The Village Green Preservation Society

Not their best, bit long winded

Really nice 60’s pop 4/5

Pretty good album if you like 60's folk-rock. Kind of weird in a good way which I show that genre typically is. Personally I liked it. Sometimes the vocal inflections were a little too weird for me to the point that they were not a good listening experience like at the start of "People take Pictures of Each Other" and in "Monica". Some of the guitar melodies and riffs on this album though were incredible. Loved the instrumentation in general on "Wicked Anabella", "Village Green" and "Sitting By the River". Overall though I liked the album and my favorite songs were "The Village Green Preservation Society", "Wicked Annabella", "Village Green", "Animal Farm", "Do You Remember Walter?", "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains" and "Picture Book". 9/10

Riktigt bra asså kommer absolut lyssna på flera gånger. Har aldrig riktigt lyssnat på dem men ja.

Fan det är ju bra - ska jag våga ge en fyra fast jag lyssnar på det för första gången… eh annars blir det bara treor

Really great, can see why its a classing. Just nice!

A quintessential English album of the 1960s. Just perfection!

Great tunes here. All time band at their best. 4star only due to all songs sounding the same. Trying to be objective here

Chronically underrated . . . But this early stuff IDK.

Great

Peeling back the curtain on an interesting, quaint English village…

Well preserved.

Blur's third best album

One of the greatest albums of the sixties. How could I not love a song and album that name checks Sherlock Holmes and moriarty. Overall the perfect mix of nostalgia and critique. Sure, this turns into the worrying politics of ray davies, but this album remains a perfect encapsulation of a certain type of Englishness that has understood it’s no longer the world power, but is happy to remain British, unflappable and unbowed. I love this album, despite where it points. But where it is (not where it points) is an expression of my Anglophilia.

"Fly or die" . Ok let's get urban and possibly deeply ironic, yeah :-) . It ticks a genre box I suppose. I'm curious as to why it's on the list... I drop my bias for a moment... I looked for their most popular track.. "she wants to move".. and reluctantly, I can say , on the 2nd listen, does have a certain catchy and original style, on the 2nd listen. Sometimes you have to give new music some time... As the album cover advertises so well what it is, it's easy to see this as juvenile american boy music with attitude. Mostly not for me, and at first it really defies me to see what it defines, achieves or says. ... I actively disliked much if it. As the review mentions they worked hard to make something that others see... Party Rap rock. I started to hear influences of Nirvana harmonies and heavy 90s rock updated ....with modern bit band overtones - moments of Timberlake without the vocal gifts. So that's how I got to 3 stars instead of 1. Bruv slates, andLive long and prosper, fellas. (But I am not sure you broke the metaphorical shell of our understanding of brash American culture).

The late 60's period where the main British pop songwriters started turning their minds to more "serious" work is a whole genre unto itself. I love those early seventies films That'll Be The Day and Stardust, with David Essex playing prototypical British 60's popstar who then becomes a bit of a legend in his own lunchtime and gets all conceptual etc. Sports fans if you've not seen those films they are well worth checking out. I don't think it is any coincidence that Pete's going down the Pinball Wizard/Quadrophenia path and Ray pops out Village. Serious artists they are by gum. Now in Pete's case I lurrvve Quadro, and as big a Ray (and Dave) fan as I am Village just doesn't cut it for me. I was told to listen to back in the day, in one of those Pet Sounds moments we've all had, but despite repeated listens it just doesn't do it for me. The master melody maker spent a little too much time on the concepts and forgot about the melodies, now that I think about it I don't think he ever really got the magic back, bar a couple of super moments later. The problem dear brethren is that it is just straight out boring. I saw Ray at the Enmore about 10 years ago, great show, not a whole lot of Village in the set let me tell you..

Yet another white boy rock critic cult classic... an overlooked gem of 1960s chamber pop, just like soooo many others we have reviewed as part of 1001 albums. I mean, it's pleasant enough (by design). This marks the point at which Ray Davies had successfully torpedoed his career by fighting with seemingly everyone who might be able to help him, and the Kinks transition from pop-hitmakers to cult favourites (i.e., commercial irrelevancy). I have long liked the title track (never released as a single in the UK!) and The Last of the Steam-Powered Trains is a rollicking English take on Smokestack Lightning. But I have no great nostalgia for the Britain of years past, so it's a bit of a non-committal shrug from me. The 1968 NME considered the album "too twee" even then, and I tend to agree. 2.5 stars, rounding down.

Started out as a solid 3 and dropped off toward the end. Could easily dip into 2 star

I liked the start, got a little weird at the end.

I'm glad I listened to this but I didn't really like it. The sort of pseudo-medieval lute-playing bard gimmick never really landed with me and I don't really understand that vibe though it seemed pretty prevalent for a while in the 60's Picture Book wasn't bad but I think I'd skip the rest of this record.

This album was okay. Took me a minute to realize why "Picture Book" seemed so familiar: Green Day snagged that guitar riff for their song "Warning." "Sitting by the Riverside" almost sounds like a McCartney track, especially the old-timey-sounding piano bits. Not for the first time, I get the feeling the Kinks are sorta riding the Beatles coattails. Going to round up from 2.5.

This era of The Kinks is pretty great. I enjoyed this.

Nice easy listen to start the day. Not something I'd ever put on voluntarily, but it was fine for what it was.

Everything that's great about the 60's 2 Missing the killer single

Not for me, can see its importance but its just a bit too 60's english for me.

Title track is quaint, otherwise just average.

One or two alright tracks does not make an album

Musically, very low-fi 60’s. Does not sound passable in 20xx…Lyrically, I suppose the album is stronger than most. 2.9/5

60’s English rock. Similar in style to the stuff the Beatles were doing a couple years earlier but not good. It lost me at the “fum diddle dee” part of phenomenal Cat. 1-2?

I hate this. Sitting by the riverside is like a nightmare circus. Phenomenal cat and all my friends are some of the worst things I’ve ever heard. How can someone make a song like that. Steam powered trains sounds like a rip off of smokestack lightning. I hate when these square British bands play blues, it’s so cringe.

Super duper not into this.

Cool

Very poppy 60s stuff

A strong album of its time and the band plays well. Not a huge fan of the individual tracks, however.

God save this and that, whatever rhymes. So begins the tongue-in-cheek themes surrounding the village green, tying together a very loose concept of sketching out characters from Anywhere, UK, including the more unsavory village types, like the hoodlum and the prozzie. It’s all a kind of false walk down Memory Lane. You know, the place where Walter used to stroll? Anyway, a fine place to escape to when things get rough or hectic.

I'm a huge fan of this album. It doesn't have the recognizable hits of some of the Kinks' other albums, but it's the one that solidifies them as the smartest of the British invasion bands, and probably the one Kinks album I listen to the most. The album is so well crafted, full of delightful, melodic songs, sly wit, sweetness and charm. Subtly and elegantly arranged, with elements of baroque pop, folk, and English music hall as well as odd little detours into old timey vaudeville, calypso and psychedelia. The musical choices for each song cleverly highlight the album's central themes of nostalgia and memory, acknowledging the past while also understanding that nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be. There's a high level of creativity and nuance here that you rarely find in music. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Picture Book, Sitting by the Riverside, The Village Green Preservation Society, Johnny Thunder, Animal Farm, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Do You Remember Walter, Village Green, Big Sky, Starstruck, Monica, Wicked Annabella, All of My Friends Were There, Phenomenal Cat, People Take Pictures of Each Other

Certainly better than their Arthur album but still pretty bland. Starts off ok but descends into bland 60’s twee shite nearer the end

Love

I love The Kinks, and can see why this was so beloved of the 90s BritPop cohort. They do have a way with a lyric and a tune, although I prefer some of the catchier singles to many of the songs here, truth be told, even the ones from this particular era. In 2023 this sounds very dated. The idea of 'quaint old England' feels regressive, rather than progressive or celebratory. And the 60s stylings do sound just that now. This was a great idea at the time, and even made sense in the nineties, and it's hardly Davies & co's fault that the world they tried to convey ended up quite so bent out of shape. But it's hard to hear this in the spirit it was intended from this far away.

Clever lyrics and some interesting themes. This requires your full attention. I was unable to give it this today. I kinda get the nostalgia fest. It probably made more sense in 1968 than 2023. I don't want to go back to a bland world of black and white and shitty suburbia.

Classic album by the Kinks! Peak period for the Kinks with an album devoid of any hit singles, yet has a strong collection of songs that highlight the quality songwriting and musicianship that has been the core strength of the band. This probably was a commercial flop at the time, but artistry shouldn't be judged by sales. This is one of the few deluxe box sets I own, because I want to hear all the music from the recording sessions over multiple vinyl platters, both mono and stereo. I can't say the same for most albums.

Picture Book is a great track.

I knew hardly anything about The Kinks before starting this generator, with them just being one of the other British Invasion bands for me, but as my partner got a couple albums by them and showed me a few of their songs, I really fell in love. It is just so creative and charming compared to the rock 'n' roll focus still happening at the time. Obviously, The Beatles were also at their creative peak, but that doesn't stop The Kinks, and especially this album, from really standing out. Really looking forward to their three other albums on this list, as this one was awesome. Shame that the leads of the band seem to be twats at times, but that doesn't matter here!

Enjoyed this, but definitely liked it more when The Beatles did it. 3/5

I listened to the first half of this yesterday and rather foolishly decided that perhaps it isn't my favourite Kinks album - but starting from the beginning again this morning makes me think that maybe that's simply a lack of familiarity... It is 60s pop masterwork. Each track is short and punchy. When you listen closely you notice that the harmonisation is absolutely top class. The guitar, bass and drums are faultless. Some of the hooks are just astonishing. I think it is sage to say that The Kinks will continue their 5-star streak.

Very experimental album for the era, '69 rock from the uk is now what i expectef to hear but really up my alley. 4/5

13.04.23. Очень сочный и красочный альбом, который может похвастаться шикарной работой с инструментами, нежной британской атмосферой и обилием невероятно красивых песен. Эту пластинку я рекомендую послушать абсолютно всем, кто увлекается 60-ми.

I've never listened to this album before. Classic Kinks.

OK-ish. Sounded like they were trying too hard trying to make a point, failed in the process and the album suffered as a result. 2.5 stars.

This is a wonderful album, I enjoyed it more than I expected.

One of my favourite Kinks albums.

Their crowning achievement acc Ian. Jess disagrees.

I can see how people with this music taste can like it. I personally don’t listen to this kind of genre. I can appreciate the art🕺

love it

Reminded me of the Beatles and a little of the beach boys. Fun happy vibe, great lyrics and rhythm. Very diverse song content.

Quite boring and very corny... liked village green though

Old England. Rural retreats, vast swathes of farmland, friendly neighbourhoods, tea parties, Victorian music hall, the village green. Almost fifty years before this kind of nostalgia exposed itself as a complicated, damaging, Brexit-leaning force, Ray Davies was reading Dylan Thomas and reflecting on The Kinks having been banned from touring the US. What did his country mean to him? How was it changing with more and more technological advances? What was going to happen to it? Could the British Invasion go both ways, with the increasing Americanisation of his beloved home turf? The result is The Kinks’ maturation into one of the most versatile and singular bands of the 1960s, and Ray Davies’ blossoming into the next in a great line of romantic English poets pining for the pastoral. The title track of this album, “The Village Green Preservation Society”, is a perfect distillation of these ideals: a seemingly nonsensical lyric mostly comprises jumbled pop culture references from Davies’ childhood and beyond, expressed freely with little fuss or force. Desperate Dan, Sherlock Holmes, Mrs Mopps, Dracula, Donald Duck and many more sit side by side in a cozy, Utopian vision, as Davies searches for one group or another to feel part of. The music- gently strummed acoustic guitar, ramshackle piano intro, a hypnotic backbeat, short and simple riffs on electric guitar and whistling organ, breezy vocal harmonies- is absolutely spellbinding, perfectly capturing a naive innocence which grows more desperate with every key change. The album never quite surpasses its opener, but the themes of nostalgia, memories, change and aging are returned to again and again with a range of interesting perspectives and far more nuance than most of Davies’ contemporaries would have been able to muster. “Picture Book” and the ready-made-for-the-2020s “People Take Pictures of Each Other” consider our obsession with cataloguing memories, and the forlorn hope that a picture could somehow bring it all back. In “Do You Remember Walter”, a childhood friend may be fat, married and sedate, but “memories of people can remain”. Later, “Big Sky” and “Animal Farm” are pure joys of escapism in the face of an indifferent, unfeeling world. Then there’s the astonishing album-centrepiece, “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”, in which Davies imagines himself as a train, all soot and scum, the voice of a missing-link generation. The album is at most threat of collapsing when the Kinks dial up the whimsy and branch into “When I’m 64”-style vaudeville. “Phenomenal Cat” is a sleepy Mellotron-led number which isn’t quite as clever or timeless as it wants to be. “Sitting by the Riverside” is pleasant but doesn’t quite land its cheap attempts at “Day in the Life” style crescendos. “Wicked Annabella” feels like an early-era Kinks track tacked on towards the end. But it’s easy to overlook these half-decent songs in favour of the brilliant ones. “The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society” is never unlistenable, and at its best it is transcendent. It also deserves points for having much more of a valid hold on the “early concept album” tag than Sgt. Pepper, or Pet Sounds. This is Davies making a full set of songs out of Brian Wilson’s “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times”. Peerless and unique songwriting, pitch-perfect performances… it’s superb.

Umulig å hate, men ikke elskbar heller. Var sikkert revolusjonerende på 60-tallet, men høres litt gammelt ut i 2023

Ups and downs, but interesting parts. Want to listen again.

Listened Before? N I'll confess that I think these guys were very talented in what they did... but man, did everything in the 60s in England sound like the Beatles. Jeebus. I've had enough and I'm not even halfway done with the list. All good, but not for me really. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Picture Book

4 stars all day long.

People trying to recreate Sgt. Pepper’s but ending up overdoing it with the drugs.

To be honest I was hoping for a bit more. Still a good listen

Such a good album. It’s the perfect length for what it is and such an easy listen. Love it.

Wondeful

Folk-pop-rock. Está entretenido. Un 4.

Bien

5.0 + A bouncy and tuneful record brimming with Kinks' signature British charm. To me this is their magnum opus. I sing along to every song.

They day if you remember the 60s you weren't there. This album is a cross between a series of advertising jingles, a kids' album and psychedelic bizzaro pop. It's hard to be unkind but really... what were these guys on?!?!

Got some good vibes on here

Some nice melodies, quite pleasant.

First half was great, second half was just okay. High 3 star.

Audible AIDS. It's like they decided to create a whole album based on the naff shite the Beatles did and forgot about the rest

pretty pretty good

I enjoy the Kinks sound be didn't find anything too interesting on this one.

It's fine. I'm pretty bored with the London sound of the 60's at this point, but this was a good listen

Wow, the kinks have finally clicked for me. I'm finally kinky! This was a fun romp with interesting songs that feel like they could be picked apart and examined for ages.

Some forgettable songs, but I think an overall enjoyable folk pop piece.

Meh

Unfairly overlooked at the time, and perhaps overrated subsequently. Ray Davies ripping off the fantastic keyboard player Nicky Hopkins guarantees this album less than 5⭐

Very fun album with some Beatles vibes. Album wasn't anything mind-blowing but it was an enjoyable listen. 7/10

A decent album that I listened to twice. I would listen to it again. It was easy and enjoyable but didn't stand out extraordinarily to me, otherwise I would have given it a 4/5.

legalzinho rock n roll

I am waiting for the great Kinks albums. Are there any. 3 done and no sign yet.

Umęczon się tym albumem szczerze. Choć kilka utworów jest naprawdę fajnych i nowocześnie brzmiących jak np. Picture Book to część piosenek jest tak umyck umcyk irytująca i zestarzała, że ogólnie ciężko.

ok

Pretty classic British pop.

I liked it. Best song picturebook

3.5/5 Above average for a group of song I never heard before.

Sure, the Kinks are good but man I'm such of white British dudes in the sixties.

3.5

7/10

Ok

This wasn't bad overall though some songs are quite bad; I recognized one song in "Picture Book". The overall thing is just pretty dated and didn't find many of the songs to be appealing. 5/10.

Some interesting ideas that probably laid the groundwork for later styles of rock (punk etc). But it’s interspersed with too much of what John Lennon would call “Granny Music”.

Since it’s a Sunday during a three day holiday weekend and I’ve got zero pressing responsibilities today, I’m listening to Village Green on vinyl, rather than streaming from my platform of choice. I’ve got a nice, clean 1975 Reprise US pressing that I found at Double Decker Records in Allentown, PA back in 2016 or so. Shout out to Double Decker, the best record store on the East Coast. The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society is a concept album of sorts, reflecting Ray Davies’ desire to preserve the culture and traditions of England’s past…or, at least, his recollection of traditions and culture past. I think most of us can relate to that sentiment: we might look back fondly on the decade(s) and culture in which we came of age and hope for a return, but for others, those times might have been miserable and worth leaving behind. In that regard, “Picture Book”, the third track on Village Green, might act as a mission statement for the record: “Picture book of people with each other…To prove they love each other, a long time ago”. Almost as though Ray Davies is saying, “Those were the days, weren’t they? Luckily we were able to preserve them, as reminder that things used to be better”. It may be a pessimistic take on my part, I know, but after the last few years on this planet, it’s hard not to look back fondly on the days where everything was simpler and more worry-free. Despite the nostalgic concept of the record, musically, Village Green is quite forward-thinking. The songs here feel like a blueprint, written and waiting to be uncovered and referenced by a thousand punk and indie rock bands 10, 20 or 30 years in the future. Not to harp on “Picture Book”, but I recall its use in a commercial in the early aughts and thinking it could be a Shins (or similar) song. Not that it’s surprising, even the Kinks earliest songs had an edge to their sound that the Beatles and Stones lacked, it’s unsurprising that their influence would be just as long lasting. I’m not going sit here and try and convince you that the Kinks were a better band than the Beatles or the Stones. I think they are, at least for their late 60’s/early 70’s output, but that’s a realization and personal preference that you’ll have to come to on your own…or not. I’m just saying that for some fans of punk and indie rock, the Kinks’ records might resonate stronger than the Beatles or the Stones do…and I am one of those people.

I give it a 3-star ranking, since it does not convince me at all. It should be noted that it is more for my musical taste than for the quality of the album.

A pretty good album. I enjoy this era of The Kinks quite a bit.

Pretty good, wasn't really my thing, wasn't much difference between songs and so got bored

Listen again :)

It’s difficult to understand why something like this record makes this list. I really don’t think it’s bad but it just sounds like 100 different records that came before it or that came out around the same time, so what makes it so noteworthy? 5/10

I've got a big soft spot for The Kinks, and this is a fantastic album. So great that I listened to it twice. It may not have any big hits on it, but there's a great energy from start to finish.

Baroque is the right way to describe most of the sounds of this album. An interesting blend of the classic late 60's Brit sound with classical influences moving more and more away from the norm. An interestingly peaceful listen with some quirks

pretty soulless generic noise. didn't do anything interesting, didn't sound distinct from the times. 2.

mmmh. another fine album from the kinks

Quirky innit. Very British. Little psychedelic flourishes that sound a bit silly now. Think paisley, hippies, private school, cricket, that sort of thing. Occasionally goofy in a charming way, like Hugh Grant's hair bobbing round the corner of an Oxford book shop. It's wet and self aware but only to a limit. It also feels a little one note on first listen but not compelling enough for a second any time soon

Love the Kinks, one of the more progressive 60s bands. That said, it's not one of their best albums, with the best track being Picture Book, with the intro rift sampled in the noughties by Green Day on their track Warning.

nice to listen to

I was really expecting something more exciting. It felt like all filler tracks to me.

Hard to hate this classic, very representative of it’s time

Really interesting album, I enjoyed the flavour of Beatles but much edgier.

This is like a classic 60s album: some rock elements but mainly folksy, right and left ear instruments, poor mixing, and singing that's slightly out of tune but only noticeable when it's one guy singing it. The lyrics are basically nonsense, and also the voice changer in one of the songs sounds like crazy frog. Mainly this sounds like worse talking heads. Favorite track: Sitting by the Riverside

You can call me nuts, but I much prefer Muswell Hillbillies to this album. Another just kind of mid album on this list. Highlight: 9.

This wasn't that bad all things considered. Bored to death of late 60s nonsense though. 2/5.

Improved upon subsequent listens. A favorite of my favorites. 6/10

Noice

Some unique production throughout with a clear Beatles undertone. Sounds good but at times felt a but repetitive and lengthy.

The Beatles from a parallel universe as I like to call them. Enjoyable album with their signature folk-pop with an edge sound

Why?!

Wouldn’t listen again: a poor man’s version of The Beatles!

I like the 60s, Beatles-esque sound but all the songs seemed muted and nothing stuck with me. I did enjoy the listen though

It was good. The 60s rock/pop sound does get boring/repetitive to me after a few songs but as far as that goes, this album was better than others. 3 stars.

This album is perfectly fine to listen to while I figure out how to embroidery stitch.

Hade en Greatest Hits på CD med Kinks en gång i tiden. Tror inte en enda låt från den här plattan var med.

Classic Brit 60s rock

I quite enjoyed this album. At some points I caught a hint of ELO mixed with the Beatles- no complaints there. Occasionally there was a song where I got a little irritated by the sound but overall this album was a success in my book.

Another early Kinks album to continue revising my opinion of this band, at least the early period of their work. It's so damn British and fun, and I write once again that in almost the exact same way the very early Who were - and I'm writing this as a long time Who fan, but the overall songwriting is better here. "Phenomenal Cat" would have fit comfortably on The Who Sell Out. "Do You Remember Walter?" is the immediate favourite, but there's so much variety of styles on the album that it's easy to find a new hilite upon each listen. Tempo changes and various instrumentation both keep the songs fresh - dammit we always need more flute in popular music. I'm not sure what's keeping me from giving this a 5, perhaps a touch of previous unfamiliarity but there's nothing I don't love about virtually all the songs both in sound/composition and the almost nostalgic subject matter. It might come down to a slight disconnect with the actual playing... too often when I listen to The Kinks I wish they could have played a bit more recklessly or without abandon. ...kind of like The Who, to continue to beat the hell out of that comparison. Which to be fair the reserved playing might make this even more authentically British. Overall an excellent musical trip and an absolute keeper of an album. 9/10 4.5 stars

Great.

9/10, great album

I read some of the Wikipedia entry for this album and band and I feel pressured to give a high score because of the influence they've had. However, I got some of the same thoughts listening to this album as I did to Sticky Fingers, including: 1) Should I quit this project now bc I really don't have an interest in hearing EVERY influential 1960s/70s British rock band album, 2) what proportion of albums on this list are by white men? 3) If someone told me this was the Beatles I'd probably be like "hmm, okay," and then move on with my day. Intellectually, I understand the appeal, but emotionally, I do not connect. The music is fine. The lyrics are fine. I guess that it feels so familiar even though I've never heard any of it is a testament to the influence but...I wasn't blown away. Maybe that makes me a philistine. Idk.

Well, I now better understand where Traffic's "John Barleycorn Must Die" (1970) came from. You lost me with the Harpsichord.

They’ve done better

All over the place. It’s alright, not their best album

This was another alright album by the kinks. The title track is always great and makes me think of hot fuzz and the rest is another 60s kinks album where it seems very focused on middle class British life with the Walter song and such. Also, I’m not to the point I’m at with the who but I’m ready to be done listening to kinks albums on this list now.

Lemppari-Kinks, ja bändistä tykkään muutenkin paljon, oi!

The album depicts a slice of life perspective on England, at times in a reminiscent rear-view (i.e. 'Picture Book', 'Village Green') and other times in the first-person (i.e. 'Big Sky', 'Sitting By the Riverside'). It felt like a follow-up album to David Bowie's debut self-titled album, in a way. Be that as it may, the album is singularly true to its vision which I found intriguing when listened to from start to finish. It was like each song transported me into different consciousnesses, each sharing a moment in time and vibin on a similar sentiment of thought, and yet each being entirely its own. I had a personal connection to the song 'Village Green' in particular, based on my own visit to one such green, in township outside of Lytham St Annes once. So, yeah. Once I took my mind out of musical consumer mode, and kicked it into art reflection mode, my perception of the album changed. Perhaps the timeline of the album's popularity tells a similar story. In any case, credit where credit is due.

I loved this album! So kooky and psychedelic and fun.

*chef's kiss*

not as good as the other kinks album I know a very hippy, laid back album

tek guzel sarki village greendi

This is extremely 60s in the worst way possible to me

3.5

Ehh

Un poco aburrido.

Classic British music.

Nice listening to old Kinks. Prefer their later albums.

The Kinks are one of the best British Invasion bands, but this album is too precious and twee for me to rate it more highly.

3.5

I wanted to like this more than I did - it has some cracking tunes on it (VGPS, Johnny Thunder, Starstruck among others) I just wanted it to be slightly better - that's hype for you, I guess, always going to be slightly disappointed! Definitely adding it to my playlist though.

Brit rock with some "jangliness"

Entertaining but nothing extraordinary

I swear every time I listen to The Kinks they remind me of a trippier versions of The Beatles

cheek and snark why so serious? morning song

Pretty much perfect. Big Sky gets me through those days when the world seems against you.

This is certainly an interesting album. It's not the sound that I've come to associate with the Kinks, but it helps me understand better why The Kinks are so highly regarded as a band as well. The definitely took a chance with this album. It cuts this weird little slice through British domestic life and dedicates itself to preserving it. It's not clear how sarcastic this is meant to be, but it is clear that it's not entirely sarcastic. What results is a pretty pleasant album about the little things in life. It doesn't blow you away either ideologically or sonically, but it's a cool idea and they executed it well. Sometimes life isn't about moving forward, sometimes it's about stopping and smelling the roses 4/5

The Kinks don't miss.

One of the most enjoyable records of 1968 and maybe The Kinks' best project ever. In other words, this is a really good album.

I liked it. Liked “Wicked Annabella”, which I had already heard, as well as “Village Green”. I feel like I might regret this rating later like I always do, but I’m going to give it a 3 because nothing really surprised me. Maybe once I come back to it I’ll like it more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this bouncy classic. Smart, pop-y bangers.

Loved this!

Kinky

Clever, gritty and folksy. Sign me up.

Why have I not listened to this album before??

cool

Idk it felt like standard 60s Brit rock to me

A proper transition between Something Else and Arthur. They drop the crazy instrumentation into a more consistent and simple music hall baroque pop sound, adapting a concept album approach about the influence of American and European cultures on Britain, an idea that would be taken further with Arthur. I think moreso here than any other album, you can hear the influence on Britpop, in regards to its eclectic music hall style, humorous lyrics, and mix of vocal styles, especially adopted by Blue. They still do incorporate other genres to support their concept, such as the very American swampy blues of "Last of the Steam-powered Train", but never straying far from its formula. The obvious example is the calypso "Monica", sounding like a trip to Trinidad. Likewise, Kinks always tend to have at least a couple psychedelic songs in each album, and this time we have "Sitting by the Riverside" sounding very much like "A Day in the Life." The other psychedelic track being "All of my friends", really goofy with a grand chorus. The most unique song is "Wicked Annabella", a perfect favorite with a chaotic horror theme behind it. Some of these ideas could be improved, and there were several weak songs I didn't find noteworthy, but they were all at least decent. I think with all Kinks albums, it's two primary problems is a hazy lofi production and a feeling the songs are a bit incomplete, but those might just be me. Favorites: Village Green Preservation Society, Do you Remember Walter, Picture Book, Big Sky, Sitting by the riverside, Village Green, Wicked Annabella

Sounded like The Kinks

Banco. 8/10

Village green preser : always a banger mumsy poo put me on Walter: put your dick away thought it was mr blue sky at the start Johnny: it’s okay just okay Steam trains: honky Tommy hillbilly western Yeehawwwww Animal farm: 2nd fave

shit album fr. this some redneck ohio alabama long island shit

I don't consider myself to be a huge fan of 1960s pop rock, but there's really nothing to dislike about this album. It's easy, cozy listening with a strong track list and no real "skip" songs, although equally none stuck out as a new favourite for me. My top 5 tracks (in no particular order): Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, All of my Friends Were There, Animal Farm, Big Sky, and Village Green.

Completely Naff

Excellent crafting. I like it

Some of the tracks are catchy and fun. The album sounds like its era, which is fine, just not my favorite sound. The Kinks do have a distinctive style and voice, so they sound like themselves, which I like.

I was trying to articulate in my own head why it bothers me that they're so obviously aping the Beatles, and I think I've decided it's because they play without joy. It doesn't sound like they're having fun; they're just...copying another band. But, I suppose if they're going to do that, they picked a good band to copy. Is that fair? I feel like I'm being a bit unfair, but also I don't think I've told any lies. Best track: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains

not my groove

I had never heard this album before, but it is really, really good. Strong instrumentals and harmonies, catchy toons, excellent lyrics. I was really impressed.

ThIs is Oompa Loompa music

Certainly silly but I found the concept funny and interesting. Nice harmonies 7/10

9/10. I do love a good concept album, though I do think the concept of this one started to wear a little thin, since you can only sing for so long about how you miss the good old days, especially if you're only going to present an idealized picture of said good old days. Still, I quite liked most of the songs, and pastoral poetry is perennially pleasant, so a high score all in all.

This was so stereo it hurt. The songs themselves were ok I guess. 5/10

Wow, so many late 60's albums! The mixing on this record was refreshing. As a whole, no big highlights. I did enjoy some of the melodies but it's not an album I would necessary revisit in the future, although I am curious to hear more from The Kinks. I had read Blur is influenced by them, and damn I can definitely hear it!

I really enjoyed and appreciated this delightful album. It’s warmly nostalgic and so much fun to listen to.

Totally groovy! I think that I need to expand my familiarity of The Kinks. This 60s rock sounds sweet to me.

Clever and funny and good-hearted. The Kinks can play for me any day. And talk about rhymes: Consortium - awarded them, vernacular - Dracula, affiliates - and billiards. God save Donald Duck, vaudeville, and variety!

I really loved The Kink’s fourth studio album from a few years before this (Face to Face), so I had high hopes for this. To my great surprise, this far exceeded my high hopes! Every song on this appeals to me. This album is quirky, musically varied, and overflows fun! I wasn’t exposed to a lot of The Kinks growing up, but I’m glad to be making up some of that lost time now. I’m becoming quite a fan of The Kinks.

Day 2. October 24th 2022. Listening while writing partial exam in Computer Security. First thoughts, very 60s, pretty goofy. Also actually a bit psychadelic? There was a childlike naivité without a layer of (what I detected at least) irony in both music and lyrics that felt pretty jarring - I liked it, but it's not something I'm used to. I added a one or two songs to my playlist, but I'm not sure I will come back to this album.

this is terrible. Just boring white boys singing boring white music. 2 stars if I'm honest because its decent elevator music, but man doesn't male privilege make me want to rate this "1".

It's surely another Kinks album

Cute, and possibly reactionary? Jk it was fun

Didn’t get to listen too much, but I like what I heard!

It's good

Pretty good but wouldn’t listen again

The way that this album has been composed and recorded is fascinating!! I knew the title track but didn't know much beyond that. I am so interested about how this album was inspired and written. I gather that Ray wanted to write an album that portrays his feelings of wanting to keep tangible evidence of traditional British characters, objects and rituals rather than just having photographs and nostalgia. I think he really managed that but I would question how great Britain ever was and the pride in it haha. I still love it though because the idea of these things being "great" and not just hilarious is really funny. Like a village green preservation society and worshiping cricket (the most dull sport to watch ever) and just those up-tight British nosy judgemental neighbours, all harmless and hilarious. Anyway, I really like a concept album and I like short songs so hooray! I'm also so into this folk-pop-rock sounds from the 60s I love the creative musicality and the vintage recording sound. Fun album!

It was nice yeah, always liked the kinks. I think I prefer them in small doses though

I enjoyed this but it wasn't my favourite. Hard to know what to write really as you want to love the Kinks.. and I do for certain songs but I felt a bit unmoved. maybe need to listen again

Hmmmm, not bad but not really sure I really got it... feel like it should be good and I generally like the Kinks but this was a bit weird.

Very cleverly conceived and exceedingly well executed. A delight to hear. Somehow, it's hard to imagine how it can be so, but, after all these years, Kinks still feel underrated.

Kiva och mysigt

Chill

Haven’t quite caught up to the hype with this album but it’s got great songs yeah. I like ”Do You Remember Walter” a lot

Lät bra!

Our fourth album by The Kinks and their best one for me so far. I rated the other ones 4 stars - but this one is a cut above them in terms of songwriting and musicianship. Still super close to The Beatles, but to The Beatles at their best.

Yay another piece of slightly dull 60s folk rock

Catchy and memorable, this is an inspired piece of pop music combined with insightful social observation.

Pretty meh album, it wasn't bad and it was nice at some parts but it was mostly boring to me. Album cover: 3/5 group photo but at least there's something going on

If you happen to be in desperate need for some music for your retro style kids’ show, you might get some ideas from this album. Everyone else need not apply.

Nice. Mucus from a time when lyrics didn’t need to be deep and meaningful and yet still managed to be.

I'm not into that type of music, bit I can't hate either, I think it was quite upbeating.

Didn't quite get into this one as much as some of the others on this list but still a good fun listen. Fave track: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains

Absolutely glorious, The Kinks are such a blast! Fave track - the title track is great, but "People Take Pictures of Each Other" is even better - long been one of my fave Kinks tunes. If we're including tracks recorded in the same session but inexplicably omitted from the album, then "Days" should get a mention too, as it's utterly halcyon, even if it has been co-opted by advertising with a vengeance....

This is bloody brilliant. For me it doesn’t have any standout hits, it’s just back to back gems. Masterpiece. Listening to this only makes me wish I could’ve also rated Something Else 5* too. Great album

The Village Green Preservation Society - had me in the first half ngl Do You Remember Walter - koliko god mrzim usporedjivati stvari ovo daje toliko sgt peppers/magical mystery tour vibes za sad Picture Book-a scooby doobie do Johnny Thunder- eh Last of the Steam Powered Trains- TA USNA HARMONIKA, i like this one trenutno ne mogu dovrsiti s pisanjem ovoga ali za sad mi je okej album WILL LISTEN TO EVERYTHING

Sounds a lot like the Beatles. It's pretty good

Picture book 👌

Viel me wat tegen dit album

Redelijk plaatje, maar kon mijn aandacht toch niet helemaal tot het einde vasthouden.

Ik vond de docu die ik eerder op tv zag interessanter

Wat een saaie, kabbelende bende is dit zeg. Ik vond er werkelijk geen reet aan.

Aardig.

Sounds like the beatles kinda. Wanna listen to it more

Easy listening, great riffs. Recognized a few samples. Rusted from the rain

Cool. Good. Would choose again for this era and vibe.

Always love the kinks. Maar ze hebben wel betere albums. Ik hou wel van hun catchy nummerkes.

Short & sweet nummertjes

3 The inspiration for trex i swear

Village Green simplesmente uma das minhas músicas preferidas da VIDA

really nice 60s rock album, wanted to get into the kinks for a while now so that's a great introduction to their music i think. also starstruck is great because of last night in soho

fun and jangly, though it starts feeling a little same-y halfway through.

Love the harmonies straight off. Feels like it was inspired by Sgt. Pepper.

Pretty good! I did think it was a little samey. 3/5

Pretty good old-school British rock with some clear parallels to The Beatles. The overly poppy tracks here like Picture Book don't really work for me, but the more spacy, psych-influenced songs like Sitting By The Riverside are great. Highlights: Do You Remember Walter?, Sitting By The Riverside, Wicked Annabella

The Kinks are probably going to be forever associated with their hard rocking singles- “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night”- but that’s not really reflective of their sound. A good chunk of their material is more folksy, like this album, which I like a lot. Terrific harmonies and hooks throughout. It’s a real highlight from the British Invasion. B+

Davies’ smarm and British charm - three quarters of this album is brilliant - musically, pop wise and lyrically - and thematically is wonderfully consistent - yet the last few songs start slowing down the freshness and pace of the album and it falls short of being a perfect classic. Great band very good album.

Not a bad album, a little to hippie for me but I'd probably listen to it again

Not bad. Not really my style but enjoyable

You don't have to be British to like this album but it certainly helps. Best Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society; Picture Book; Starstruck

Takes me back to a time I wasn’t even born yet. Has that nostalgic feeling. All in all a solid album with some real bangers. Some of the songs are a little forgettable but still totally danceable. I think if I would really immerse myself into the album (and go over the lyrics some more) I would uncover more songs that could become some favorite sing-alongs. Something for the future to consider. Favorite song(s): “Do You Remember Walter?” & “Village Green” Recommended?: 👍

Это была крепкая 3, а потом оно скатилось до 2. Тяжело идёт, слишком затянутая работа

More recognizable songs. Beetles-esque sound

Great!

Really enjoyed this, similar to the Beatles. Standouts are "Picture book" and "People Take Pictures of Each Other"

Ok

A beautiful album from The Kinks, full of nostalgia and longing for a rural England that perhaps never quite existed. Ray could always write a gorgeous melody and Dave and the band could bring it to vibrant life.

What a great album!

Not really my style of music

Not bad

A strong 3 stars, pretty fun

Like the Beatles, but harder and more knowing.

3/10 this band sucks

good record

I typed a bunch here but it didnt save.. Enjoyed for the most part, but unfortunately the production value is a turn off for me with the poor recording quality and the audio panning. Will listen again though

Voici ce que j'en ai déjà dit: "J'ai découvert tard les Kinks. Je trouve qu'ils ont fait un rock tellement efficace et accrocheur. J'aime beaucoup leurs harmonies vocales. Cet album n'est pas leur meilleur, mais c'est un album concept qui marque l'accentuation des sujets Britanniques, encore présent sur l'album subséquent qu'est Arthur (Or The Decline and Fall Of The British Empire), album que je préfère à Village. Pour remettre cet album en perspective, il est sorti le même jour que le White Album des Beatles. Pièces préférées: Picture Book, The Village Green Preservation Society, Last of the Steam-Powered Train, Village Green, Wicked Annabella"

Easy listening classic 60's vibing tunes Liked the big bass sound with driving grooves Lyrics hard to swallow sometimes Poor Walter

Absolutely classic, if you haven’t heard this you’ve been missing out

It's really good, enjoyed it.

Very good album

slayed

first listen a lovely escapade

The most proudly English of all the British Invasion groups delivers a treatise on not only the UK’s vanishing rural way of life, but nostalgia and how it can both enhance and spoil one’s perspective. Ray Davies really comes into his own as a songwriter here.

I feel pure joy when I listen to the kinks. They are really great at making catchy songs that are also deceptively intricate. Almost none of their songs are simple 4 chord songs like every pop song today. Their songs often change keys or have interesting chord progressions; it’s pop perfection but it’s substantial enough to keep me interested. I love their vocal harmony sound (Their following album is better than this one)

Is there an album more English? Quirky, very 60s. Much underappeciated and possibly the greatest Kinks album despite not having any hits. God bless Ray.

2.8⭐️

I'm excited for this one. Already a fan of the kinks. Their sound is so warm and nostalgic and happy. I love their sound, I love the guitar and the melodies.

Pretty listenable and enjoyable, but nothing stand out.

Such a pleasurable album. Everything feels just right. The songs are all catchy (in a way that's not corny), the arrangement is engaging, fun and organic throughout--I particularly love the spare but well-chosen use of guitars––and the lyrics are witty and biting but never too cynical either. I love it.

Title track tells you what this album is: a memory project, a sonic collage of a time and place. I think that time is both relative (it's the childhood of The Kinks' band members) and also definite (England after the Second World War). The past often feels like an innocent time of untouched pleasures but we know it's an illusion. Things are hidden from children that they can only see with adult eyes. After the War, the Empire was crumbling and a century of unrest was nowhere near over. Of course when you're experiencing childhood and innocence, you're not conscious of it. You turn it into story and song later, in memory, with the benefit of adult hindsight. The tone of a project like that is what The Kinks get right. The songs are not exactly cheerful but have jingly mostly-major-key melodies that often introduce a note of uncertainty or irresolution. The ascending scale in Picture Book over the chorus is a good example of this. Ditto the very end of Sitting by the Riverside where the keys suddenly become uncanny for just a bit and upset the romantic fantasy before the last refrain comes in. The songs are fairly simple pop ballads, almost reminiscent of nursery songs, if you read them straight. But I think most, given the combination of lyrics and melody, are knowingly ironic. This can be a jaded and bitter irony: "You're taken in by the lights, think you'll never look back..." Or more reflective: "People take pictures of each other, and the moment can last them forever, of the time when they mattered to someone..." Sometimes it becomes comically self-consoling out of necessity: "I went to that old cafe where I had been in much happier days, and all of my friends were there..." You need to really listen to hear those hidden notes. I think the comparison to The Beatles is fair and some of the songs can be a little tedious. But it's just a bit more claustrophobic and sad because it isn't committed to being a transcendent experience like Sgt. Pepper. These songs are committed to making you uncomfortable rather than giving you a good time. It makes me want to listen to them again and again to detect their deceptive nuances.

At least as good as some of the more well known albums of the time; and it doesn’t seem as self-important.

3.5

Alright, Kinks.

Sounds like some beatles era rock and roll and nothing else besides that

Decent album, a little dated

Beautifully complex classic piece of literature detailing the wants of preservationalists in the 70s great highlights all around can't think of anything wrong with it... for the first listen I'm confident in giving it a 9.9/10

Nicely crafted. Great musicianship and lyrics, but also a bit anonymous, without any stand out hit songs

This album was just solid! British airways rock from this period never really wows me but it is a solid listen from The Kinks

The Village Green Preservation Society are songs of the common people, soft, humble and gentle, combining admirably with elegance. (7/10) FT: Picture Book

It probably does sound a little dated nowadays but this is one of my favourite albums. It's chock full of well crafted songs with plenty of variety yet it holds together really well. I love the punchy production which makes it a little less whimsical than the preceding 'Something Else' album. The lyrics tell imaginary tales from a Ray Davies fantasy land. Diverse fables and characters about childhood, old school friends, old photographs, wicked witches, the pleasures of idleness, god, prostitutes, 1984, cartoon characters, village fetes. To top it off there's some fabulous vocals and instrumental arrangements. Personal favorites include 'Do You Remember Walter', 'Picture Book', 'Phenomenal Cat' and 'Monica' but pretty much every track is a winner. The only (minor) quibble is the lack of a well know "classic" - it's a shame 'Days' was not on the UK edition.

This was more 'Kitsh' than cool, I'm sure if I spent more time with it I would grow to love it. And although I enjoyed some of the lyrics found the music a little slow and floaty for My taste.

All a bit samey and dated sounding to these uneducated ears, though it wasn't unpleasant by any means

I like that one tune.

Good album, enjoyable.

This was so/so for me.

fun pesni

Mellow easy to listen to but not very exiting

Not immediately interested. Will revisit.

Favorite songs: Picture book Last of the steam powered trains Animal Farm Star struck Worst Track: Phenomenal Cat 3/5 did not enjoy second half as much as the first

Made me realise that the Kinks' Englishness and Ray Davies' nostalgia for all things English was entirely unironic.

twee

Not bad - a bit too whimsical and consistently similar for my taste

4th July 2022 Listened throughout the day while working from home. Got pizza and went to the butchers arms with Seb. I’ve written a lot about the whimsy that made up a lot of 60s British pop/rock and it is not more prevalent than on this album.

Hazy 60s rock, I enjoyed this album - it's stood the test of time.

love it, listen to it frequently, not a bad song on it and many top tunes including two or three of their best. wonderful album

What a strange work this is. Blues inspired pop-rock meets occasional bursts of flamenco, folk, country, surf, and more, spliced with a healthy dose of Monty Pythonesque sense of absurdity and quirkiness that the British love so. Best songs are title track and Wicked Annabella. 2.5/5 rounded up cause it's a Sunday.

All time classic.

Such a lovely sweet little album, brings a slight sweet smile to my face. Not unlike a Bill Forsyth movie with sweet characters that are creatively and vividly captured within the grooves of this album. Some might say it's too light-weight where are those Kink rockers? Personally I don't miss them one but. Ray Davies has always written gorgeous melodies and lyrics and to my ear the arrangements for these songs are absolutely perfect. 5 stars.

Want to say 3.5, but that's not an option and in this case I have to round up as it quite enjoyable album.

4.5

Easy listening on the train ride home

60s whiny hippy garbage

mid