Thieves Like Us – Play Music
Thieves Like Us finally unleashed their long awaited debut. The band have been around for the last few months with various singles. The one of note is “Drugs In My Body.” and the thing about this song that I think makes it resonate so well with people is that it successfully takes in elements from quite a few of your favorite dance acts into clean and tight package. You can hear Daft Punk, Depeche Mode and many other influences in the track. “Play Music” is meant to be a late night record. “Drugs In My Body” does give you some pep but the rest of the record is a rather moody and dark affair. “Lady” feels like the last song after a crazy weekend night. “Your Heart Feels” has a dark and meaningful sound but with these gentle spoken vocals it comes out like quite the juxtaposition. The contrast in sound make it sound like a demo of a Depeche Mode tack. The album ends on a abstract note with “Sugar & Song.” That puts on a fitting cap onto this record.
“Play Music” is best served very late at night and most likely under the influence. “Drugs In My Body” and “Miss You” have some broader appeal. The best thing about the album is that it brings a raw and organic sounds to a genre that usually lacks that type of song.
The Kooks release “Sway” next month
The Kooks are to release a brand new single “Sway” on October 13th. “Sway” is out on three formats: CD and two 7inch singles. The singles will include a few demos and a live version of the title track.
CD
1. Sway (Radio Mix)
2. Stole Away (Demo)
7-inch #1
Side A
1. Sway
Side B
1. It Can Be So Hard (Demo)
7-inch #2 (Gatefold sleeve)
Side A
1. Sway (Radio Mix)
Side B
1. Sway (Live Woodstock Session)
The Kooks – Konk
Luke Pritchard and the boys are back for a second album. Well, that means we get another summer of The Kooks being played on the radio and another summer of trying to avoid them. To be fair to the band a few of the songs on the bands first album did have appeal but this record sets a new standard for bad music. This record really sets new lows for everything. Just listen to “Do You Wanna?” and try to argue with me here.
The album starts off with “See The Sun” and the song never really goes anywhere as Luke Pritchard sings a tune about the sun falling or something. “Always Where I Need To Be” is the albums first single. The track slides in and is one of the few songs on the album that you can stomach. The hook is slightly catchy and it gives you something to song-a-long with. “Shine On” comes across like the band were trying really hard to write a summer anthem.
There are no surprises here as it is exactly what you would expect. But for me it is an album that has no return listen and the songs are just really boring, dull and tuneless.
By John Siwicki
The Kooks – Always Where I Need To Be
I like to think I can be forgiving and understanding and trying to find the good in all things. The first new single from The Kooks second album is just pure rubbish. The Kooks always come across as the pop kids who wanted to be cool and sound indie so they made their album “raw.” At least on the first album they had a few catchy tunes. The hook is really weak and so generic and even the one thing that made The Kooks noticeable has been voided out. Luke Pritchard’s vocal is what made them stick out a bit but he sounds so mundane and lazy here. The song sounds so perfectly crisp and well produced but when you want to listen to The Feeling over this you know there is a huge problem. I don’t even think I can force myself to listen to the bands new album as this single is just that bad.
By John Siwicki