The Kooks formed in 2002, and shortly after, they were signed to Virgin Records. In / Inside Out, the band’s 2006 debut, came four years later, with Luke Pritchard, Hugh Harris, Alexis Nunez, and Max Rafferty using the time to work on their live performances and developing their sound. The Arctic Monkeys had released its first LP around the same period, and the comparisons began right away as the groups displayed similarities in their style. Drawing influences from ’60s British pop as well as the likes of The Libertines, Thin Lizzy, and The Police, the Brighton rockers present a catchy 14-tacker that would thrust them into the forefront of the scene at the time, and this is the first time since the initial release the album is repressed on vinyl. Check out “She Moves In Her Own Way,” “Naive,” “Ooh La,” “Sofa Song,” and “See the World.”

• music label: Astralwerks 2006 / 2017

reviewed by nakaveli 08/2017