At first Konk didn't seem to have the strength of Inside In/Inside Out which I absolutely loved, but after a few listens I've changed my mind. Whether it's haunting melody of a ballad or a beat that makes you want to jump around, this album is a fantastic follow-up. "Mr. Maker" is my current favorite track, but with songs this good, I'm sure I'll have a new favorite next week.

As with everything else in life its just a matter of opinions either if we like something or not. I only say this after reading the other reviews for this album.
To my the most important thing at the time of rating an album, is that it has to be playable without skipping a song and without bothering the audience, something in which the lows are unnoticed and the highlights are when everybody asks he I like this song! who sings it?

To me this album fits the description nicely, The kooks of course don't have a new sound or something fresh to your ears if you are looking for that you are in the wrong category buddy and you will be better searching for some experimental releases. This albums has a great brit rock/pop sound more of the greatness we are used to and we are looking for. The sound is really good the album has a good mixing and the selection of songs is pretty strong. The last songs in the album are more into a mellow acoustic sound which to me is already a difference from this album compared to others.

My favorite songs are shine on, Mr. maker, Love it all, One last time, Tick of time.

You wont be disappointed.

This was a very disappointing follow up to a great first album. The first 3 songs sounded very good and then the rest really dropped off. They seemed to have lost the punkish energy that Eddie's Song, See The World, and others had. They sounded more like they tried to adjust bad 1970s music to their style. Even the slower songs could not compare to She Moves in Her Own Way from the first album. Maybe they are trying to differentiate themselves more from some of the other good British groups like The View but I think that they went the wrong direction.

The Kooks released a very enticing debut album "Inside In/Inside Out" in 2006 and toured relentlessly. They then took their merry time to conjure up a follow-up release, and here it finally is.

"Konk" (13 tracks, 44 min.) starts off with a rousing "See the Sun", and never lets up after that. The band has clearly matured in comparison to the debut album, and sounds ever tighter and focused. The highlights flow one after the other: "Always Where I Need To Be", the stomping and irresistible sing-alongs like "Do You Wanna" and "Shine On", the slightly reggae-flavored "Cap", the pensive and acoustic guitar driven "Sway" and the excellent official album closer "Tick of Time" (it is followed by an unaccredited track, a simple acoustic guitar song). Wow... there is really no weak track on here, and it flows by in no time... you'll find yourself playing this again and again. "Konk" (named after the studio it was recorded) is one of the biggest surprises for me so far this year, and will surely make my "best of" at the end of the year.

I had the good fortune of catching the Kooks at Coachella last year, when they were still touring behind the debut album, and they put on a tremendous set. Can't wait to see how the songs from "Konk" will resonate in concert. Meanwhile, "Konk" is highly recommended!

The Kooks are a band which I only found about very recently, and so it was only a few weeks after hearing their phenomenal debut that I was able to hear this brand new album as well. Although Konk comes just a bit short of the quality of The Kooks' first album, there are still plenty of catchy tracks and admirably structured melodies not far from the style of Arctic Monkeys (as another reviewer stated) or Kaiser Chiefs. Some songs on the CD have a somewhat classic rock-reminiscent vibe such as the especially memorable "Mr. Maker", while others are simply straightforward, upbeat pieces lovable for their groove and bouncy lyrics which get stuck in your head in a non-irritating fashion (the track "Do You Wanna" is perhaps the most applicable example of this trait). Overall, this CD is a very commendable altrock release and definitely among my favorite discs of the year thus far. I would rate it somewhere in between 4 and 4 1/2 stars, and would recommend to it to fans of the debut as well as altrock or British rock fans in general.

The Kooks have delivered a great follow up to their impressive debut Inside In/Inside Out. Named after and recorded at the famous studio owned by The Kinks' Ray Davies, they don't re-invent the wheel or try to go for a completely different sound, and it paid off in spades. I have listened to the album about 5 times all the way through and it keeps getting better. The immediate stand outs are: Always Where I Need To Be, Mr. Maker, Do You Wanna, and Sway. These are the songs that will either be singles (always where i need to be already is), or fan favorites. The 2nd tier of songs are: See The Sun, Gap, Love it All, and Tick of Time. These are the songs that are somewhat forgettable the first time through, and then grow on you the more you hear them. There is also a hidden track at the end that is one of the better songs on the album. These guys aren't going to change the world with Konk, but these days, who really is? They write catchy, acoustic driven pop rock songs better than anyone right now and that's what they are all about. With the release of Konk, I hope The Kooks gets more recognition over here in the states than their stellar debut Inside In/Inside Out yielded them. If you loved or liked their first record, go pick this up, listen to it 5 times through, and thank me later. Enjoy.

I'm not gonna lie. Everything the Kooks have done has been done before. They take stride from the Strokes, the White Stripes, and the Hives. At best I can say that Luke is a distinctly unique singer with both a soft croon and an annoying yelp for a voice. He also has british written all over him. Some bands, including the Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian, have attacked the Kooks for their fashion sense and sense of success. Kasabian even said they play songs for girls. I can't completely argue, they are soft and sensitive at points, but at others they are angry brit youths. Inside In/Inside Out was a spotty release, with some brilliant moments and others forgettable. This can be the same, with Konk losing steam at the end, but over half the album is quite impressive. mr. Maker and Gap are the most impressive moments in my mind, but nobody can deny the talent lying behind the Kooks. They won't change the world as the Strokes have just yet, but they are brimming with potential. And they really are quite catchy. And that's good enough for now.