ago by TeenageBookLover
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