Fans of previous Kooks albums, beware––this record is not the vintage, 60s-meets-90s British rock that would be welcome in a dingy London nightclub in either decade. Lacking their usual unified sound, Listen unsuccessfully meanders between funk and classic Brit rock.
Though occasionally revealing glimpses of the band’s battle-hardened sound, the album is wracked by a hit-and-miss tracklist that has just as many forgettable duds as it does foot-tapping anthems.
Listen’s first notable track is “See Me Now,” a heartfelt memento to a father who passed away too early. The track’s initial Hallmark-esque banality soon wears away to reveal an honest testament to the bond between father and son. Jolting the listener from their somber reflection, the melancholy track is followed by “It Was London,” an incongruous foray into protest rock. The track seems to be a 21st century redux of “The Guns of Brixton,” The Clash’s timeless call to arms against police brutality. Though the jarring juxtaposition takes away from both songs’ impact, they are solid tracks when viewed independently of one another.
The album’s pre-released single “Down” was portentous of the mediocrity to follow. Monotonous lyrics, an unnecessarily long chorus, and an irritatingly persistent drumbeat combine to create one of those songs you hate to have stuck in your head.
Experimenting with a new sound is undoubtedly necessary for the development of any band. However, The Kooks tried to fit too much variation into Listen, causing the quality of the album to suffer as a result of this overactive experimentation.
Despite its lack of cohesion, Listen is not completely unsuccessful, and even offers isolated moments of musical genius. Give it a listen, but don’t get your hopes up for this latest LP from The Kooks.
Voice’s Choices: “See Me Now”, “It Was London”
