Silly Fun

New album from The Kooks hits stores in North America today. It's called "Konk," and if you're a fan of the band this thing should satisfy quite nicely. In a most basic sense, this album feels exactly like a continuation of their debut, "Inside In/Inside Out." Again, if you liked that, you'll like this equally as much, if not more.

For those who didn't like that first Kooks album...you're not going to start liking this band now. The same problems you had before haven't gone away, though the songs are slightly catchier and more fun than they were that first time. So maybe you just want to take a short test drive to see if the music satisfies.

Now then, for those who have never heard The Kooks before and are now curious, let me enlighten you. They're a band from England. They're youngsters who apparently owe a big debt of gratitude to several 80s pop/rock bands. Yet they're clearly a band of today, akin in many ways to their peers in Arctic Monkeys and even The Thrills occasionally. Yet The Kooks aren't nearly as original or even good as their contemporaries. Yet in America The Kooks have made the most headway, garnering a solid amount of radio play with their song "She Moves In Her Own Way." I chalk their success up to their general ability to craft an extremely catchy song, combined with the general foolishness of modern rock radio.

For the record, I don't think The Kooks are terrible. Unoriginal, yes, but if you're not expecting a revelation you'll be pleasantly surprised. The songs are so catchy it's really challenging not to like them at first glance, because after all they're harmless enough. There's also something of a fresh youthful exuberance in this music that puts you in a generally good mood. I look at The Kooks in a similar fashion to (the band now formerly known as) Matt Pond PA, in that they're critically reviled in many senses but lots of people still seem to love them. I'm sort of indifferent, really. When I think great music, I don't think of The Kooks, but when I'm in a good mood and not really paying attention to what I'm hearing, they serve as a very pleasant distraction. They're good for something, and their second album, "Konk," which is better than their first, maintains that idea. Get it if you like them, don't get it if you dislike them, and try 'em out if you've never heard 'em. Simple, right? Just like The Kooks' music.

The Kooks- Down to the Market

Buy "Konk" from Amazon

Labels: the kooks