The Kooks album review published on Fresh Air 29/4/08

The Kooks have been away for two years, touring and ensuring that the follow up to their debut album, Inside Out/ Outside In, is bloody pop-tastic.

The pressure was on the four lads from Brighton as the all-important second album determines their future in the music business. The Killers failed to create a fuss about their debut Hot Fuss and are desperately clutching to their future; as the Red Light Company have just been signed to their record label and are tipped as the new Killers (when they were good). While The Libertines cemented their faces as Rock Legends with their self-titled second album; or maybe it was their notoriety.

After the first few listens to the second album, Konk, it is easy to recognise that not much has changed. There is still a summertime feel to the classic Kooks’ riffs, lyrics about love and loss, and of course Luke Pritchard’s ever-present arrogance that could rival Johnny Borrel.

Yet there is also a more self-conscious element to the album. Luke Pritchard explains his infamous arrogance in the first single from the album Always Where I Need To Be as “I’m a man, and I can be so obscene”. As well as the band’s definite escalation in musical confidence, as extensive touring has obviously shaped their skill to the point where you could say that they are experienced musicians.

Pritchard’s vocals match the intensity of the lead guitar, yet lazy lyrics such as Pritchard’s recital of the alphabet in One Last Time really let down his overall performance.

The Kooks have obviously been listening to their contemporaries during the making of this album. Influences derive from other pop acts such as The Wombats. As well as heavier influences from the likes of Muse and The Libertines on killer tracks Stormy Weather and Sway. The Kooks have attempted a Glam-Rock innovation to their acoustic summertime twang. Yet the album ends with a classic Kooks’ reggae-style track, Tick of Time, which is slightly too reminiscent of Time Awaits from their debut album.

Overall The Kooks have released a mediocre album which is highly similar to their debut album, but just lacks that bang! But they certainly haven’t lost their credibility with Konk as the album has reached number one highlighting their pop-ularity. But I very much doubt that this follow up will provide them with the rock status that their ambition strives for.