A little over a year ago, I said the Kooks were alright. That was indeed true of their first album, Inside In/Inside Out. Their second LP, Konk, is not strong. While my last post on the band held there to be nothing wrong with good pop-rock, this new release isn't good. Focusing on the pop, they lose a bit of the rock, and seem to throw away that (post) Brit-pop thing they had going on. Not one track stands out as anything but inane background music for some primetime drama. It's a shame, and a loss to fans of accessible rock. Here's hoping their next effort takes them back to their roots.
The same men who say global warming is a hoax, Obamacare has been failing for eight years, and abstinence-only sex-ed works are also convinced even basic gun control is an impossible and useless approach which would only make us less safe. These are also the dudes most likely to tell you black and brown folk have it too good, Obama is a secret Muslim born in Kenya, and Sharia law is being forced on American legal systems. I wonder if there's some sort of overarching thread or theme to all this.
Give it a second listen. I saw them perform some of their new stuff live this weekend and it was fantastic. I had the same initial reaction when I heard Konk for the first time. Give it a second, third spin etc, and you might find you liked it more than you originally thought. This album in someways is actually more complex than their last. Seeing them preform their old stuff and then some of the newer tracks made that very clear this weekend. That said, a track like shine on is an exception.
ReplyDeleteThe Kooks are definitely still one of the best examples of popular Brit Rock today.
Taken under advisement.
ReplyDelete