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Four albums into their career and it became clear to the Kooks it was time to shake things up. Their third record, 2011's Junk of the Heart, came dangerously close to the middle of the road -- it was excessively polished and reliant on measured pop tunes -- and didn't make anybody's pulse race, so the group decided to take a different tactic on 2014's Listen. Hooking up with Inflo, a British hip-hop producer who makes his big-time debut here, the Kooks definitively take a step toward a fresher, modern music, one that's informed by dance music and rap, not to mention a retro-new wave fetish that's simultaneously old and new. Classicists that they are, the Kooks don't necessarily sound futuristic as they expand their horizons; when they dabble in disco on "Forgive & Forget" they recall not only the future shock of 1980 but also Franz Ferdinand, the single "Down" dilutes and angelicizes Kid Rock's "Batwatdibaba," while "Westside" and "Are We Electric" get slathered in synths straight out of 1982. These rhythmic tracks, which are a far cry from the caution of Junk of the Heart, are paired with limber guitar pop ("It Was London," "Bad Habit") that is firmly within the quartet's wheelhouse. The more familiar sounds are paired with the sturdiest songwriting but what gathers attention here are the tracks furthest afield from the Kooks' traditional pop. Especially after the staid Junk, the deliberate liveliness of Listen is indeed welcome, and sometimes, the results come close to infectious.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Harriot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Harris, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Meshach Broderick, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sharleen Linton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Althea Edwards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Inflo, Producer, Percussion, Synthesizer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - LaDonna Harley Peters, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ezra Tafari, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Olivia Williams, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Naomi Osei, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Emily Holligan, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, Bass Guitar, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Inflo, Producer, Percussion, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Halliday, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dean Josiah Cover, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Harris, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Alexis Nunez, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Inflo, Producer, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Harriot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Meshach Broderick, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sharleen Linton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Althea Edwards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cleo Nikolic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Inflo, Producer, Piano, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - LaDonna Harley Peters, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ezra Tafari, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Olivia Williams, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Naomi Osei, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Emily Holligan, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Carmen Phelan, String Arranger, Viola, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Harris, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Inflo, Producer, Percussion, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Tambourine, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Harriot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Denton, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hugh Harris, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Meshach Broderick, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sharleen Linton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Althea Edwards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Inflo, Producer, Tambourine, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - LaDonna Harley Peters, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ezra Tafari, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Olivia Williams, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Betty Thorpe, Voices, AssociatedPerformer - Naomi Osei, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Emily Holligan, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kate Fletcher, Voices, AssociatedPerformer - Dean Josiah Cover, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Inflo, Producer, Percussion, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dean Josiah Cover, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Inflo, Producer, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Graham Archer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fraser T. Smith, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Alexis Nunez, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Inflo, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Percussion, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Harris, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cleo Nikolic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Inflo, Producer, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cleo Nikolic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Inflo, Producer, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tommy Antonio, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alexis Nunez, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Inflo, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Graham Archer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fraser T. Smith, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Alexis Nunez, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Inflo, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cleo Nikolic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Inflo, Producer, Mixer, Piano, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Fitzmaurice, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Kooks, MainArtist - Luke Pritchard, Producer, Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Darren Heelis, Editor, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Binge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susan Harriot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Denton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Harris, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexis Nunez, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Meshach Broderick, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Joseph Rodgers, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sharleen Linton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Althea Edwards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Inflo, Producer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - LaDonna Harley Peters, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ezra Tafari, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Olivia Williams, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Naomi Osei, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Emily Holligan, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Antonio, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Erica Earl, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kate Fletcher, Voices, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
Four albums into their career and it became clear to the Kooks it was time to shake things up. Their third record, 2011's Junk of the Heart, came dangerously close to the middle of the road -- it was excessively polished and reliant on measured pop tunes -- and didn't make anybody's pulse race, so the group decided to take a different tactic on 2014's Listen. Hooking up with Inflo, a British hip-hop producer who makes his big-time debut here, the Kooks definitively take a step toward a fresher, modern music, one that's informed by dance music and rap, not to mention a retro-new wave fetish that's simultaneously old and new. Classicists that they are, the Kooks don't necessarily sound futuristic as they expand their horizons; when they dabble in disco on "Forgive & Forget" they recall not only the future shock of 1980 but also Franz Ferdinand, the single "Down" dilutes and angelicizes Kid Rock's "Batwatdibaba," while "Westside" and "Are We Electric" get slathered in synths straight out of 1982. These rhythmic tracks, which are a far cry from the caution of Junk of the Heart, are paired with limber guitar pop ("It Was London," "Bad Habit") that is firmly within the quartet's wheelhouse. The more familiar sounds are paired with the sturdiest songwriting but what gathers attention here are the tracks furthest afield from the Kooks' traditional pop. Especially after the staid Junk, the deliberate liveliness of Listen is indeed welcome, and sometimes, the results come close to infectious.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:54:48
- Main artists: The Kooks
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Records Ltd
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2015 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 2015 Virgin Records Limited
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