Rating: NNN
It’s hard to fault the impressionable young Luke Pritchard for wanting to emulate his heroes. But the 22-year-old Kooks frontman takes his fanaticism for the Kinks (and “K” words) to the next level on Konk, the group’s second record (named after the studio owned by Ray Davies). And he’s ostensibly sacrificed any strides the group would have made in shaping their own identity.
Konk is front-loaded with its best tracks, like sloppy opener See The Sun, where Pritchard employs his best slurry vocal effect over power pop chords. Throughout, it gets more suspect with rudimentary rocker Mr. Maker and the embarrassing groupie tribute Do You Wanna. Down the stretch, Pritchard allows himself a very slight stray with the acoustic sunrise track Tick Of Time. Still, the Kooks seem unable to get beyond the Brit-rock blueprint.
The Kooks kick it at the Kool Haus June 4.
