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THE KOOKS Inside In Inside Out (Virgin/EMI) |
 IN a mundane, routine and dull music world, The Kooks are a breath of fresh air. They stick out with their own style that isn't anything like what we get out of rock bands today. Theirs is a bit of rock, a sprinkle of ska, a touch of mellow and a pinch of reggae all put together. OK, so they're quirky but they're quirky in a good way. When other rock bands just want to be the next best thing, The Kooks sound as if they are not bothered with that. With songs that ask whether you want to go to the Seaside and inviting you to See the World in a different way, The Kooks don't pretend that they could topple Shakespeare as the greatest writer of all time (they probably could but just don't want to). Their lyrics are really simple; it's like they are trying to have a conversation with their audience. This CD has a very friendly sound to it, like a good night at the pub with a bunch of your best mates talking about whatever subject that comes to mind. At first, The Kooks remind one of the Corrs. This is because the intro of their first song, Seaside, has a hint of the Irish group's unplugged take on Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing. But minutes into the album, they begin to sound like 1980s Britpop; surprisingly, like Dexys Midnight Runners (the band that came up with Come on Eileen) plus a dash of Duran Duran ... only better. Now, before you call the music co-ordinator up to point your torches and pitchforks at me, let me just say these bands were great but the Kooks have raised the bar! This CD can certainly light up anyone's day. One of the great songs that just makes you want to bounce is She Moves in Her Own Way. It's good to know that a bunch of mop-haired guys appreciate a girl the way she is. And who says mop tops aren't sensitive. Another lovely offering is I Want You. It sounds very angry at first but listen to it more and you'll realise that this bloke is pining for his lost love. How romantic, sigh. But the best song on this album is one with a title that's not quite suitable for a family-oriented paper, so won't be mentioned here. You need to get this album to find out what it is. It's not great because of its title, but for the way it is presented. The overall sound of this album needs you to leave your intelligence at the door for a while. Well, bring just a bit of it to slightly understand what these blokes are on about. Any more than that you may frown at what you're hearing. Which is a shame because their music is the epitome of feel-good music! |
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