“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. The midtempo “See the Sun” doesn’t bring the heat as much as the title implies, but single “Always Where I Need to Be” is the real scorcher, with heavy guitar lines and Luke Pritchard’s boyish yelp carrying the tune. “Do You Wanna,” with the sublimely familiar refrain of “Do you wanna make love to me?,” could be an easy commercial hit. But it’s on tracks like “Gap” and “Tick of Time” where the young foursome earns its stripes, with stripped-down, soulful songs that show off its wit and musicianship. If nothing else, “Konk” is a fantastic primer for the band’s spring U.S. tour. —Katie Hasty”
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