Reviews (page 2 of 14)
one of the funkier kinks albums, 40 min of good vibes
This was pretty good, much better than I was expecting. It would kinda fit in to the beatles era of post-pop/pre-experimental
I had only ever heard "Village Green" from this album, a song I would classify as a "fun little ditty". I really enjoyed "Do You Remember Walter?". While I generally appreciated the group's sound on this album (a mixture between more baroque and harder-edged rock sounds), by the end of the album the guitars strumming begin to have the grating sound of just "noise". Still, listening back through, I really enjoy most of the songs individually, I just probably wouldn't listen to this start-to finish often.
Ну чёт не знаю. Куча восторженных отзывов. А мне не зашло. Совсем. Что слушал, что нет.
Nice if you want to hear hell and physically suffer, but otherwise, a huge fracking no from me!
I'm learning I'm a Kinks skeptic; I previously got *Face to Face* and found it too inconsistent, and then got *Arthur* and found it too mean-spirited to function as the type of satire it's trying to be. The latter problem is mostly fixed here: Ray Davies seems to sympathize more with the subjects of these songs even as he pokes fun at them. The former problem is somewhat better also, as there's a bit more musical confidence on display than I heard on *Face to Face*. And yet there's still a feeling of insecurity; this feels a little like a band trying to locate and defend its own little corner of the musical map a respectful distance away from the Beatles and the Stones (and how's *that* for suburban behavior). The mannerliness of these songs, and especially the frailty of the vocals, seems to signify a desire to avoid picking a fight with the band's titan contemporaries in favor of simply building its own little world beside them. No wonder Wes Anderson loves these guys. That said, the concept on this concept album actually works; this is perhaps the quintessential England, In All Its Englishness album, and it's been justly influential for that reason alone. And that concept contains contradictions; "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains," for example, is pure Americana, both in its bluesy riff and its theme of the closing of the frontier - a striking statement from a band that always had a fraught relationship with the Yanks. "Starstruck" is similarly confused, a seeming paean to the moral purity of rural life coming from somebody who had to leave the countryside to be in a position to make it in the first place. (Can you *imagine* Mick Jagger telling a woman she's too into wine and champagne?) The idea of this band is always going to be better than the reality, but here at least the idea is intriguing enough to be thought-provoking. And the reality is this might be their best album.
6/10
was zum teufel, am Fluss sitzen sollte nicht so anstrengend sein
Pretty good.
The Kinks are great songwriters. The Kinks and the Who have something. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones have everything. The Kinks would have benefitted from George Martin’s studio wizardry.
This is a funny one considering their previous entry I had. This feels like they got smashed off their tits watching trumpton and made an album of their drug induced psychosis. Generous 3*
Very uk-ish
had a lot of good songs but it was wayyyyy too long. so many of the songs were unnecessary
they are indeed, The Village Green Preservation Society
If you were to ask me, “Beatles or Stones?” My answer would be “Kinks.” An impeccable, unqualified 5 star album. This album glorifies in its un-hipness. Less reverent than The Band, more earthy than Hendrix, way campier than Van Morrison. The Kinks managed to create social commentary that rocks as much as it rollicks. And of course they had to put a baby voice of “Phenomenal Cat,” 30 min in, just as the acid is hitting.
I'm always surprised when I listen to The Kinks because they sound so much like my favorite artists of the modern era. Such a foundational band. I'm not the biggest fan of the "Sgt Peppers" Era of 1968 Pop/Rock music. The concept of this album was lost on me(but that may be a personal issue). The songs themselves are well written and well arranged, the flow just doesn't ride like I would like it to.
I'm not a big Kinks fan, but this doesn't suck.
I like these wacky white boys, but this still doesn't feel like the big album I was expecting. There's some good stand alone songs, but it's still not standing out as great as some of their later stuff. At least they've found their sound now.
"I hope England doesn't change....I'm just going to try and hang on to a lot of the nice things." -Ray Davies Invents nostalgiacore, '80s-'00s Brit Pop, and the New York Dolls in one fell swoop.
Doesn't have the flashy singles of other 60s classic rock, but the Kinks were tragically underrated in the 80s-2000s. I hope they get remembered for how good all of their music was.
The Kinks have so many hits in the 60s and 70s, I'm confused that this is the album that has made the list. It was a great listen, and felt like a distilled Beatles, Stones, early Dylan and a few others. They obviously also influenced a generation of rockets that followed. But, where was Lola, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Sunny Afternoon, etc??? Anyway, really enjoyed it - probably more than I was expecting to! The title track made me laugh out loud...
A solid album, no really weak tracks and a lot more range than I'd originally pinned the kinks for. Definitely be listening to this again! A nice cohesive album as well, the themes of Little England and all it's foibles as part of the British invasion (musical!) tied it nicely together. (Did some reading after my listen and it was cited as an early concept album based on the characters portrayed) Very solid 4
חיקוי ביטלס חביב
The Beatles but make it a bit more whimsical. That's how I feel about this album. So much to like - jaunty, cheerful instrumentals, with interesting songwriting to make it a good listen overall. But too many songs have no memorability and there are times where the vocal delivery feels a bit too odd to me. Almost like my brain can't understand what they were trying to do. It's good but not fully up my alley - 7/10.
I’ve always liked what Ray Davies cobbled together into this view of an England that was disappearing, even as he wrote.
Ta bien, buenos temas
I did not enjoy this album. At times it felt super uninspired, and at times it felt too personal, like I was a spectator on a group sharing inside jokes. I will say, though, when I heard The Last of the Steam Powered Trains, I thought, "Wow they just ripped off CCR." But I then found out that CCR came out only a few months before this, so the album gets a point for that. That point then gets immediately taken away for the BS that happens 3 minutes into that song, and for the fact that the song drags on a minute longer than it should've.
Very nice: melodies, harmonies, layered vocals, good bouncy rhythms All are great and worth listening to, but faves: Big Sky, Village Green Side 2 felt weaker as it went on but ended strong
I really wanted to like this Ambitious project for its time I probably need to give this a few more listenings I like Wicked Annabella
A very 60s pop album. Similar vibes to others of the era, 3* Highlights: picture book (catchy as hell)
Not a huge fan of The Kinks, but it’s decent enough! Favourite track: Village Green
Just some solid tunes. Really enjoyed it.
I was dreading psychedelic rock, but luckily this generally avoids psych for a more bluesy approach, and even when it delves into psych, it's pretty solid, all things considered. Definitely the first half of the record is better than the second (The second half is where the more psych stuff starts showing up, but it's not as overt and again, pretty solid). Overall, a solid record. Probably not something I'd go back to, although there are some good cuts, and I have heard Picture Book before.
サイケデリックが全盛の時代にあえて逆行して、イギリスの田舎の風景などについて歌ったアルバムらしい。 初期のビートルズとかもこんな感じらしくて、歌詞メインな感じなんかな、やから正味何も感じなかった。 イギリスのこういう系のはしりらしい。 てかイメージしてたキンクスと違うわ You really got meのイメージしかなくて、
This album was released in 1968 and is considered pop, pop and baroque pop. This is very British, whimsical, nostalgic music. You can hear Beatles and Syd Barrett in the music. One can see why Ray Davies is considered the godfather of Britpop (think Blur). I like it expect many people won't. Overall the album is good but does become twee over time. Top songs for me are: Do You Remember Walter? Picture Book Last of the Steam-Powered Trains Village Green People Take Pictures of Each Other
Would be 3.5 if you could do half
Soooooo goated
A fun and enjoyable listen. Some of the best of its era. 4/5.
Okay
If inspired by the Beatles, then the 2 star rating is correct. If they inspired the Beatles, maybe 3. Keeping it 2 tho.
Quintessential English album Love it
Had me in the first half
It's a bit unfortunate for the Kinks that the Beatles are so incredibly dominant in the cultural memory of the late '60s, because this is a clever, articulate, poignant concept album about nostalgia and aging...but as I was listening to it, all I could think was, "Man, this sounds like a lost Beatles album." But of course, the Kinks and the Beatles were operating in the same zeitgeist, influencing and feeding off each other (and the Stones, the Who, and many many lesser-known bands). The Kinks' big hits never excited me that much, but it's impossible to deny Ray Davies' talents as a lyricist and songwriter.
Didn’t blow me away, but I enjoyed it a lot more than most of the British bullshit on this list. The songs are fun and varied making the album a pretty dynamic listen, but at the end of the day you’ll only get as much enjoyment out of it in relation to how much psychedelic silliness you can stomach. My tolerance for this one was higher than usual.
Enjoyed this 😎
Life is like a Kinks album--you never know what you're going to get. 8 keepers in 15 (53%). 3 stars.
A colorful album that should have put The Kinks up there with the Beatles and the Stones. Banger after banger.
So so
Catchy catchy cathy, lighthearted but seriously magnificent melodies wow
The word that kept coming up in my head is “kitsch.” It’s uncool, goofy, corny and unserious. I get the appeal.. it’s just not appealing to me.
Not my bag baby
The Village Green Preservation Society - 4/5 Do You Remember Walter? - 4/5 Picture Book - 4/5 Johnny Thunder - 3.5/5 Last of the Steam Powered Trains - 4/5 Big Sky - 4/5 Sitting by the Riverside - 3.5/5 Animal Farm - 4/5 Village Green - 4.5/5 Starstruck - 4/5 Phenomenal Cat - 3.5/5 All of My Friends Were There - 3.5/5 Wicked Annabella - 4/5 Monica - 4/5 People Take Pictures of Each Other - 4/5 After being shadowbanned from the U.S., the Kinks decided that they would deviate away from their rock-and-roll and garage rock sound and instead decide to influence the Britpop genre from 30 years later with an album about the England that once was. This nostalgic yearning is different from their next album Arthur (which has similar subject matter) since this is about the more simple things in life rather than wanting the society as a whole to go back to what it was. I'd also like to hand it to them for fitting 15 tracks in 40 minutes, a nice and tight listen for the yearning of the things that once brought comfort. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Village Green
Just a good and decent album. So: 3/5
based conservative music??? is it possible???
4/5
If i didn't know better I wouldve said this was an early Beatles album.
Ray’s masterpiece? There’s a question I don’t see asked about the Kinks very much during this period, but we have the benefit of hindsight: what is this English culture that Davies wanted to preserve in light of the decline of the British Empire? I’m twice as old as Ray was in the 1960s but am experiencing what feels like a comparable decline of US dominance. It’s not like there was a great deal to be proud of v-a-v the British Empire at the time: the beat-up, persevering role played during the Blitz, abandoning Palestine, the fall of the Suez Canal, Partition and losing India, and then all of the sudden in the 1960s you get the haute bourgeois Swinging Sixties/London and the Beatles becoming the world’s most popular band, English culture becoming “cool” or at least something widely loved? Into this space around 1968 we get a mid-20something Ray Davies contemplating memory, of which he had very little, and nostalgia, of which he either had a lot or was happy to critique. Does he see the British in decline already and does he even have a point of reference being so young? Is this all just dressed up disappointment with an adult world he had idealized earlier? That he soon got to an album length meditation on the decline of the British Empire (albeit via tracing a working class experience of 20th century English decline) somewhat answers these questions, but the VGPS is a real big deal still!
I read the Wikipedia article and I thought it was really up my street and I really wanted to love it, but it was twee overly English twaddle. It was okay I suppose
I call this puffy shirt rock
Good
idk
Great stuff
Nope
Top shelf
Becomes a bit samey but a good listen
Decent classic album, just nothing really memorable on it.
I didn’t hear anything magical about this album, but it was a reasonable 60’s output.
Maar wat zouden deze mannen nou voor Kinks hebben?
Iets minder kut dan de vorige Kinks plaat, maar wat een saaie band zeg.
Status quo of its time.
This is a wonderful collection of songs, imaginative music, channeling the Englishness of 60s music. No real hits but very listenable. A potential upgrade to a 5.
nem volt rossz, de többynire nem tetszett. voltak egészen fura dalok is, amikben ilyen magasított hangon énekeltek talán gyerekek?? és ettől kirázott a hideg.
Beatles ripoff
Village Green Preservation Society is maybe the definitive Kinks album, a real musician's musician's favorite band. I've written a lot about The Kinks in other reviews but if you had to pick just one of their albums to listen to/not skip: it's this one.
Very 60s, not bad, not great. Firmly in the middle where they sound like they are trying something new but haven’t quite figured it out yet.
In which I discover that ELO didn't just lift stuff from the Beatles.
closer to 3.5
Always surprised that The Kinks didnt get more recognition. The folky, music hall vibes should be off putting, but really itsa great collection of tunes. If one more hit like Days was on here itd be a 5, as it jt, a strong 4
Helt normal britisk pop fra 60-tallet.
JL : 2, Sitting by the Riverside
Honestly this style of music very rarely does much for me, and it's everywhere. A lot of reviews compare this to The Beatles, and I tend to agree. Problem is that I don't love The Beatles either.
mumbo jumbo
Classic GOAT rock album.
First time listening and enjoyed it. "Picture Book" was my favorite song but they have such a classic sound on everything. Other than Wes Anderson movies, I don't get much Kinks these days. Elloalay would be a cool name too even though LOLA isn't on this album.
Kinks still good.
I love this. It's satire, observational and biting delivered in a very British way, mourning the death of a quaint, idealized Victorian England that never actually existed. Great band and song writers.
There were a handful of highlights like the songs about the steam train and the song that felt as if you were by the seaside. I can see why this album influenced so many indie bands going forward. And I am glad they went on to make far better albums than this.
So good, y'all.
This is just a ridiculous album. I’m disappointed the band who wrote Waterloo Sunset and Sunny Afternoon also released this bunch of childish nonsense, even more disappointed it made this list! Relative to expectations it scores a 1, but realistically it is still better than some of the nonsense I’ve heard so they scrape a 2
Colonel Chili’s Lonely Spades Club Thing
Not my favorite Kinks album
This sounded like a Kinks record
Great underrated band. British pop with humor.
I feel like I should be good at finding things to love in this. I like the Beatles, and like some of the folk of the same time. I feel like it's a bit of failure on my side, possibly, but it's ultimately quite fogettable to me. Starstruck is at least catchy.
Silly album. Lots of satire
Jag är övertygad om att personer som inte tycker om den här typen av kul musik (som också har substans) aldrig har haft kul i sitt liv.
I like The Kinks, but wasn't too familiar with any of these songs, but I really enjoyed it. Lots of psychedelic vibes throughout. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
fun pop rock, quite groovy, with fairly consistent songwriting. the recording and mixing are a bit inconsistent, but the overall texture is more or less pleasant and definitely varied.
Some excellent tracks but some half cooked attempts at psychedelia and beatlesesque tracks it’s goodies but not brilliant.
As much as I can’t really get into British Invasion era rock, this has its moments. Parts of it are pretty fun. 7/10
Beatles facsimile five years too late. Waste of a slot.
Feels very... Traaa Laaa Laaa.
I wonder how the Kinks survived releasing such pablum.
Great Kinks album. The sound was so different track to track. A bit folksy but so many different types of rock. Favorite tracks were the title track, Picture Book, Big Sky and Animal Farm.
This album was fun i really enjoyed it. It reminds me of the song We gotta get out of here by the animals (at least i think thats what it’s called) which makes sense as they were from the same era of music . I definitely would listen to it again, and lyrically I really enjoyed the final track people take pictures of each other’s lyrics. I’ve b==never really listened to the Kinks properly before but i will be listening to more in the future, I would give this album a 3.5
LSD is a hell of a drug Great musicians but nothing really standing out, 2.8/5
classic
It’s a forgettable album, nothing stood out, if anything the songs weren’t good
Enjoyment: 7/10 Replayability: 8/10 Cohesion: 7/10 Flow/Pacing: 7/10 Artistic Merit: 8/10 Weighted Average: 7.4/10 Review: At first glance, this sounds like a light and fun concept album. But looking deeper into the themes and lyrics shows the dynamic range of the Kinks. This will enter my rotation of albums to relisten to. Liked Song(s): The Village Green Preservation Society, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Animal Farm, All of My Friends Were There Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? No
a lot of this sounds like something they'd play at a nursery
Pleasant
Enjoyable rock, but somewhat unremarkable
Great sound from the kinks. Thoroughly enjoyable upbeat rock. As always with the Kinks it's a lot of fun.
Rach song has a unique sound with the use of a variety of instruments ranging from harmonica to flute. The lyrics drift between old-souls poetry and ethereal fairy tales. An excellent musical journey from start to finish.
Que dire, j’adore les Kinks.
Not their best
The Beatles ahhh band. Felt like I heard the whole album one I heard the first song.
Kinks been growing on me a lot lately
This is one of those albums you have to take the time and place into consideration. This is so unique and was a divergence on what was popular. It's easy to get lost in and enjoy. I doubt I'd put it on often but it is a good listen and has a nice vibe
The Kinks are always a little cheeky and I appreciate that. The Beatles wish they could produce an album as cohesive as this. Production wise, It has an accessible sound that probably added to the inspirational nature of the album. The track lengths are very consumable. Seems like Ray Davies had some influence on Pete Townshend. I was always a fan of the more quirky songs that Pete Townshend wrote for The Who, and never really listened to The Kinks. Similar to my review of Arthur I am very intrigued by this album. The demo like sound I can get past, and has already grown on me on second listen. I found myself sinking deeper into the songs. The song craft is so good. This came very close to being a 5, I just think Arthur hit a little more instantly.
Shite
This is actually one of The Kinks' albums that I liked a little better. It won't be among my top favorites, but I enjoyed listening to it. Maybe I'll listen to it again. 3/5
Very much of it time. Good songs but I didn't love it.
A bit shit but not unpleasant
How on earth did they choose this one?
Still stands up so well, although a few tracks feel slightly twee these days. Very enjoyable.
This is a fun album it's very English blur comes to mind as do pulp they must of been influenced by this for sure each listen it gets better such tight pop rock songs its so upbeat and weird at times but I enjoy it
unimpressed, just one nice acoustic tune for me
4.5 Been learning how much The Kinks rock through this project. This is just a really fun, well-made, catchy album. I knew a couple of the songs already, fun to hear them in context, tho. “Picture Book” is one of the most perfect pop songs ever written. Hook after hook after hook.
I really like The Kinks!! This was a pretty solid album! I prefer the album with You Really Got Me.
Really liked some of this, particularly 'Last of The Steam-Powered Trains', but other parts were simply too unrelentingly British and twee.
Liking some of their other stuff, I'm a bit disappointed
Kinky the prequel. I like the term Baroque pop. It just feels so perfect in encapsulating this albums vibe
Icons only
Surprised I didn’t love this, since I’m a big Blur fan. But idk…it was maybe a bit *too* pastoral and gentle for me. Good songwriting though!
The Kinks are a band that I thought I knew quite well, but I hadn't listened to this album. I enjoyed the variety and inventiveness of this. There are some really solid pop tunes on here, though like lots of records of the time they frequently end just as I feel they're about to get going! As an album I would prefer this as a slightly shorter and tighter 10-11 songs; there are a few cases where the simplistic lyrics grate a bit, or where it descends into a bit too much whimsy / tweeness for my liking, but that's the minority and I there is a lot on here that I enjoyed, including hearing the influence on later indie and rock bands that I have separately enjoyed (Shins, Cardiacs).
I enjoyed this one. The kinks rule
Finally, some folk rock that is not Bob Dylan or Beck that I like. These guys feel like an amalgamation of a lot of popular 60s music trends, Beatles-style pop rock, folk rock and a little psychedelic thrown in for good measure. Wes Anderson loves this band. These are all relatively short songs. The more folksy the songs, the worse they are. And the more psychedelic they are, even worse. It's an uneven effort.
Glorious album, a real snapshot of British bands in the 60’s. Packed full of memorable lines and riffs, and made my drive to work a joy this morning. None of the real big hits on this album, which to me makes it even better. The Kinks often get overlooked, but they are up there with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as one of the most important bands in history. A couple of songs which maybe haven’t aged as well as others, but nothing that feels too out of place.
Strangely, I was skittish about this beforehand. After the Kinks were restricted from the US, I know their sound definitely got more British in nature, and kind of foundational for the whole Britpop scene later. So perhaps I was expecting proto-Blur...not that I would know what that sounds like, exactly. What I got instead was a very charming pop rock album, with great songwriting. British, yes, but not so much so that it felt too foreign for me to identify with. The whole album is good, and while it has potential to be a 5, the few listens I had didn't get me quite there. A strong 4, then.
First 5 star record of the project for me. Everything just hits you with perfection right off the bat. It’s perfect British rock and roll. You can feel in so much that comes after it (oasis obviously the big one). Lyrics are snappy and funny.
I'LL CATCH UP OK uhhhh, not memorable (at all)
I’ll admit it, I just don’t get the Kinks, I never have, I’m beginning to doubt I ever will. I hear one or two songs here and I’m immediately like “I would really just rather be listening to the Beatles because they sound better in every way and they have more of an actual rich variety of songs” and then there’s still another 13 samey songs to go. The quaint British nostalgia of it all does very little for me, musically or lyrically, and I don’t find most of the character studies that engaging. The album just genuinely feels like a part of the musical canon that we settled on and so it becomes an unmovable part of the furniture - Ray Davies might be the godfather of Britpop, but I’m hard-pressed to say if that’s meaningful or good.
Post-script: I originally gave this one the 5, but Arthur is just blowing me away more these days. This is still a near perfect album! I'm with the critics on this one. The Kinks are one of those very, very special pop/rock bands in history. The Davies' brothers wrote a ton of amazing music, with memorable hook after memorable hook, only to never really find the same financial success as their peers. To this day, I barely find ANYONE that holds the Kinks in as high regard as other more famous British Invasion bands, but they were probably the best songwriters of all. Better than the Beatles? Who knows, I love the Beatles. You have to take this album at face value. The lyrics are the stuff of brilliance. Very English in its humor, sure, but brilliant satire and observational comedy the whole way through. Some examples of this: "Picture book, when you were just a baby Those days when you were happy A long time ago" "We are the Sherlock Holmes English Speaking Vernacular Help save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity God save little shops, china cups and virginity" "Big Sky looked down on all the people who think they got problems They get depressed and they hold their heads in their hands and they cry People lift up their hands and they look up to the Big Sky But the Big Sky is too big to sympathize" "People take pictures of the summer Just in case someone thought they had missed it Just to prove that it really existed" "I'm the last of the good old renegades All my friends are all middle-class and grey But I live in a museum, so I'm okay I'm the last of the good old fashioned steam-powered trains" The best part is how they are able to get such masterful prose and make it sound rhythmic, melodic, and poppy. As Belle & Sebastian would do decades later, this a thinking person's music, filled with dark humor, sentimentality, and wit that should be the makings of great pop hits. I also appreciate all of the diversity of genres explored here, amid the jangly guitars, solid bass/drum combo, melodic riffs, and pretty vocal harmonies - all towards a psychedelic sound that is vintage in a good way, not outdated at all. There are even moments of unsettling noise, such as in "Wicked Annabella" and "Sitting By the Riverside". Not much else to say here - maybe the Kinks don't have a perfect album, but I consider this to be their pop masterpiece. Baffling that it was a commercial disappointment. Too ahead of its time. 4.5 stars.
I am torn, a lot of creativity and some great songs, but as the record goes on, it also becomes quite annoying at times... In the end, middle of the road. There have been a lot of those lately...
J’ai hâte d’avoir un album plus récent un peu. C’est correct mais sans plus.
One of their better ones
Like a warm hug from an old friend you forgot you had. It's not trying too hard, it's just.. lovely. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - The Village Green Preservation Society - Do You Remember Walter - Picture Book - Sitting by the Riverside - Starstruck
Yeah this was fine I guess
This album definitely feels outdated in many ways, but I think it still sounds good. It's not basic. It kind of sounds like The Beatles but sort of better in a way.
🚨WARNING🚨 This album is VERY BRITISH It’s also not that bad
Late 60s folk rock. One of the first concept albums. Very influential for indie rock. Pleasant enough, but not my style.
So many cool and simple and beautiful tracks on here. It’s transporting honestly. On “sitting by the riverside” I’m doing exactly that.
i don't bother to try and look past the burden of having to deali with the beatles all over again. the only song where something really interesting is happening were "sitting by the riverside" and "animal farm". and there. are. MANY. SONGS.
I don’t mind The Kinks, but this album is kind of very dull and boring. Nothing stands out and the 15 songs kind of just vanished and it was over before I knew it had really started. I’m really torn between a 2 and a 3 with this one. Probably going to go for a 3 as nothing was inherently wrong with this, it was just… meh.
I'd heard this was supposed to be good, influence on Blur etc but I'd never listened to it. Maybe that biased me in its favour but I thought it was excellent.
Musically it was what I expected but the lyrics took me a little by surprise - in a good way
I really like this. This is an album that I had not heard before. I had listened to the kinks, but I think some of their later stuff. I will certainly listen again, not sure about buying it
Solid album, just not my style and the songs blended into each other and bit.
The Kinks uniqueness relies partly on their quintessential Englishness, and on ‘…are the Village Green Preservation Society’ they lean into it more than ever. It’s like a sweeping nostalgia trip, but Davis knits in some ironic digs at the risks of getting stuck in the past. Musically, the listener can’t move for melodies, hitting the spot time and again, song after song. They dip into baroque pop, folk and British music hall, and while it’s still rooted in their rock’n’roll past, they make little effort in highlighting that as a central sound. Working in the wake of Sgt. Pepper they either eschewed any responsibility of riding the zeitgeist or deliberately turned away from the turning tides. By the time it came to be released, it was almost the polar opposite to The White album which was released the same day. By design or otherwise they had created the perfect counterpoint to The Beatles sprawling epic. The songs are concise, brief and drug free in vibe. I’m almost certain this is my favourite Kinks album.
I’ve always felt i should listen to more albums by the Kinks, as i really like a lot of their singles. Unfortunately it’s the singles that stand out here and the rest of the album whilst pleasant enough doesn’t send me rushing to listen to more.
This album could be an advert highlighting the dangers of LSD. Just total, nonsensical guff.
I love the title track but for the most part, think it really overshadows everything that follows. There are hints of Sgt Pepper in this album which means I'm predisposed to enjoy it at least a little bit- Do You Remember Walter? is a good example of that. Picture Book is a great song, and Green Day must also agree as they blatantly ripped off the main riff for Warning (they covered So Tired Of Waiting for You as a B Side to Basketcase in 1994 so are clearly fans). I like the off kilter piano in Sitting By The Riverside, and the harpsichord in Village Green. I found my attention wandering a bit, although that might have been the fault of me listening to the version of the album on Amazon Music. That has different versions of some tracks but also includes Days (which is one of the best Kinks songs, but it's also a non-album track so shouldn't really count towards the score). This feels like a 3.5 for me. It would be a 4 with Days, but alas... 3/5
Average kinks album, enjoyable, inoffensive but nothing more than that
I know everyone points to the Beach Boys and the Beatles as the reference points for the revival of 60s psych pop in the 90s (a la Olivia Tremor Control), but try and convince me this doesn't sound like an Elephant 6 record.
I've liked the Kinks based on classic hits like Lola, You Really Got Me, Sunny Afternoon. Often silly, upbeat and reflective of a more innocent time. This album is no different but somehow I got bored with it after a few songs.
I'm not a big fan of psychedelic rock, but this is much better than a lot of what I've heard from the genre. I enjoyed almost the entire album, and there's a charm to the songwriting that kept me engaged throughout. I'm not sure I'll ever reach for this one on my own, but I can definitely appreciate what The Kinks were doing here. I'm glad this journey gave me the opportunity to hear it.
52 albums in and the second by The Kinks. Before I only knew 2 songs, Lola and I'm Not Like Everybody Else. This album sounds like they are like everybody else.
Pre Listen: The Kinks :D ! ! ! I gave their last album on here a 5/5, and I still listen to songs from it on the regular. Expectations will certainly be higher than usual here, looking forward to seeing what these lads have in store on this one. Notable Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society - Yea this is the good stuff. Thank you Kinks. Last Of The Steam Powered Trains - Instrumental work here sounds like something from Creedence Clearwater Revival. That is all. All of My Friends Were There - Least favorite track. I have no idea what they were going for here, tempo and melody changes at random, nonsense lyrics. Village Green - Favorite track, and maybe the only thing I'll add to my playlist from this album? I appreciate the unique sound to it, and the story it tells. Phenomenal Cat - Well that's certainly a song to end an album on. That's definitely one of the songs of all time. Lyrics sounds like something from Pink Floyd's early works. Post Listen: Perhaps it was my expectations being too high, but I really didn't enjoy that album all too much. :< Most every other song wasn't really bad, but overwhelmingly mid. They have minimal flare outside of weird lyrics, melody or tempo changes mid-song, and other meh tricks. It didn't feel nearly as creative or focused as their other works I've encountered by now. Thoroughly disappointed, I was really hoping for another 5/5. Oh well, there's more Kink's albums ahead. 3/5
Really expected to dislike this much more than I did. I really don’t like the Kinks or psych rock but this just seemed much more bearable than their other work. Almost popped a blood vessel hearing “A scooby-dooby-doo” though and the B-side was pretty crummy. I do have to highlight Last of the Steam-Powered Trains as it was pretty great.
So far this album starts with an all time classic, followed by a song that sounds like another song I cant quite place, then a song with the main guitar riff sampled in a ton of songs, but more specifically warning by green day. While scatting in picture book, they reference scooby scooby doo, which didnt exist until the next year. So, yeah, ahead of the curve
Excellent album. Why The Kinks were relegated behind the bigger UK bands of the era I'll not understand. So glad this one was including in the list!
An odd album. Not a bad listen, but not one I'd gravitate toward regularly. No real standout songs.
Pretty good, a little kinky
Overall pretty decent, despite the fact I can't really get to grips with The Kinks. I find them a bit try-hard and the similarities to The Beatles are there for all to see. Nonetheless this album is pretty fun on the whole, extremely 'English' and poppy.
I expected more - a bit disappointing. A bit too much like the Beatles for my liking.
It was fine. Nothing special. I like The Kinks, but I think they have better songs than what were on this album. I didn't know any songs on this album, but I did know the guitar riff in Picture Book because Green Day used the same one in Warning.
I enjoyed this, but I don’t think it necessarily belongs on this list.
chill
2/5 the only kink i'll shame
2*
Some wild changes of tone here but the blues by/for white people thing that men were doing in the 1960s is so profoundly embarrassing
would listen again
This is ok. I liked the other Kinks album that I got on the list more. This does pick up towards the end as far as being odd and different, but nothing stands out.
Lively and simple lyrics with humane malody, almost top-teir
Love The Kinks, hadn't heard this album before. It was excellent!
Kewl
Delightfully playful and catchy. Such a 60s British vibe - a perfect time capsule
Favs was wicked Annabella, liked the playing with sound and atmosphere
Ihan hyvä konseptialbumi. Ei hirveästi hittibiisejä, mutta oli mukavaa kuunneltavaa.
Points for the title track. Burn the rest.
A fave
I can understand the Kinks are good and important and I do enjoy the vibe but got to be honest ain't gonna be rocking them by choice.
Veldig bra når det er baroque pop/folk! Litt kjedelig ellers.
The Kinks sine plater på 60-tallet er en ren seiersgang, og jeg har hørt på dem alle ganske mye, men ikke denne! Dette er nok første gangen jeg hører hele gjennom, og det er vanskelig å forklare hvorfor jeg hoppa over Kinks’ mest anerkjente album. Men jeg har prøvd før, og jeg var nok ikke moden nok. For det er et stykke unna ærlig rock for penga som jeg forbinder med de tidligere platene. Det er masse britisk humor på bekostning av britene og albumet er dessuten så og si helt akustisk. Arthur-plata var riktignok også ganske akustisk og hadde mye britisk humor på bekostning av britene, men på den er resten av bandet også mer fremtredende og låtene mer rocka. Når jeg hører det nå så syns jeg det er et gjennomført album med mange fine låter og morsomme tekster. Musikken låter ekte nostalgisk mens tekstene gjør narr av den samme nostalgien. Kanskje jeg måtte bli gammel nok til å ta innover meg den nostalgien. Jeg foretrekker nok fortsatt de mer elgitarorienterte platene til Kinks, men er glad Village Green nå har entret albumroosteren min. Litt slitsomt at så mange av låtene fader ut bare, eller er det bevisst? Minner som dør sakte elns
…!!
Eh.
Ah yes, nostalgia for an idyllic past that never actually existed. I'm sure that will never be used for evil (stares at MAGA) or to profit off of weary souls looking for some comfort in a horror filled world that is draining them dry day in and day out (stares at Disney). Sounds good though. I don't hate it.
not a huge fan on the Kinks, even though some of their music is iconic from the 60's. a few good road trip hits though!
this was such a great start to my day. and adeline loves it as well!
love the abandon of this album. such hooky hooks.
This was ok.
Prima plaatje! Het heeft wel wat weg van The Beatles en soms ook wel van The Beachboys. Leuk dat het album zo divers is! Grappig wel, als het album helemaal dezelfde sound is vind ik het niet chill. Als een album twee gezichten geeft vind ik het waardeloos (maak dan gewoon twee losse platen), als het het divers is vind ik dat juist wel plezant. Maar het allermooiste is toch een verhaal of een opbouw in de plaat. Toch aardig voor een WMvMLplaat.
Ik vind het een heel leuk album. Het klinkt nostalgisch en blijft verrassen. Het heeft mij aangenaam verrast. De stem is heel leuk en de muziek sluit er mooi bij aan. Het nummers days vind ik echt fantastisch. Animal farm is ook leuk. Ik vind het leuk dat deze band in de tijd van the beatles nog altijd hun eigen ding zijn blijven doen behalve dan een gezonde concurrentiestrijd om geweldige albums te maken. Het leuke van dit album vind ik ook dat sommige dingen irritant dreigen te worden, maar dan laten ze het kort duren en gaan daarna over in een mooie overgang naar goede muziek bijvoorbeeld bij phenomenal cat of all my friends were there kan je dat goed horen. De sound is heel duidelijk 60’s maar door zijn stem het zou ook een alternatieve band kunnen zijn van nu. De nummers vind ik dan ook tijdloos. De teksten zijn ook leuk, storytelling is iets wat ze goed kunnen bij the kinks en op dit album laten ze dat heel erg goed horen. Soms zit de muziek ook in de details: bij het nummer Monica is het orgeltje op de achtergrond heerlijk! Topalbum!
Best leuk, na de vorige Kinks had ik hier wel zin in. Zat er bij het begin lekker in, maar halverwege, rond Animal Farm, begin ik het wel irritant te vinden. Het wordt steeds meer quirky maar dat slaat een beetje om in joligheid en cabaret. Muzikaal is het ook wat braaf. De eerste helft vond ik wel leuk en er staan een paar aardige nummers op.
Leuke muziek! Leuk om te horen hoe creatief en vrij de muziek was in de jaren 70. Hoewel het rond deze tijd wat psychedelischer en harder werd hebben de Kinks het juist wat rustiger gehouden, een album voor leuke en vrolijk klinkende liedjes. Teksten klinken een beetje nostalgisch en lijken korte verhaaltjes uit t verleden. 4 vind ik te hoog daarom 3,4.
Spectacular. A perfect sense of place and time delivered.
Dober
4/10
Beatles ahh
I guess the Kinks were more influential that I would've initially assumed, wasn't expecting this much presence on this list. That, or the fact that the book author is British (that's the answer). Anyway, this was one of the more eclectic Kinks albums I've heard from this list. You can tell that the group matured significantly here, both in terms of artistry and lyrical content. Just makes you wish that the production was a tad better though, as I felt that something was still missing despite what I said above.
So child-ish i cant believe people listened to this shit back in the days.
I wanted a kinky album :(
Me gustaba The Kinks, nunca había escuchado ni este álbum ni estas cancion, pero me gusta mucho el estilo. Banco.
typ första albumet jag genuint gillar sen isaac hayes. hippie känslorna är starka och det är uppenbart att mac demarco kopierat picture book 8/10
66/100
cheesy
idk
Will probably get better for me on future listens but this was still really solid and has a couple of my favorite Kinks songs.
Meh?
y'a trop de trucs des kinks cet album dure 1h13 (!!) c'est bcp trop et c'est pas dingue en plus... foutez moi la paix pitier,,,
Timeless while still sounding like a time capsule. I enjoyed this much better than I remember the first time through. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains is a banger
This is the second Kinks album I've heard during the course of our 1001 and it's also fantastic. We all only ever here 'You Really Got Me' but their later songs/albums are superb and so obviously influential on later artists. This is the sort of stuff that deserves to be here.
Classic Kinks album. Great songs. Send up of British culture at the time.
*1968. *I generally like the Kinks, but this was wild. Sometimes they sound just like the Beatles when they're extra high (which I like), and then other times it's just too trippy and psychedelic for me. *After looking at the reviews, I might revisit this, but for now, it's a one and done. RATING - 6/10
None of this sounds consequential Ah wait the 2nd side is just hair raising, holy crap there's a lot of bad stuff here, this is best left forgotten
Ah yes, let's take everything that made a great band great, toss it to the side, and replace it with plodding folk vignettes and poor attempts at other music styles.
92
An interesting piece of music and an obvious influence for all the indie bands. But I don't like indie music that much. What even is indie? Why is it called indie? How does the fact you aren't signed to a label define your genre?
I really enjoyed this album. It’s interesting because it has this looking backwards “dear old England” thing that I think is deeply problematic. But, I do empathise with the anxiety of things becoming more Americanised. The other day my colleague said her primary school aged child had a prom coming up and I pulled a face, “ugh that’s so American, what happened to the year six disco.” I’m not sure I can properly untangle this in an album review. There’s definitely something enjoyable to me about the Englishness of this album, but there’s something uncomfortable about that backwards looking yearning for a past that isn’t entirely real. I did enjoy that a lot of this was presented in songs about memory and about photographs. I liked those more than the ones that were purely pastoral escapist fantasy type songs. All those complicated feelings aside, I really enjoyed it musically. It felt varied enough to stay interesting while being thematically coherent. It suffers a little from starting with the best song and then never getting back to that high, but the rest of it is still good. Fav song: The Village Green Preservation Society Least fav: Animal Farm
Love the kinks and this is not my favourite album but still some great songs in here. Quite English but in a fun way. Specific rating -4.3 Fav song - Village Green preservation society Least fav- animal farm
The Kinks were banned from touring in the US and their response was essentially to write as British of an album as they could. I think it's such a fun concept album and such a distinct theme that really makes it stand out amongst the rest of the list. Favourite song: The Village Green Preservation Society Least: Village Green
A fine album of Englishness. Great storytelling lyrics, as usual, from Ray Davies. The album must’ve stood out during 1967 when psychedelia was in its pomp and there was so much musical experimentation. This is a songwriter’s album. My only criticism is that it doesn’t feature one or two more raucous tracks, as that was Dave Davies strong point as a guitarist. However, that is a minor critique and goes against the concept of the album. 4/5
Favorite track(s): The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter?, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Big Sky, Village Green, All of My Friends Were There, Wicked Annabella The most underrated British invasion band despite owning everything the Stones or the Who ever did. Incredible stuff. Heard before Previous rating: 9/10
I do enjoy quite a bit of The Kinks. Haven’t fully made my mind up on this one. Probably one I’ll go back to.
Bem Beatles. Acho que já tinha ouvido algo dos kinks. Valeu saber que existe e só! não me pegou muito
I've always been in to this one. Still am.
There were aspects of this that kind of made me roll my eyes - the overall sound of this album was very 60s, which isn't really a sound that usually falls well on my ears. I did like a lot of the instrumentation throughout, however. I would personally give this a 3.5, but there were a few songs that really caught my ears, so I'm okay with a 4.
God this album is fun to listen to, and slightly reminiscent of early Beatles work to me. Great instrumentally and lyrically, with great harmonies throughout. Loved every minute of the record.
Beatles B sides
After two listens I’m hooked. I, like many millennials, was introduced to The Kinks through Wes Anderson film soundtracks but I’ve never listened more intentionally. This album is a British pop masterpiece.
Solid album. Good listen. Back to back days of kinks albums probably didn’t help.
07/14 Boring
Cool album
Kinks have been all over the place in their career
A visceral landscape. I’m not usually into concept albums like this but I absolutely loveeeeeee this one.
Yes
idk why i thought the kinks were punk but they're just the beatles 2
Cute, kinda like if the beatles were slowly getting sucked into a black hole
I really don’t care for 60’s psychedelic rock. The world would be better if 70% of the genre just vanished from the world
This album is alright; psychedelic rock is not really my thing, but this is fairly listenable without getting too boring or experimental. The vocalist is fairly good, and I could see how people would enjoy this album at the time.
Whilst I enjoy the wry witticism on the titular track and the general early concept album feel of this, I wasn’t massively compelled by the bulk of it. Not great, not bad.
Nice, but sometimes a bit too silly.
Johnny Thunder
Came back to re-review and score this with a 5. This album is so damn good and has totally turned me on to The Kinks. I can't get enough of this album. It's just great. A true gem.
2/3
Second band repeat. I think they're doing like a sgt pepper? I liked it! Fun. Picture book was the only one I knew before. Phenomenal cat was another stand out
I feel like Waterloo Sunset (not on this album) is a brilliant song, and every time I come across the Kinks I compare whatever I'm hearing to that and leave disappointed. Is this an unfairly high bar to clear? Perhaps, but they've shown they're capable of it. Also I find patriotism in all guises a bit off putting, and this album's weird small-c conservative theme is lame
Never listened to this album. This opening track sounds like The Who. I like it, and listening to these early albums I’m starting to understand the “British Sound” everyone was talking about. I need more context of why this is on the list. It’s a good album. But it sounds like a The Who. I never realized how much the Kinks copied The Who.
one of my favorite albums of ‘68, and definitely my favorite album by the kinks. an easy 10/10 for me!!
So nice, I listened to it twice
Having considered the Kinks much more of a singles band, listening to their classic LP all the way through was long overdue. I loved this, the writing is such a lovely snapshot of Englishness. Considering what a lot of bands were doing in the late 60s, The Kinks coming up with something that sounds more like baroque pop/folk in places and telling little stories about people in a village, that was a brave direction. I admire the artistic vision and it produced a great album. Definite 5* and I'm going to listen to it again straight away now
Wish this album had Lola on it
The album was fine, interesting enough to catch my ear every now and again, but nothing I'd want to listen to again.
Way more fun and experimental than I gave it credit for, rings around in my ears which is great
An all time classic by one of the most consistent groups since the British Invasion.
I love this album. I have this in the car on cd and keep going back to it. Side one is so good. This album is highly underrated.
Liked a bunch of the songs
love love love. especially "do you remember walter?", obsessed with how the pace changes within the song.
All the great bands and artists that enlightened music in the 1960s, and these geniuses decided to play an hour of Renaissance minstrel music.
Idk if they’re being sincere here or not, but I take it as a goof & it beats another Llewelyn Davis
I should have hated this but I’ll accept this as the only 60’s music I enjoyed a little
Pretty good classic album.
The songs are catchy, performances are fun, the production is great for the time, the politics behind the album? Weird to me lol. 3.5
God save strawberry jam
Pretty good!
It sucks that every British Invasion band had to compete with the Beatles. I hear an album like this and think: "Wow this is pretty good, but it sounds like the Beatles. Wait. Why don't I just go listen to the Beatles?" I tend to enjoy the Kinks' later stuff more.
Partially known. One great song and the rest was kind of a snooze.
Refreshingly thoughtful. Good job, Kinks, now a thinking delight. 40 minutes rush by, barely a song much past two minutes. Elegiac and refreshingly inventive at the same time, even nostalgic. So I guess sitting by the riverside mellows you out. (Okay Wicked Annabella is a darkthing, but she highlights the bright appreciation of the green.)
I guess I love The Kinks. This is the fourth album and the fourth 4-star review. Maybe they all really deserve 5s. In addition to the material and performances being excellent, how much influence did this band wield? The Move and ELO totally lifted ideas from Do You Remember Walter (and others), Johnny Thunders... The Kinks are kingmakers.
Peak Kinks right here. Ray is one of my favorite songwriters and lyricists. I love how this album embraces nostalgia and mocks it at the same time.
I loved this! Completely unfamiliar with this era of The Kinks.
Cool sound
Not the strongest album I’ve heard, but it holds up.
It has a very Beatles-esque sound to it. I do enjoy this for the most part, however there wasn't something that really jumped out for me. I did initially recoil when I thought it was almost 3 hrs long, before realizing the rest of the album was demos or live performances. I couldn't hack this for that long. It's a decent sounding record with some fun and interesting elements, not afraid to experiment every so often. Fav Track: Sitting by the Riverside
Bit disappointed with this one as I like a lot of the Kinks
Enjoyed this a lot, maximum whimsy
Not their best work, sounding more like The Beatles here.
ofc a pleasant listen but imo kind of forgettable! title track is immortal though. “picture book” also charming. i’m giving it a 3 mainly for those two + nostalgia reasons for being a kid in high school and discovering the kinks, but it’s a weak 3.
Honestly wasn’t thrilled with this. It sounds like they were heavily influenced by the Beatles Sergeant Pepper‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, but they made a worse version of it. 3 stars
Day 318 Unmistakably English, slightly twee in places but enjoyable. Highlights TVGPS Last of the Steam Powered Trains The Village
It's very very hard not to mention the Beatles whenever I listen to the Kinks... and yeah, this is basically a decent middle ground between the pop and psychedelia of that other group.
pretty lame, honestly.
A chill, jingly album. I especially like Big Sky and the song which gives the album its namesake. I do often feel a bit underwhelmed by the Kinks, however. I am not drawn to the cheeky, light hearted nature of it all. This exercise seems to be illustrating to me how much lyricism and emotional honesty in music draws me in much more.
Good album. Right down the middle for the British Invasion. Fun and light. Would never be upset if someone puts it on, but would never really choose it. Lyrics were good and instrumentation were easy going. I can appreciate the fact that they were the forefronts of the concept album/band which is cool
4/5 This album sounds so British, but I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of interesting experimentation. Animal Farm and Sitting by The Riverside were my favorite songs. I really disliked "All of my Friends were There" because of the vocals. There were some interesting chord progressions here and the lyrics about farms, nature, and what not were cool
You can feel the beatles influence. They cannot quite pull it off even tho this being a fun listen.
Quirky, quaint, and full of detail. Just what you want from an English songwriter.
One of the best albums of all time !
Meh