The Kooks have come out fighting though, completely re-evaluating and overhauling their sound and the result is an exuberant fourth album bristling with character.
Guitarist Hugh Harris can still finesse a scintillating riff, but derivative would-be hipster anthems with hip-hop bolt-on "Around Town" and "It Was London" suggest a band aware that their time has come, and gone. [Oct 2014, p.74]
Listen is set to force you into either accepting the band’s new identity or hitting upon the realisation that the band you originally fell in love with have moved on.
Nothing, not even their own past as a middling indie-pop crossover act, is sacred, and it’s sad to see The Kooks attempt to conjure past glories and fall flat.
It isn't uncommon for an album that experiments with a band's sound to meet opposition. Hell, it often deserves the opposition. In this caseIt isn't uncommon for an album that experiments with a band's sound to meet opposition. Hell, it often deserves the opposition. In this case of 'Listen', however, The Kooks managed to create something wonderful. If you can listen to this album and not
While "Forgive & Forget" and "Sweet Emotion" work with the band's classic sound (quite well, if I might add), the majority of the other tracks in the album vary in some interesting ways--anywhere from funk driven to pop punk. "Listen" was one of the most innovative albums of the year and it will be interesting to see if The Kooks adopt any of these sounds into their future work.…Expand
This is The Kooks at their very best. They aren't afraid to play with punchy new sounds and influencesFresh and familiar at the same time.
This is The Kooks at their very best. They aren't afraid to play with punchy new sounds and influences and it comes out shinning. Bad Habit alone is worth the price of admission -- thankfully its bolstered by instant favorites like Around Town, Forgive & Forget and Down.
The Kooks have moved beyond the sound that made them a permanent fixture on my playlist with Inside In/Inside Out. Here they try some new stuff and let new influences permeate there music. It really works.
If you're a fan of bands that evolve, this is worth picking up.…Expand
New sound, new oportunities. brilliant job from Peter Denton, and the rythms from Alexis Nuñez feel fresh and makes everybody to dance. AlsoNew sound, new oportunities. brilliant job from Peter Denton, and the rythms from Alexis Nuñez feel fresh and makes everybody to dance. Also Luke and Hugh, like always, done a great job. We shall thank Inflo to move them to this unexplored space for them.…Expand
Great album and absolutely new sound of the Kooks. Mix of rock'n'roll, disco, buggy and other styles, sounds completely different fromGreat album and absolutely new sound of the Kooks. Mix of rock'n'roll, disco, buggy and other styles, sounds completely different from previous albums, but still really interesting.…Expand
We all long for the days of the past, but the past sometimes gets old and a band has to take a step back and reevaluate. 'Listen' continuesWe all long for the days of the past, but the past sometimes gets old and a band has to take a step back and reevaluate. 'Listen' continues the new route The Kooks took when they released 'Junk Of The Heart'. I'm all for this continued direction, which has some definite ingredients of the past mixed in. No major issues here.…Expand
There was a time when I liked The Kooks. I was 15 years old and their first two albums were fun and enjoyable to me, Inside In/Inside Out isThere was a time when I liked The Kooks. I was 15 years old and their first two albums were fun and enjoyable to me, Inside In/Inside Out is great with a variety of alternative songs, and seriously who doesn't like Naive? Even Konk had songs that, in fact, I still listen sometimes. Junk of the Heart alienated me and I hoped that the next one would be better, regretably Listen, is not. I suppose that Luke and company like what they are doing because they seem to have fun, but I felt it was all too distant, the songs don't provoke anymore. If The Kooks are having fun, well, they don't know how to make the listener have fun.…Expand
