The Kooks – 'Inside In/Inside Out' (Virgin) Released 23/01/06

'Inside In/Inside Out' reminds me of my youthful attitude to the school fun run. Emboldened by the fresh air and desire to impress I’d sprint away like a good ‘un, take an early lead, before painfully running out of steam a couple of miles in and eventually limping across the line hating the whole concept of putting one foot in front of the other.The Kooks are full of such boyish verve. Their debut album similarly bursts out of the blocks (albeit after acoustic opener ‘Seaside’ – placed first to signal we’re about to listen to a new band with actual songs, rather than just some style-over-substance merchants).

 

‘See The World’ encapsulates The Kooks in two and a half minutes flat – a punky adrenaline rush swathed in the finest British guitar-pop traditions. A euphoric vocal is accompanied by glass-cutting guitars, driven on by bass and drums, both of which slip into the occasional reggae tinges to offer a little light and shade. Singles ‘Sofa Song’ and ‘Eddie’s Gun’ swiftly follow to hammer the point home. The latter won widespread praise as The Kooks’ first release, and it’s easy to see why. It sounds very much of the ‘now’ whilst also demonstrating a song-writing nous perfect for breakfast radio and indie-discos alike.

 

‘Ooh La’ shifts the mood a little, replacing electric with acoustic guitar, even if the pace remains comfortably toe-tapping. A touching warning to singer Luke Pritchard’s ex-girlfriend on the dangers of fame, it’s another stand-out track. It’s just a pity that the said ex is Katie Melua. There, we’ve said it. They met at stage school. There, we’ve mentioned that too. Forthcoming single ‘You Don’t Love Me’ then completes an exultant opening six tracks, but fails to surpass anything that’s come before. This unfortunately sets the trend for the rest of the album - which rapidly runs out of steam over the remaining eight songs.

 

Their reggae influences get a fuller working out on ‘Naïve’ and ‘Time Awaits’, and there’s the odd nice touch – but nothing to compare with the big guns we’ve heard up front. Talking of being big up front, by the time we get to an aberration like ‘Jackie Big Tits’ our patience and good will is wearing very thin indeed. The production has begun to appear a bit flat instead of powerfully crystal clear, Pritchard’s delivery is sounding grating rather than idiosyncratic, and the Kooks’ pop sensibilities are coming across more Sting than The Jam.

 

By the time gentle curtain closer ‘Got No Love’ (which actually sounds better at x2 on your Media Player) concludes, you’re left wondering whether The Kooks have fooled you. Has a band signed up after just one gig, fronted by a Melua-dating, stage-school graduate tricked you into believing in them by knocking out a couple of catchy tunes then sticking them all together at the start of an album? Such thoughts are a real shame, because Inside In/Inside Out undoubtedly demonstrates The Kooks are more than capable of producing some great, fun tunes. But, the fact remains, their album would be far more likeable if it was a tight ten track belter, rather than a balance as uneven as Pete Doherty’s mental state.