KOOKS REVIEW

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Kooks

* Send Kooks Ringtone to your Cell *

Konk Reviews

Overall Rating
6

Konk

2008 | Astralwerks

22 Sources have reviewed this album

9/10

All Music Guide

Source

Everything about this album shouts masterpiece, a set that will thrill listeners for years, nay decades, to come.

8.5/10

Entertainment Weekly

Source

The Kooks manage to capture a bit of their idols' effusive energy.[25 Apr/2 May 2008, p.117]

8/10

The Guardian

Pritchard hits new high notes and rises to the challenge of the vibrant melodies and finely tuned choruses. With guitarist Hugh Harris coming out of the shadows, the Kooks' ambitions look well within their reach.

8/10

PopMatters

Source

In an era of canned angst with all the sentiment of a Hallmark card, the Kooks’ parlay their mixed feelings on a myriad of subjects with a strong sense of sincerity, finding the sunny side to melancholy and frustration or a splinter of wistfulness

8/10

Urb

Source

With positive vibes along the lines of fellow Brits The Kinks, Konk flows cohesively and is easy and pleasant to listen to all the way through (which is very hard to say for most full-lengths in this era of hit singles).

7/10

Billboard

Source

The Kooks aren't exactly redefining the sound of British pop/rock on their sophomore album, but they certainly aren't giving it a bad name either.

6/10

Paste Magazine

Source

Konk is a bit too glossy for its own good, with neatly distorted guitars, swooning multi-tracked harmonies and perfectly manicured choruses working against the energy inherent in the performances.

6/10

Uncut

Source

Two years and two million album sales later- and minus raffish bassist Max Rafferty--their sugar-rush enthusiasm has dissolved almost entirely.

6/10

Spin

Source

Odds are Konk's been-there, done-that sentiments will inspire a Kula Shaker-sized blip. [May 2008, p.100]

6/10

Q Magazine

Source

Konk is the perfect example of the modern indie record: bright, breezy, demanding no great investment from its listeners but enjoyable to jump around to. [May 2008, p.128]

6/10

Dot Music

Source

At times here, The Kooks are far too easily confused with their peers--the Fratellis' riff on 'Stormy Weather' and Arctic Monkeys' intro to 'Down To The Market'--the band struggle to stamp their own identity on proceedings.

6/10

Observer Music Monthly

Source

The follow-up adheres to a winning formula: this is sunny pop in a Sixties vein. But why don't they try something reckless?

6/10

NOW Magazine

Source

The Kooks seem unable to get beyond the Brit-rock blueprint.

6/10

Mojo

Source

Unobtrusive producer Tony Hoffer again extracts clarity while adroitly leaving the sense of a happpy mess. [May 2008 p.112]

6/10

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Source

They're reasonably tight, and each song is just melodic enough to seem catchy until its memory is erased by the next.

5/10

New Musical Express

Source

Konk is the sound of a band in disarray, unsuccessfully attempting to hold things together.

5/10

Under The Radar

Source

The Kooks churn out the occasional winner, but all too often they end up recycling the best bits of better bands. [Spring 2008, p.76]

5/10

Pitchfork

Source

Konk feels like a mere cowardly act, a TPS report from a band that strives to be nothing more than British pop's ultimate company men.

4/10

musicOMH.com

Source

It will no doubt be the soundtrack of the summer for many people, but the lack of originality, warmth and soul may well leave some feeling rather underwhelmed.

4/10

Hot Press

Source

Suddenly sullen Kooks produce a limp effort.

4/10

Prefix Magazine

Source

The Kooks come off like a Ringo to most of Britpop’s Paul.

1/10

Drowned In Sound

Source

These odd moments aside, it’s tempting to suggest that never before have a band--and a band who, let us remember, this writer awarded a generous 8/10 for their summery, tuneful debut--managed to nail mediocrity so definitely between its tired eyes.