My friend and former Citizen King manager Jeff Castelaz sent me a copy of the first disc by British rockers The Kooks a couple years ago. Castelaz manages producer Tony Hoffer, who produced the record. I liked it, but I didn't listen to it as much as I probably should have.
Hoffer was also on board for the recording of the follow-up, "Konk" (Astralwerks Records), named for Ray Davies' North London studio where the record was made. I got a copy a couple weeks ago and am completely hooked. It also sent me back to rediscover the first record, "Inside In/Inside Out."
If you can, get the deluxe edition which comes with a nine-track second CD called "Rak," named for the studio in which is was recorded on a day in March.
"Konk" opens with the infectious "See The Sun," which gets an awesome and entirely different alternate treatment on "Rak." "Always Where I Need to Be" is a modern take on the classic Kinks and my son calls it the "doot doot song," because of its Davies-style refrain. "Mr. Maker" is a slice of life song that reminds me of "Smithers-Jones." "Love It All" is pure guitar-fueled, sing-along pop.
If you flip for the deluxe version, in stylin' digipak sleeve, you'll be happy to find that "Rak," which has some alternate versions, also has some other great unheard stuff, too.
The Kooks -- who sold out Chicago's Vic Theater -- come to Turner Hall Ballroom on June 1. We'll talk to the band before then. So, check back for a full interview late in May.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
