I know it's a little unfair to bring a band's private life into an album review; but in this case, lead Kook Luke Pritchard's former romance with Katie Melua is too hilarious to omit. To think that he could have been the muse for 'Nine Million Bicycles'! Guffaw. Joking aside, the young Brighton-based quartet have made a thoroughly enjoyable debut in Inside In/Inside Out. They've borne the tag of 'Supergrass Jr.' since the release of first single Eddie's Gun, and though it's obvious that they borrow heavily from the heady days of Britpop - primarily Blur, The Charlatans (Ooh La) and indeed early Supergrass (See The World) - it would be unfair to dismiss them out of hand or lump them in with the tackiness of bands like Kaiser Chiefs. There are some genuinely brilliant bouncy pop moments here - largely the singles (Sofa Song, the aforementioned Eddie's Gun and latest offering You Don't Love Me), and with most clocking in at under three and a half minutes, they're short, sharp bursts of scuzzy youthful misdemeanours. Not surprising, considering the youngest member is guitarist Hugh Harris, 17. That's not to say that it's an album devoid of duff moments; the terribly-titled Jackie Big Tits and sluggish opener Seaside spring to mind - but The Kooks could have a long and illustrious career ahead of them if they keep churning out quirky little pop ditties and develop their sound further. And if not.. well, 'There are 6 million ladyboys in Bangkok..' does have a certain ring to it.

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