The Village Green Preservation Society

Possible muse for Jack Johnson?

kinks are cool

Always loved this album. None of their hits but just a very cool album. Not like anything else that was coming out in 1968.

Amazing

Typical Kinks. fine ...

One of my favorite albums. Nothing but great pop songs with memorable melodies, and each song has its own personality and character. I also love that the songs are tied together by the theme of nostalgia. On some songs, lead singer/songwriter Ray Davies satirizes the way we look back on the past with rose-colored glasses. Other times I think he's being pretty genuine and earnest. It's an idea I connect with. On one hand, nostalgia is a powerful, personal thing. It's one of the things that makes us human. But we can also get a little carried away with it as a society. The title track is excellent and functions as a great opening thesis for the idea of the album. And "Picture Book" is a classic. One of the band's catchiest songs. Can you believe that "People Take Pictures of Each Other" was written over 50 years ago, well before the days of smartphones, selfies and Instagram? The song resonates now more than ever. Funny to think that Ray Davies saw this annoying quality in people even back in the 60's. I've been thinking about this sort of idea lately -- how people always complain about the present day and imagine the past to be better. 'Kids these days' are always worse than kids in the past. Technology is always ruining society. But I don't buy that. I think people would have said the same thing 20, 50, or 100 years ago. So is the world really getting worse or is complaining about the present just a thing people always do? Honestly, the whole album gets at that idea but it does so with bright, playful songs. Always a pleasure to put this album on and today it also got me thinking.

I generally really enjoy this era and style of British Invasion rock. The kinks have always been a favorite of mine, managing to be somewhere between The Who and The Beatles in a way that really works for me.

Having only heard they're big hits. This was a feel good dive into other songs. Enjoyed it.

"The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society" is the sixth studio album by English rock band the Kinks. Pop, rock, baroque pop and folk-pop are the main genres with influences of musichall, folk, blues, calypso and pychedelic. It was thought of as an early concept album with a collection of character studies and based on Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood" with themes of nostalgia, memory and preservation. It took the Kinks from pop hitmakers to a favored cult band. The album failed to initially chart but with reissues became their best selling album in the UK. It was also widely lauded by critics. The album begins with a simple pop song "The Village Green Preservation Society." Guitar, harmonization and piano. Lead singer Ray Davies singing about preserving things from England's past. Ray is flipping through a picture book in "Picture Book." A catchy hook with bass, guitar and vocals. So, catchy I thought I had turned on Green Day's "Warning." I believe there was a law suit there. "Big Sky" starts out with guitars, backing vocals and great rolling drums. Someone is looking down on people. Is it God? The second side begins with the wonderful "Animal Farm." Where has this been all my life? The songs starts out a lot like the Beatles' "Lovely Rita" then goes baroque. Guitar, piano and string arrangements. Great musical chorus with the guitar and piano. Anti-urban commentary. The songs take a weirder turn towards the secind half of the second side. Not unwanted. "Phenomal Cat" tells the story of a flying cat who visited exotic places. It starts out with a flute. Dave Davies' as the cat's voice. They go pschedelic in "Wicked Annabella." Drums lead to a charging guitar. Dave Davies on lead vocals as he tells the story of a witch warning the children to stay in their beds and out of the woods. He whispers. The band goes full out pyschdelic at the end....appropriately. This is a fantastic album. The flow of different songs really works. The story telling is interesting. The music is varied with tons of hooks and catchy choruses. All the instruments stand out at different times. It's very influential and you can hear it in a number of 1980 and 1990 songs. An album everyone need to listen to.

„You really got me” is iconic for a reason! Nothing in this album beats it, but it’s still pretty solid.

Ray Davies is a genius

Classic

This is a great album, it's probably one of the Kinks album I listen to the most in full. I love the production and vibe of the album. It's almost more difficult to review albums I know well and just really enjoy, not a lot to say. This one is a 5/5 for me. Standout Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter, Picture Book, Johnny Thunder, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Sitting by the Riverside, Animal Farm, Starstruck, All of My Friends Were There, People Take Pictures of Each Other

i enjoy the kinks immensely

"The Village Green Preservation Society" by The Kinks is a seminal album that has garnered both critical acclaim and public indifference. Released in 1968, the album, often considered a concept record, explores themes of nostalgia, societal change, and preservation. 1. Lyrics Ray Davies, the lead songwriter, delivers poignant and reflective lyrics throughout the album. The songs paint a vivid picture of a bygone era, celebrating the simplicity of small-town life while also addressing the challenges of modernity. Tracks like "Village Green" and "Do You Remember Walter?" showcase Davies' storytelling prowess and ability to evoke a sense of longing and introspection [1]. 2. Music Dominantly acoustic-driven, the musical landscape of the album is charming and melodic. The instrumentation, featuring acoustic guitars, pianos, and orchestral arrangements, contributes to the album's warm and inviting atmosphere. Ray and Dave Davies' harmonies add a layer of authenticity, creating a sound that resonates with simplicity and sincerity [5]. 3. Production The production of "The Village Green Preservation Society" has been a subject of debate. Some critics praise its lo-fi charm, considering it a deliberate choice to enhance the nostalgic feel. However, others criticize the mix, citing it as inconsistent and occasionally detracting from the overall listening experience [2]. 4. Themes The album explores diverse themes, ranging from the preservation of cultural heritage to the impact of progress on small communities. Each track contributes to a broader narrative, creating a cohesive thematic structure that reflects Ray Davies' keen observations on societal shifts during the late 1960s [3]. 5. Influence "The Village Green Preservation Society" has left a lasting impact on subsequent generations of musicians. Its influence can be heard in the works of artists who appreciate the fusion of folk, rock, and storytelling. The album's ability to capture a specific moment in time while addressing universal themes has solidified its place in the pantheon of influential records [6]. Pros and Cons Pros: Lyrical Depth: Ray Davies' lyrical prowess shines, offering thought-provoking narratives. Melodic Charm: The acoustic-driven melodies create an inviting and timeless musical landscape. Influence: The album's impact on subsequent generations attests to its enduring significance. Cons: Production Inconsistencies: The mix has faced criticism for its occasional lack of cohesion [2]. In conclusion, "The Village Green Preservation Society" stands as a remarkable exploration of the past in the face of an evolving present. Its lyrical richness and melodic charm continue to resonate, despite some production criticisms.

A pleasant surprise! It’s the Beatles meets The Stones meets Lou Reef. I like some other Kinks stuff but I didn’t know this album.

One of my favorite bands. They didn’t release a bad album in the ‘60s, and this is one of their best.

Beautiful

Very pleasant listen

After being briefly banned from touring the US, The Kinks started looking inward to their own homeland for inspiration. The result is a concept combining the traditionalist British culture with the loose, unrefined and experimental youth culture. An early concept album, a cult classic and some of their best music.

I think is my favorite band

No conocía este grupo, y me encantó. Suenan muy bien.

I love this album. Catchy songs with interesting story lyrics. Very English!

I thought I liked The Kinks, but obviously not super well, because this album totally missed me! This is really good! Right up there close to Beatles or Nilsson stuff. Village Green is the right mix of psych and pop. Feeling it a lot. Gonna go 4.5 on this one!

Super fun and great album

4.5 stars rounded up. I love the concept and almost all the tracks work. My only gripe is that I have to listen all the way through. Everything is solid and coheres. Nothing stands on its own as an isolated track.

Great

4.5

Side 1 is flawless Side 2 is also great

HAIKU REVIEW English countryside captured in tiny snippets. British time capsule!

simply amazing

I've always loved the Kinks but for some reason this album was off my radar for many years. I was given a burnt copy as a last minute birthday gift one year and on first listen I found it bizarre on first listen. Months later it cam up on random and I decided to give it another go and discovered this is one of the best concept albums ever released. Why the change in opinion? There isn't a song out of place, no filler, no half sketched ideas. Perfectly crafted pop that's influence lives on over 50 year later - it is more important to Brit Pop than most other albums.

De jaren zestig: de een begon De Eenzame-Hartenclub van Sergeant Pepper, de ander hield een Bedelaarsbanket, en deze heren stichtten De Vereniging tot Behoud van de Dorpsbrink. Het leuke aan de Kinks is die relaxt-ironische houding die hier tot grote hoogten wordt doorgedreven. Zowaar ga je een beetje naar de teksten luisteren, toch een prestatie voor iets in het Engels. Het schijnt dat er onder alle ironie zowaar echt een laagje gemeende nostalgie zit. Hoe dan ook, ik vond dit album een aangename verrassing. Ik ben voor de aardigheid maar eens royaal met de punten.

Uno de los álbumes más consistentes de la legendaria banda inglesa. Con canciones como “Picture Book” construyeron el panorama del Jangle Rock alternativo de los ‘90s, además de jugar de forma sumamente eficiente con la psicodelia con canciones como “Big Sky”, “Phenomenal Cat” o “Do You Remember Walter?”. Un indispensable para cualquier fanático de las tendencias más alternativas de la música anglosajona.

August 6, 2023 not 1st listen maybe the most British-sounding album I've heard, and I've heard many British-sounding albums But it's also an old favourite of mine, as far as non-Beatles 60s pop goes, and I relish an excuse to listen to it again. I actually had the opener as a morning alarm last month, and it's been stuck in my head continuously as a result. "God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety!" <3 HL: title track, "Animal Farm", "Village Green", "Picture Book", "Big Sky", "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains", "Starstruck"

old rock full of brit style

Of all the 60s era i definitely love Kinks the most

I love this album. I loved it the first time I heard it and it has held up on countless listens. I was really into the early Blur albums before I listened to Village Green, so I immediately connected to the similar observations on provincial English life. One of my favorites.

Three 60’s albums in a row. That’s cool, I guess. I love the Kinks for how much they indulge in their… Britishness? Britainism? Britishity? Wait. Anyway, their baroque pop is just really enjoyable. Apparently this is a concept album about stories or something like that. I just think it has good songwriting . I don’t know how to end this, so I’ll just close out with the fun fact that my band at School of Rock (a music learning place, I play guitar) played Picture Book once. I wasn’t on it.

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

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

Great

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

love it

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

Wondeful

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.

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.

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.

Classic Brit 60s rock

Great.

9/10, great album

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

*chef's kiss*

Classic British music.

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

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

Loved this!

cool

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

More recognizable songs. Beetles-esque sound

Great!

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!

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

It's really good, enjoyed it.

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Easy listening on the train ride home

Their sound is so freaking delicious. Love the concept thread format.

One of my favorite concept albums. Whereas Sgt. Pepper's contrasted a drab reality with an escape into psychedelia, Village Green escapes into a nostalgia for the past - and stays more grounded in doing so. It has a more consistent and even keeled tone. Okay, it does become a bit unraveled at the end, with the oddness of "Phenomenal Cat" and the jerky but dreamlike "All Of My Friends Were There." Other than that though, this album flows like The River Thames. These songs seem to come from a very real and direct place. The product of honest self reflection. It amazes me that Ray Davies was only 24 years old at the time of recording this album. He was able to articulate the wisdom and perspective of someone well beyond his years. An underrated classic that stands the rest of time.

Just such evocative music, really speaks to Britain in a specific way no other album really does. 4.7

Well, 'Starstruck' and the weird, slightly unsettling 'Monica' are two of my favourite Kinks tracks; whilst 'Picture Book' is one of my favourite pop songs, full stop. Just those three songs alone warrant five stars. But you know what? The rest is a joy too - charming, ambitious and seemingly unfettered by received notions of what rock music should treat as its subject matter. Very British, wry, observant and rather lovely.

Listened to this one twice---mono first then stereo and really liked it both times. I think I like the mono mix better but the stereo version is better quality sound. I previously avoided The Kinks b/c of only having access to deluxe/super deluxe/expanded versions; makes for annoying last.fm scrobbles and I don't like having to look up what the original album included and then have save a playlist to avoid the extra, unneeded tracks later. Anyway, I really liked People Take Pictures of Each Other and Big Sky, which has been in my head all weekend. I think I like this as much as my previous favorite Kinks, Muswell Hillbillies.

Instant 5 for "The Last of the Stream-Powered Trains" - T/E should not be surprised

As English as the queen of englands proverbials! This is classic songwriting!

Love the Kinks and I believe this is their best album. Their true masterpiece.

I love this album... Ray Davies at his whimsical best. happy it was the last one I got to listen to in Australia.

Favorite Kinks album, just a great album.

Wantlist

FIVE STARS An all-time classic and a personal favorite of mine. As is usually the case with those five-stars albums, I won't write a full-blown review about this particular record, because others have already written wonderful stuff about it and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. It's just a gem. Go and listen to it a.s.a.p. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 963 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 16 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 8 Albums from the list I will *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 12 Albums I might not be able to judge (some might end up on my final list but it's because I recognize how culturally important they are): 2

From the title and album cover down, you may think that this is The Kinks at their most San Francisco in 1967 and you wouldn't be blamed. You also wouldn't be blamed if you think this is The Kinks at their absolute finest. One listen to the title track and you are transported into a time when things were simple and not even that description does this album justice. The Kinks' greatest forty minutes and forty minutes well spent.

Love The Kinks. Perfection.

The Kinks have a ton of hits. I can probably name 15 off the top of my head, the majority of them perfect pop songs. And there isn't a single one of those gems on this album. In fact, unless you're related to the Davies or you happen to be Wes Anderson, you likely haven't heard any song from this album. It doesn't matter. This album is fucking great. I loved every minute of it, and I'm almost embarrassed that it took this long to finally get around to hearing it. This is a million times better than all the Byrds albums we've had to listen to here. We should probably talk about Ray and Dave Davies more than we do, or at least more than the press we give to the freaking Gallagher Brothers.

Loved it

I had never heard this album, but I think I will listen to it and see if it hopes up to Soap Opera

This sounds like something the Beatles could've put out. Very experimental songwriting and rock solid execution. This might be my favorite Kinks album.

There are some great sounds coming out of this one. There are timeless hooks and builds that have influenced countless bands. Not to mention consumers. Some songs, or portions of them are ubiquitous in film scores (Darjeeling Limited) and commercials. 'Picture Book' was played in an HP Commercial that played incessantly in the early 2000's. Also the intro from 'Steam-Powered Trains' is used in either some Dick Pills, or Valtrex / STD-type commercials. And why not? With lines like "I'm the last of the good old renegades, all my friends are middle-class and gray" and "last of the good choo-choo trains" big pharma was obviously looking to connect with old dudes looking to plow twenty year-olds. The selection only makes sense. Anyhow, I really love the sound of this album. It's ragged, garage-y and crusty, yet loosely unified in all the right spots... perfect for old dudes. This is The Kinks that I know and love.

Picture Book direct inspo for MD's Salad Days

I absolutely love the Kinks, and this is a classic. Picture Book is the standout tune for me, absolutely wonderful.

5 of 1,001. First time listening, but loved this. Lots of great moments. Will listen to this again.

Wonderful record. Hadn’t realised that it was so ignored initially. “…Walter” a standout track for me.

Really like this album. I'm familiar with the usual Kinks songs but had never heard any of the songs on this album. I keep listening to the title track over and over again. It's got a Lewis Carroll feel to it. The whole album is amazing though start to finish. There are a few silly songs on the album but they don't really distract from the whole and even those have some parts that are really good.

modern b

Arguably the best Kinks record.

Ooh goede zomer vibe i like it Animal farm hype

Я люблю такое

Songs are nice and short, so we're off to a good start. No songs stick out as obvious singles. But overall really good. I actually started listening again after it ended.

Pop sixtie y experimentación en un disco conceptual precioso y nostálgico. Canciones cortas y brillantes. Muy bonito, no tiene que envidiar nada a Beatles ni Rolling.

Loved it

9/10

Outstanding.

This album was great. I love Picture Book, great song.

5 Punkte, da eins meiner all time lieblingslieder drauf ist.

Some rhythms and melodies in here that I know exist elsewhere

Extremely influential

YES love this one already

A favourite Kinks album with some classic songs

i love this

Cute, kinda like if the beatles were slowly getting sucked into a black hole

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.

love love love. especially "do you remember walter?", obsessed with how the pace changes within the song.

Pretty good!

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.

I loved this! Completely unfamiliar with this era of The Kinks.

Enjoyed this a lot, maximum whimsy

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

Two albums from these guys in a row is pretty Kinky, if you catch my drift. I see why people glaze this one in particular – it's often mentioned in polls deciding the best album of a given year (in this case, 1968). The opener/semi-title-track is fine, but having your first song be softly and limply delivered conjures worries that the rest of the album will be the same way. Fortunately, that doesn't end up being the case – but there's a reason most albums start with something relatively hard-hitting. The first few seconds of Do You Remember Walter?, the second song, sound like a near-carbon-copy of the beginning of ELO's Mr. Blue Sky. I had to check that I hadn't accidentally put Spotify on shuffle. A decent song and one that would've worked better as an opener. Picture Book is energetic with a sort of oldey-time rock'n'roll group vocal, like something the Rolling Stones were doing around the same time. "A picture of you / In your birthday suit" threw me for a loop (these guys are supposed to be family-friendly like the Beatles were, right?) The meandering guitar line during the chorus is fantastic though. As is the out-of-left-field "scooby dooby duh" lyric. Then there's Last of the Steam-Powered Trains – a spirited rock-adjacent performance featuring some solid harmonica playing, energetic drums... and a fairly decent melody. Melodies seemed to be in short supply in the 60s. McCartney was hogging most of them. If you're wondering where the post-Summer-o'-Love goofiness lies, look no further than around halfway through the album, with Sitting By the Riverside. It's literally just a Syd Barrett song. A wavery but still clearly good vocal part, various soft accordions and other atypical instruments, a whimsical kind of vibe. Love it. Village Green (real title track??) is much the same. Animal Farm is great too, though pretty unmemorable. Phenomenal Cat arguably takes the "soft whimsical psychedelia noodling" a little too far – that weird chipmunk filter doesn't do it any favours – but the mellotron and song title barely save it. "Earworm song of the hour" award goes to Starstruck. I don't know what to compare this to. The Beach Boys' Heroes & Villains, maybe? No idea. It's kind of a gentler, more acoustic alternative take. Bleh. All of My Friends Were There... Not good. Again sort of reads like a Barrett composition, but those have the benefit of being composed and performed by goddamn Syd Barrett. The Kinks, while very famous, don't have quite the same star power. And they can't keep getting away with psychedelic pastiche, even if it's rare. Now Wicked Annabella, that's much better. Some solid mega-distorted guitar, and perhaps the best drumming I've heard from the Kinks. Not a huge fan of the singing in Monica and People Take Pictures of Each Other to end the album. But most of the other tracks are pretty consistently strong. 4/5 Key tracks: Picture Book, Sitting By the Riverside, Starstruck

Pop Rock Favorite Songs: Do You Remember Walter?, Johnny Thunder, Last of the Steam-Powered Train, Big Sky, Animal Farm, Village Green, Starstruck, All My Friends Were There Least Favorite Song: Phenomenal Cat I’ve heard a few decent The Kniks’ songs before starting this project, but after hearing this album, it was a completely different take of the band than from what I would normally expected from them. That being said though, I’m actually not complaining. Their more calmer elements of the album than what’s usually expected sounded mostly pleasant. There were a few things that I’d wished that they could’ve done differently, but if anything, this album is a welcoming experience. Definitely going into my personal collection. 8/10.

Awesome album

Really fun album!

3.5/5

I never *love* the Kinks, but I almost always enjoy them -- except for when I feel they are too proud of themselves for being silly.

Really enjoyed listening this album. Understand their influence on later bands.

Very old, quite good.

Second album from The Kinks on this list and much like the first I really enjoyed it without it having any tracks I absolutely loved to push it to 5 stars. Top Track - Johnny Thunder

Que buen estilo tienen los kinks!

Great album

Mainly liked it because they dared to be different and made some great songs in the process.

early beatles vibes 100%

Album #115: The Kinks — The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Despite only getting four stars, this is a personal favourite of mine. I absolutely adore this album. I just don’t think, objectively, it’s a full five stars. But I also think The Kinks are vastly underrated when compared to bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles and the other contemporaries of the time. I think they were nearly every bit as creative and inventive as those bands, but here I am underrating them again as well, so it’s funny like that. It’s a concept album about a quaint little English village and, while I’m Irish, our villages tend to be kind of similar in terms of quaintness and modesty and all those kinds of manners and little everyday characters. Culturally they’re obviously very different, but there are similarities there too. So this is actually a very relatable album in a lot of ways. The whole quaintness of it is given over to the music. It’s never bombastic. It’s all very subtle and quirky. It depicts different characters you might come across in a village and really it’s kind of giving an album to the everyman. It’s like if Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band wasn’t written about a fake band, but was instead written about ordinary people you’d meet out on a walk. What I love most about it is how catchy it is. Lovely melodies, quirky funny lyrics, every song really short but memorable. Chugging rhythms all over it and there’s never any big solos or attempts at showing off. There’s no real sense of the garage band they started out as. From a musical perspective it feels like a really thoughtful, carefully constructed album. I think as the album goes on it just gets weirder and weirder too. Songs like Wicked Annabella delve into psychedelia, but not in the overt way of someone like Jimi Hendrix. It’s a very English kind of psychedelia. The weirdness is there, but it’s understated. It’s actually quite difficult to review because I’m not entirely sure how to describe why it works so well. I just love it. I love the title track, Picture Book, Monica, Starstruck, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains. I think the rhythm section in particular is amazing throughout the album. Everything just kind of chugs along in this strange, uniquely English way. Where The Beatles explored Indian music and The Rolling Stones rooted themselves in American blues, this feels completely English to its core. Honestly, this might be the quintessential English album. It’s just full of charm and character. Pretty much every song is good. As a side note, I’ve only been listening to the original versions of albums for this project, not the deluxe editions or expanded cuts. I’d never get through the list otherwise. But my favourite song from this whole era of The Kinks is actually an outtake from these sessions called Misty Water. If you haven’t heard it, I highly recommend it. It’s my favourite Kinks song full stop.

A classic, but not in the top division of the best albums of this area. Have listened to it in the past every now and again, and will always continue to do so.

Classic exempel på; "behöver jag lyssna på ett till?" Antar att det här var viktigt för genre eller liknande. MED DET SAGT - jag njöt. Kanske det mest jämna albumet från The Kinks hittills, men faller på inga superlåtar.

Positivt överraskad. Var inte alls sugen på mer 60-tal men den nostalgiska brittromantiken fick mig

So many good little songs on this album, you never tire of them cuz they move by quickly, and each one has its own little vibe. You can hear a ton of different styles and influences as well, but they're all somewhat subtle.

Speels, afwisselend

Yep. First few songs were great. Definitely feel like it was an album of the 60s. Worthy of a listen at least once. For a minute I thought, these guys should have been The Beatles, but I just feel like it didn't push enough. There was definitely recording shenanigans, like playing with stereo. I dunno. Maybe I'm just past my old bands are better than new bands phase.

Released the same week as the White Album in November 1968, this record never had a chance. The Beatles cast a shadow so large that almost anything would disappear beneath it, and Village Green Preservation Society — quiet, nostalgic, and deliberately unfashionable — was exactly the kind of record that gets buried rather than celebrated in that kind of cultural moment. What Ray Davies was doing here is actually quietly radical. While everyone else in 1968 was going cosmic, psychedelic, or political, he wrote a record about village greens, steam engines, old friends, and a vanishing English way of life — and committed to it completely without apology or irony. The contrarianism is part of the charm, but so is the genuine warmth underneath it. This is the British Isles equivalent of what the Band was doing with Americana across the Atlantic — finding something worth preserving in the ordinary and making it feel universal. The songs are consistently strong without any single track towering above the rest, which is both the record's limitation and its defining quality. It sustains a mood and an identity front to back in a way that rewards return listens rather than demanding them. The melodic generosity is real throughout. The record player test passed clearly — something you'd actually reach for again. That's not generosity. That's a four.

Musically I enjoyed this and lyrically it really hit home for me. I read once that they found a stone tool that was 100,000 years old and near it they found another stone tool that was 50,000 years old and, other than their ages, they were identical. Same materials, same exact design, the same tool unchanged for 50,000 years. That is how slowly life changed for 99% of human history. We as a species are not wired for life to change as rapidly as it has been changing since the Renaissance. We are all in constant states of mourning for a world that no longer exists, and in the case of this album (and maybe in all cases), never really existed. We are not psychologically equipped to deal with the world as we know it vanishing during our lifetimes. So, I like this whimsical album mourning a simpler world that the author knew was gone and was never coming back. Even if that world was mostly make believe.

What's not to like?

While it's not their best, it's still super solid, and picture book is an all-time great. Feels a bit like a stepping stone album toward what they would accomplish.

Nice, very Sgt. Peppers vibe.

Hot start, like it

algumas cópias dos beatles são legais

Just a classic. The kinks can’t make a bad song

like a beatles album but better

This was so based, that I listend to the Kinks the whole morning. Before today I only knew Lola, and I even have them on vinyl.

I remember hearing an interview where Jeff Lynn said that without this album, ELO as we know it might not ever have existed. Hearing it with that perspective ties a lot of things together for me. You can hear the family relation in the music. This album was released in the U.S. at about the same time I was and we're both showing our age. The album is more fun to dance around to. Youtube has lots of extra reissue material, which I am going to ignore for the sake of this review.

Just a fine bunch of lads, not their most memorable hits, but a pleasant listen

I have this record.

The stereo mixing is awful with headphones, makes you feel dizzy. If you can get past that, good songs!

Fully expected to give this kind of 60s pop rock a 1/5 but no - Campy and corny as hell, really quite fun.

What a charming record. A glorious golden-hour, nostalgic peek into a concept of England that maybe never really existed. Lyrics and melodies completely on point. Another where streaming service versions are taking the piss though. Brilliant though the Kinks may be, putting 60 tracks up and calling it an album - when the original had 15 - really cheapens the thing.

I'm going to be really harsh and give this a 4 as albums by The Kinks for me are generally instant 5's. But... I find this marginally less enjoyable than Arthur or Lola, with a slightly less interesting story. However, it's still incredible. Love all the different styles towards the back end of the album. Maybe I'm being overly harsh and after another listen through I'll take this up to a 5.

This is a really good collection of songs. These also just hold up really well. Absolutely exuberant. I don’t think I liked this quite as much as Arthur but this is definitely the same tier. Favorites were the title track, Do You Remember Walter?, Johnny Thunder, Last Of The Steam-powered Trains, Animal Farm, and Starstruck.

I love you weird British band.

I don't think I had heard this album before today (likely might've). I feel like the influence of The Beatles ins massive in this album. I had to freshen up on The Beatles timeline to get a grip on how this sound fit in with their musical journey.

I remember when I heard this album first. A friend of mine worked in Zhivago, a local music store. Zhivago was an institution of our youth, a place where I had spent countless hours sifting through CDs, not looking for anything in particular, maybe just some inspiration as to what to listen to next. One of the perks of his job was that employees were allowed to borrow one CD or DVD each evening, bring it home to watch or listen to, and then return to the store the next morning. This happened to coincide nicely with the arrival of my desktop computer and first ever portable MP3 player. No, not the iPod. I’m even older than that now-obsolete piece of tech. My first MP3 player pre-dated the popularity of the iPod. I had a Creative Zen. So, thanks to the perks of my friend’s job, and the proximity of my apartment to Zhivago, my Creative Zen’s music library was filling up nicely. One day, he brought over “The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society”. I was intrigued. I had an old compilation of the best hits of the band, labelled “The Story of the Kinks”, that I had played the bajaysus out of. But, I’d never actually heard a full album of theirs. And this was a concept album. Needless to say, my Dell computer was quick to swallow the CD and digitally rip its contents into my Creative Zen library. But it wasn’t what I’d expected at all. To me, the Kinks were a raucous proto-punk 60s band, churning out raw, gritty fuzz-soaked tunes like “All Day and All of the Night” or “You Really Got Me”. I loved learning the fact that Jimmy Page played lead guitar on some of these songs, lending both his skills and his fuzz-tone to help shape their music. But this wasn’t that band. This was a refined, quirky, almost folky group playing laid-back acoustic songs about eccentric characters and the olden days of England. It sounded more like a precursor for indie rock than punk. It might have thrown me, and my preconceived perception of the Kinks, but I got over it pretty quickly. Songs like the title track, “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”, “Big Sky”, “Do You Remember Walter” and many others really won me over. It’s like every song on the album is in a different genre, but they somehow all have a commonality to them. The Kinks sound here might not have been what I was expecting, but that “new” sound was easy to identify as theirs right away. “Picture Book” is my favourite track by a mile here. Like most of the songs, it’s a strange subject matter, which adds to the intrigue. The marching acoustic riff between the verse and chorus is something else. The drumming is a key factor, not just in this song, and gives these songs the right amount of kinetic energy to make them so enjoyable. It seems like The Kinks and Small Faces were two of a very small number of bands in the late 60s who were coming out with these lighter, more laid-back records that focused on less glamorous, “slice of life” themes. It was a real departure from the heavier rock sounds and the more experimental psychedelia that many other bands were producing at that time, so it stands out as something quite unique. I think that’s what makes this album work so well. There’s a real honesty to these songs, and taken in the context of the album’s concept, they work really well. Taken outside of that context, the music is good enough to carry them alone. I miss my Creative Zen. It was replaced by an iPod after I dropped it into the toilet, and now that’s been replaced by Spotify. Zhivago doesn’t really exist anymore, well, not in the way it used to, as a music shop. It couldn’t sustain itself solely selling music in a digital world that had turned its back on traditional music collecting. Now it sells mostly Irish tat, leprechaun hats, “Póg mo thóin” t-shirts and shamrock glasses to passing tourists. But I recently realised that a small section of the store is still set aside to sell vinyl. It might be a small selection compared to back in the day, but it’s still there. In fact, I recently bought David Byrne’s new record there. Maybe I’ll head in there over the weekend and pick up “The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society” on vinyl. I guess I owe them.

i liked it! i would like to find a version without an entire second version of the album.

Not knowing this album was a hiatus in my musical knowledge. It was a fun listen, The Kinks usually are, and the theme of the album is quite clear. I understand how this record became an evergreen, revered by many musicians of later generations.

I love the Kinks. I love how ironic and tongue in cheek they are. They pull it off with such musical competence. They’re able to jump genre and write a catchy and witty song with seeming ease. But it does get tiring. This album is only 40 minutes, but I was ready for it to finish. That’s my only real complaint. Boolean: yes, absolutely glad to hear a Kinks album, generally

Enjoyed this. Would benefit from repeat listens because there is a lot going on with the lyrics.

Earnest, well-written, nostalgic, and well-performed rock music. A pleasant listen, perfect for a summer drive through a city you grew up in.

Kinks forever

One of the best Kinks albums in my opinion. Sounds like a nice picnic in the country. Favorite track: Village Green 4.5/5

Great stuff

Always loved this album.

Pretty good concept album about the simple village life, good old times and quirky people. Reminds me of Nick Cave's "God is in the house", which I love. Of course it has the usual baroque melodies and satirical lyrics the Kinks are famous for.

8/10: a charming album by one of Britain’s most charming bands. Makes me nostalgic for a world I never knew. More albums should be as fun as this are, whimsy is underrated. Best song: People Take Pictures of Each Other Best moment(s): the quaint little storytelling in the verses of the title track

I’m happy SOMEONE is ensuring our heritage is preserved. All those jam varieties are important! LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM, and if it doesn’t work for you, get an ear transplant.

No intention of kink shaming here…. Absolutely great record!

man the first three tracks on this album are total all timers. the kniks are pretty epicsauce but I feel a bit trepidatious about them... but tbh i never knew they have almost 30 albums and some of them (Soap Opera) seem hilarious

very enjoyable, very english, will listen again fosho

I've always thought the Kinks were a really underrated band. I've loved them since I was very young. This isn't my favorite album by them but still fantastic.

This still isn't quite the Kinks album I want to hear (and I'm afraid that the one with Strangers isn't on here) but it's very charming nonetheless. (And of course I like seeing my daughter so happy.)

Interesting concept album from The Kinks. Last album to have the original kinks lineup was an interesting trivia note for myself. Songs felt fairly quick and I was able to process some of the lyrics upon first listen. Not likely I’ll revisit the album itself or more of The Kinks music but I appreciate thee exposure and what I read about the album from Wikipedia. Happy listening all!

Feels like sgt pepper at home 4/5

Eigentlich 4.5/5, weil das eine Zeit lang eins meiner Lieblingsalben war, aber wenn ich das jetzt wieder höre, ist es keine 5/5 mehr... Trotzdem ein sehr gutes und spaßiges album! Lieblingssongs: Sitting by the Riverside, Starstruck, Monica, People Take Pictures of Each Other

What if we put a really bad blues song in like every British act from the 60s? Other than that I really like this album. A lot. The first track is stuck in my head. It’s so funny. It’s interesting that this is a small c conservative album, literally about conserving and reminiscing about the past. But it doesn’t feel regressive. It feels like an album for your uncle who really loves history museums. Me basically. I think it’s a little too inconsistent to be a 5. Definitely a 4.5.

Great album, exceeded my expectations. Good vibes, made me feel happy Favourites: Do you remember Walter?, Picture Book, Sitting By the Riverside, People take pictures of eachother

Wallah, it was peak

3 or 4 idk, didn’t get through it but some good some bad kinda just like this era of sound

Más fácil de digerir. Canciones cortas, una vibra nostálgica muy clara y un mood que se siente como soundtrack

Some pretty good shit on here, surprised these guys don't get more credit.

Not my very favorite Kinks but this is very enjoyable. I hadn't heard many of these songs before. Get some Sgt. Pepper vibes for sure.

Third Kinks album to show up on this list, and the best so far. Good songwriting and interesting touches to many songs, which takes it above the second-rate Beatles connotations of their other albums. Good stuff

I love the kinks. My dad used to call them the poor man's Beatles, but honestly they are a top notch band on their own!!! 8/10 Top song Picture book

I liked this a lot! Keen to give it another listen not as background music on a three hour drive but tbf it suited that perfectly.

This is beautiful and sweet. You can hear the influence of this on hundreds of other albums in the 80s and 90s and in particular in 00s indie rock. I love the little stories and the vision of British life and the characters he conjures. Lovely stuff.

Son los inicios y este álbum marco el camino de muchos otros, sonidos revolucionarios para la época con gran valor

Favorite Track: Village Green

Pretty decent- very 60’s-esque

I enjoyed this album. Most of the songs were under 3 minutes and the lyrics and melodies were different enough that the songs didn't sound the same. I really liked "Sitting By The Riverside" especially the piano part.

thought Waterloo sunset was on this and it wasn't.

Okay

Haven’t heard this in years, what a pleasant surprise! I get why this didn’t exactly knock people’s socks off at the time, but this is really a good album. Excellent observational songs, played confidently and well by a band that had come into its own.

The Beatles: ok you can copy my homework but don't make it obvious The Kinks: ~ Favs: Picture book, Village Green, Starstruck, Riverside, Walter

4.5 stars if i could. so fun. id go in more depth about the progressions and vocal overlays but honestly just fun. saved it to my library.

Bangers. What was concept, set precedent. The songs rock n rollers listened to.

Two Hot Fuzz songs. I like!

Easily more intriguing than Arthur. The name Village Green Preservation Society has that "Sgt. Peppers" feel. The Kinks through the lens of Ray Davies take on this new skin and begin to write more odes to English culture. The songs act as a celebration of what they know best all while inspiring the later Britpop movement. It doesn't feel like too much of a concept as Arthur and it's 10 minutes shorter which makes it a more digestible listen. This and the added intrigue as aforementioned adds to how much I like this album. Side A is perfect, Side B has some misses but all in all, great improvement from last time. Save Donald Duck and all the varieties (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)

8/10 Is this the most British, or even English album ever made? It’s probably got a good claim to the crown. As it’s the Kinks, it’s got the core of that 60s British pop-rock sound, most characterised by the Beatles, but fairly prevalent across a number of the bands from the time. What it then adds is this incredibly British sensibility and concept, based around village life and the day to day goings on in rural Britain, from village fetes and pastoral scenes to farm life and friendship. But that would be a very picture postcard view of England, so they wrap it up in this very faintly absurdist package, with some slightly sinister edges, some sardonic and witty elements and a gentle bit of self-deprecating British humour. It’s a trick that they manage to pull of really well, resulting in a record that is at times incredibly twee, but has a depth to it that could easily go under-appreciated to a more casual observer. I mention them during my comments on Phenomenal Cat, but there are echoes of the kind of communities from The Wicker Man and Hot Fuzz in this album, but that stuff kind of bubbles along under the surface, rather than being the main focus. It’s artfully done and also has faint echoes of Monty Python or The Two Ronnies. The band perform admirably across the album, with everything feeling tight and consistent, despite the varying instrumental setups, and the production allows it all to shine, while not eschewing that very twee, country sound. I found moments of pretty much every instrument jumped out to me in various places, from interesting shifting drum patterns to some tasty little walking bass lines and guitar riffs. And Ray Davies was in fine form, providing a varied yet consistent delivery that offered great range across the record. I think the only complaint I could have about this record is that despite being only 40 minutes long, there are probably a few too many tracks. They could possibly have spent a bit more time developing a smaller number of tracks into lengthier and deeper elements, as it felt like everything was just a brief snapshot, rather than a deeper delve into the Kinks’ rural Britain. But that’s a fairly minor gripe, and I think there’s plenty to suggest that this album, while not only being pretty unique and high quality in its own right, was actually quite influential to the development of britpop and other British indie styles that would follow in the subsequent decades. The Village Green Preservation Society - The title track is a brilliantly twee pop rock song with some incredibly infectious vocal melodies along with perfect backing from the band. It imbues a very particular English rural vibe in a way that somehow both embraces and gently pokes fun at that cultural standard. There’s more going on musically than might initially be apparent, and it’ll stick in your head for ages without getting boring. Do You Remember Walter - There’s some quite Beatles-esque blends of melody and chord structure in places here, but it remains very much a Kinks sounding track too. It’s got a cool blend of rhythmic pacing across the different instrumentation that makes it skip along but also sound like it’s not rushing.It’s quite whimsical again, but it’s delivered in an engaging way. Picture Book - While there’s quite a 60s brit rock sound to this, it also has the bones of the kind of sound that would form into britpop in the late 80s and early 90s. It’s a bit quirky, no single part is particularly complex, but there are a lot of moving parts that come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts, particularly when the off the cuff swagger and laissez-faire attitude of the vocals are thrown in. Johnny Thunder - This is a bit more pedestrian. It’s got that slightly baroque edge to the chorus, which is cool. There’s nothing wrong with this and it still has a bit of a quaint edge to it, but it’s not got as much going on as the previous tracks, so it feels a little bit bland by comparison. Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains - Great riff to kick us off here, and then when you throw in a solid complementary bass, it provides a great groove. They do a good line in throwing in an energetic drum fill here and there that injects a little bit of pace to proceedings and prevents things from getting bogged down, and they even ramp up the pace half way through. It’s quite bluesy and perhaps feels less English than the rest of the album so far, but it’s still a great little track. Big Sky - We’re back to something a bit more pedestrian again now, despite Mick Avory trying to keep it energetic. There are some nice moments in there and it does bring back in the slightly more twee English edge to things. It’s not bad, but it’s a little on the bland side again. Sitting By The Riverside - This brings back a bit more of that English village vibe in an almost summer fair way, but then it drags things a bit more off-piste and into slightly more twisted territory. It’s really cool stuff and sounds especially interesting thrust into the middle of a track like this from 1968. It might be a nice but uneventful song if it wasn’t for that, but it gets given an extra breath of life just by being that bit weird. And that kind of thing is great in my book. Animal Farm - Again, this manages to sound both very of its time and also in some ways pretty ahead of its time, particularly the more sardonic elements of the vocal delivery. It’s more quaint stuff, and I think the changing pace of the different sections is really nice. There’s a decent amount going on in the arrangement and the strings add something good to the mix too. Village Green - More whimsical baroque pop. There’s something I really like about the melody here and while it’s a fairly simple song, it’s really effective. If they’d have stretched this out, it could have got tired, but at two minutes, it’s just right. Starstruck - Another with some great melodies and an excellent vibe. They actually do quite a bit to add variety here, with the strings adding some range. Rhythmically, this is pretty engaging too. It’s hard to find fault in well written pop songs that get everything done in two and a half minutes! Phenomenal Cat - There’s something über-British about the daft little oddities that dot their way around this record, of which this is one. It’s all done with a kind of knowing tilt of the head. It’s super twee, but also has that slight edge of creepiness that conjures up the feeling of the kind of rural community in The Wicker Man or Hot Fuzz. It’s pretty cool stuff. All Of My Friends Were There - The swing groove to this is fun, and then the modulation into the smoother chorus is cool too. It’s a super pleasant and sweet track that has pleasing rhythmic shifts and some more great performances from the whole band. Wicked Annabella - There’s more of that edgy, slightly sinister vibe to this, but it’s more outwardly obvious here and the folksy elements more pushed to the background. The vocal mixing is really effective to bring out that edge of menace and creepiness to things and the band start to go a bit more off the edge towards the end too. A nice change of pace. Monica - The melodic writing here is great, with the vocal delivery giving it an interesting sound. The rolling groove from the instruments is a nice shake-up and again, this is very sweet and well delivered. There’s quite a lot going on in the instrumental layering too that provides a depth to the track that isn’t immediately apparent on a casual listen. People Take Pictures Of Each Other - This almost a frantic ending, with persistent and forceful rhythms across the different parts. It still has that slightly weird edge to it that sticks to the theme of the album really nicely. Good melodies, delightfully twee, quality performances. Sums up the record pretty well.

3.9/5 ray davies is magical can make anything into a song

Fantastic record, one song in the middle was really good!

The Kinks were pioneers. In 1964 they gave us early rock/punk classics “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night.” Banned from touring the US, they didn’t get to enjoy all the advantages of their fellow British Invaders but have a solid discography. This is a good album that would be more impressive if it had been released 2 years earlier. It’s uneven but has some great tracks, including the whimsical title track. The Kinks would go on to record some great albums following this one, including “Arthur” which seems to build on what the Kinks are doing here (and is a personal favorite). Also “Lola vs Powerman” and “Muswell Hillbillies.” They were still making interesting music into the 80s. (“Destroyer.”) So enjoy this album and hopefully explore the Kinks further as well!

The kinks are such a fun, quirky, niche, goofball, and provocative band. This album surprised me. I have heard it before and had a vague idea of how to rate it, but it popped for me this time. I still like Arthur and Powerman better (and they have more notable singles), but TVGPS won me over without punch, but more with vibe. Bravo Kinks

beatle achtig, wel leuk

Nicely psicodelic

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one. I used to love the kinks, but as I grew older their knowingly ironic twee-ness started to grate on me. Listening to this whole thing now, I can't really deny that the music is infectious. Ray is a great songwriter and Dave is an excellent guitarist. Perhaps the most underrated player of the 60s. Props also to Mick Avory on the drums. Maybe it is time for the Kinks to have a renaissance in my listening habbits.

The album that properly got me into the Kinks - some of it goes a little bit music hall for my liking, but the title track, Picture Book, and a few others are all time Kinks.

A fairly recent find for me. I really rate The Kinks.

Fun and enjoyable, every song feels like a different genre or experiment that kept me interested Best: Loved All of My Friend Were There Starstruck

I really really enjoyed this. I'm a bit of a sucker for this era of 60's music and was ready familiar with The Kinks. Had never listened to this album in full though. Lots to love however some tracks really didn't land for me and stopped me giving this a 5. Really, what were they thinking with "All my friends were there." Truly awful. Doesn't stop this from being a great but not quite perfect album.

Лучшее, из того, что я слышала подобного рода

Muy bueno, me gustó

Very similar to the style of The Beatles but with their own sound. Incredible harmonies, lovely summery vibe with the majority of the tracks. It had a very whimsical and almost soft, psychedelic vibe to it. Some of the tracks I recognise from watching Hot Fuzz. Favourite songs: The Village Green Preservation Society, Big Sky, Village Green, Starstruck, Wicked Annabella.

Picture Book

I already like the Kinks but only knew Days and Picture Book (because Green Day plagiarised it) from this album, so this was a treat. I enjoyed the baroque pop sensibility and nostalgic lyrics.

Actually had good melody’s and whatnot and wasn't just look at us were super high on drugs which for the amount of late 60's on the list isn't a given. I enjoyed it. 8/10

I never thought before about how much The Kinks must have been an influence on a young Peter Gabriel. This is conceptual but less proggy than early Genesis but with a similar focus on Englishness. I like how the album sounds and Ray Davies' commitment to writing away from the usual lyrical concerns. But I mistrust anything that seems to wallow in this much nostalgia and an idealised version of England. The melodies mostly aren't that immediate but I like the variety of approaches and the different textures.

4 macht irgendwie Spaß

Perfect encapsulation of the era

This album feels like opening a slightly dusty storybook and realizing the stories still matter. It’s gentle, observant, and a little wistful without slipping into pure nostalgia. The songs are small on the surface but carefully built, full of melodic turns and lyrical details that reward attention. Nothing here is trying to overwhelm you. Instead, it creates a quiet world of ordinary people, fading traditions, and affectionate satire. That restraint is part of the charm, though it also means the record can feel modest to a fault if you’re craving big emotional peaks. Still, the warmth lingers. It’s thoughtful, humane songwriting that grows on you the longer you sit with it.

I'm clearly predjudiced. I've given this album 4 listens over 3 days and that's not the same goodwill I would give many other bands. But this is The Kinks and I think I've been rewarded. Although it is almost like the soundrack of a West End musical, with many of the tunes being more like dittys than deep meaningful opuses, all the songs are growers. So with apologies to other acts that I might dismiss on first listen, this has grown to a 4

Great psych-pop album from the second best British Invasion band (I don't count the Stones because their best stuff might as well be American.) I think it must be really hard to be so consistently creative while remaining pretty accessible to a large audience. These guys never lost their soul as a band, and this was their golden era. Love Last of the Steam Powered Trains, Village Green, and Starstruck especially.

Isn't It A Shame The Way Our Little World Has Changed? 1001 Albums Generator 246 (3/12/2026) I totally get the Beatles comparisons, but there is some sort of inexplicable sheen of nostalgia over this whole album that gives it its own unique feel. I can't believe that The Kinks were the British band left to east of the Atlantic. The Beatles, Stones, even The Who, made their way over to the U.S., but you'll never hear someone here talking about the Kinks, even though they are way better than The Who and probably even better the The Rolling Stones. I mean these guys could write a freaking pop tune. The first three songs are all pop perfection. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains has a riff that it sounds like The Black Keys stole for Lonely Boy. Nearly every song here is a different flavor of pop/rock, from blues to folk to sunshine to psychedelic to everything in between. A few of the songs are a bit silly for me, but The Village Green Preservation Society is a great album. 4/5. Favs: The Village Green Preservation Society Do You Remember Walter? Picture Book Least Fav: Phenomenal Cat

Unmemorable but groovy.

First time with a Kinks album. It's a blind spot for me. Man, another great record and by a band that feels WAY ahead of their time. Pop with some weird teeth and they know it. At this point though, the only draw back I can find is how the album doesn't feel completely cohesive. Really enjoyed this otherwise.

Classic

One of the only bad things about this album is that is was followed, less than a year later, by "Arthur", which is in the running for my favourite album of all time, so I inevitably compare them. The other bad thing is that it's a bit rough and uneven, with a handful of clunkers especially on the second half (ex. "Phenomenal Cat").

Really interesting to see this as an early concept album. I can see how this album would have inspired acts like The Who and Electric Light Orchestra as well. In some ways, I can relate to "Preserving the old ways from being abused" and "Protecting the new ways for me and for you." This kind of nostalgia, especially driven by fear of the influence of external entities (in this case, America and European cultures), is a little too much glorification of an imagined "golden past" for my liking. Maybe it's just the current political climate making me take this perspective on "The Village Green Preservation Society," but the general concept of this album being about protecting/preserving English society rang some bells for me. Interestingly, this album was written and recorded during a period of liberalization in England, with the abolition of capital punishment in 1965, and the legalization of abortion and homosexual marriage in 1967. This was also during a shift away from conservatism, with the Labour Party gaining power, led by Prime Minister Harold Wilson from 1964 to 1970. I doubt this was what The Kinks were referring to as encroaching modernization, but it's always interesting to have some context – this album didn't just fall out of a coconut tree, so to speak. Musically, I really enjoyed "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society." I thought I was sick of Brit rock by this point, but there's something about this album in particular that just sounds like the band had a lot of fun recording it, and that comes through in the music to me. Just some good old pop rock.

First time listening to the kinks as far as I’m aware. They sound a lot like the Beatles and pink Floyd did a joint project.

This was pretty good! Enjoyed it.

Such a fun, boppy, concept album. Love.

Another solid effort from THE KINKS. Frankly I don't know much about these cats but I think this my favorite album from them so far. This album had a real bounce to it. These dudes keep it moving...

A really nice record. Several memorable, hummable tunes, and lots of fun pop songs in between. Very good.

Really surprising that they weren’t equally famous as The Beatles. So so similar. I guess it’s that touch of edginess that makes them just a touch more obscure.

8/10 Great album and great songwriting. Picture Book, VGPS and Last of the Steam Powered Trains were faves. Thier weakness is the lapses into a weaker British vaudeville nonsense, sometimes giving a tinge of novelty and end-of-pier naffness. But by and large, it's excellent

I felt sorry cuz I only listened to them by the hits

The Kinks were very popular in the 60s as part of the British invasion, although this album produced no hit singles. This is the first I’ve heard any of these songs. This is a concept album, focusing on nostalgia and the way England used to be. The focus is on the lyrics. The music, while typical Kinks-ish, is wide ranging from pop to psychedelic. I always enjoyed the Kinks, so this album gets four stars.

Can't really find much to fault this record for, other than nothing really stuck out to me as something extraordinarily special. A solid, easy listen. 3.5

Never heard any of these songs before but I liked it.

Definitly a product of 60s British rock. Has a bit of the Beatles sound in it, but different enough that it stands out. Fun album with a decent theme of preserving old ways along with the new. Best Song: The Last of the Steam-Powered Trains

I went into this somewhat biased against The Kinks. Last time I really listened to them was in 2020. Not vibing with the first few songs but then it clicked. Really liked this actually. Surprising.

I have always like The Kinks sound. They are a highly under rated band IMHO.

A concept album about nostalgia, memory, and disappearing culture. The best of the The Kinks albums on the list (even better than ‘Arthur’) with concise, direct songwriting and strong hooks throughout. ‘Yes, people often change, but memories of people can remain’.

(6/7) cheery and delightful god did save "strawberry jam and all the different varieties". the jelly aisle these days is insane

Yes.

high 4 i was worried this would be a bit underdeveloped, under produced and lacking in seriously good songs. i was proven wrong a bit but not entirely. hopefully my rating only goes up

I liked "do you rememeber walter" and "big sky" I liked the first half of the album more than the second one

Давно не слушал, уже забыл какой это классный непосредственный альбом. The Kinks как-то вообще в тени обычно воспринимаются по сравнению с их именитыми современниками, но группа очень достойная. Этот альбом у меня вызывает больше положительных чувств чем любой у Битлов, почти на уровне лучших работ Бич Бойз.

Лучшая песня: Village Green Худшая: Days Нормальный альбом. На общем фоне выделяется пара песен, а так все как всегда

очень люблю кинкс, но есть и проходные песни, потому 4

Очень миленький альбом

I couldn't avoid the comparisons to Sgt Peppers on this one. The Kinks were clearly influenced by the Beatles, or maybe the other way around. If Sgt Peppers or the Beatles didn't exist I wonder how this would have done. Would we all have Kinks tshirts instead? I did really enjoy this and even added two songs to my rock classics playlist.

I have not listened to this as a whole album before although I am familiar with a number of the songs. I really enjoyed it. There are some really great catchy pop hooks and it hangs together well as a concept album (I'm generally not a fan of concept albums). Fascinating to see how English nostalgia was already a thing in 1968 and compare it to current times and how many people would bite your arm off just to get back to the 60's,,,,

Pleasantly Kinks, pleasantly '60s and no right-wing undertones with the English nostalgia. Disappointed 'Days' didn't make it on the remastered album, though I'll let Kirsty MacColl's version stand out instead.

I love any band from the '60s that starts with "the." The animals, the monkees, the Beatles, the band, the kinks, all of 'em are great, and this one's no exception.

Great pop songs. I can understand that the album sounded naive and backwards-looking at the time, but I like it.

18/02/2026 I enjoyed this. Short, sweet and on the money. Spotify listeners: 5.1 million.

Thoughts before listening: One of the lost celebrated albums by the Kinks. I usually love the Kinks so I'm sure this will be no different. Review: I don't know how to describe the Kinks sound. It's like the Beatles after they went psychedelic but without all the actual psychedelia. They specialize in just catchy little ditties that are rock n roll but draw from a lot of other influences. It's maybe a little vaudeville and camp at times, but it all works. I really enjoy listening to the Kinks and this album is no exception. Really glad to hear this today with my favorite song being "Last of the Steam Powered Trains". 4-stars.

More notable to me for its massive influence, but still a lot of breezy fun.

We are the Blankies Green Album Listening Society

This was a laid back, enjoyable listen. All the good parts of the sounds of the 60s.

I didn’t know a single song. Weird

3.5 Stars Fun album. I didn't know what to expect with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This album might be a little long for my liking, but most of the songs are really cool. I’d say, most of the tracks sound really 60s-like. I really appreciate 60s music, therefore I enjoyed listening to this record. It’s sounds fresh and interesting and I think it might get me into The Kinks a little more.

I’m always bowled over by The Beatles influence on the sound of the 60s, their finger prints are all over this. This album sounds like taking a psychedelic trip through a whimsical alien English country village. I loved it.

Actually fw the kinks so heavy . I think i like them almost as much as the Beatles kinda. Some really funny clever lyricism esp the first track

This thing rules, so melodic and fun and distinctly not lets go meet up with our girlfriends at the milkshake shop. I love the little vignettes into these different characters and dang if this just isn't a good time all the way through. Easily comparable to the Beatles and Beach Boys and whatever else of the time but still very distinctly them. Is this not the Pretty. Odd. of their discography? Yeah, just taken aback by how solid this album was, loved it, want more, keep it coming. Shoutout last of the steam powered trains.

Like. Much simpler to rolling stones

Excellent

I like how it doesn't include any of their big hits. A cool eclectic mix of songs that fly by, dedicated to a nostalgic version of England. I can't give it a 5* because a few songs grate on me. 8.0 Fav track: Picture Book Least fav: Starstruck

This album has a lot of great musical and lyrical content on it. It's pretty straightforward for 60s music at the time with a bit of whimsy which translates well. I think it's slightly front heavy with a few tracks toward the end kind of losing my attention a little. But still a great listening experience. Solid 10 track run from the beginning of the album. This is my first full album by this band. I'd love to see what their more experimental stuff may look like. But honestly pretty solid album. Fav tracks are 'walter', "Picture Book", "Johnny Thunder", and probably 'Riverside'. Overall, happy I listened.

I appreciate the Kinks more every time I hear them. They are funny — droll, sardonic, clever. And their musicianship is outstanding. They don’t seem to care much how their songs are received and this liberates them to have fun and make cool sounds. I appreciate the creativity here and can definitely hear the influence on the Who as well as, dare I say it, the Beatles. I want to listen to this again. A 4.

Pretty good!

Good 60s style britpop. Beatles but less good, which is still very good.

What can I say but, The Kinks are my kink. This album has hints of a concept album that sends up traditional English countrysides in a way that may not have been a hit at the time (probably due to some bad timing for its release). But I think its value is definitely something that is much more apparent today.

Surprisingly enjoyable all the way through. Would happily spin again.

I think I got this one in a random album dump from a friend early in college as "required listening." Seems this list agrees... I haven't listened to a ton of The Kinks, but everything I've heard I've enjoyed -- so there's that. This album has a nice "feel" to it. Picture Book is the only one that I *know* immediately by name, and its a classic jam in its own right. Other favorites in here are Monica, Village Green, Wicked Annabella, and Starstruck. Title track is sort of a political messaging about (shocker) preserving "good" things from the past. And I think we can all agree on the platform "God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties." Do You Remember Walter is a solid one about how people change over time, but our memories of them remain. Love Monica (especially in the stereo mix). Same for Wicked Annabella. This is a really high 4 for me.