The Kooks rocks out with its ‘Konk’ out
The Drop music blog
By Courtney Baldasare, Staff Writer
April 21, 2008 | noon
It is quite arguable that indie rock is rapidly becoming the newest adored music genre of the current generation. But is there something so wrong with that? Indie rock is chock full of adorable, sensitive, trendy boys and girls who create catchy tunes that keep your foot a-tappin’ all day long– and no, I'm not talking about the Jonas Brothers. As a self-admitted indie rock afficionada, I have to say that I harbor a pretty soft little spot in my heart for those obscure bands, with those obscure voices, that mingle ever so sweetly with those obscure guitar riffs.
I’m naturally inclined to appreciate and to take great pleasure in the majority of indie rock tunes. However, as a pretty big fan of The Kooks, after falling in love with the band's first and only other album, Inside In/Inside Out, I could very easily be utterly disappointed in its newly released album, Konk, which debuted April 15 in the United States.
After listening to this album track-by-track (while possibly dancing around my room, as I possibly pretend that I am strolling the streets of Brighton, UK with each one of the four Brit wonders), I can safely say that I am not utterly disappointed. In fact, I’m not disappointed at all.
I’m certainly not saying that the album is incendiary (insert giggle evoked by witty pop culture reference here) by any means. It is not going to start any musical revolutions, drastically change any lives or get people to name their future children “Konk” (and thank goodness for that). But it actually lives up to the standards that constitute a pretty good, entertaining, poppy album that people will definitely enjoy hearing.
With the immediate, immense success of 2006’s Inside In/Inside Out, of course, The Kooks was expected to have its second album at least resemble the first. The sound and style itself is very similar to that of Inside In/Inside Out. It carries the same sort of bold, heavily accented vocals accompanied by strong, consistent percussion and heavy guitar with several excellent solos. Even still, each track is just as catchy as the next. The band shows off its ability to play every type of song from the slower, more mellow “All Over Town” to the soon-to-be dance party favorite and single “Always Where I Need To Be” to the sixties-type, beat-filled “Tick Of Time.”
In this new wave of British pop-rock craze, The Kooks are surely making a great name for themselves as a standout among the vast scene. While I wouldn’t exactly call the new craze British Invasion Part Two, the (guitar) fret-some foursome is selling out not only in the United Kingdom but also in venues here in the United States, as well as various other international cities.
With lyrics like, “Say whatever you have to say/I'll stand by you/Be whoever you have to be/I won't judge you/ And I, and I need your heart/because you’re always in the right places,” it is nearly impossible not to love the adorable quartet. But enough swooning.
The album is a praiseworthy piece that I, sure as the sun, will be playing on repeat as my official summer record. It’s worth the purchase and definitely worth a listen as The Kooks kicks out yet another decent album with shiny leather ankle boots. So, um, what are the chances they’d come to Athens? For now, I’ll keep on dreamin’… while listening to Konk, of course.
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