The Kooks - Be Who You Are

1. Who are The Kooks?

The Kooks are a commercially successful indie pop rock band from Brighton, England. They started in 2004 and put down four long players. Be Who You Are (March'17) is a new single cut from their greatest hits album Best Of... So Far (May'17). 

2. Does Be Who You Are cut the mustard? 

Be Who You Are is a nostalgic reminder of what The Kooks used to do well; mawkish romance juxtaposed by a frisky, laddish, singalong. Nevermind that Be Who You Are has as much substance as cotton candy. With lyrics like, “Be who you are, baby you’re a star,” it's corny and it's supposed to be.

3. Who do The Kooks sound like? 

The Fratellis, Kasabian and Kaiser Chiefs. 

4. What have the rags said about Be Who You Are? 

“A fun, bright cut that is a pleasant blast from the past” – Baeble.

“As loveable as ever; all chanting chorus and feverish hook” – TMRW. 

“Upbeat and emits a positive vibe” – Wavebyte. 

5. Which bands have influenced The Kooks? 

Some of their influences are The Police, The Rolling Stones, Blur, The Strokes and The Libertines. 

6. Why should I listen to Be Who You Are? 

Because you like rollicking indie pop numbers with a little maudlin on the side. Because we all need a little frivolity. 

7. What are The Kooks best songs?

Naive obviously. It was the bands fourth single from their debut album and is The Kooks best selling single to date. Bad Habit from their last album, Listen (2014), is a good 'un and London Town is sound as a pound.

8. Any more words? 

Legs. 

“Never be a slave to your own name”

The Kaiser Chiefs are a successful indie rock band from Leeds, England. They have six albums on their roll of honor. Kaiser Chiefs are similar to Kasabian, The Kooks and Franz Ferdinand. They are influenced by The Clash, Blur and The Kinks. I Predict A Riot (2004) was the second single from Kaiser Chiefs' debut album Employment (2005). The poor bastards peaked early because it remains their best, and most well known, song. Drowned In Sound said this indie rock anthem has “a force not unlike a Boeing 747” that “makes you want to bounce up and down like a nutter.” I Predict A Riot is the musical essence of a horrible fucking menace.

“Girls scrabble around with no clothes on,

To borrow a pound for a condom,

If it wasn’t for chip fat they’d be frozen”