Customer Rating:  
Summary: The band comes out with a Kook-y release with Konk
Comment: I am a big fan of the first album, first off, so my review is slightly biased. The album isn't quite as good as the first, but there's something there that makes me like it ...A LOT!
The new album goes a little more electric, making the Kooks stray from the acoustic indie rock that really made them famous on Inside In/Inside Out. ...But don't let that get you down. They definitely make up for it with their great hooks and songwriting abilities. I love their upbeat songs. The stand out songs seem to be Always Where I Need To Be, Mr. Maker, Sway, and Down To The Market.
The bonus disc, entitled RAK, is a great addition, especially for only a couple of bucks more. It has some really good "B-Sides" and demos on it, but the songs didn't go with the actual album (So I guess it's a good thing they didn't include them on there). It showcases some really good stuff.
I hope this review helps. I can't wait to see what they can do with this album when I see them live this summer.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable.
Comment: 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
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