PHOTOS
Mike Evans
THE KOOKS - Konk
THE GOOD: Britpop boys
The Kooks are back with a snappy sophomore effort,
Konk.
THE BAD: Those looking for innovation can keep right on searching.
Konk is a cruising-with-the-top-down record - brimming with catchy melodies sailing over rock solid backbeats. Is that bad? I don't think so.
THE NITTY GRITTY: On 2006's
Inside In/Inside Out, frontman
Luke Pritchard and the guys gave us succinct blasts of pure guitar pop - instant gratification that felt spontaneous at times, calculated at others.
Konk is more of the same - tunes that may not be incredibly memorable, but sure do make you smile as they travel through the gray matter.
Highlights include the blue-collar charm of the bouncy
Kinks-like "Mr. Maker." "Gap" feels a bit more fragile, but still cooks as its delicate melody builds to a rousing climax.
The breezy "Shine On" is pure sunlight, a sauntering track colored by bits of mellotron and playful sha-la-las. Even the ragged "Tick Of Time" draws us in with its shuffling acoustic guitars, simple stomp and tossed-off harmonies.
BUY IT?: Sure! Every now and then, you need a little harmless rock 'n' roll fun.
ELBOW - The Seldom Seen Kid
THE GOOD: Manchester, England's
Elbow comes back with another sweeping, intelligent set of ambitious Britpop. Kid finds the group taking their tunes to new heights.
THE BAD: Not necessarily "bad," but make sure you have a good uninterrupted hour to take
Kid in. There are many individual gems here, but the band's fourth effort works best as a cohesive whole.
THE NITTY GRITTY: Kid is big on epic pieces and slowly building drama - charismatic lead vocalist
Guy Garvey and
Elbow being one of the few bands that can actually pull off this bombast without sounding pretentious. The disc is captivating right from the opening strains of "Starlings," a song of contrasts where gentle melodies clash with bold horn bursts.
From there it's on to the stunning and shimmering "The Bones Of You," the slick and sly "An Audience With The Pope," and the climactic "One Day Like This" with its rousing chorus. Listen for
Richard Hawley popping by for a guest appearance on the swirling "The Fix," a wild yet delicate piece with a somewhat foreboding carnival atmosphere.
BUY IT?: Yes! Great "albums" still do exist. Here's another fine example of one.
THE LONG BLONDES - Couples
THE GOOD: Sheffield, England's
Long Blondes completely obliterate the threat of the sophomore slump with the super-cool
Couples.
THE BAD: Not a damn thing!
THE NITTY GRITTY: If it seems like
Couples is coming out rather quickly, that's because the band's debut
Someone To Drive You Home was delayed in this country, and didn't see a release until less than a year ago. But now it's time for another superb collection of beat-heavy Britpop.
Try to imagine
St. Etienne smashing head-on into
Blondie while
Elastica's first album plays in the distance. Some of the melodies on top may be fragile, but the rhythm section underneath is lethal. Just see if you can sit still once the disco kick of "Guilt" hits you full force - and if the beat doesn't grab you, the ascending chorus will.
Other highlights include the fierce stomper "Here Comes The Serious Bit," where handclaps and harmonies blend perfectly. "Nostalgia" is warmer and gentler - its
Pulp-like melody simple, but cinematic. "Going To Hell" brings
Couples to a rousing infectious climax leaving us winded, and begging for more.
BUY IT?: Yes!
Couples never lets up!
THIS WEEKEND'S NEW RELEASES - CD
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE -
Narrow Stairs
DUFFY -
Rockferry
OLD 97'S -
Blame It On Gravity
THIS WEEKEND'S NEW RELEASES - DVD
THE GREAT DEBATERS with
Denzel Washington
MAD MONEY with
Diane Keaton and
Katie Holmes
UNTRACEABLE with
Diane Lane