The Kooks have finally taken it upon themselves to reinvent their sound. Their first album was unashamedly fun Britpop, and their second a more advanced but still enjoyable version of that. But their third effort, “Junk of the Heart”, was a boring reiteration of the first two, and it seems the quartet knows it—their fourth installment “Listen” is a noticeable departure from albums past. Elements of funk and Stones-inspired angst litter tracks like “Forgive & Forget” and “It Was London”. The track “Westside” is reminiscent of their first hit “Naive”, but in a self-aware and nostalgic manner that feels earned. Lead single “Down” features surprising R&B inspiration as lead singer Luke Pritchard coos “Down down diggy diggy.” The album as a whole is somewhat clunky as a whole because of the varied style experimentation, but shows a musical evolution that will keep The Kooks on the map.
Grade: B+
Download: “Around Town”
Sounds best when: You’re looking to diversify your playlist.
