When we first came out it was a cool time, with the Kaisers, Arctics and Bloc Party on the same circuit. I don’t think many people would place us with those acts, but at the time I really felt part of that whole movement.”

It’s funny what’s followed. Bands like The Pigeon Detectives took what was there and slightly diluted it.

You’re right, Luke, the Kooks aren’t fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as the Kaiser Chiefs or the Arctic Monkeys! If anything, we’d class the Kooks in the same category of bland Indie bleh as The Pigeon Detectives.

In any musical movement, you get the trailblazers, the bands that write the anthems and set the scene. With the recent British Indie scene, the Kaisers and Arctics came along and innovated, then A&R departments went nuts signing inferior copycat acts. Let’s not even start talking about the irony that most popular Indie acts these days are signed to major labels!

We’re not disagreeing with Pritchard on anything he’s said, but from our point of view, the Kooks are a part of the problem. Forgettable Indie tunes sung through thick, almost-pretend regional accents. Forgettable bands that have no real identity and all blur into one.

Opinions, anyone?

I like The Kooks, I really do. But do you get the impression that Always Where I Need To Be isn’t quite the stunning leap forward you expect from a band about to release their second album?

After having been fed a diet of She Moves In Her Own Way and Naive, I was kind of expecting a progression of their sound. As far as the single goes, though, Konk (the new album) looks likely to be disappointment.

I can hear so much potential in this song, though. There’s a heavier vibe in the music that shows promise. Well, until Luke Pritchard starts singing over the top of it in his highly affected singing voice and the chorus comes in with those sugary “doo doo doo” bits.

And I get a little bit annoyed that the Kooks (and the dreadful Scouting For Girls) are just pumping out Indified pop music that Radio 1 can lap up to make it look like they’re supporting UK bands. When in actual fact, most of the Indie acts these days are signed to the same big labels that spawn shitty -by-the-numbers pop acts.

Probably the most accurate description I’ve read was John Murphy at musicOMH, who wrote “A potential candidate for most underwhelming comeback of the year.” A good song, but ultimately goes to the same place I can see The Kooks going – nowhere.