For a band that shot to the top and stayed there, The Kooks have been rather silent; the British rockers haven’t released an album since 2011. But it was worth the wait. Their new EP titled Down, out April 22 on Astralwerks, is everything I hoped for and more.
The first song, “Down,” is a sexy, funky number. Lead singer Luke Pritchard channels his inner sex machine with James Brown vocals over simple riffs and a snare/hi-hat combo as he sings “I’m gonna hit you up, I’m gonna let you down, just to prove a point that you can’t break a man who’s already down.” The song oozes with sex appeal and is an incredibly likable tune.
“Hooray for Henry” is very rock and roll. The melody sticks with you instantly and is peppered with electric guitar licks and echoing vocals that are as reminiscent of British Invasion as they are of punk rock.
The lights lower and the disco ball comes down for “Hold On.” This track is fun, so much fun, plain and simple. “We are the kids of pleasure, we are the dynasty,” they sing and I honestly just want to put on some bell bottoms and dance.
Acoustic guitar drives the melancholy “Melody Maker” to close out the EP, appealing to all the jilted lovers out there and adding a lyrical nod to fellow avant-garde British rockers, Pink Floyd. It’s a mellow tune and a rather nice way to end the EP.
As always, The Kooks’s love of making music is apparent in the new Down EP. But they switch it up and seem to be embracing their early rock and roll and R&B influences to create an incredible EP that reminds us just how awesome the Kooks are. And they haven’t gone anywhere.
5/5
