The Kooks
The opener/title track reintroduces us to Luke Pritchard's strange British lilt, but due to the lack of any actual lyrics and an overly cultivated hip-hop rhythm, suddenly it doesn't sound as cute. Meanwhile, Pritchard's chants of “Down, down, diggity” are inexcusably smug. Hold On attempts a sped-up, swanky lounge sound and, although shrill violins are a nice touch, like much of this EP, the track feels soulless, dated and forgettable. Acoustic closer Melody Maker has a rawness to it that's missing from earlier offerings. A more sincere, genuine brand of indie-rock, it leaves the no-longer-relevant quartet mildly redeemed.
