Konk

The Kooks

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 2008)
• Original Release Date: April 15, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B0010YOJNO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,772 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk
Konk, the second album from indie pop starlets The Kooks, will appeal to those who enjoyed the catchier, hookier elements of their best-selling debut Inside In/Inside Out. For the band are more "pop" than "indie" this time around, and Konk is an overt attempt at winning even more chart-topping kudos: and it's not a bad attempt at that. Recorded over a six-week period at the end of 2007 (in Ray Davies' Konk Studios in London), the album's first single "Always Where I Need to Be" is as insouciantly catchy as a contemporary rock band can get, while tracks like opener "See the Sun," and "Mr. Maker", with its infectious hand claps, are equally accessible. There's tougher fare like "Sway", which show the boys can blast it when they want, but the album generally plays it safe, grappling (clumsily in places) with themes of love and sex, and revealing not a great deal of musical or lyrical depth in the process (see "Do You Wanna"). The album runs out of steam towards the end, and though fans of their earlier material will love it, fussier indie fans will probably point their ears towards something less contrived. --Danny McKenna

Product Description
‘Konk’ was recorded over a six week period at the tail-end of 2007 in Ray Davies’ Konk Studios in north London, plus a week at Los Angeles’ Sound Factory. The sessions once again united the group with esteemed producer Tony Hoffer (Beck/Air/The Fratellis). Explaining how he came to suggest the album title, guitarist Hugh says, ‘I just started thinking how cool the studio is, and how much of a part of our sound it is.’

‘Konk’ features twelve tracks. There’s ‘Gap’ which is classic Kooks, and ‘Shine On’ which finds Luke exploring hitherto unchartered lyrical territory over the loveliest of melodies. It’s destined to become another lynchpin in The Kooks’ live set. First single ‘Always Where I Need To Be’ is a tumbling rocker with a ‘do-do-do, do-do-do-do’ refrain that might just be the catchiest thing they’ve ever done. ‘Sway’ and ‘Mr Maker’ are other album highlights.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable., November 22, 2008

By	write2me (New York) - See all my reviews

Brighton's Kooks sneakily sold two million copies of their debut album, "Inside In/Inside Out".

Their breezy indie pop was an unchallenging pleasure, but it was obvious they wished to be taken more seriously.

Their solution here is to keep the tunes and beef up the electric guitars, which works fine on "Down to the Marke"t and the energetic single "Always Where I Need to Be", though Luke Pritchard's smooth voice frequently strains towards aggression and falls short.

Simplistic lyrics (he endlessly asks, "Do you wanna make love to me?" on Do "You Wanna", and even sings the alphabet on "One Last Time") fail to give the depth the band strive for. They're still catchy, but greater significance eludes them.

Whatever you thought of their first album, "Inside In/Inside Out", prepare to think the same of "Konk".

If you liked it, this is as cute, chirpy and unpretentious; if you didn't, this is as bland, repetitive and unoriginal.

They haven't changed a bit.

"See the Sun" (fast indie-lite jangle) and "Sway" (slow indie-lite jangle) are the likeliest hits.

The good thing about the Kooks is they try to make each song catchy enough to be a single.

..."Konk" is not without its accomplishments, but it lacks the drive and far more importantly, the anthemic qualities of their debut.

It's too early to count them out, but they'll need to try harder with album number three".BBC

Inside In/Inside Out
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best modern rock album of 08, January 7, 2009

By	Finale (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This album is phenomenal. The Kooks have spunk and raunchiness that is seldom heard in rock today. It's a throwback to the early sounds of the Kinks, The Beatles, and The Who, with a modern twist. The guitars are raw, the songs are catchy, and you can't resist tapping your foot or dancing uncontrollably.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No Sophmore Slump!, April 15, 2008

By	S. Holland "Nyolls" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Kooks have delivered a great follow up to their impressive debut Inside In/Inside Out. Named after and recorded at the famous studio owned by The Kinks' Ray Davies, they don't re-invent the wheel or try to go for a completely different sound, and it paid off in spades. I have listened to the album about 5 times all the way through and it keeps getting better. The immediate stand outs are: Always Where I Need To Be, Mr. Maker, Do You Wanna, and Sway. These are the songs that will either be singles (always where i need to be already is), or fan favorites. The 2nd tier of songs are: See The Sun, Gap, Love it All, and Tick of Time. These are the songs that are somewhat forgettable the first time through, and then grow on you the more you hear them. There is also a hidden track at the end that is one of the better songs on the album. These guys aren't going to change the world with Konk, but these days, who really is? They write catchy, acoustic driven pop rock songs better than anyone right now and that's what they are all about. With the release of Konk, I hope The Kooks gets more recognition over here in the states than their stellar debut Inside In/Inside Out yielded them. If you loved or liked their first record, go pick this up, listen to it 5 times through, and thank me later. Enjoy.