Jake Mahr
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The biggest challenge a UK rock band often faces is its transition into the American market. These acts tend to find themselves with small gigs in theaters, instead of arenas. For many years now, The Kooks have tried to break the barrier in a way that bands like Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys have.
The Kooks, a group of Brighton rockers, are one of the biggest recent American breakthroughs in recent years, yet their new album, “Junk of Heart,” unfortunately has a sense of familiarity that permeates throughout the album.
The songs that stand out are a lot more experimental than the songwriting exhibited throughout the rest of the album, but excluding these moments, it is business as usual for The Kooks.
The band, formed by Luke Pritchard (vocals/guitar); Hugh Harris (lead guitar); Paul Garred (drums), and Max Rafferty (bass guitar) gained rapid critical and popular attention in both the UK and United States after releasing its debut album, “Inside In/Inside Out,” in 2006. The album sold over 50,000 copies and the group completed its first U.S. tour shortly after its release.
Their second album, “Konk,” released in 2008, also came with a change in the band line-up. Max Rafferty, the bassist, was replaced by Dan Logan, who was then himself replaced by Peter Denton, who has been with the band since October 2008.
The Kooks’ music is largely grounded in the 1960s British Invasion movement, along with 1990s Britpop. Some of the most successful singles the band has produced are “Naïve,” from its first album, and “Always Where I Need To Be,” from its second.
The album’s lead single, “Is It Me,” and the title track, “Junk of Heart,” sound as if they were destined to be played on the radio. They are filled with catchy rhythms, strong lyrics and choruses and cheerful guitar pieces. However, none of the songs on the album show a new side of The Kooks and would have fit perfectly on previous albums. The Kooks exhibit no maturity or growth in their songwriting.
During the middle of the album, the band tries to experiment on several of their songs. They try using string instruments in “Time Above the Earth,” and fiddle with some synth-pop on the song, “Runaway.” These songs are probably the most original on the album and show the creativity the Kooks could have with their songwriting if they really challenged themselves.
The main reason for why this album is so similar to the others is due to the mood expressed in the songs — the same, sweet, bouncy feeling The Kooks have been exploiting for years. This is mainly due to the distinctive voice of Pritchard. He sings in a way that makes him sound as if he could never be angry.
One thing that is portrayed well in the album is the truthfulness the songs usually contain. Although all of the songs have different backgrounds and meanings, the band never leaves anything out. No matter if the song is happy or sad, the Kooks always make sure they tell it as it is.
In all fairness, The Kooks are a successful band with devoted fans. They are making music in order to influence the pop world, but they are not trying to reinvent the wheel or leave the safety of current musical trends. “Junk of the Heart” was merely that: nothing spectacular, but enjoyable, soothing music. The album, released on Sept. 12, is now on sale digitally and at most music retailors nationwide.
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