British indie-rock group The Kooks have been around for as long as five full-length albums dating back to 2006. Their first album, “Inside In / Inside Out” made a huge mark in the UK charts and eventually, their hit song “Naive” grew popular in the US after being featured in the film “17 Again.” 

The band is led by frontman Luke Pritchard, who is known for his uniquely soulful vocals. Their newest album, “Let’s Go Sunshine” released on August 31 and is complete with 15 tracks. It is said to be heavily influenced by Pritchard’s recent engagement to UK pop singer, Ellie Rose. 

“Fractured and Dazed” paints a picture of commitment in a way that is so intimately fragile and beautiful that I think this one is definitely dedicated to Rose. The lyrics “I’ll never give your love away” are repeated in the chorus.

Songs like “Weight of the World” and “Pressure” also tie into this theme of surrendering all doubt to just love somebody. 

The track “Picture Frame” is definitely one of my top favorite songs by The Kooks. It’s a soft acoustic ballad with the most romantic story line. I found myself captivated by the lyrics “And I looked at the sky to worship the ground/And you never asked for nothing at all/ But you asked me to come in from the cold.” 

“Chicken Bone” and “Honey Bee” are so much fun to listen to because they both have upbeat tempos and playful lyrics.

“All the Time” and “Kids” seem to step away from that typical raw sound The Kooks are known for in their older albums. They feel a bit electric and modern, like if you took one of their older songs and hooked it up to a defibrillator— and I definitely don’t mean that in a bad way. It seems like they are trying to keep their music up to date and they managed to do it in a way that still fits their profile, so those fans who stuck around won’t feel alienated. 

As a British music lover, I have to admit how much I just love “Pamela” and “Tesco Disco” for being so unapologetically British. I love the way “Pamela” describes earl gray and lemons in the morning and the use of slang in the lyrics, “Can you lend your ears about my mate Pamela/ So naughty but she loves her fella.” As for “Tesco Disco,” that is pretty much self explanatory—I mean, come on, read the title. 

This album is just too good to deserve anything other than 5 out of 5 stars. It’s like The Kooks have mastered their sound and just know what works for them. I guess you could also say I’m a sucker for some good lyrics, and they just never disappoint. 

Rating: 5/5 stars