Konk

---

---

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

---

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-06-30 rating:
Real hit and miss stuff.
The kooks' second album was always going to be extremely difficult. The task in hand was to prove the critics wrong, maybe do something a bit different so as not to be labelled 1-trick ponies, and most importantly to keep the massive fan base which they had built on the back of their debut 'inside in/inside out'. Whether they have achieved any of these is debatable.

The album starts out in promising fashion with the two guitars being used in `see the sun' infusing together to make a catchy, instantly lovable pop-rock track which forces you to come back for another listen. This trend continues with the catchy lead single `Always where I need to be' which has you singing "do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do, do-do' in the irritatingly catchy chorus. The lyrics are however strange and a bit nonsensical to me. i.e. "I ask to be her hummingbird, whisper words in her ear". I don't know what this is supposed to mean but I'm not going to look into it in too much depth.
The next track `Mr Maker' is completely different being a lot mellower and subtler than the two opening tracks. It is one of the better tracks on the album, not being so brash and in your face and but will still have you singing along.
In all honesty the album goes downhill from this point on starting with the downright bland and forgettable `Do you wanna' which will bore you after a couple of listens. The next track `Gap' sees Pritchard and co trying too hard to connect with their critics and come across as not being pretentious glory hunters ("Don't heap this praise on me, I know I don't deserve it" he drones in the dire chorus).
The next few tracks do bring back some rays of sunshine to a sky appearing ever cloudier. `Love it all' is a laid back ditty, which will have you singing the chorus for several hours afterwards. `Stormy weather' brings flashbacks of the foot stomping, likeable indie rock, which made millions fall in love with their debut.
The next couple of tracks- `Sway' and `Shine on' are miserable pieces of work; instantly forgettable. I still question why the latter was chosen as the 2nd single as it is one of the weaker tracks on the album.
`Down to the market' is a half-decent track, but comes across as a lazy attempt as it is so samey and has no features that distinguish it from the other tracks.
`One last time' simply doesn't work. In his vocal work, he is trying too hard to make it appear that he is not trying hard. The flaws continue with the (supposedly) final track `Tick of time'. The sound quality is very poor (whether it's supposed to be or not, I'm not sure).
There is a hidden track called `All over town'. I'm not going to go in depth with it but let's just say it is hidden for a reason!

Overall, there are some catchy tracks, but too many mediocre ones to give the album any more than 3 stars. Who knows, maybe the ones I don't like will grow on me. I'll give them a chance.

---

review by: date: 2008-06-09 rating:
This is basic pop music, nothing more nothing less
The Kooks can certainly churn out a radio friendly pop tune, but they're really a singles band not an album band. The album gets a bit boring after a while, there's not much depth to it. The musicians sound energetic and the singer delivers his tunes very well, although the lyrics aren't the most intelligent to say the least. All in all a decent pop record but not a classic.

---

review by: musiclover date: 2008-06-07 rating:
Perfect Summer pop!
Whilst perhaps not as full of immediately infectious tunes as "Inside In/Inside Out", this is nevertheless a gorgeous album of pop with a "summer feel". The music is bouncy, happy and makes you smile - it is just the perfect antidote for the blues.

Once again the guitar playing is superb and the lyrics are excellent.

If you liked "Inside In/Inside Out" then you won't be disappointed by "Konk" - wonderful!

---

review by: date: 2008-05-24 rating:
Konked out of ideas! HAHA!+Indies dead
Well, well, well! How nice it is to see that these have finally been exposed for the third rate Indie band that they really are! Lets face it they've made enough money for their record company. So why does `konk' need to be pushed? Hence why it's flopped! The kooks have been left out to hang, I feel sorry for the lads, and they probably believed their own hype. I hated their first effort, but I gave this a listen!
Lyrical content is just so band, its like listening to lyrics of a 13 year old, Mr Maker is not fit to be a Menswear b-side. There's no intelligence in the song structures. It plods along, plods along, and plods along. Stormy weather? Down to the market??? Give us a break Mr Pritchard.
Well just like the Darkness, Kaiser Chiefs, Fratellis and Pigeon Detectives novelty factor has worn off and ITS BEEN EXPOSED!!!!



review by: simplygregguk date: 2008-05-10 rating:
3.5 would be fairer
The album Konk is quite similar to the first album 'Inside In/Inside Out' but lacks the catalogue of summer singles to match its predecessor. The album starts off well with the brilliantly catchy 'See The Sun.' It is followed by first single 'Always Where I Need To Be' which is a great first single, proving the band can still write some quick, catchy singles. Following song 'Mr Maker' is good but not great, it is a summery song but never quite lives up to anything on the first album in my opinion. Next up is the rawer sounding 'Do You Wanna' which catches the Kooks in great form. It has a great guitar riff and is perhaps a future single. 'Gap' follows which is a poor song by their standards, it is quite bluesy but never quite gets going and drags on. The song 'Love It All' starts well but its Beatlesesque chorus is cringey and just makes you want to skip it. 'Stormy Weather' starts off with a great bass line and continues until the chorus where it is just as strong, a good song! Then comes 'Sway' which is the new Naive for this album. It is an anthem and will be a sure hit should they release it. 'Shine On' then drops the form and although it has an uplifting chorus it is a B side at best.
'Down To The Market' starts off similarly to previous song 'See The World' but doesn't have its raw edge which lets it down, it is still a good listen though. 'One Last Time' is the last highlight of the album and is great acoustic sing-a-long, much like 'Seaside' from the previous album. 'Tick of Time' finishes the album with a jam start and it is poor, it feels so staged that you want to turn it off. Once the song gets properly under way it is a good foot tapping song, but no more.

A good album but it is let down by some poor songs but when they hit their peek they make some great songs.

---

Similar products

The Age Of The Understatement [Digipack]
The Wombats Proudly Present... A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation
Here We Stand
Emergency
St Jude

---

Similar categories

Music . Styles . Indie . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Rock . Indie Rock & Punk . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Pop
Music . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . CD . CD Album

---