Released September 12, 2011
The Kooks’ third album, Junk of the Heart, draws its sounds from the British pop-rock bands of the ‘90s. With the majority of the album characterised by clean guitars and vocals, both of which are driven by simplistic yet catchy hooks, the influence of groups such as Blur, Pulp, and Oasis is evident. However, what keeps this album from being dismissed as a mere knockoff is how The Kooks are able to collect the features of Britpop while putting a more gentle, updated spin on it. That isn’t to say that this album is an enjoyable or memorable one. On this release, The Kooks have once again failed to distinguish themselves from many of their predecessors from the mid 2000s, such as The Strokes or Franz Ferdinand, who established similar but more ambitious sounds before them. Junk of the Heart is an album that you’ve heard before, even if you haven’t listened to it.
