The Kooks are back; flaunting their junk for the first time in three years on new LP Junk of the Heart. No strangers to crafting catchy garage-Britpop tunes, “England’s less severe version of the Arctic Monkeys” have returned with a single that exceeds expectations while catering to larger audiences.
The jangle-pop single, “Junk of the Heart (Happy),” boasts a romantic embodiment that just may simply “make you happy.” Written by frontman Luke Pritchard and produced by Tony Hoffer (Phoenix, Beck, Foster the People), the single behaves as an uplifting and prominent mark in contrast to the rest of the band’s work.
Despite a routine pop intro, Junk of the Heart (Happy) takes off into a dream-ridden waltz with a powerful hook. Pitchard shouts, “I wanna make you happy/I wanna make you feel alive,” throughout the chorus, hitting a bit too close to home when he declares, “You’re a lover of the wild and a joker of the heart/But are you mine?” over a slowly decomposing arrangement.
The repetition and obvious lyricism tend to weigh down the track, rendering it stale in places. As “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” tries to propel The Kooks into adulthood, it also dilutes their long-familiar sense of dynamism and unapologetic indiscretion. Previous hits such as “She Moves in Her Own Way” and “Always Where I Need to Be” possess an adolescent tonality that is vibrant in all the right places, boasting thick melodies and exuberant hooks. The Brighton-based quartet may have achieved in undertaking a new pitch, but it seems less captivating.
Regardless, “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” makes for an enticing listen and enjoys the quality standards fans of the Brit post-punk foursome have come to expect. Overall, “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” marks a notable return for everyone’s favorite Brightonites.
