I first heard about this band whilst driving in Seattle last week - they were interviewed on local radio there, and I liked the sound of them…anyway, any band who is named after a David Bowie track has got to be good, huh? So I bought this album, and I have to say I’m very impressed - the opener (Seaside) is a very mellow, guitar and vocal track, and only 1.40 long…then the fun begin, the whole sound is very british - almost punky, almost ska sounding, without being extreme…nice angular guitar sounds, and extremely cool vocals. In some parts (Sofa Song and Match Box) they sound almost like the Police, without the Sting ‘effect’. The middle 8 of Match Box, could have been taken directly from Zenyatta Mondatta. All in All, this is a very enjoyable experience…I’d imagine that the Kooks are one to watch in 2006…despite having the misfortune of having their album released on the same day as the Arctic Monkeys, I reckon this will do very well indeed.

Download “The Kooks - Inside In Inside Out” at iTunes