Album Review: Stereophonics, Kind

For the past two decades, Sterephonics have been called everything from Britpop survivors to outdated ’70s throwbacks. Last year, they almost added another description to that list: quitters. After another typically gruelling world tour, main creative force Kelly Jones nearly left the band, believing he had no more to say as frontman for the Stereophonics. Instead he took a break. Turns out, it was exactly what he needed, as new songs started to tumble out.

Kind is the foursome’s rawest collection to date. Recorded in 11 days, their 11th LP shuns bleeding-edge production for a pleasingly prehistoric approach. Indeed, it’s the sound of a veteran band jamming together for the thrill of it. Not everything works – the disco-tinged ‘Bust This Town’ is an odd experiment at best, and ‘Street Of Orange Light’ is dull. But ‘Make Friends With The Morning’ is a swoonsome song Rod Stewart would sell his leopard print posing pouch for, and the waltzing ‘Hungover For You’ might be the best love song Jones has ever written. Otherwise, Kind is patchy.

6/10