The Kinks
albums
I get very tired of everyone saying "next to The Beatles, The Stones, and The Who, the Kinks were next
best." They were just as good as those bands. Very different bands, those four, and all they had in common
really is that they were all British. So what makes the Kinks stand out? A blend of English heritage, mixed with
great melodies and great consistent albums? That was a lot of it, though really when it comes down to it, The
Kinks we're not like everybody else. They tried to sum it all up, the whole experience of life. They rocked as
hard as The Who or The Stones, but had a nostalgic quality to them. Authentic. Words like that define this
band and their sound. At a time when some but few actually did their own thing, singer/songwriter Ray Davies
led the band into a stream of albums that harked back to old morale and days of yore, saying that many of
their generation missed the point. They were a lot like The Who in spirit, but more like the "cool parent" that
would drink with you then the "rebellious youth" that was The Who. The Kinks felt like family, and that sense
helps their relevancy forty years after they began.
Band Members: Dave Davies - Lead Guitar, Vocals
(classic line up) Ray Davies - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Mick Avory - Drums
John Dalton - Bass (Village Green - present)
Peter Quaife - Bass (beginning - Something Else)
Best Album: The Village Green Preservation Society
Biggest Influences: Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley
Note: Pre-1966 Kinks albums are not reviewed here. Why is explained below, in Non Album Thing's.
1966
Face to Face - 6/8
The fourth album by The Kinks tends to get insanely good reviews, and I think much of that fact is
attributed to the fact that it is a transitional album along the lines of The Beatles' Rubber Soul and The
Rolling Stones' Aftermath. Yeah, it is like those albums because it takes the old Kinks of the "You Really got
Me" days and combines it with the new refined old fashion pop of the new sound. The songs in that new vain
are great, such as "Rosie Won't you Please Come Home" and "Sunny Afternoon", which are some of the best
songs the band ever did. But for every good song like "Dandy" and "Too Much on my Mind", there are duds
such as "Session Man", "Little Miss Queen of Darkness", and "I'll Remember You". There are also things that
ruin songs, like the cheesy effects of "Rainy Day in June" and "Party Line", and the already done sound of
"Fancy", "Holiday in Waikiki", and "House in the Country", which while these songs may be good, they are
nothing special. What is neat about this record is that it shows the band changing into something else (haha)
entirely, and one can sense the progress within the whole album, much like those earlier albums I mentioned
it is often compared to. Not to dismiss the band as a whole, but no way is Face to Face as good as Rubber
Soul or Aftermath, and that should be pointed out. What the record is though is a nice glimpse of things to
come, and should be obtained by already established fans of the band. - Trevor e.y.
1.party line- 3
2.rosie wont you please come home- 4
3.dandy- 3
4.too much on my mind- 4
5.session man- 2
6.rainy day in june- 3
7.a house in the country- 3
8.holiday in waikiki- 4
9.most exclusive resedence for sale- 4
10.fancy- 4
11.little miss wqueen of darkness- 2
12.you're lookin fine- 3
13.sunny afternoon- 4
14.i'll remember you- 2
1967
Something Else - 8/8
"Wow" is the first word that enters your brains upon listening to this record. How did the band get so
refined and elegant? This is the album where the band came unto its own "sound", and it is a wonder to hear.
From the first backwards-fuzz count off of "David Watts", all of the effects and echoes added to songs on this
record help the songs, and don't deter from it. Where to start? Hmmm, well...... the classics of the album are
"Waterloo Sunset" and "David Watts", the opener and the closer. Both of these songs are examples of the
classy and classic sound of the band. Like any great album though, there are many great tunes to be heard
on here. The three song stretch of "Harry Rag", "Tin Soldier Man", and "Situation Vacant" pretty much
redefines the whole attitude of the band, and is a rocking joy to behold. Yes, on these songs, the band
actually rocks, but not in the vein of "You Really got Me" of old, in some new but familiar fashion. There is so
much innovation in the songs on here that it is almost impossible to talk about without listening to it at the
same part: That part in "Situation Vacant" with that guitar part! Oh! Those harmonies on "Afternoon Tea"!
Yeah man! No, wait! I've got it! Where it stops except for vocals in "Tin Soldier Man!" Creeeepy "Funny Face"
that is somehow spooky while being extremely happy at the same time! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! You get
the picture. It should be mentioned that Dave Davies, singer and bro of Ray, wrote quite a many of these
songs also (look them up yourself lazy!) and this helps it be one of the band's more varied records to date.
The underrated "Two Sisters" is my favorite Kinks song, and maybe one of their most unknown. "She was so
jealous of her sister/she'd throw away her dirty dishes just to be free again" but then "she saw her little
children/ and then decided she was better off/ then the wayward mess that her sister had been/ no longer
jealous of her sister." Magnificent lyrics, but also just amazing music to enjoy (it took me a while to also
appreciate the lyrics, my mother pointed them out to me though. Mothers are good for such things.) Except
for "Lazy Old Sun", no song on here is not well thought out and a constant joy to hear. If you are a fan of pop
music and complex melodies, see what you think of this record. Its one of the best. - Trevor e.y.
1.david watts- 4
2.death of a clown- 4
3.two sisters- 4*
4.no return- 3
5.harry rag- 4
6.tin soldier man- 4
7.situation vacant- 4
8.love me till the sun shines- 3
9.lazy old sun- 2
10.afternoon tea- 4
11.funny face- 4
12.end of a season- 4
13.waterloo sunset- 4
1968
The Village Green Preservation Society - 9/8
Something Else was a great album of old fashion pop songs, and even if The Kinks had never improved
on it, the album would still be well known today. The band pressed on however, taking the lessons of
Something Else and going even further, into a full fledged "concept" album about old fashioned English
countryside life. There is not a connecting story here, but rather just a unifying theme. The songs that
communicate this idea best are the fond memories found in "Do you Remember Walter", "Sitting by the
Riverside", "Village Green", and "Picture Book". These songs not only paint vivid portrayals of the good ol'
days, but also rock your pants off at the same time! That is truly the miracle of Village Green Preservation
Society, it is pop music that is very accessible, but at the same time it is challenging, intricate, and a supreme
statement of what a great album can be. Some songs are nothing but pure fun, like "All of my Friends Were
There", "Monica" and "Starstruck", and some are profound while being easy to listen to, like "Animal Farm",
the closer "People take Pictures of each Other", and my personal favorite, the religion challenging "Big Sky".
That song in itself never gets old, and asks many 'why are we here' kinds of questions. The only songs that
don't seem to fit are "Phenomenal Cat" and "Last of the Steam Powered Trains", and its not that those are
BAD songs, they just pale in comparison to the quality of the thirteen other songs here. But hey, everyone
has their favorites, and on the bands best record, there are many to choose from. This is the album that
every band wishes they could have made. - Trevor e.y.
1.the village green preservation society- 4
2.do you remeber walter- 4
3.picture book- 4
4.johnny thunder- 4
5.last of the steam powered trains- 3
6.big sky- 4*
7.sitting by the riverside- 4
8.animal farm- 4
9.village green- 4
10.starstruck- 4
11.phenomenal cat- 3
12.all of my freinds were there- 4
13.wicked annabella- 4
14.monica- 4
15.people take pictures of each other- 4
1969
Arthur (or the Decline and
Fall of the British Empire) - 8/8
This is the concept album by which all others are judged by, and the best anyone has done to this date
(2006). Just look:
"Victoria" - long ago, this soldier guy fought for his queen, Victoria, and was proud to do so
"Yes Sir, No Sir" - hardships of the army, corrupt army officials
"Some Mother's Son" - every soldier is some ones child, the heartache of seeing a friend die
"Drivin' "- people try to cheer you up and make you forget that silly war
"Brainwashed" - did the army train to me be nothing but a killer? Can you ever be any thing else?
"Australia" - goes away to get away from it all in another country, pulled by advertisements
"Shangri La" - critical that other lives in a state of naive bliss
"Mr. Churchill Says" - sees another war happening, and the futility of it all
"She Bought a Hat Like Princess Maria"- some people believe in outside appearances
"Young and Innocent Days" - reflects to the way children think
"Nothing to Say" - son looks at father, doesn't realize he is like all the others
"Arthur" - party for dad, forget all your worries old man (maybe his funeral?). They think they understand him.
Yeah right, what fools.
The concept is easy to understand and clear, but also manipulative enough so you can get out of it what you
want (hence, my interpretation is not definitive). The songs are enjoyable and great all the way through,
though "Austrailia" and "She Bought a Hat like Princess Maria" are noticeably not as interesting musically.
The message is actually pretty bleak, though the music sounds happy as a circus. Arthur way not have been
the first concept record, but it is the easiest to understand and enjoy, as well as one of the band's most
rocking and complex. Outstanding songs include the diverse "Shangri La", demented and pounding
"Brainwashed", and the structure shifting "Yes Sir, No Sir". Drumming is outstanding, thanks to Mick Avory.
This an enjoyable album, but also very critical and demented. Amazing music though, and it ends the sixties
on a great note. - Trevor e.y.
1.victoria- 4
2.yes sir, no sir- 4*
3.some mother's son- 4
4.drivin'- 4
5.brainwashed- 4
6.australia- 3
7.shangri la- 4
8.mr. churchill says- 4
9.she bought a hat like princess maria- 3
10.young and innocent days- 4
11.nothing to say- 4
12.arthur- 4
Note: Yes, this is only a review of the band and their 1960's output. They made many more albums, into the
1990's, but nothing I have heard from those are extremely mind blowing, so there are other things I would
rather review first. Someday I will probably get all of their stuff, but not today. If it means anything, what I
heard off of State of Confusion and Word of Mouth is good (80's stuff) and I know for a fact that Lola and
Muswell Hillbillies are great.
Non Album Things
1988
Greatest Hits Vol. 1 - 7/8
Instead of getting any of the first three kinks albums, I got this. This is about all I need of that era. Kinks,
Kinda Kinks, and Kinks Kontroversy were the first three records by the band (pretty much, American versions
be damned), and this collects all of the singles and b-sides from that time period (1964-1966), hence "Sunny
Afternoon" being on here, an early single from their fourth record Face to Face. Whew, ok. These songs are
the bands most well known, especially since the band could not tour in America in their prime (1966-1969)
because Ray and Davies fought all the time ON STAGE. Oh well, now we know better. Early Kinks is still very
interesting for a pre-album kind of mindset world, coming off with some great singles and some decent
b-sides. All is visible below, so I won't go into great detail here, except to say that "I'm Not Like Everybody
Else" is the most outstanding b-side by far, and it ranks with greats like "All Day and all of the Night", "You
Really got Me", "Well Respected Man", "Till the End of the Day" and "Dedicated Flower of Fashion". Now, if
you love every song on here, you might like the first three records, though I am positive they are inconsistent,
which is why I find this collection of tracks essential. - Trevor e.y.
1.you really got me- 4
2.all day and all of the night- 4
3.set me free- 4
4.who'll be the next in line- 3
5.come on now- 2
6.everybody's gonna be happy- 2
7.i need you- 3
8.till the end of the day- 4*
9.tired of waiting for you- 4
10.well respected man- 4
11.you do something to me- 3
12.you still want me- 3
13.stop your sobbing- 3
14.something better beginning- 3
15.dedicated flower of fashion- 4
16.i'm not like everybody else- 4
17.where have all the good times gone- 3
18.sunny afternoon- 4
1972
Kink Kronikles - 8/8
This is an odd collection, but it proves an album oriented mindset can work. This double record is half
album tracks and half unreleased material from 1966-1970. This stuff is unbelievably good, even the
unreleased stuff. I obtained this after I had most of those records, but now I can't imagine my image of the
band now with out the great rock of "King Kong", the piano driven "Susannah's Still Alive", the soul searching
"Days", "God's Children", and the punky "Deadend Street" and "Autumn Almanac". This is one of the few
b-side collections that is worth the effort to get, and proves the band was among the best of its time. In fact, I
can't believe that anyone hearing this would not become a rabid fan of every Kinklike (in their prime). - Trevor
e.y.
1.victoria- 4
2.village green preservation society- 4
3.berkeley mews- 3
4.holiday in waikiki- 4
5.willesden green- 2
6.this is where i belong- 2
7.waterloo sunset- 4
8.david watts- 4
9.deadend street- 4
10.shang ri la- 4
11.autumn almanac- 4
12.sunny afternoon- 4
13.get back in line- 2
14.did you see his name- 3
Disc 2
1.fancy- 4
2.wonderboy- 4
3.apeman- 4
4.king kong- 4
5.mr. pleasent- 4
6.god's children- 4
7.death of a clown- 4
8.lola- 4
9.mindless child of motherhood- 4
10.polly- 4
11.big black smoke- 4
12.susannah's still alive- 4
13.she's got everything- 4
14.days- 4
 |  |  |  |  |
