The title-track strikes gold early, its frosty ambiance ushering in an impassioned crescendo. “I want to make you happy,” declares front man Luke Pritchard, a striking simplicity defining his sentiments. The song is an example of super-sweet, indie-rock romanticism executed to a tee. It simultaneously proves the brilliant pinnacle The Kooks seek to surmount as the record progresses.
The band does, on occasion, succeed in reclaiming such quality. How’d You Like That exudes instant-hit-single potential, whereas Time Above The Earth emerges a beautifully orchestrated gem. Meanwhile, Eskimo Kiss provides a late highlight. Beyond these examples, however, Junk Of The Heart‘s material appears bland. There’s nothing inexcusably awful here, but there does exist a whole bunch of songs that fail to stir much excitement.
It’s nice that Junk Of The Heart appears a renewed and separate instance of The Kooks in the context of their past work. That, at least, is commendable. However, in rolling the dice, The Kooks have lost out, presenting a patchy, inconsistent offering. Unfortunately, it takes no time at all to blitz through the record, locate the band’s better moments and comfortably ignore the rest. A pass mark.
Best track: Junk Of The Heart (Happy)
In a word: Patchy
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