The Kooks - Konk

Konk (2008, Virgin) The Kook's first studio album (second overall album). ***1/2

Konk has better attributes than its predecessor; it's set in the studio, so the sound, production, and overall feel is cleaner than Inside In/Inside Out. That being said, the material isn't as good from start to finish. Granted, Konk is blessed with some amazing tunes, the highlight of the album being "Always Where I Need to Be." In fact, at that point, the album feels like it was a lost Beatles' record. As it goes on, though, the pop hooks become less and less frequent, and the quality of the material slips further and further into generic territory. The first half, though, is extremely entertaining, and it is no doubt that the Kooks can be considered masters of their craft, effortlessly penning songs such as "Shine On" and "Love It All," true pop will-be classics. (Always Where I Need to Be, Love It All, Shine On)