Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Ray Davies is a genius
Fine
I really feel like I should like this more but having tried it a few years ago and again a few times since, it just doesn't move me hugely. I like The Kinks in general, right through 70s and 80s. I feel like the conceptual nature of this album elevates it's standing.
Hippy Rock. Not my thing anymore. But not bad I guess?
I thought they went a bit harder than this album lets on. Like a cooler Beatles.
This isn't the Kinks best work. It is perfectly serviceable, but not a single sing stuck out. It all sounded so generically Kinks. 3/5.
Un autre album de The Kinks qui est venu et qui est parti comme si rien ne s'était passé. Beaucoup de misère à différencier de la majorité des autres albums j'ai eu d'eux. 5/10
That was cute
The music and words to me are just okay. The idea and vision is there but I'm not feeling a deep connection to the idea or the artist so far. I also don't really favor the fade out endings and nearly all the songs on the album had them as their "ending."
Classic
This is a great album, it's probably one of the Kinks album I listen to the most in full. I love the production and vibe of the album. It's almost more difficult to review albums I know well and just really enjoy, not a lot to say. This one is a 5/5 for me. Standout Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter, Picture Book, Johnny Thunder, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Sitting by the Riverside, Animal Farm, Starstruck, All of My Friends Were There, People Take Pictures of Each Other
Not my sound at all - like The a Beatles but with sarcastic lyrics?
great, better than the beatles
Twee with a side of cheese.
fav.: All Of My Friends Were There
i enjoy the kinks immensely
Can hear the influence on bands like Spacehog for sure! 2.73
"The Village Green Preservation Society" by The Kinks is a seminal album that has garnered both critical acclaim and public indifference. Released in 1968, the album, often considered a concept record, explores themes of nostalgia, societal change, and preservation. 1. Lyrics Ray Davies, the lead songwriter, delivers poignant and reflective lyrics throughout the album. The songs paint a vivid picture of a bygone era, celebrating the simplicity of small-town life while also addressing the challenges of modernity. Tracks like "Village Green" and "Do You Remember Walter?" showcase Davies' storytelling prowess and ability to evoke a sense of longing and introspection [1]. 2. Music Dominantly acoustic-driven, the musical landscape of the album is charming and melodic. The instrumentation, featuring acoustic guitars, pianos, and orchestral arrangements, contributes to the album's warm and inviting atmosphere. Ray and Dave Davies' harmonies add a layer of authenticity, creating a sound that resonates with simplicity and sincerity [5]. 3. Production The production of "The Village Green Preservation Society" has been a subject of debate. Some critics praise its lo-fi charm, considering it a deliberate choice to enhance the nostalgic feel. However, others criticize the mix, citing it as inconsistent and occasionally detracting from the overall listening experience [2]. 4. Themes The album explores diverse themes, ranging from the preservation of cultural heritage to the impact of progress on small communities. Each track contributes to a broader narrative, creating a cohesive thematic structure that reflects Ray Davies' keen observations on societal shifts during the late 1960s [3]. 5. Influence "The Village Green Preservation Society" has left a lasting impact on subsequent generations of musicians. Its influence can be heard in the works of artists who appreciate the fusion of folk, rock, and storytelling. The album's ability to capture a specific moment in time while addressing universal themes has solidified its place in the pantheon of influential records [6]. Pros and Cons Pros: Lyrical Depth: Ray Davies' lyrical prowess shines, offering thought-provoking narratives. Melodic Charm: The acoustic-driven melodies create an inviting and timeless musical landscape. Influence: The album's impact on subsequent generations attests to its enduring significance. Cons: Production Inconsistencies: The mix has faced criticism for its occasional lack of cohesion [2]. In conclusion, "The Village Green Preservation Society" stands as a remarkable exploration of the past in the face of an evolving present. Its lyrical richness and melodic charm continue to resonate, despite some production criticisms.
Quirky. Couple of classics in there Days, VGPS but the rest started to feel after a while that they were trying too hard to be weird. Got to being hard work to listen to.
The Kinks are fun!
The 60’s and 70’s were a time to be weird. Doing an ass-load of drugs and making strange music was totally acceptable. But people still continued to stick with what was popular, like always. And this record from The Kinks really is the best of both worlds. I was really shocked at how good this actually was. This is what I want all pop rock to sound like. The style of songwriting is a balancing act of whimsical fun and legitimate social commentary. It’s just all hidden under this layer of humor and boundless joy. If they didn’t have a blast making this, I don’t know what to think. Although it was mostly a failure critically when it came out, there is an undeniable charm that latches onto the listener. Just don’t have high expectations. Not because it isn’t good. But because you can’t listen to an album that opens with The Village Green Preservation Society and expect anything that takes itself that seriously. Rating: 7/10
This was ok. It wasn't what I was expecting from the Kinks.
A pleasant surprise! It’s the Beatles meets The Stones meets Lou Reef. I like some other Kinks stuff but I didn’t know this album.
“Picture book of people with each other, to prove they loved each other, a long time ago” This album is idiotic bullshit. Sorry. Listens: 1 1/2 Fave Track: I thought they were all stupid. Rating: 2
Pretty good. I'm not very familiar with The Kinks but I liked this a lot.
One of my favorite bands. They didn’t release a bad album in the ‘60s, and this is one of their best.
The Kinks are great, but a little intimidating. This was the first time I listened to this album but it was really good.
Not my favorite Kinks record but solid
Folksy Beatles esq sounding
pleasantly surprised
I didnt think i would like this but i did. Kinda early beatles vibe. Will definitely listen more in the future
Not my favorite Kinks album. Not even sure why it’s considered great without reading about it.
Solid 60s type rock. Enjoyed.
Like most people, I've heard all the 'hits' from The Kinks. But most of this album was new to me. It was fairly standard brit pop from the 60s. I don't think I would revisit this one at all but it wasn't like I was waiting for it to be over. Would be a solid 2.5/5.
Beautiful
Very reminiscent of its time period. Fun music but a little disjointed and forgetful
Apparently there are two versions of The Kinks. This is the version that I was unfamiliar with, and feel more like a kid's band.
Love: Like: Like the sound of Last of the Steam-Powered Trains Sitting by the Riverside Starstruck Village Green Preservation Society Do you remember Walter All of my Friends were there Meh: Big Sky Animal Farm Village Green Wicked Annabella People take pictures of each other Monica Nope: Phenomenal Cat
A very cohesive album full of beautiful little poppy gems.
Lots of kinks on this list. Preferred this to the previous one (which I think was the album released after this), this one was them starting to become experimental and without going too far. less harpsichord in this album too. Generally I prefer the kinks to the Beatles but they don't have the big marquee songs. Can't tell if the whole village green thing is just a theme to hang the album on or genuinely how they feel, if it's the latter and they thought things had changed too much in the sixties they must have been massive Tories, which I should mark them down for really. The album in general was a middle of the road 3.
Quite a while since the last Kinks album - this one is my favourite of the three so far. Village Green, and Picture Book were good, and the album was wonderfully bizarre and cohesive. I do normally enjoy a concept album, no exception here.
I'm constantly reminded of The Beatles everytime these guys come up. Which is to say I really enjoyed this. Highlights: Picture Book Johnny Thunder Last of the Steam-Powered Trains Animal Farm Wicked Annabella
Much better than the previous kinks album we had, more what I expect from the kinks. Still none of the big hits though but I really enjoyed it. Very British. Highlights: Do you remember Walter Last of the steam powered trains Village green Picture book Perhaps was getting a little tired of it by the end but I'll be back
Har prøvd å hørra litt på da tidligare uten så alt for stort hell
I thought it was decent 60s pop, didn't feel particularly inspired though.
Very pleasant listen
This was a very tame record for The Kinks. Much more psychadelic than their regular fare. Very similar to Sgt. Pepper era Beatles. Favourite songs: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Big Sky, Picture Book, Village Green, The Village Green Preservation Society Least favourite songs: Do You Remember Walter? 4/5
A lot of fun this one. Kinks always are. Nothing incredibly revolutionary about this, but it’s original, unique, has good production, lyrics, vocals, and I enjoyed it. 4/5
Rating: 8.5/10 Great album, impressed with the consistency and variety here. This album is a mix of rock, pop, baroque with orchestral elements implemented and everything sounds very good, most songs on this album are really great. This album is also incredibly catchy, the melodies on here are fantastic. Some songs were not done as well as others but overall this is a consistently high quality album with plenty of variety and catchy melodies. Favorite songs: Village Green, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Big Sky, Village Green, Starstruck. Worst song: Do You Remember Walter?
After being briefly banned from touring the US, The Kinks started looking inward to their own homeland for inspiration. The result is a concept combining the traditionalist British culture with the loose, unrefined and experimental youth culture. An early concept album, a cult classic and some of their best music.
Good
I think is my favorite band
underrated band, definitivno. meni su ful dragi, odličnih albuma imaju, a ovo im je top.
Iets te oud voor mijn smaak
Easy listening, would probably have to listen again to give accurate rating.
The Beatles all over again
This album was pretty similar to the last one (Odessey and Oracle) but a little bit more enjoyable. I would say genre is exactly the same and works as a remembrance to The Beatles' era. To me this kind of music, though enjoyable, sometimes falls silly. I am more used to more stimulating melodies.
No entenc per què phenomenal cat té coros fets per un minion. A part d'això, molt bé. M'ha agradat especialment com comença lalvum, m'ha recordat molt a Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Fun album. Nice mix between psychedelic and folly rock. Enjoyed it. Probably won't come back to it though
Sitting by the riverside almost gave me a headache with its accordion Aggressively 60’s pop
good not great, only one memorable song to me
3,5/5
The Village Green Preservation Society - 8/10 Do You Remember Walter? - 8/10 Picture Book - 8/10 Johnny Thunder - 8/10 Last of the Steam-Powered Trains - 8/10 Big Sky - 7.5/10 Sitting By the Riverside - 7.5/10 Animal Farm - 8/10 Village Green - 7.5/10 Starstruck - 7.5/10 Phenomenal Cat - 8/10 All of My Friends Were There - 7/10 Wicked Anabella - 7.5/10 Monica - 7.5/10 People Take Pictures of Each Other - 7/10 TOTAL - 115/150
One thing this project is teaching me that I was pretty unaware of is England’s obsession with not losing them selfs to America. This is a reoccurring theme that spans decades. As a Canadian I get it. The opening 3rd of this album is fantastic. Overall it’s definitely a little folkier Beatles. As usually the 2nd half blends together. I don’t know the kinks, so I don’t know the context but this feels like the “true fans” fav album. It’s good 7.4/10
This was ok, I always think the kinks are heavier
Nice
I keep running into this issue with albums of this era - everything kinda sounds like the Beatles, but not *quite* as good. Still, I really like the humor on this album, and the songs are written well. There's a decent amount of stylistic experimentation as well, which I love.
I certainly understand the influence this album had on bands, like The Who, and the Beatles, and the Beach boys, and all of the other solid bands of this era. But for me, this isnt an album that I wouldn’t listen to again in almost any circumstance. Very few stand out songs in my opinion. All that said, I do respect the artistry of the Kinks especially compared to their Brit Rock counterparts… Highlights: Last of the steam powered trains, Wicked Annabella
Dope!
Same shit band as before only know this album because of hot fuzz.
Quirky and fun!
Honestly, I just love The Kinks. Long, long album. Weird and upbeat in that Kinks way.
Some red hot lines: We are the custard pie appreciation consortium. I bet you're fat and married and you're always home in bed by half past eight. This album is the definition of twee.
Light-hearted and joyous - I really like this album.
Got me vibing, enjoyed it
Fakker hardt med the kinks
I do love the Kinks. Pretty great.
I like it. Easy listening. Wish I paid a little more attention to listening to this while at the gym. Not the best workout music lol 3.3
Some of the best pop rock I've heard in a while
kamala albumi. kauhea. halloween oli viikko sitten, tarvi pelotella enää tälläsellä KURALÄISKÄLE 60-LUKU POPPEILUA... Kink? Was soll daran Kinky sein? beatles maininta tähän väliin (1/116). album is over... The time is gone, the album is over, thought I'd something more to say... incredible... picture book
No conocía este grupo, y me encantó. Suenan muy bien.
I love this album. Catchy songs with interesting story lyrics. Very English!
Many classics, love the Kinks anyway - so what's not to like. Quite a few songs from Hot Fuzz
Just ok
The songs were ok, but it mostly sounded like they wished they were the Beatles. The Kinks have much better material to include in this list.
Happy go lucky album. Seems like it would be hard to be upset while listening to this one. Doesn’t mean I want to relisten to it though necessarily.
The Village Green Preservation society - 2/5 Do you remember walter - 2/5 Picture book - 2/5 Johnny thunder - 1/5 Last of the steam powered trains - 3/5 big sky -2/5 sitting by the riverside - 2/5 Animal farm - 3/5 Village green - 1/5 Starstruck - 3.5/5 Phenomenal cat - 1/5 All of my friends were there - 0/5 Wicked annabella - 3/5 Monica - 1/5 People take pictures of each other - 2/5 Overall - Not a fan, way too 50s type pop for me
Fuck these guys, they're British, they keep talking about cricket and jam and I have never heard more unrelatable lyrics. They should have deleted everything Phenomenal Cat and after. I didn't outright hate any songs but they kind of all sounded the same, and i would never consciously listen to this album again. Added only Starstruck to my playlist, but I also enjoyed Picture Book, Johnny Thunder, Village Green, and Monica. The style grew on me, was worth the listen. Maybe a 4 or 5/10. All of this bands' good songs were re-recorded by actually good bands on modern equipment, but this handpicked album has none of those originals strangely so I wonder why it's even in this collection
twink beatles, art hoes gon love this
Best Songs -Last of the Steam -Sitting by the riverside -Village Green -
Its incredible to think this is the same band that got big with You Really Got Me. I may be biased because I love this album but the songwriting on this is really strong and its one of those albums that really has its own identity. Not a huge fan of Phenominal Cat but Side 1 is incredible.
I thought I liked The Kinks, but obviously not super well, because this album totally missed me! This is really good! Right up there close to Beatles or Nilsson stuff. Village Green is the right mix of psych and pop. Feeling it a lot. Gonna go 4.5 on this one!
Paul Rudd as Kunu voice: “you sound like you’re from London!”
Very plinky plonky and twee, if you like that vibe then happy days, but it's not for me.
It was ok.
Sounds like they inspired the likes of ELO kind a an oldie but not that goodie in my opinion. My parents would probably love them. a few songs reminded me of green tambourine
I don’t think I like it very much 🙁
Okay
Overall upbeat and cheery, not sure what the lyrics is saying but I would totally dance to this on a random night, by myself.
kinky
Interesting album. At least it's original.
Sounds like knock-off Beatles? Listening further I was pleasantly surprised. This is a good album. It's got a pleasant character and a lot of it sounds pleasantly modern. Lots of Mac Demarco in here, lots of King Gizz, lots of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, lots of Whitney, lots of the Strokes. It's good shit. Well worth a listen.
Fuckin goofy 4/5
Maybe worth 3 stars but I don’t want to accidentally listen to it again.
Very nice Listen
Without getting any context on what exactly I was listening to I just jumped into what the Kinks had to offer and it was…….. interesting? Not a bad listen per se, I was reminded of my first time listening to the monkees or the beach boys or even the EARLY beatles. I didn’t really know how to describe what I was listening to I just knew it was going to be a listen I needed to try and give it an objective look. Well I tried and this definitely isn’t for me. I realize I’m not the biggest fan of the early experimentation with early psychedelic rock/pop. I can’t say I didn’t come out curious though. 3 out of 5 stars.
# 97 : Easy listening and solid musically and lyrically, hard to fault, although no hits on this record. Pretty standard '60s rock, I like it, but nothing special really. Favourite Track : Picture Book Listened : 27/10/2023
I expected way worse, but most songs were actually listenable to. Some obviously aged quite a lot, but not too bad overall
Village green
The Kinks always feel less polished and put together than the Beatles. I think this is a good thing. Lots of tracks on this album sound like they're having a good time recording. Overall, a fun record but I probably won't be on the lookout to own it for my collection or anything. Favorite tracks: Do You Remember Walter?, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, The Village Green
Nice! Great album.
Eh; there are more interesting work this time period for me. I’d I could do 2.5 I would so a 2 cause I can’t coming back to this lol
Really good!!
Add one star for the variety of instruments
It was ok!
This was moderately enjoyable.
A lot of similarities with The Who (unsurprisingly), and clearly an influence on the next couple decades of rock and early punk music.
Super fun and great album
This was pretty good. I love The Kinks' sound, and this album feels like where they really find it. The themes are strong and they're present in every song. I'm not sure if the album is trying to be a caution against nostalgia or is itself struggling with the present, but either way, it's great.
Well I think I was in the perfect place and time for this album. Seems like it was written for the end of summer in an area obsessed with British Nostalgia but starting to reckon with the realisation that those days are gone It begins twee and sickly sweet but even in the first song it starts revealing the dark underbelly of a society unravelling itself "Preserving the old ways from being abused/Protecting the new ways for me and you/What more can we do?" Do You Remember Walter is where the realisatuon for the loss of the traditional and usual really kicks in Picture Book details the attempt to prove that a marriage isn't fallin apart because the pictures "prove they loved each other a long time ago" Last of the Steam Powered Trains is a masterpiece Big Sky, Animal Farm, Village Green and People Take Pictures of Each Other are all great also I don't actually love listening to it but it's pretty carthartic and interesting to see something that resonates so deeply with rural, ex-tourism town and village life Very very glad it wasn't the unironically bubblegum boyband pop of the 60s and actually had some bite to it
Did not enjoy this
You can really hear the Beatles influence on this album, and several tracks that sound like they could have been on an early Beatles album. That simple poppy melodies, especially on the song "just can't sleep". Then you get to that striking track "You really got me now" that has such a great sound. Overall not a super memorable album for me but I think it just hasn't aged well and can be hard to judge when so much has come after it.
Sounds like a quirky Beatles
I was surprised, quite pleasantly, as my previous exposure to The Kinks was limited to their most well-known tracks. Musically none of the tracks stood out as headliners, but equally, none of them were weaker either. I probably wouldn't be rushing to listen to it again, but neither would I turn it off.
I feel like I'm part of the original audience for this album that wondered what the lads were thinking when they produced this. I like the Kinks so I'll listen to it again in 20 years, and will surely praise it then for its vision and brilliance.
Many great tunes and only a couple granny songs.
You know I’ve actually listened to this one before so I’m excited about that . Also I went to a show once that was a kinks tribute band and they played on the worthington green so they did a bunch of these songs to be thematically appropriate so that was fun. Anyway, yay British Invasion!! (In music. We do not condone British imperialism) This is a fun little album that just goes “I’m a little British guy and I live in a village!” 4/5
it's fun british invasion music idk we listened to it while setting up the tech table I like it
4.5 stars rounded up. I love the concept and almost all the tracks work. My only gripe is that I have to listen all the way through. Everything is solid and coheres. Nothing stands on its own as an isolated track.
It’s hard to get over the blatant Beatles imitation of some of these songs. Maybe this was just a product of the era. Big Sky is the first song to give its own identity and it pays off hugely and it Carrie’s all the way through to Starstruck. The rest of the album falls away a bit
Enjoyed
Meh. Hippy music. There’s a time and place. Not bad. Not great.
Wasn't expecting this from the Kinks, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Light and fun.
Excellent. Animal Farm is a banger.
Impressions: Sounds like The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” As you go along the tracks, it gets better and better. I think it’s much better than the aforementioned albums. They did great work on the 2018 remaster. For a concept album though, I hated the album cover, wish it were more artful rather than just putting the band’s photo in it. Favorite tracks: Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Train, Starstruck, Wicked Annabella Rating: 4/5
viihdytyksen mukaan narriarvo näkyy arviossa päällimmäisenä.. eli 3 star.. Harmi että kinks.. eli -1 star..
Great album. Awesome mix of rock and pop.
jipis
Es un 3.5. Lo disfruté.
Growing up surrounded by 60's pop and rock, I can appreciate the album, but musically I don't find much that particularly stands out. Interesting wiki read. Best Song(s): Sitting by the Riverside, All My Friends Were There Listen Again: Probably not
Pretty good. Even more British than The Beatles. Can't see me regularly listening but good for a kind ol' time.
Pretty good album
Album starts strong with the opening track, but doesn't keep the momentum up and falls flat for the majority of the record unfortunately.
Good
60's Brit pop is one of the few genres I absolutely hate. Album had some nice moments but overall, still 60's Brit pop.
Quite good.
Average
These cats clearly inspired The Mothers of Invention, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Group of Four, The Talking Heads. Unusual sounds in pop/rock is such a wonderful concept, and this is some of the best early execution.
Pleasant enough but it wears out its welcome as the album goes on. No single track really stood out. Most of them would be welcome on a playlist, but strung together the album started to feel tedious.
Pretty standard and inoffensive '60s rock. Admittedly my exposure to this decade of English rock is limited, but this sounds like other stuff I've heard from the era. Like I really don't know what the difference between this and The Beatles is--they sound identical to me. Pleasant songwriting and melodies but not adventurous or surprising enough to be interesting. Maybe it was ahead of its time and I'm just dumb? That's probably it.
downloaded 2,3,6,7
So this is DC's versions of The Beatles?
Old-school, feels like Beatles
A little mellow for my taste. Good use of a wide variety of instruments throughout. Sounds a bit like cookie cutter version of Paul McCartney's Beatles songs, so if you enjoy those then you may enjoy this. Sounds a bit like the Beatles "Revolver" from two years earlier without being as musically adventurous.
Not a bad album, with some interesting experimental songs, but not to my taste. Carried mostly by the strong title song. Favorite song: The Village Green Preservation Society. 6/10
There's some moments in this album that I feel transcend time and touch on feelings still relevant today, but there's not many. Most of the album is fine, if typical 60s rock. There's also a few moments where all I can think is "br*tish 💀" Favorite track: Wicked Annabella
Great
nice album
Didn’t love this one. Felt a bit like off-label Beatles. 3/5
Fits well into any categories with The Beatles and the Zombies
Quite twee. Vibey
Two albums ago was my review of a Radiohead album. I realized that there are similarities between them and The Kinks. Radiohead's music meandered and Thom Yorke's singing sounded like he is clinically depressed. But The Kinks seems lighter, doesn't meander, and their singer, who can't really sing either (let's be honest), pulls it off because he doesn't come off as trying to convince everybody how depressed he is that nobody "gets" him. This was a really good listen.
not really for me
really great sound, can sound a bit like a musical, but it makes you dream and float so i forgive it
I’m sure this album was prodigious for the time, but 1968 was a long time ago and music has come a long way since.
All the songs have a very similar sound to them.
Une belle découverte, dommage que le son sorte d'un poste radio des années 30
tres belle voix bravo
Чувствовал себя как дома ))
3.5
Its good but its like a ripoff Beatles. In fact when I listened they recommended me George Harrison songs…
4.5
Super fun! The Kinks!
Pretty wild how a record can flop and then 30 years later all of a sudden it comes out of nowhere and influences every indie band on the planet.
I would not hesitate to put this on a list of my 10 favourite albums ever.
The opening tracks have this fun jangle pop rock quality that is infectious. Phenomenal Cat is stupid as hell.
Side 1 is flawless Side 2 is also great
Overall really liked this. Sounds a lot like Rubber Soul or Revolver, just missing the standout tracks that those albums have. 3.5/5 Would listen again
An all time classic by one of the all time greats! I can't help but equate this album to a Monty Python skit for some reason. It's like in that realm of specific British humor with its musical tone, even though the lyrics are pretty dense. Davies does a great job of balancing happy, silly, baroque pop music over top of concerning lyrics about the fast-approaching modernization of our world. The compositions here though are what I'm really drawn to. Unique chord progressions like on Do You Remember Walter? really challenge the typical pop structures of the time, and only a handful of bands managed to achieve this well. The vocal panning is also bizarre in ways that wouldn't work for hardly anyone else. It continues to amaze me that The Kinks aren't talked about the same way The Beatles or Pink Floyd are in terms of their songwriting abilities. Sure, they may not have defined what studio production would mean for the next 40 years, but the Davies were so damn good at BEING this band that continued to evolve their sound across their whole career.
A satirical yet sincere, biting yet bucolic romp of a record from an iconic band that somehow still remains underrated after all these years.
It reminds me to David Bowie
HAIKU REVIEW English countryside captured in tiny snippets. British time capsule!
Not my favorite Kinks album, it does have a few decent songs. Picture Book, Village Green, The Village Green Preservation Society, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Do You Remember Walter? Sitting by the Riverside, Animal Farm, People Take Pictures of Each Other 3.5
The more I listened, the less I liked this.
I like the kinks greatest hits and I LOVE the song Strangers. However, when I listened to this album back in 2019 I didn't like it at all. Today though, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I think its a grower for sure. I don't love the opening track, I actually prefer the football chant of it to the original song. Village Green is a highlight It's either a 3 or a 4. It might be a high three for now, but certainly has the chance of becoming a 4
simply amazing
Enjoyed it, went to some unexpected places.
Solid, entertaining.
Great listen, will listen again
Typical 60s ish.
really nothing special tbh
hobbit rock!
I've always loved the Kinks but for some reason this album was off my radar for many years. I was given a burnt copy as a last minute birthday gift one year and on first listen I found it bizarre on first listen. Months later it cam up on random and I decided to give it another go and discovered this is one of the best concept albums ever released. Why the change in opinion? There isn't a song out of place, no filler, no half sketched ideas. Perfectly crafted pop that's influence lives on over 50 year later - it is more important to Brit Pop than most other albums.
I've never heard an album that sounds so much like The Beatles before. It was pretty good!
Not Kinky enough
Probably the most English album ever recorded and I'm all in for that. Ray Davies is one of the geniuses of British pop.
Better than the other early generated albums
Nice raw, happy and energizing sound
It started of a bit boring, but still okay. "Phenomenal cat" and everything after that is just bad.
Nice album but not that special
This gets close to being actually good, but the impression it leaves after listening is "just okay"
Decent but forgetable
Saai hippie gezeik
starts off slow and I really was getting annoyed that I had to listen to this, but it hits its stride midway through and is great! Songwriting is good and sounds sillier than ever. best tracks: Big Sky, Village Green, Phenomenal Cat
good overall and a couple stand outs
Like the kinks, Some of the goofy stuff is whatever
Love the kinks, and this is a good album, just not their best!
Found it pretty boring. Nothing really sounded interesting, that caught my attention.
4.5/5. What an incredible and under appreciated band, the musicianship and songwriting is in peak form. The fact that they were banned from touring in America could’ve definitely been a huge blow to their best days, but the latter 60s emphasis on Britishness rather than commercials hits were quite influential on the Britpop movement and even American indie rock so perhaps it wasn’t so bad.
Overall ret god, fine vibes og kunne lide de fleste af sangene :)
De jaren zestig: de een begon De Eenzame-Hartenclub van Sergeant Pepper, de ander hield een Bedelaarsbanket, en deze heren stichtten De Vereniging tot Behoud van de Dorpsbrink. Het leuke aan de Kinks is die relaxt-ironische houding die hier tot grote hoogten wordt doorgedreven. Zowaar ga je een beetje naar de teksten luisteren, toch een prestatie voor iets in het Engels. Het schijnt dat er onder alle ironie zowaar echt een laagje gemeende nostalgie zit. Hoe dan ook, ik vond dit album een aangename verrassing. Ik ben voor de aardigheid maar eens royaal met de punten.
Dit is The Beatles, af en toe net zo kinderlijk (Johnny Thunder 'ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba'), maar iets minder zeurend. Zou het voor de vergelijking meer willen waarderen dan de Beatles. Maar ik krijg hier echt geen derde ster uitgeperst.
Het ademt in alles de Beatlesque 60s sfeer en met hun grappige teksten en vrolijke deuntjes zullen ze weinig vijanden hebben. Maar het wreekt een album als dit, dat er niet een hitje op staat, die ze wel degelijk gehad hebben. Dit is typisch zo'n bandje waarvan het beter is om de greatest hits op te zetten
I enjoyed it! Need to listen to more of the kinks
4. Really enjoyed this! Starstruck is definitely one of my fave songs.
A hopping 60s bop
Lots to pull from musically.
Love the Kinks, but this was mid
I like it. It doesnt seemed forced or trynna fit in something.
I liked the last song on side one (Sitting by the Riverside). Tracks 2, 9 also good.
3/5
fun beatles contemporary music
I’ve had two The Kinks albums come up now and I have really enjoyed both of them having not heard them before. This one was really weird but still had some great singles, eg Picture Book. I really enjoyed the 60’s groovyness mixed with wacky English eccentricity. Some tracks near the end were a bit much but I will definitely come back to this.
Pretty Good. I love the kinks, but this is not their best album (i prefer Face to Face, or Something Else). It is saved by the title track, and its double, 'village green' for the image of snotty, verdant middle english angst it creates, but it feels rudderless from the third song onwards, becoming an almost stale recreation of the experimental music of the period. Worth listening to, but i'd rather just listen to three of these songs in a sixties playlist than this album all the way through again.
Pretty good, great to hear songs that are great lyrically, even if its not particularly exciting! The first half was a lot better than the second
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society God save Mrs. Mopp and good Old Mother Riley We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them
Good
i enjoyed it !! solid album 😁
Uno de los álbumes más consistentes de la legendaria banda inglesa. Con canciones como “Picture Book” construyeron el panorama del Jangle Rock alternativo de los ‘90s, además de jugar de forma sumamente eficiente con la psicodelia con canciones como “Big Sky”, “Phenomenal Cat” o “Do You Remember Walter?”. Un indispensable para cualquier fanático de las tendencias más alternativas de la música anglosajona.
August 6, 2023 not 1st listen maybe the most British-sounding album I've heard, and I've heard many British-sounding albums But it's also an old favourite of mine, as far as non-Beatles 60s pop goes, and I relish an excuse to listen to it again. I actually had the opener as a morning alarm last month, and it's been stuck in my head continuously as a result. "God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety!" <3 HL: title track, "Animal Farm", "Village Green", "Picture Book", "Big Sky", "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains", "Starstruck"
Lovely but dated.
nice música de conducir por nacional
Enjoyable.
Good
Good album. Not every song was a winner but solid overall.
The Kinks is rapidly becoming one of my favourite bands. Before I went on this journey I didn’t give them too much attention, but now, they’re really hooking me. They have this unique way of crafting songs and melodies, they were one of a kind! 8,5 out of 10
Really liked this, need to listen to more of them.
Not their best
Didn't find it very interesting
OK.
2/5 Best: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains Worst: Monica
\"We have Beatles at home...\", but that does not make them worse, I just still like Beatles more.
Didn't know they did village green!
Quaint but nostalgic, love the song Village Green, has a melancholy feel
old rock full of brit style
Love a bit of Kinks: honestly not too bad from an album which is just solid classic rock/pop music which has held up really well even 50 years later. Definitely could see myself coming back to this one but still on the fence for a 5, not definite on it which is my issue. Just felt it was missing one thing I couldn't put my finger on.
Reminded me of the Beatles, good but not a genre I am into.
Is there a name for this style of music? 60s British rock? Anyways, I don’t think I like it. All sound like knock offs of the Beatles.
Boring old hippy music
Very samey
Luistert lekker weg en geeft een positieve draai aan een dag. Daar blijft het wel bij.
Of all the 60s era i definitely love Kinks the most
Fun Album to listen to. Lots of upbeat tunes and very easy to sit through the whole things.
Thought I would like this more, but other than the title song, a bit bland
This was fun!
The Kinks always feel like to me like they make kid’s songs for adults. A fun journey.
This was okay. Still feels like a knock off Beatles. Maybe a little more punk. But not a lot. This is still really safe.
Очень приятный барокко альбом. green vilage великолепный трек алкоальбом: яблочный сидр со своей яблони
Вы скажете: но ведь это же просто ещё одни Битлз? Ну в целом - да. Однако не всё так просто... Эти парни были возможно даже популярнее чем Битлз в своё время. А ещё они ебашили адовые концептуальные альбомы. Наверное, где-то этот концепт уходил уже за грань и слушать это было очень тяжело. Однако мне понравилось, как они настаивали на вот этой своей "британской" тематике альбомов: клавесин там в паре мест прям отлично залетел. Итогово: сложно. Концептуально - 4: я не бритиш, мне понять сложно, но задумка заебись, контекст конечно решает. Эстетически - 2: бля, да это нереально слушать, ещё и в стерео ебаном... P.S. Прикольно, что у альбома есть и моно версия в том числе: хотя мне в итоге часть треков понравились в стерео, а часть - в моно.
мой мозг залипал на паре моментов, но в основном весело и позитивно летело мимо
Generic pop. Fair. Not outstanding. 3/5
Very much of the 60s, sounds like something the monkeys would release, not a particularly enjoyable listen
Folk-pop-rock. Está entretenido. Un 4.
Of its time.
3.5/5
Enjoyable esp with the eeriness that creeps in
I've heard 3(4? 5? 100?) Kinks albums now on this list. My opinion remains the same as before instattes this project: The Kinks were fine and quite influential, but I just don't get the hype.
I usually appreciate the heavy amount of Kinks on the list, but this one is a bit too unfocused and silly for my tastes ('All of My Friends Were There'). Still very impressive songwriting and adventurousness!
Ray Davies completely loses it on the silly-train toward the end of this otherwise critically acclaimed cult album.
i enjoyed this album! i didn't know anything on it in advance, except picture book sounded a bit familiar. the main riff from it also reminded me of Green Day's "Warning," which was fun. i liked how the character portraits of each song worked together and how this was basically just an early concept album of sorts. favorites: the village green preservation society, picture book, village green, all of my friends were there
its just okay
correct
Very Beatles. Pretty good.
just good old fashioned pop rock, 60’s style. as with many other bands of the era, very reminiscent of the beatles. quality. highlights: “the village green preservation society”, “village green”, “wicked annabella”.
This was pretty good. I can see the draw. It's not as good as I really expected though, thb. Lola is epic and this is... simpler.
Man, the Kinks are so good. Ended listening to two more albums after we finished this one.
The Kinks at their most generic imo. The riffs are nice and their signature baroque charm emerges here and there, but it's pretty dull overall, especially when compared to their other efforts.
quite good! a little british for my taste Favorite Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society, Picture Book, Village Green 4/5
The beginning of the Kinks’ most creative years. This record is great and tells a lot of old British traditions and ways of living. Very influential in my opinion. I feel like they influenced a lot of britpop groups.
What if the Beatles were boring
Maybe I'm not in the right mood for this but it really irritated me. It all feels very forced, and they're trying to take the piss out of something, but I think it's what they're basically saying. Nah. Just got on my tits.
I'm impressed. I only knew of The Kinks big hits. This is very good. It reminds me some of Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. But this is better, in my opinion (and I'm a big Pink Floyd fan).
Decent. I think Lola vs Powerman is better.
Given the reputation these hairy ding-dongs have, I expected more. Instead we got the Diet Beatles but it's the generic kind and 8 months expired.
I prefer the poppy Kinks. It’s great that they wanted to create a concept album, but I don’t like concept albums and based on the critical reception this album received, neither does anyone else.
3.5
C+ The Village Green Preservation Society - 2 Do You Remember Walter? - 3 Picture Book - 3 Johnny Thunder - 2 Last of the Steam-Powered Trains - 2 Big Sky - 4 Sitting by the Riverside - 3 Animal Farm - 3 Village Green - 3 Starstruck - 2 Phenomenal Cat - 2 All of My Friends Were There - 3 Wicked Annabella - 2 Monica - 2 People Take Pictures of Each Other - 2 This is a very strong 2, but it isn't deep enough to earn a 3. I will definitely return to a couple 3's, but it wasn't the most memorable album I've heard. The first time I heard this album was in high school. I was hanging out with this girl who I always had a thing for: tall, attractive, great personality. On top of all that, she was Jewish. For a non-secular Jewish person, such as myself, finding out that a girl is Jewish is like finding out the car you might buy has heated seats. It's a fantastic added bonus, but not the make or break requirement. Whereas for a secular Jew, it'd probably feel more like the engine. Anyways, I was hanging with her one night and she was playing music. Did I mention she had great music taste too? Ya, she was wifey material. She played "Big Sky", which I immediately liked and have listened to since then. So, when this album popped up, I recognized the cover, but had never listened to any other tracks, so I was excited. Honestly, it's quite good. However, 3's are a tough threshold, and this couldn't quite cut it. Just barely though. If it had received a single more grade point, it would have made it a 3. As for the mystery girl, she's a 5 out 5, and I never became more than a friend. Maybe we'll run into each other one day at Whole Foods and catch up on old times. My beard will be fully filled in and I'll dress like a professional writer, cardigan and all. She'll tell me she's gone corporate and shatter all my hopes, dreams, and memories all at once. I'll slo-mo drop my quinoa onto the ground in shock, collapsing and losing all sense of what's going on. As I lay in a pile of quinoa on the cold, hard floor of Whole Foods losing consciousness, Big Sky will eerily play on the store's speakers: my Rosebud.
Pretty solid album about how small town life might not be as bad as we remember.
eh
5/10. Decent, nothing special.
C'est super bon, ils ont un peu de genre melanger mais ca sonne bien et c'est agréable. 4
De vieux sons, j'aime bien le style, on voit que ça a été précurseur de plusieurs autres groupes après. Je connaissais pas tant, belle petite découverte.
I love this album. I loved it the first time I heard it and it has held up on countless listens. I was really into the early Blur albums before I listened to Village Green, so I immediately connected to the similar observations on provincial English life. One of my favorites.
It's very beatles-esque but with a nice zane to it
Still very satisfying stuff from the Muswell Hillbillies
Some fine songs on this early concept album but lacking the immediacy of other Kinks output.
Three 60’s albums in a row. That’s cool, I guess. I love the Kinks for how much they indulge in their… Britishness? Britainism? Britishity? Wait. Anyway, their baroque pop is just really enjoyable. Apparently this is a concept album about stories or something like that. I just think it has good songwriting . I don’t know how to end this, so I’ll just close out with the fun fact that my band at School of Rock (a music learning place, I play guitar) played Picture Book once. I wasn’t on it.
I don't think I've ever listened to The Kinks outside of radio play or media placement before this. They're one of those bands I've been "sort of" aware of for a while. I knew of this specific album's existence due to it being an early volume in the 33 1/3 book series and now I've some more reason to seek that one out - this is fabulous stuff! Very enjoyable first listens - twice back-to-back! "Do You Remember Walter" is my favourite song right out of the gate, but there were no songs I didn't enjoy!
I really enjoyed this album, the Kinks are highly underrated.
Enjoyable