Review Summary: The promise is back.
There are some albums that are just consistent with previous efforts. They play it safe and try not to stray too far from the original formula, usually bringing nothing new to the table. The Kooks tried this with their sophomore release,
Konk, which was a subject of criticism if for no other reason than because it was lacking effort. The band had successfully crafted a remarkably ‘safe’ album that seemed to prove that the Kooks were ready to go nowhere with the sound that showed so much promise on
Inside In/Inside Out. Instead, they rehashed it almost completely into a painfully long run-on album.
Following
Konk,
Junk of the Heart is a breath of fresh air. Despite frontman Luke Pritchard’s claim that the band went “stale” during their third release, this album is anything but.
Junk of the Heart is an exciting change of pace from their original sound and a leap forward for the band as a whole. The tracklisting on this album is okay and, despite a minor hiccup, seems to flow very nicely. The album starts off strong with two infectiously catchy singles, “Junk of the Heart (Happy)”, followed by the piano-driven “How’d You Like That”, and seems to mellow out quite a bit, with few large standouts until “Is It Me”.
Although it may seem a bit forced, there is definitely some experimentation on the album. It is mainly seen in the written-in-an-airplane-bathroom string orchestra “Time Above The Earth”, and the out of place song that follows, “Runaway”, in which the band utilizes a synth line. While both songs are enjoyable, the order in which they’re presented results in an odd shift in mood that just doesn’t feel right.
Lyrically, quite a bit has changed. It seems as though much more effort was put into writing on this album, although at some points they seem a bit cliche and typical. While most of the songs have average lyrics, “Eskimo Kiss” may give the listener the impression that Pritchard is entering a middle school poetry contest. Vocally, Pritchard has stayed the same and, at times, can still sound a little too nasally and bouncy, which is showcased on the slow acoustic jam “Taking Pictures of You”.
This album adds some more memorable songs to The Kooks' discography, reignites the potential that
Inside In/Inside Out once delivered, and will hopefully pave the way for bigger and better things from The Kooks.
