The Village Green Preservation Society

Pleasant, although none of the tracks really stood out as great. Three stars for being short and relatively sweet.

It sounds like a lot people drew inspiration from the Kinks. What a nice pop album.

No doubt that Ray Davies is a great songwriter but some of this was a bit music hall for my personal taste.

Ne kažem da je ovo nekvalitetna muzika, ali samo meni nimalo nisu sjeli. Bilo mi je dosadno, sve su neki isti pjesmuljci, predugo traje, nijedna nije bila drugačija. Ne bi slušala ponovo, sori Kinks :/

9,5/10

I tell you what is Kinky, Len Houmous! 2.5 1/15 The Village Green Preservation Society

zni to cele mega familiar, tak jako nostalgicky, jak kdybych to poslouchala ve sve classic rock fazi, asi tam poznavam ten influence ?? lyricky je to funnn, je to takove silly nejvic se mi probably libila ta prvni pisnicka, tu si hazim do liked:> nic silene wau, ale kazdopadne je to prijemny, takovy hezky album do podkresu minimalne

I liked some tracks on this one, very dated, though I do enjoy The Kinks stuff, psychedelic and very 60s

God save Donald Duck Being rather unfamiliar with the kinks this album felt like it was a response to the Beatles. However it came about I rather enjoyed it.

This album is so damn good I almost willingly listened to the extra 45 tracks on the Super Mega Deluxe Edition. Damn shame the Davies brothers were the proto-Gallaghers and got themselves banned from playing in the US. By far the most under-rated British invasion-type band.

ne nicht mein thema

Hørt i stua med eva og Jon 2. juledag

I really really enjoyed this album. It reminds me of the Beatles a lot but with something else sprinkled in there so it's unique. I love the voice of the singer it's so satisfying. Definitely will check out more of this band.

the title track is something i always think of because it’s in Hot Fuzz. not a bad album, but not the best either.

This one was hard for me to get into. I can hear where bands later found influence in this particular album, but I couldn’t quite get there.

Not my favorite Kinks record, but a fun listen nonetheless. How did these guys not get as big as The Beatles?

Instant gott skap, mjög góð

Hehehelvíti góð. Áhugaverð lög, ekki einsleit eins og mörg lög frá þessum tíma vilja verða, og bara skemmtileg líka.

álbum muy característico de la época, creo que logra captar muy bien la esencia y sonidos de esos años. Considerando que tal vez tengan influencia de The Beatles (No lo sé). Premio la intención de experimentar también. Se me hace un tanto plano, pero cumple.

Nunca había escuchado este disco, poquito había escuchado de the kinks. Es una banda contemporánea a the Beatles y se nota un poco. Este es un disco que tiene algo “beatlesco”, en cuanto a la construcción de las canciones más que nada y en esos coros y segundas voces que a mí me encantan en las canciones pero bien distinto en el sonido. Mezcla rock, blues, psicodelia, country incluso. No me pasa mucho que a la primera escucha me guste un disco, y este me llamó la atención altiro y con la segunda y tercera escucha me fue gustando más sobre todo la primera parte, quizás dejaron morir un poquito el disco al final pero mantiene la coherencia musical y lírica, es un álbum conceptual que leí que inspiró y fue la cuna del britpop y de bandas como blur aunque no tuvo una buena crítica inicialmente. Bien interesante en la producción, hacen muy buen trabajo con el paneo de los instrumentos, y va cambiando de canción a cancion, incluso en una misma canción (ej paneo de la voz en algunas). La producción de la batería me gustó mucho, suena muy bien, le pega fuerte el batero y tiene buenos recursos. Yo ni había escuchado el nombre este disco, ni visto su portada, da la impresión que no es muy famoso, yo creo que puede deberse a que sale en una época llena de discos increíbles que sentaron las bases de todo lo de hoy, es difícil descartar en ese ecosistema. No es un disco excepcional, pero es un muy buen disco que debería tener un poquito más de reconocimiento. Canción favorita: Picture Book por lejos (que temazo, me dieron ganas de hacerle cover Marcelo) Mención especial: sitting by the Riverside (por lo experimental y mezclar algo muy liviano con psicodelia) No sé si es un 4, quizás un 3,5 - 3,7 no puedo ponerle menos que Is this it.

Didn’t like :(

alright album but nothing real stuck out to me

Towards the end of the decade the Kinks were getting better as a band. Still no comparison to what the Beatles achieved at the same time.

Pretty much perfect. If they had a better producer like George Martin this could have been up there with albums like sgt peppers

Scrapes a 5. So great

Love the late 60s. Fun stuff.

3 albums med The Kinks, alle super fede, alle meget forskellige fra hinanden

Har generelt været meget positivt overrasket over Kinks på den her liste! Føles som om de burde nævnes i samme sætning som et par andre meget prominente britiske bands fra ca samme periode. Mit hotte take er at alle Kinks plader vi har hørt har været bedre end nogen-som-helst Rolling Stones plader. (Men Rolling Stones har bedre sange).

I still don't find them as exciting as some of the other British bands, but this album was pretty good.

Good

Koji je iskorak unaprijed bio Arthur nakon što se čuju ovi raniji albumi, a ovaj čak i nije toliko ranije. Opet su oni najbolji od ovih baš ranih proto-bendova, meni milion puta jači od Beatlesa i svega tada.

Perfect album!

The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks File - Spotify (2018 Stero Remaster) 1) The Village Green Preservation Society - 4 2) Do You Remeber Walter? -3.5 3) Picture Book - 4 4) Johnny Thunder - 3.5 5) Last of the Steam-Powered Trains - 4.5 6) Big Sky - 4 7) Sitting By the Riverside - 4 8) Animal Farm - 4.5 9) Village Green - 4 10) Starstruck - 4 11) Phenomel Cat - 3.5 12) All of My Friends Were There - 3.5 13) Wicked Annabella - 4 14) Monica - 4 15) People Take Pictures of Each Other - 3.5

Enjoyed listening to this album. The key and tempo changes consistent throughout the album kept me engaged. At some points reminded me of The Doors, especially Wicked Annabella. Also enjoyed some of the tongue in cheek lyrics, people take pictures of each other could’ve been written today

This is the third Kinks album I’ve had, and whilst the other two were fine I wasn’t massively impressed. This one, though, this one is really good. Great tunes, with a great sense of proper Britishness and may make me revisit the others.

Ay no que horrible esto.

Great album, this one sailed a thousand twee rock ships that we still here in indie rock today 4.5

Not really any stand out tracks for me, but as a album it’s a great listen

I didn’t really connect with any of these songs, but the Kinks’ sound is always welcome, for sure.

One of my favorite albums I've discovered from this list!

Interessante

Really strong opening half of the album. But was a little let down by the final few songs.

What if the beatles let ringo write all their songs?

3.5 stars

Love love love. Such a nice wee listen, easy catchy songs.

Quirky and likeable, but a product of its timei probably won't spend much time on in the future

Nostalgic. Overlooked. British Invasion.

Is that it? Isn't this a classic album from a hugely influential group that's on countless recommended lists? Maybe I missed it. No, I don't think so... Is there sthg special here? Sounds like a whole bunch of ordinary. Perhaps this is not the album I am looking for... +2.5 stars for a roundly average album. +.5 stars because I know they have other good stuff. -2 stars because Zzzzz...

Hell Yeah finally a good album

They tried out a lot of different directions. None to great success imo

Have always liked The Kinks

I love Ray Davies and I love the Kinks. Not everyone will get this album but I like just about anything they do. He's writing is very whimsical and filled with humor. Definitely five stars

Favorite Songs: Big Sky, Starstruck Least Favorite Song: Phenomenal Cat This is weird in a good way. I don't think I fully understand the concept here, but all of the songs are catchy at least.

Solid brit rock album, that i feel is just woefully out of its era. can definitely see how influential its sound is on current rock music, but I just think that other bands since then have improved upon the sounds and styles from this album.

Strawberry fields vibes. It was alright

MORE LIKE THE STINKS!!! GET IT!!!!! No but seriously, this thing was front loaded as fuck. The last few songs on this record rubbed me the wrong way. People Take Pictures of Each Other just sucked man. What a dogshit song to finish off the album. Regarding things I liked - I really quite enjoyed Last of the Steam-Powered Trains. Otherwise this song was pretty much exactly what I expected from The Kinks, namely just British Invasion music. Honestly I probably would have rated this higher if there wasn't 4000 other albums that sound exactly like this on the list. Hard to be impartial when you have been subjected to countless hours of similar sounding music over and over again. So to me, this was fairly mediocre.

Probably on this listen because the members of Oasis and Blur like it, rather than for any actual artistic merit. I quite like Ray Davies as a songwriter, it's not often that a big musician has his finger on the pulse of his countrymen for such a long time. There is a very heavy tinge of irony and sarcasm throughout this album, while on the surface it praises the England of old, it is about the absurdity of nostalgia and clinging onto the past. This seems apt particularly for England. As the future continues to look uncertain or rather, that there is a rebalance in the world order and the person at the helm is not Britannia or Uncle Sam, it becomes very easy to cling to a simple version of the past for comfort. The writing here is the highlight, it pays to listen closely to the stories in the songs. Much like the Beatles, the Kinks' songs evolved from simple boy:girl songs to complex character stories. Musically, a lot of the songs are good but not great, with a couple of misses. There are some standouts but not of their really big hits are on here, at least that I'm familiar with. It's a strong 3 and if the music here was more my speed this would be an easy 4. Highlights: The Village Green Preservation Society, Sitting by the Riverside, Village Green

Very dates sound - not a favorite

This has with time become my favorite Kinks album. It’s all very British and also poppy and universal.

dnf

I love the Kinks, but they pushed the whimsy faders into the red on this one. Some good songs, but also some weird retvrn-syle English nationalism.

This was nice! A solid album Songs added to playlist: - The Village Green Preservation Society - Picture Book - Animal Farm - People Take Pictures of Each Other

I like the Kinks, but am more familiar with their later work. this one, i enjoyed, but it felt very very similar to mid-career Beatles, just not quite as good.

I actually really like the Kinks and appreciate their influence on garage/indie rock, but think I prefer their later era stuff more. The first two songs here are really great, and Ray Davies is an undeniably excellent songwriter, but a lot of the later tracks are a bit forgettable.

Meh

I quite enjoyed this, will definitely revisit. I think Last Of The Steam Powered Trains was the strongest track here, although i also liked the title track, Animal Farm and the final song. I can hear it's influence of 90s Britpop, which is a strike against it in my eyes, but I thought it is worthy of a listen, an unapologetically british album. 4 Stars.

Fun little album. Probably warrants closer listening, but 41 minutes with 15 songs? Nice work, guys. They're smart, they're tight, and they're focused on an album theme. Only thing preventing this from getting a 5 is that I'm a hater of this genre.

bouncy

Really enjoyed some tracks. Loved the concept/nostalgia/stories.

Interesting for the time it was made, can see how it influenced other artists. Wouldn’t be keen on listening again though Best song: Animal Farm?

Very nice

Enjoyable but not repetable

Uh, kinda like it actually. I could see myself revisiting this. I could stand to listen to more about the village green.

I liked it. I like the kinks a lot and it was generally a good vibe but it wasn't like omg I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Fantastic album from a fantastically underrated band.

Nostalgic themes again. Liked most of this including opening couple of tracks, Picture Book, Big Sky, Village Green and Animal Farm. Last of the Steam Powered Trains good. Sitting by the riverside - not so keen on music hall keyboard plonking. The fat cat one strays (pun!) too much into fum fum fiddle-um di nonsense. And the vocals on All of My Friends Were There grates a bit. Better side 1 in summary! Superior 60’s music. Think Arthur is the better album having listened to both recently. Best one I’ve listened to this week - whole lot more interesting than Tapestry. 4

Mostly highly enjoyable. Particularly like the riff on Picture Book and prefer the more brief, less wordy songs. Not quite a 5 because a couple of songs feel slightly like novelty songs

On revisiting feels a little slight..only one song Hits the 3 minute Mark here, and as a stand alone song the title track is the only one I ever revisits. However, they clearly grasp the concept of a concept album, and much like they would do on Arthur, they get the feel of it just right.

Never been my go to kinks album. Lays down a marker for where Arthur perfected the genre. The story telling can sound a bit twee almost 60 years after it was written . Still a unique piece of work for its time and one I was glad to revisit

Up The Kinks! What a run of albums they had. Kind of underrated in the midst of other great English bands, but they were definitely in a league of their own! Love this album so much.

Quintessential english 60s pop. I like it.

The Good: Trying to preserve a society is always a good thing! The Bad: Some societies are not meant to be preserved… The Ugly: Too many kinks… It is interesting to find out the little one really knows about anything if one isn’t a true expert, let alone a massive fan. I like cars, but I hardly know how to change the oil as I leave this for the experts… likewise, my Chicken Parm is ordered in a restaurant. What’s my point? Well, I listen to music because I am not a musician, but I do like nice sounds… and it seems that these chaps are really good at making sounds if you take into consideration the amount of bands who list these guys as mayor influence. I guess these bands know something I don’t know… So, hurray for the experts… Here’s my opinion… 2* upgraded to 3 out of respect...

Pretty good and catchy music. Typical 60s type stuff.

If this list has taught me anything it’s that I don’t like the 60’s nearly as much as I thought I did. The Beatles are an obvious outlier, but I’m kinda suprised by how much I’ve enjoyed the two Kinks albums I’ve gotten. My first Kinks album was Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire, which I gave a 4/5, but I think I like this one more.

It's whatever. Nothing amazes me, but I can't hate on it. I just know that it sounds like the Kinks, who sounded like half of the other British rock bands of the 60's.

tidy album, they sound a lot like the beatles

Kinks had quite a run at the end of the 60s. This is a great album, plenty of great songs with memorable moments. Oddly, might have done with something a bit longer. 4.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: No: 34/132 (25%) Will I get? Already have

𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 feels like a blueprint for the kind of British pop that would later define the Britpop era. Ray Davies builds a whole miniature world out of nostalgia, eccentric characters and small-town memories, all wrapped in warm melodies and understated arrangements. The album rejects 60s rock trends and instead leans into a distinctly English sensibility — gentle, charming, ironic and full of emotional detail. What makes it so striking is how fully formed this vision is: intimate storytelling, sharp observations and music that quietly unfolds rather than competes for attention. As a precursor to bands like Blur and others who later turned everyday British life into art, it’s remarkably ahead of its time and endlessly rewarding.

This feels like an entire album of deep-dive 60s. Playful and fun.

kinky

Eh

It’s pretty crazy that I’ve gotten three Kinks albums and only one Beatles. This is definitely the best of the three, but I still didn’t like it very much. The British Invasion stuff does absolutely nothing for me; I get its importance in the grand scheme of music history, I just don’t find it to be good or enjoyable. The first half of the album was pretty standard fare 60s rock, which was good enough, but the second half was a weird concept, borderline experimental album. Overall, I’ll give it a low-end 3/5. Can’t wait for like 25 more albums like this!

With how oversaturated the presence of British rock bands are on this generator, this was actually one of the better ones. I know that the title track is the hit off of this album, but I actually preferred a majority of the tracks quite a bit more. This was enjoyable and moderately entertaining.

kinda reminded me of the beatles style liked it

The Beatles in a different font

This had some fun lyrics, would maybe listen again?

good old '60's vibes

This kinda feels like the more soulless adaptation of music I love. Which yk I don’t mind some pandering. I’m probably too hard on this. It has some wonderful ass music on it (Village Green, Wicked Annabelle, Do you remember Walter , the title track of course…) and I’m just being mean for no reason. Well the reason I’m being mean is Monica , a song that annoyed me so much it seriously made me reconsider if I liked anything on this album in the first place. But no… I’m sorry the Kinks, please never try to be Reggaeton again. You’re bad at it

Meh

Ist cool and I Like it

It is a tremendous album. It is like THE proto brit-pop album mainly focused on the kinks version of baroque pop with touches of psychedelia, blues, music hall, folk, hard rock That doesn't mean it needs to be put in a genre or category, it is really one of a kind! I want to shoutout the psychedelic carnival atmosphere part on "Sitting by the Riverside" The album does fall off a bit at the end, as they could have used a standout song to end the album. But that's really my only complaint. high 4.5

This is a first time listen for me. I've been aware of this album and the high esteem it's held by fans of The Kinks. I also read a bunch of the glowing reviews before listening, so I was prepared to really enjoy this record today. The great news is that I did thoroughly enjoy it. It was all over the place musically, in all of the best ways. And the writing was cynical and funny and not overly dated. This is the kind of record that might take a few listens before I can truly call it a masterpiece, but I understand why others do. Songs that stood out for me were Do You Remember Walter?, Picture Book, Last of the Steam Powered Trains, and Starstruck. I'm teetering between a four and five and I'll decide that tomorrow. Maybe another listen today will help make the choice easier.

i liked that, far more than i liked "arthur"…of course it’s difficult FOR ME to listen to them without hearing how much influence they evidently had on damon albarn’s musical sensibilities, lol. this extends to their tendency toward good lyrics that are unfortunately undercut by obnoxiously precious baroque instrumentation (’do you remember walter?’ is a great example of this). theirs is a terminally british lapse in good taste i fear…i do really like their voices though. and when they’re good they’re pretty great. fav tracks: the village green preservation society; last of the steam-powered trains

I like these guys. Fav tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society; Last of the Steam-Powered Trains; Village Green

Late 60s Kinks. What a band with a crazy good discography. This one is great like most of their stuff. Pucture Book is a personal favorite

A whatever album. I will not be coming back to it anytime soon. It’s weird in a good way sometimes and there are some interesting things in here. But it gets so boring so fast. For example, I could not wait for Phenomenal Cat to be over. Some of these songs could’ve been cut tbh. Not really my thing, but, even though I find it hard, I can appreciate some parts. I’m surprised this is the same band that wrote You Really Got Me. Standout songs: Village Green, Starstruck, and Wicked Annabella.

Great record. I listened to the mojo version which is the marginally better version. I love that at a time when music was most forward thinking the Kinks manage to sound of the time whilst being nostalgic. It reminds me of the UK of my childhood. Or maybe my parent’s childhood because I wasn’t born when this was released. Lyrics are cool. Even the obligatory blues influenced song, which the 60’s guys found so hard to ditch takes a fresh perspective - the last steam powered train in a museum. Actually thanks to the organisations like the ones in the title many steam powered trains run on volunteer owned and operated lines.

Pretty good 60s pop / rock. I like the variety in the track list with some folk, psychadelic, blues and baroque inspired songs among others. The production is a bit rough for my liking though. I really enjoyed the title track and the similarly named Village Green, but the rest ended up feeling a bit forgettable.

God Save the Kinks.

This is a fun album. Bouncy, fast paced, and satirical in all the best ways.

Buen disco, me guardo 2 o 3 canciones que ya conocía previamente.

Atmospheric and fun. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it this much

Cover 4 Not for me

Incredible album. Super ahead of its time. One of the best by the Kinks.

Cool concept - nostalgic, small-town, strong sense of place in English countryside. Very folky, features honky-tonks, harpsichords etc. Doubt I'll come back to it.

I think this would've been a 5/5, if I were reviewing when it came out. I'm pushing it to a 4 becaus it's very dated, unfortunately. There are songs here that are timeless classics, but the rest, though good, is very much a product of its age. All in all, a great album.

Some innovative sounds, especially for a 60s rock record, but this didn’t resonate with me.

Faixa favorita: Big Sky Letra favorita: “Yes, people often change. But memories of people can remain.” - Do You Remember Walter? Como me senti: sombria, alerta Resumo geral: Um folk-pop britânico que tem charme. Melodias simples, letras também. Reação pessoal: Como aquele CD que tocaria no caminho de desvendar um novo mistério com a trupe, ou aquelas músicas de desenhos animados. Tem uma ingenuidade infantil com toques de melancolia bem adultas.

Durante uma rápida pesquisa, é possivel ver que o album sofreu durante seu lançamento. Ofuscado por titãs da epoca como The Beatles e pelo crescente inovativo do hard rock da época, o álbum foi um fracasso de vendas na sua época. E sinceramente, mereceu. Ouvi o álbum três vezes e parecia que as músicas eram vazias e sem graça. A sonoridade, apesar de agradável de se ouvir, unida a voz tão deliciosa quanto do Ray Davies, são a salvação do álbum. Talvez meu gosto seja tão ruim que não consiga apreciar uma possível obra de arte. E sinceramente, está tudo bem. Porque sinceramente, esse gosto eu prefiro não ter. Não é um álbum ruim. Muito pelo contrário. Mas parece uma sobra sem graça de um sucesso que passou o seu tempo, como aquele tio que quer ser legal para os jovens. Faixa favorita: Do You Remember Walter?

Pretty fun. Not listened to this type of music much before

This album is actually pretty good. It's wild how in some songs there are so many different and interesting layers, how they converge that well and create an effervescent atmosphere. Other songs are not that interesting but, even though, this album is very solid and enjoyable.

This was an ok album, found out where Billie Joe got the riff for warning from haha 🤣

Ez chad music

веселенькие

Classic and sweet riffs, warm and groovy instrumentation that's tight and folky without being a meme (unlike saving england by the pound). Has a sweetness to it and you can just see the mods on little scoots zooming around. Has that trying hard 60s cool about it from this kind of folk rock

I like this vibe! Always up for some 1960s Brit pop

Really light hearted, a little goofy, but very summer of love sounding

A wonderful album from the kinks, it makes me feel like life is a lot more simpel that it seems sometimes. It's mainly a rock album, but takes its creative privileges to expand its borders and make something wonderful and special. I love how this album makes me relax.

Absolute banger

eigentlich gut gefallen.

This is the sort of album that’d make me proud to be English. If I was so afflicted. A cool, trippy album. With a wealth of awesome tracks. The Kinks were the coolest band around at the time, and still are. 5.0/5.0 Best Song: Village Green

Just unbelievable song, no one encapsulates the ridiculous of being English better than Ray Davies. Its a perfect album, and could very well be one of the best of the 60's. Its so beautiful and funny and playful and sad, its the whole range of what should be good about music. The Kinks will always have such a big part of my heart, and this album has a lot to do with it. Best Song: The village green preservation society, but special mention for Picture Book and Animal Farm, also Big Sky is insane..... and Starstruck and Last of the Steam powered trains

I was gonna give this 4 stars but the entire album passed out of my head unfortunately.

4.0 Innit? / 5 Jokes aside, this isn't actually bad at all. The songs are pretty much what I'd expect of a British Invasion album, but they're creative and I appreciate that. Another cool thing is that The Kinks put 15 songs into 40 minutes which is pretty impressive, especially when I compare it to so many other albums that lack their quality. Ngl, there's not man bad things I could say about TVGPS (interesting abbreviation btw) apart from not completely hitting my personal taste - but it's good music.

Ah, les Kinks et ce n'est pas une mince affaire. C'est le troisième album des frères Davies que je me mets entre les oreilles pour ce projet, et mon Dieu, quel parcours sinueux. J'ai d'abord eu droit à "Face to Face" (1966), un 3 sur 5 honorable. Un album un peu bancal, mais on sentait le génie poindre sous la surface. Ensuite, est venu "Something Else by the Kinks" (1967) et là, on montait d'un cran : un solide 4 sur 5, ne serait-ce que pour l'immense "Waterloo Sunset". J'étais séduit. Mais il manquait encore ce "truc". Ce déclic qui sépare un très bon album d'un chef-d'œuvre intemporel. Et puis, arrive "The Village Green Preservation Society" (1968). Et là, on touche au divin, nous y voilà, le 5 sur 5, l'album parfait des Kinks. Ce disque est un miracle, un anachronisme total, un doigt d'honneur si poli et si bien élevé que personne ne l'a remarqué à l'époque. Mais remettons-nous dans le contexte. 1968, c'est l'année de toutes les révolutions. Le monde est à feu et à sang, les étudiants sont dans la rue, de Paris à Berkeley. Hendrix brûle sa guitare, les Doors invoquent le Roi Lézard, les Beatles sortent le "White Album", testament chaotique d'un groupe en pleine explosion. Les Stones sortent "Beggars Banquet", satanique et boueux. Le psychédélisme est partout, l'acide coule à flots, on veut du bruit, du sexe, de la fureur, on veut faire tomber le système. Et Ray Davies ? Que fait Ray Davies pendant ce temps ? Il boit une tasse de thé. Il regarde par la fenêtre de sa petite maison de Muswell Hill et il s'inquiète pour la vieille épicerie du coin qui va fermer, remplacée par un supermarché. Il s'inquiète pour les locomotives à vapeur, il s'inquiète pour la confiture de fraise maison et les tasses en porcelaine. Alors que le monde entier hurle "FORWARD !", Ray Davies murmure "STOP !". "The Village Green Preservation Society" est l'album le plus radicalement hors-sujet de 1968. Et c'est précisément ce qui en fait un chef-d'œuvre absolu. C'est un album conceptuel, mais le concept est si délicat qu'il pourrait se briser au moindre courant d'air. Le concept ? La préservation. La préservation d'une petite Angleterre imaginaire, pastorale, excentrique, celle des jardins bien entretenus, des vieilles dames, des chats errants et des souvenirs d'enfance. "God save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety"... "God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties". Sérieusement ? En 1968 ? Le mec nous parle de sauver Donald Duck et la confiture de fraise ? C'est d'une subversion totale. "The Village Green Preservation Society" n'est pas un album de rock, c'est un album de folk baroque, de pop de chambre, de vignettes pastorales. C'est le son d'un homme qui, voyant le monde moderne arriver comme un bulldozer, décide de construire une cabane dans un arbre avec des bouts de ficelle et des souvenirs. Le plus triste, c'est que le village qu'il essaie de préserver n'a probablement jamais existé. C'est une utopie nostalgique où la mélancolie suinte de chaque sillon. Il ne chante pas la gloire de ce village, il chante sa disparition imminente. Ce n'est pas un disque réactionnaire ; c'est un disque de deuil. Bon il faut être honnête, commercialement, ce fut un bide monumental. Un four, un désastre. Car personne n'a compris ou peut être qu'en 1968, personne ne voulait écouter des chansons sur des animaux de ferme, des tasses de thé ou des photos de vacances. L'album a disparu sans faire de bruit. Jusqu'à ce que les années 90 arrivent. Et là, révélation. Toute la Britpop est venue picorer ici. Car "The Village Green Preservation Society" n'est un album, c'est le putain de garde-manger de Damon Albarn. "Parklife" de Blur, c'est "VGPS" avec des synthés et des courses de lévriers. Les vignettes sociales de Pulp ? Du pur Ray Davies. Les mélodies d'Oasis ? Les Kinks, encore et toujours. Tous ces jeunes blancs-becs qui prétendaient réinventer la pop anglaise n'ont fait que piller l'œuvre d'un homme qui, 25 ans plus tôt, avait déjà tout dit. Cet album, c'est le Ground Zero de la pop anglaise moderne. C'est le son de l'Angleterre qui se regarde le nombril, et qui trouve ça à la fois magnifique et terriblement triste. Le voyage avec les Kinks pour ce projet 1001 a été progressif. Un 3/5, un 4/5... et maintenant, ce 5/5 indiscutable. La patience a payé. C'est l'album parfait pour un dimanche après-midi pluvieux, c'est l'album parfait pour se rappeler que parfois, le geste le plus punk n'est pas de tout casser, mais de refuser obstinément de participer à la fête.

"CAUTION POLICE LINE YOU BETTER NOT CROSS"

This…wasnt at all what I expected. I know little about the Kinks but what I did know was edgier, gritty stuff. This was more like a Beatles/Monkees/Turtles album. I dug it. It just threw me

My personal history with the Kinks is kind of hilarious (considering their import and influence) but probably somewhat common of people close to my age: I was introduced to them by "Come Dancing" on MTV and that will always be the first song I think of when I hear their name. And of course that song is in no way a representation of who the Kinks were, at least not a complete one. I still love it though. Anyway, I read quite a bit about this album before ever hearing it. It is always listed on "Greatest _____ albums ever" or "[Rock legend]'s favorite albums of all time" lists. When I finally got around to listening to it I liked it but it didn't blow me away. I guess you had to be there. I like the Kinks - they sort of remind me of a British proto-Replacements, with their garage-y, shambolic sound. And the cheekiness. Can't forget the cheekiness. This album also reminds me a bit of the poppier side of early Pink Floyd. I really liked "Wicked Annabella" and "Monica."

Nice quirky, sunny, 60s psych rock kind of vibe - I enjoyed it.

60s kinks sounds so different from 70s-80s kinks. fun album, gave me the impression of 'harmless' music - calm before the 'storm' like

I’ve never listened to this. Odd, playful, and interesting. Although I like their later stuff much better this is cool to see their beginnings.

Beatles vs Stones. The correct and only answer...the Kinks. Musically yes. But more importantly the Kinks would also kick their collective asses in a street fight. I may not get all the references but it sure does make me what to visit.

1001 Albums Vol. 0006: The Village Green Preservation Society ============================================================ Introduction: Alright, I've got to start keeping these reviews more brief. It's taking me around quadruple the time it should to listen to these albums because of how much I'm writing. My last review had the excuse of being one of the best albums of all time, yet I don't think that this one will have the same. I wouldn't know though because I've literally never heard of it before. This is my first album from the 1960's. I've heard of The Kinks before, yet I have not heard a single song by them. From my research, I've been able to deduce that this album, released in November of 1968, manages to mix a variety of pop genres together. It particularly seems to focus heavily on baroque pop and folk pop. At the time, this was something that I believe that bigger acts like the Beatles had already done, yet I believe that the Beatles had moved onto a more psychedelic style at this time. I wouldn't know though since I haven't heard a single album of theirs in full yet. Anyway, this album did not sell well at the time of its release, yet it heavily praised by critics. It has been praised even more in the years following its release for being heavily influential, helping inspire many artists for years to come. It apparently inspired bands such as Green Day as well which sounds pretty surprising considering that this album is apparently big on folk pop. This album has sold over 100,000 records now, yet it was still a flop at the time of its release. Anyway, with that hopefully shorter introduction out of the way, let's get into my first album from the 1960's. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 1: The Village Green Preservation Society - Starting off the album with the self-titled track. Well, I will say, this song is really, really good. I have heard a little of the Beatles, and I will say that this song gave off a really similar vibe that they give. Musically, there's a very overwhelming happy-go-lucky style to this song. The happy keyboard, the initial joining of voices, the clearly dated production, the "ooooo" of backup singers, the acoustic guitar being in the forefront of everything else besides the vocals, everything just screams happy-go-lucky. Like I mentioned, the production is very clearly dated, but I feel as if that only adds to the song in a weird way. I may find this level of production to be a good thing because of how similar this song sounds to Like A Rolling Stone, however. Nevertheless, I still like it. The added instrumentation, such as the keyboard kicking in full time at the beginning of the second verse, is extremely nice and keeps the entire song feeling fresh as well. As for the vocals, there isn't too much to write home about them. They're pretty generic all things considered. I can't name anyone off the top of my head, yet I feel as if I've probably heard a singer with an extremely similar voice before. The voice is still absolutely pleasant to listen to nonetheless. Lyrically, the song speaks of...a lot. Most lines in the verses simply name concepts, objects, characters, and ideas that were prominent in English life both before and during the 1960's. The chorus of the song seems to indicate a want to preserve the old elements of English life while welcoming the new ones as well. It has a very positive message that fits with the happy-go-lucky vibe of the song. It's an overall pretty positive and unique experience that just screams something you would hear out of rock in the 60's. That previous sentence couldn't describe this song any better. The Village Green Preservation Society Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 2: Do You Remember Walter? - Firstly, I'll go ahead and say that this song is weaker than the first. Where the first felt very layered and grandiose, this song feels as if it relies a bit too much on a repetitive piano pattern to create the same happy-go-lucky feeling. Speaking of which, musically, this song gives off a very similar vibe as the last. Like I said, unlike the last song, this one relies much more on a repetitive and precise piano to create the same vibe. This isn't bad at all, it's good that an artist isn't trying to use the exact same instrumentation to create the same feeling, yet it does feel a bit lazy. It feels as if something a bit more inspiring could have been done. There is an echoing keyboard being played in the background of the repetitive piano, so it's not solely relying on a single instrument at least. The piano does kick off and many instruments play during the chorus as well. Nevertheless, I'm getting into a bit too much detail. This is only a small complaint I have with this song. This song has a much more fast tempo than than the previous. This is nice, there really isn't that much else to say about it. Vocally, the song is pretty much the same, yet the vocals don't sound as profound as on the previous. It almost sounded as if multiple people were singing at the same time on the previous while just the lead is singing on this one. Not bad at all though, just a bit of a missed opportunity. Lyrically, this song has a pretty simple meaning. It's given from the perspective of someone who has a friend named Walter. It seems as if our character is remembering the great times they had with this friend and is dreaming about what their friend is doing now as well. It seems as if Walter may have been a childhood friend as well given how ridiculous some of our character's memories are with them as well.This is honestly a pretty relatable message. I do find myself sometimes wondering what my friends from over a decade ago are doing now, where they are in the world now. I also like to imagine what they would look like now. This song has an exact line related to that idea too. This song covers pretty much everything I like to think of my lost friends. It's great. Do You Remember Walter? Score: 9/10 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 3: Picture Book - This is another great song. It tries less to create the nostalgic, happy-go-lucky feeling of the previous, and goes for what sounded like a more typical rock melody at the time of this album's release. Musically, it's not all that complex. I mean, the drums are nice and the guitar and bass in between lines is pretty groovy. I would go so far to say that the guitar and bass create an almost country-like sound in this song. The building of instrumentation from the release of the chorus back into the verses is pretty good too. Other than that, there isn't really much else to say about this songs music. The vocals are much similar to that of the first song. They have a very profound and pleasant tone to them. The backup singer's delivery of Picture Book in the chorus is nice too. Lyrically, the song has a pretty simple yet effective meaning. It describes the many memories that can be found in an picture book. There are memories that you might not even be aware of or were alive for in there. It's an extremely good concept that ties into the album's overall theme of time, cultural progression, and the want to return to a simpler lifestyle. It's a great song. It's enjoyable and is a really nice listen. Picture Book Score: 9/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 4: Johnny Thunder - This is another pretty good track. I consider it to be the weakest we've heard so far, yet it is still extremely enjoyable. Musically, it is pretty similar to the other songs we've heard so far. It has a pretty simple melody which consists of an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, subdued drums, and so on. Speaking of which, the only other notable thing about this song's melody is its pretty clever use of instrumentation to mask any drumming. I'm 90% sure there's drumming in this song, yet it's done in just a way that the crescendo of other instruments masks it in both the chorus and the verses. Pretty nice. Vocally, this song sees the return of the more subdued style of the second track. The vocals feel a bit different than the first three tracks, however. They have a slightly rebellious tone tot them if that makes any sense. Lyrically, this song is pretty good. It describes someone by the assumed name of Johnny Thunder. This person constantly lives against society's norms. There isn't really much else to say besides that. One critique that I do have with this song's lyrics is the very generic ba ba ba ba of the chorus. There is a very smooth guitar to go along with the ba ba ba, yet it is still very uninspired. Other than that small complaint, I find this song to be extremely good. Johnny Thunder Score: 9/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 5: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains - Dang, this song just screams rock out of the late 60's in pretty much every aspect. The combination of vocals at the chorus, the kick-ass drums, the kick-ass guitars, the groovy bass, the combination of the electric guitar with the harmonicas. Yeah, this song is musically great and very catchy. It has a very progressive melody as well that feels like it is constantly having some element added to it. The buildup of every element of this song at its bridge which progresses into a faster and faster pace is amazing as well. The vocals on this song remind me a lot of Bob Dylan. They have a very rough edge to them that feels oddly intentional. I mean, that pretty much perfectly sums up what Bob Dylan sounds like as well, right? They definitely do sound a bit better than Dylan's vocals, yet I could honestly see someone thinking that this is Dylan singing this song if they were to not have listened to anything from his electric era for awhile. Anyway, this song's weakest point in my opinion is its lyrics. They have the same overarching theme as the previous songs, yet that theme is compared to the idea of a steam-powered train, specifically the idea that there is one steam train left in the world. Yes, I know that a steam-powered train is a very old concept, so it fits well with theme of the passage of time and societal changes, yet it just feels a bit too old. I mean, the last few songs, despite sounding extremely old, still felt a bit timeless in the topics they covered. This song's lyrics alone just make the song itself feel old. I know it is quite literally pushing sixty years, yet that's beside my point. Anyway, this meaning combines well with the song's sound, yet I still consider it to be the weakest off of the album. It's still a kick-ass rock song, so of course I'm going to give it a respectable score Last of the Steam-Powered Trains Score: 8/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 6: Big Sky - Well, I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this song. I know that many consider it to be one of the best off the album, but I just don't see it. I still absolutely consider it to be good and well-written, but I would actually go as far as to call it the weakest off the album so far. Musically, it doesn't really introduce anything new at all. I will say, however, the quick switch between verses, transition, and chorus is an extremely nice dynamic the song has. The vocals on this song are pretty decent as well. Like with many songs off this album, the backup singers are present in some way to add either "oo" or "aa" to add to the happy nature of the song. I don't know if this will be a controversial statement or not, but I honestly don't ever like when a singer vocalizes the way the singer did during the verses of this song. Basically, I'm not really a fan of the lyrics being delivered in a more spoken word tone than actually working around the melody. This isn't all that bad, yet it is something that I genuinely do not find to be great or really contribute to the song at all. Lyrically, this song is pretty good. It speaks of themes such as depression and sadness while personifying the sky as an entity that people with said depression scream up to. It turns the big sky into a character that feels bad for these people, yet they are too big and busy to show any sympathy for them. I genuinely like this message, it feels as if it wants to create a sense of connection between those suffering from sadness and depression. That said, I do still find this song to be the weakest I've heard off this album so far. Big Sky Score: 8/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 7: Sitting by the Riverside - This track is just plain weird. The best way that I can describe it is almost circus-like in its melody. The quick piano, the accordion or weird guitar in the background, the backup singers, and the keyboard all culminate in a way that just makes this song feel like something I would hear at a circus. The weird instrumentation during the bridge and outro only add to this weird feeling as well. This is absolutely not a bad thing, however. I'm simply trying to make a comparison. The vocals are very on point in this song as well. They're extremely profound and exaggerated. They sound almost like something that you would hear out of a psychedelic song released at the same time as this album. This only adds to the overall sense of weirdness this song gives off. Lyrically, this song has a pretty simple meaning. It's about feeling content while with someone you love by a riverside. It's extremely simple, yet the lyrics are extremely well-written and actually somewhat touching, so it really doesn't matter. I lost my original review for this song due to my time expiring with this album, so I'm going to keep it at that. Sitting by the Riverside Score: 8/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 8: Animal Farm - This is the best song we've heard off of this album for a bit. It has a much more folk-like tone than anything we've heard so far. It manages to blend this style of folk with pop to create something unique. Musically, this song manages to be the most relaxed and dreamy yet most dramatic song we've heard so far at the same time. This may simply be due to the presence of a violin in the song, but I digress. Vocally, there isn't really all that much to say either. The singer sound extremely similar to Bob Dylan again. The intentionally bad style of vocals is back again. This may just be the 60's production but I digress. This song truly shines in its lyrics. It was meant to be a jab at the modern society of the 1960's. It implies that someone has grown tired of this society and wants to go back to the simple life they used to live on their farm. I could argue that the band is comparing society to an animal farm as well, but I believe the former explanation to hold more truth to it. Anyway, I originally wrote a bit more to my review of this song, yet I somehow managed to lose it again like I did with the previous song. I'm done here. This is one of the best songs we've heard off this album so far no doubt. Animal Farm Score: 9/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 9: Village Green - Well, this was quite a change in pace from the previous songs. This song has a much more tale-like tone to it. The instrumentation of this song provides the vibe of someone reciting a tale from their childhood to you. There's a few wood-wind instruments, soft drums, a chiming tune, and a very soft acoustic guitar as well. All of it combines to create a vibe of a fairy-tale. It's not a bad thing at all, the song's lyrics are very tale-like as well. Vocally, there really isn't anything to say about this song. The backup singers do provide a few interesting "la la la la la" sounds in the background to further the vibe of a fairy-tale, however. Lyrically, this song has a really depressing meaning that ties perfectly into this album's theme of progression and longing. It tells the tale of someone who longs for the past in their town which I presume is named Village Green. This town has apparently become a shell of its former self in the years that our character left it to pursue fame. He now dreams of the things and people he met there. It's pretty sad, pretty well-written as well. This entire song is just really well-written. It's definitely the second best off this album so far. Village Green Score: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 10: Starstruck - This is an extremely pleasant song. Musically, it's much more atmospheric and alien sounding than the rest. It may be the title, it may be the fact that there's some extremely cool production, or it may be the very charming vocals, but I just get a weird feel that this song sounds otherworldly. It's weird to describe and I'm sure that a lot of other people don't get that vibe from this song. Nonetheless, it's still extremely pleasant. Instrumentation such as violins and more persistent vocals being added later in the song is nice as well. Vocally, there is actually a bit to say about this song. The lead singer's voice sounds extremely pleasant and charming. That being said, the backup singers managed to get the most awe out of me. Like I said, there's a bit of weird production in this song. I was referring to the chorus and outro where the backup singer's voices are projected from left channel to right channel if you're listening with earbuds or headphones. This is honestly pretty insane attention to detail from a song made in 1968. That said, this song has some pretty good lyrics too. It seems to be about a man trying to convince his lover that alcohol has a negative impact on her. It more largely just seems to be about the negative and addictive impacts alcohol can have on someone; however, I thought I'd just explain the story perspective of it first. Either way, this is another great song. Starstruck Score: 9/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 11: Phenomenal Cat - Well, there is quite a lot to say about this song. Firstly, this is the absolute weirdest song off the album so far. Musically, it is so much different from everything we've heard so far. Firstly, the song uses a flute...well, it uses just a flute and drums in the first verse. A guitar gets added in the chorus and second verse, yet the instrumentation of this song just screams something from an ancient and peaceful time. Vocally, there's a lot to say as well. The vocals of this song feel very precise and edited in a way to sound peaceful and ancient. I mean, it genuinely sounds as if this song came from a different land. The high-pitched voice in the chorus helps add to this overall feel as well. Lyrically, this song is pretty creative. It quite literally tells the tale of a magical cat who used to live a normal life; however, they now travel the world with countless luxuries. They have gone from skinny to fat as well. This story is meant to be a critique at the upper class at the time of this album's release. It criticized the luxurious lifestyle they lived, those less privileged forced to slave away. It's a pretty damn good song with a metaphorical and literal meaning that I like. Phenomenal Cat Score: 8/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 12: All of My Friends Were There - Well, this is the weakest song off of the album so far. If I had to describe it musically in one word, I would say that it sounds like circus music. Unlike before, I don't necessarily mean that in a good way, however. The versus sound like something that would be played when a clown is juggling on a unicycle. Besides that, I find the chorus to be pretty interesting. It's much slower and has a more content tone than the versus, yet this contrast isn't the greatest thing. It creates a weird feeling within the song. The complete vocal change from chorus to verse is something that feels a bit weird and almost overbearing as well. Lyrically, the song seems a bit vague. It tells the story of a man who has embarrassed himself on stage in front of his friends. He then tries to hide himself and act as if he doesn't care. He ultimately goes on stage again, everything goes well, and everyone forgets the embarrassing incident he had while originally on stage. Apparently, this song was written after a real experience Ray Davies had in 1967 while on stage. He was ill yet decided to perform anyway. There isn't much information on what took place on stage, yet I would assume that Davies simply vomited or something considering the details we do have. Anyway, weird song, yet still good. All My Friends Were There Score: 7/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 13: Wicked Annabella - This is yet another weird song off of an album that was pretty consistent up until these last few songs. This song has a pretty spooky tone to it. It sounds as if it were going for the vibe of a song that was meant to be played during Halloween. For the most part, it succeeds at this concept. The guitars are made to sound in such a way that almost sounds like a thump, there are various sound effects such as cackles at the end, and the drums have a very heavy tone to them. These aspects all add to the overall spooky vibe. The vocals are subdued with a filter that only adds to the spooky vibe as well. I normally consider filters such as these to be bad, but this filter allows some genuine moments of greatness, so I find it to be a positive thing. Lyrically, there isn't really much to say about this song. The song is literally about an evil woman named Annabella who creates brews, uses dark magic, and has an army of demons to capture children who roam in the dark. There really isn't much else to say about this song besides that. It's good no doubt, but I would still say it's one of the weakest we've heard so far. Wicked Annabella Score: 8/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 14: Monica - Alright, this song is genuinely the weirdest off of this album. The last few songs of this album have been all over the place. We heard one that sounds almost ancient and peaceful, wicked and spooky, and now this one just sounds tropical. I can't describe it in any other way than that. The soft drumming, the smooth and quick guitars, the subdued and quick vocals all just make this song sound tropical. Other than that, this song is actually meant to be kinda...funny? Well, yeah. It kinda is. You see, this album was obviously released back in 1968. The Kinks wanted to include a more comedic song in their serious album, so...they decided to write a song about a man singing his praises to a prostitute named Monica. Yeah, I'm not going to lie, I actually thought that this song was just about a man being overprotective with his woman. I Googled the song meaning and I understood the song's more mature themes after another listen. Yeah, this is a pretty interesting song to say the least. Nevertheless, it is also the worst off of this album so far. It's a shame that the weakest songs are all being packed in the back. Hopefully the last song can give this album the conclusion it deserves. Monica Score: 7/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 15: People Take Pictures of Each Other - Well, this song brought back the general vibe this album gave off in its first ten tracks. It's much more generic than some of the songs that we've heard before, yet I still consider it to be pretty good. Musically, there isn't really much to say at all. The song has a very happy-go-lucky feel to it. It doesn't have that feel to the extent that the first few songs did, yet it's still present. Vocally, there is literally nothing to say. It sounds the exact same as most of the songs we've heard before this point. The singer doesn't apply any weird effect to his voice. Lyrically, this song pretty much wraps up the entire concept of this album perfectly. As the name suggests, the song speaks about people taking pictures of each other. It goes into details of these pictures and why people take them. It's a simple meaning that previous songs did to a much greater effect, yet that's fine. This is still a good song and a good way to close an album of this magnitude. People Take Pictures of Each Other Score: 8/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conclusion: Man, I have seriously been getting lucky with my albums. I literally had no idea of this album's existence before rolling it on this site, yet I'm now adding it to the list of genuinely great albums. It's not without its flaws, I'll get to that later, yet it's still genuinely great. Firstly, and especially for 1968, the music off of this album is amazing and extremely varied as well. A lot of the album has a very folk rock style to it, yet you may suddenly be thrown into a song that contains much heavier guitars and is clearly meant to be played at a Halloween party in between these folk songs. You may be thrown into a kick-ass rock song about a steam train. Basically, the variety on this song is extremely nice. That being said, there are points on this album where the songs feel a bit too varied. It feels as if the album is trying to take on too much at once at certain points. This is just a small issue I have, however. Vocally, there really isn't much to say and there is a lot to say at the same time. I'll go ahead and say, the singer's voice is not all that unique. That being said, his voice is still great because of how adaptable it is. You may be listening to a slower song like Starstruck and then get thrown into a certain song about a steam train...yes I'm using that song as an example again. It's really adaptable and just sounds good. There's not much else to say about the lead singer's voice besides that. The backup singers are extremely nice as well. They are present on almost every song and honestly add a lot to every song they're on. Now, I will not lie, this album does not have the best lyrics of all time. In fact, the lyrics are written in such a direct way that they alone have almost no impact on me; however, the concepts that they explore are extremely touching and relatable to me. As I've said many times before, this album explores themes such as time and societal progression. The certain themes that the band covers varies, yet most songs relate back to this central theme in some way. Most songs have a very relatable message that are meant to inspire you or make you sad. Either way, they're effective. This entire album is just effective at being touching. I will admit, I don't think I'll ever find myself casually listening to some of the last tracks off of it, yet that's alright. It's still a great album. As a side note, I do genuinely find it weird how this album never gained much commercial recognition when it first released. There were a lot of songs on here that seem as if they would have appealed to the general public. Well, history is history. The public was missing out anyway. (Reevaluated my first twenty-five albums and decided to bump this up from a 4 to a 5 and 9 to 10) ============================================================ The Village Green Preservation Society Score: 10/10 Song Average: 8.5/10

meh

Decent. I don't think this album holds up as well as some other albums from the 60s. 3/5

The Kinks have always flown a bit under my radar, so I was glad this album came up — finally a chance to listen to a full one. Right from the opener, “The Village Green Preservation Society,” it’s clear this is a very ironic record. Lots of mockery of British lifestyle and nostalgia. As I listened, it struck me how much of an influence The Kinks must have been on Blur in the mid-’90s. Still, the songs themselves feel a bit insignificant. The Beatles and Stones simply had stronger material — but that’s kind of the deal with ironic albums. Everything here is midtempo, polite, and detached. I just don’t know what to do with these songs — none of them feel wild, sexy, angry, sad, or romantic. Everything stays in that slightly mocking register. By the time “Big Sky” came on, I was getting a bit annoyed. “Big sky too high to see people like you and me / one day we’ll be free” — wow, that’s deep. No, this one’s not for me.

One interesting song followed by many mundane songs. There are far better Kinks albums.

Peak 60s listening. This album would’ve been blaring post war coming home.

Light hearted and whimsical, it was a fun listen! The songs in this album work together to make an enjoyable track, though I wouldn’t add most of these songs independently to a playlist since it’s such a different style.

A bit average.

Bland and a bit boring

Liked the album. Need to listen again. Not a huge standout in my mind.

Too god damn long

Such a fun album by a very fun band. Picture Book is one my favourite songs on the album but there are a lot of upbeat happy songs that I liked on the album.

Stone cold classic

Gute Unterhaltungsmusik aus den 60ern.

A very good late 60s rock record, I love the folky sound of it. It’s truly one of the best of the latter of the decade AKA one of the best stretches of years in music history

Great band, great album

I was worried with the first song. But after that it is a fun, well produced record. Nothing historic but definitely worth the listen.

Kind of surprised me that I enjoyed it. I think I tend to think of the cakes as sort of a prototype for the most annoying breed of hipsterism. Turns out the kinks are good and it's the worst of the hipster that are actually annoying.

God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety!

Best Song: Picture Book. A relatively fun, carefree song. Worst Song: All of My Friends Were There. Not a fan of the oom-pa-pa. Overall: Parts of it are fine, but lots of it is just that kind of annoying "quirkiness" that was unfortunately so popular in the era. Maybe they were influential, but that doesn't make them fun to listen to.

Fantastic.

Love this. Must own this album.

So this is the version, the sound of the Kinks that people adore so much. Ok, I get it now. This was such a fun listen. Such a light sound, such low stakes. But still driven and creative, different and off beat (not literally). Something about this album still sounds so fresh after nearly 60 years. "Picture Book" feels like an indie band could have recorded it today and it wouldn't be out of place. There's so much positivity and good feelings on this album. It's relaxed. It's got a youthful energy about it that is infectious and keeps you coming back for more. I honestly would listen to this for a week and probably still find new things to like about it. I do think it tapers a little near the end, personally. It peaks in the middle and starts to meander a little in tone and interest, at least for me. But that doesn't detract too much. Four stars. Close to five, but not quite there. Standout Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter?, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Village Green

Album is easy to listen to. Good melodies and 60s vocals (Beatles like) I would say it reminds me of The Beatles a lot. I am going to listen to it again.

Blur came to mind straight away. Definitely influential. This is the 2nd Kinks album and the previous was Arthur. I think this is even worse. 1.5/5. Raising to 2.

Chirpy but felt overly long

Not crazy about it on the first listen but will definitely need to give it another go. Sounds like mid-60s The Beatles but not very interesting?

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 (unlike many others on this list). 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,,,,

The Village Green Preservation Society I fully jumped on the wagon when this became a rediscovered hidden gem 10 or 20 years ago, and I still think it’s superb, and fully deserving of its critical reappraisal. While sounding very Kinks-ian, it's stylistically very eclectic, taking in rock, psychedelic, musichall, pop, folk, baroque and blues, and using some interesting instrumentation to wrap it up with a classical/rock opera feel. Among the harpsichords, strings, brass and mellotrons there is some characteristic Dave Davies guitar playing, but Pete Quaife’s bass playing is noticeably good, with some very Macca-esque melodic playing, particularly as he uses the same device of plugging his Rick directly in to the mixing desk. Song wise it’s uniformly great too, with some fantastic melodies and tunes. Animal Farm in particular I love, the pastoral tinge to it is just lovely, and the title track is great of course. I love Do You Remember Walter with its distant horns in the left channel, and Johnny Thunder carries a great energetic wistfulness. Big Sky is also superb, combining some great Dave Davies playing with some ethereal Sgt Pepper-esque passages and more musichall sections. Village Green’s baroque pop with a sinister feel, married to the pastoral, melancholic description of a fictionalised past is a great combination. Wicked Annabella has more great guitar and bass, and I love the creepiness of the riff, echoing the witchy theme. In fact I don’t think there’s a dud on the album, Phenomenal Cat might be a little throwaway but its is still interesting with a great organ coda, and the Calypso-isms of Monica might invoke Mr Moonlight too closely but I like the Ayay Ayay part, and thematically and lyrically they more than make up for any shortcomings. And thematically of course is where it also excels, and you can easily see why it's such a touchstone for later bands, particularly and obviously Blur, with its mix of pen portraits and laments for ideas of Englishness. While a lot of the album focuses on nostalgia, I don’t necessarily feel it’s welded to the past he describes, it feels more like Ray Davies wants to find a way to move forward without throwing away the past, but without getting weighed down and stuck in a retrospective cul de sac. And the recurring reference to taking pictures is a really interesting and cleverly used motif, playing with the idea of wanting to record a moment, but what you actually get isn’t real, and is just as easily forgotten and disposed of. It does sound a little rough round the edges production wise, like a lot of their albums. Often that works for them and the spiky tension between the brothers, but in the hands of a more technically skilled producer it feels like on this album sound could have married even more cohesively with the overall concept. But that is a minor gripe really, it’s a superb album, and completely deserving of its reputation. 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢 Playlist submission: Animal Farm

When this album is at its best, it's perfection. The album opens with one of its strongest, the title track - observational English wit, lamenting a dying England (an eternal theme amongst generations); although whether Ray's being nostalgic or sarcastic is unclear, and it's probably both. 'Picture Book' is another superb bit of guitar pop, with an irresistible riff nicked wholesale by Green Day. There's always a sardonic take amongst the sincere nostalgia ("Picture book of people with each other, to prove they love each other"). The forgotten photo album is a Proustian trigger for us all - photos of brown and orange house interiors, perms, UK holidays. Marvelous.

The Kinks are a very peculiar band to me. They’re one of those bands who I know are immensely popular, and I even have a good bit of their music saved to my Spotify already, however, I can’t for the life of me name any of their popular songs, let alone even remember what the ones I have saved are. It’s a band that I know I like sometimes, but know nothing about. If someone tells me one of their songs, I’m sure it would ring a bell, but I sure as hell haven’t even heard of a single song off of this album in particular. If I had to describe this, it would be a Beatles knockoff with just a touch of The Who mixed in. It wasn’t terrible, but I’ve already forgotten it entirely as I’m writing this review. My favorite song was “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”, and even that was just ok. A few skippable songs that I found more annoying than good, but none that were offensively bad. As I listen to more albums, these are going to become dreadfully common, but this is yet another middle of the road 3 star affair that will quickly fade away out of my head in due time. The best thing I can say about it is that the singer sounds pretty good, and I would absolutely be willing to give these guys another shot at a 4 or 5, hopefully with an album where I’ve actually heard of some of the songs on previously. Being the first of 4 Kinks albums I’ve heard on here, I have a pretty good shot of getting my wish later. Will they all be this average, or will one of them surprise me?? As always, time will tell.

This is the 3rd old Kinks album this list has forced me to listen to and I still don't enjoy them. It's silly music.

I liked!!

The Kinks were staples of the ‘60s and ‘70s. This album already had a commercially successful song (Picture Book), but I wasn’t familiar with the rest of it, I was familiar with The Kinks however, especially for their hits. Most of the songs aren't particularly memorable but there aren't any songs that I would say are bad either. This wasn’t my favourite on the first listen, but it grew on me the second time around, it’s one of those albums that grows on you slowly. To me this album and The Kinks in general sounds like 'Underground' The Beatles sometimes, especially in the way they do their harmonies, but a bit happier, quirkier, more whimsical, and sometimes a bit melancholic. The arrangements are layered nicely, the blend of folk, pop, and some touches of baroque psychedelia. Also I love the album cover on this one, the swirly neon colours and the warm orange and reddish shades are cool. Favourite tracks are The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter? and Picture Book.

Cheeky

2.5/5

It was very pleasant to listen to, but honestly none of the songs stuck with me. I was a huge fan of the songs Well Respected Man and Lola, and nothing on this album hit that peak.

TVGPS - love love love DYRW? - great feel. not much else to say - 2nd listen --> feels kinda star girl-y weirdly - much better on the second run through Picture Book - just proper 60's vibe which feels obvious considering it's a 60s album but like... the stereotypical kind of 60s vibe. defos not in a bad way tho. Johnny Thunder - best song so far LOTSPT - YES Big Sky - fun but also like not. SBTRS - Still quite good. not the same mark as the others so far tho? Animal Farm - big fan Village Green - just mmmmmm.. Starstruck - Decent song. thats it. thats the review Phenomenal Cat - brill. AMFWT - ugh. Wicked Annabella - pretty good. Monica - possibly new fave off the album - just love PTPOEO - yeah ig. not huge on it. not a bad song either tho. Album overall - like 7.5/10 Great opener, keeps going well but the middle is very up and down Back half fell off a bit personally but still with a few great highs

3 stars. Boring to me, as most british music seems to be, but isn't so terrible I wouldn't hate hearing it again.

I found this really annoying.

Love a concept album and a cool concept, like the lyrics. Music is ok but pretty chaotic at times, sounds like it was recorded with one mic. Harder to engage with because of this. 6.5 / 10 Best track/s: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Village Green

A true cultural British time capsule with excellent song writing from start to finish

A lot of variety on this album, I didn't mind it but at the same time nothing really stood out either.

RIP Ozzy

Ya, it's pretty good... But not my favourite Kinks album

Sounds great. Sounds a bit like Beatles.

Great album.

Fine, Wicked Annabella best track

The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society — шестой студийный альбом английской рок-группы The Kinks, выпущенный 22 ноября 1968 года на лейбле Pye Records в Великобритании и на лейбле Reprise Records в США. Этот альбом стал для группы последним, выпущенным ей в первоначальном составе — бас-гитарист Пит Куайф покинул группу в начале 1969 года. Коллекция виньеток из английской жизни, альбом The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society был составлен из песен, написанных за два года. Этот альбом считается одной из наиболее влиятельных работ The Kinks, однако сразу он успеха в чартах не получил. В 2003 году альбом занял 258-е место в списке «500 величайших альбомов всех времён» по версии журнала Rolling Stone и был описан Uncut в 2014 году как «блестящий концептуальный альбом». Как же мне нравятся концептуальные альбомы! Когда на протяжении всего прослушивания сохраняются общие тема и настроение, в это всегда интересно погружаться. При этом треки не звучат монотонно, как у тех же Ramones, нет, здесь общая тема, но с разных сторон, я могу отличить одну песню от другой, здесь есть интересные продюсерские, инструментальные и вокальные решения Когда зазвучал первый трек, я отнеслась к альбому довольно скептически, но с каждой песней погружалась в его настроение всё больше и больше. Достойное сохранение атмосферы. Не все песни зашли, но это хороший альбом, больше ничего сказать не могу. Метаюсь между пятёркой и четвёркой, но наверное это всё же не полностью моё.

Great

quite kooky which is fun but later tracks kind of lost me

7.86 - Interesting album. I’m sure the Beatles were influenced by The Kinks. Lots of interesting/unique songs. Best songs were All of my Friends Were There (8.4) and Do You Remember Walter (8.3). Least favorite were Big Sky, Sitting by the Riverside, and Wicked Annabella (7.6)

This is not at all what I thought a Kink’s record would sound like. At first I thought it was kind of goofy and fun, a little psychedelic pop from the 60’s. The lyrics were amusing and the music was a little trippy. But then it just devolved into nonsense as it went on…and on...and on…and on. Could have been a fun listen but was quickly ruined.

A little too “folksy” for me but this album is also very representative of the times it was recorded. I’m pretty sure one of the songs was written by Dr. Suess. And if I’m really being critical, how the hell was this album not broken into two albums??!! 28 songs! Seriously?? Overall the actual music was tolerable, but the lyrics were awful and left me with a unsupportive opinion.

This might be the worst album we have encountered in our journey, hidden beneath the umbrella of a ‘concept’ and the melodic hooks of 1960s pop. “Oh, how innovative,” say the critics. But, this is really just a banal collection of utterly forgettable songs. How the hell did this come out in the same month as Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland?

Not what I expected from the Kinks. I understand how this was their first commercial miss, songs are all over the place in sound and theme. With context it's clever, without it's a mess. Thankfully the wiki page includes a short write up on each song that helped better understand the album and made the listen quite interesting. That said, an album shouldn't need each song explained...l usually listen to music to avoid reading! ....but I'll give a pass on this one since I did end up enjoying it. In short the album is the kinks poking fun at various things while pining for a quiet life on the countyside.

Had a couple good ones in there, I liked Animal Farm

If there’s one album that makes me want to live in England during the 50’s, it’s this one

Probably my favorite from The Kinks and most certainly their most lysergic.

A blend of sunshine/baroque/pop/psychedelic/folk rock that leaves no one indifferent. The Kinks are awesome and this is one of their best!

Great chroniclers of the transition of postwar England. Some great songs, some that are time pieces.

Not the most accessible of their records, but such great writing.

98/1089 All Of My Friends Were There exemplifies what i really dislike about the style of singing in male-led british pop music from the 60s and indeed this album as a whole, it just really grates on me. Otherwise I don’t feel like i need to go into depth with my thoughts on this album. I appreciate that it’s of it’s era and contributed to concept albums as a thing but i just don’t gel with this style of (brit)pop. It’s elevated to 2 stars almost completely because of Big Sky, i liked that one enough to add it to my playlist for this project 22/100

I really like the Kinks. One of my all time favourites. I’ve spent a lifetime being fascinated by Ray Davies songwriting. I like Village Green, but if I’m being honest, it only gets me halfway there. It’s particularly because of the lack of fidelity, and partially because of the conceit of the project. As a North American, I’m curious about English culture and lifestyle, but a whole album’s worth overestimates its value to me. That being said, Picture Book always lodges itself in my ear for a while every time I hear it.

Fire

Not my favourite Kinks album but pleasant enough

I really enjoyed this album. the lyrics were both silly and profound.

One of my favorite concept albums, The Kinks knock it out of the park as songwriters over and over again. Really beautiful, funny, cheeky, and sincere. Great lyrics, lots of different flavours of songs to be had.

I kind of enjoyed the title song just for the novelty of it, but most of the other songs blended together for me, even after a few listens.

I loved the title track and I enjoyed the one about the steam train. I really wanted to like the rest but I just never really got into it.

The Kinks continued to enhance their newfound pop sensibilities on The Village Green Preservation Society, although this time, the songs are more focused and polished, and they've brought the harder rock elements from their early records back, whilst still maintaining the eclecticism of previous record 'Something Else'. Ray Davies' songwriting is in absolutely fine form here, whether it be pleasant countryside feel of the title track and 'Village Green' [both well immortalised in the film 'Hot Fuzz'], the iconic guitar riff of 'Picture Book' that Green Day would later borrow for their 2000 hit 'Warning' or the jangly whimsy of 'Animal Farm', Davies' tight and concise selection of songs on 'The Village Green Preservation Society' rank among the finest of British pop. Many consider this record to be The Kinks' best, and I'm inclined to agree, because there's so much hints on this album of where British popular music would go in the 70s [The Jam, Buzzcocks, The Stranglers], 80s [Madness, The Smiths] and 90s [Blur, Oasis, Pulp]. There's something so inherently British about the music, yet also catchy, layered and easily marketable. Then 'Lola' came out two years after this record and it all but cemented The Kinks' status as a giant of British music. 15 tracks of 60s British pop perfection. This album is to the 60s what Oasis' Definitely Maybe was to the 90s! Best songs: The Village Green Preservation Society, Picture Book, Johnny Thunder, Animal Farm, Village Green

Idk this was so fun. Really easy to listen to, good vibes, fun sounds. Loved!

Easy listen!

Conceptual. Retro.

Dated

I love the tracks it inspired (The Who, ELO?) . But somehow I don't love the album. Maybe it's a grower and I'll definitely listen to it again. But I'm going for a cautious 2* until it's proven its worth.

I'm a sucker for early concept albums

I didn't know any of the songs on this album

man - so not how I remember the Kinks. Would never have guessed. Ok for Kinks fans...

Side one was great but fell away a bit for me on the second side. Ray Davies is a great songwriter but this album felt a little dated to me.

It's a shame that The Kinks are often overshadowed by their contemporaries from this time, because they put out some amazing records that deserve to be heard. Perhaps, none greater than this one. Favorite track: Johnny Thunder

Thought I would like it better. Sounded like the early Beatles and nothing stood out to me.

A welcome relief after a string of less engaging albums in the 1001 challenge. This one felt like a breath of fresh air—charming, witty, and musically satisfying. Having mostly known The Kinks through their singles, this album was a pleasant surprise, offering more depth and character than expected. Compared to Arthur, which didn’t quite click, Village Green stands out as a more cohesive and enjoyable listen. It’s playful yet poignant, and overall, a fun record that’s easy to appreciate.

I also naively miss a version of England which I didn't experience - Just William, Lord Snooty, paper bags full of bull's-eyes, Imperial Airways, roast goose and the occasional sighting of a Gresley Pacific. I think that both The Kinks and I realise how ridiculous that sounds, as there's a definite cynicism underlining the obvious nostalgia. Massive bass, jangly guitars, characterful vocals and some wonderful tunes set the template for generations of unconventional rock to come! Favourite tracks: Village Green Preservation Society, Days, Wicked Annabella, Starstruck

It was good. It was pleasant and a bit twee. I enjoyed all the different styles presented. Very British and Beatles-esque. I probably wouldn't listen to this album again but glad I got to check it out. Standout songs: Sitting By the Riverside, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains

Beatles-like, calm and moody.

This was great! It's been years, like over 50, since I heard it. Thanks for that.

The kinks at their best

Was nostalgic when released in 1968, but sounds very dated in 2025. A snapshot of a lost time but no longer relevant, seems very dated. I didn’t really enjoy it as an album, individual songs are good but it’s best consumed in small doses.

Fucking ass Spotify got three different versions of this album and all of them are deluxe. If it only wasn't convinient to listen to stuff with. The year seems to be off on Spotify too. Also, this album is much shorter than I thought because of all the additional tracks the Kinks made at this time. Anyways, this is a very good 1960s album, a concept album of sorts and I really enjoyed it. The generator has a lot of mid 60s stuff so I am glad I am getting something that's great that also isn't the Beatles, Stones, or Who.

Released in 1968, at the hight of psychedelia, the Kink's "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society" eschews that sound and trend, and instead focusses on songs based around the concept of the vanishing, idealised English pastoral life. Musically, it is quite eclectic and draws on British music hall and folk influences. The production could be a little crisper and full, and the album artwork is truly awful, almost daring you to buy the album! Apparently, this was a deliberate artistic choice to contrast to albums released just prior, the most notable ones being "Sgt. Pepper's", "Disraeli Gears", and "Axis: Bold as Love". On that front it succeeds greatly, but I think it's a shame. Stand out tracks for me are "The Village Green Preservation Society" , "Do You Remember Walter", "Picture Book", "Animal Farm" and "Phenomenal Cat" . But really just listen to the whole album from start to finish. It flows excellently. "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society" is Ray Davies's and The Kinks finest album, and a double album to boot! It is a quite delightful listen, and one of the finest albums of the 1960s and indeed beyond. The whole album has a wistful and nostalgic hue to it, without that ever being over-bearing or saccharine. Oh, and the wonderful song "Days" was a non-album single from this time! Superb - Five stars. Side one 1. "The Village Green Preservation Society"  (5/5) 2. "Do You Remember Walter"  (5/5) 3. "Picture Book" (5/5) 4. "Johnny Thunder"  (4/5) 5. "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains"  (5/5) 6. "Big Sky"  (4/5) 7. "Sitting by the Riverside" (5/5) Side two 1. "Animal Farm"  (5/5) 2. "Village Green" (5/5) 3. "Starstruck" (4/5) 4. "Phenomenal Cat"  (5/5) 5. "All of My Friends Were There" (5/5) 6. "Wicked Annabella" (5/5) 7. "Monica"  (3/5) 8. "People Take Pictures of Each Other"  (5/5) Total - 70 Average - 4.67 131/1001 68/131 albums reviewed were new to me.

There are some real gems on here surrounded by some absolute garbage.

Did not really care for this, sounded so generic and did not hook me. Not abrasive but I kept waiting for it to get good and it never did.

-quite old fashioned -reminds me of the beatles -some songs are quite repetitive -white people music

:)

Makes me happy!

Mangler de sidste par numre. Det gør vist ikke så meget. Energisk og behageligt, men ikke mindeværdigt.

I don't know how I feel about the vocals.

Enjoyed the album. While I was in a state of stress, each song calmed me down to a mellow state. Great improvement from yesterday's album I can't even remember since it was terrible and I want to purge it from my mind.

Okay, a little tipsy and in good spirits as I listen to this but it’s a class grove. Great songs and feel. There is something really playful and original about the kinks that I hadn’t realised before. Only ever known their big tracks, but there is so much depth and skill in so many of these songs. As well as really original and memorable hooks. All served up with great songwriting and layers. And I re-listened in the morning after 4 hours sleep, just to make sure. And it still bangs! Very pleasant surprise and introduction into a new band I’m going to enjoy exploring ❤️

I seem to recall listening to this within the last year or so and it not landing with me. Maybe it's because I've listened to and enjoyed other Kinks albums in this challenge but my listening enjoyment was much enhanced this time. The first half of the album in particular is very strong with tracks like _The Village Green Preservation Society_, _Picture Book_ and the bluesy _Last of the Steam-Powered Trains_. It tailed of a little towards the end but I could see myself coming back to this and getting more from it each time.

later

The Kinks are the 1001 curators kink, I guess. Who knew they had so many albums? This is charming enough, but it feels like the clean-cut Oneders version of the band that would later belt out “Lola.”

9.2/10 another banger from the kinks. if i’m being honest i have listened to this album before but i had no issue listening again. one of my favorites

fun - I loved listening to this one again - it has been a while

Kickass. Is this the Kinks' Sgt. Pepper? Deserved a little better recording but these are awesome tracks. 4.6

I enjoyed this album. I like The Kinks but I'm more familar with their music from the 80's. I'll listen to this one again.

Hearing this so close to Electric Light Orchestra was not great. Very samey and I zoned out multiple times. Quite bored with this rock music, even though it’s not bad by any means.

норм, без негатива.

8/10

4 de 5

Why is it that '60s psych bands can't resist putting a couple terrible children's circus songs on otherwise good albums?

50 percent bangers, 50 percent mash.

Amazing

Gud

Cool for its time

Best Song: The Village Green Preservation Society. This is pretty good, more mellow than I was expecting if I'm being honest. I think that there are better albums out there by The Kinks so looking forward to that. 4/5.

This album is three fucking hours of the same song

I love the 60s and 70s vibe a lot. I listened to this with ease. Not the best album of that era but very good.

Some of this is good-ish. Too much of it feels like a Beatles Wanna Be Band. Yeah, could be better. 2.65. Round it up to a pretty generous 3.

Echt angenehm anzuhören.

Great album

Meh

Ok

One of my all time favorite albums. Incredible.

Funky, psychedelic, funny, catchy and a little bit gritty. I thought I knew The Kinks as a 60's pop band. This album has that but I feel like offers a whole bunch more too. Really dig the sound.

The only Kinks song I knew coming into this was Lola, which is a great song, but has pretty much become a classic rock cliche at this point. It's an absolute shame I hadn't explored these guys earlier because this is fantastic! Incredibly catchy songs, immaculate production, some weird 60s psychedelic experimentation. It kind of feels somewhere in between Bob Dylan and the Beatles. Thoroughly enjoyed this and I'm excited to check out more!

I still prefer ARTHUR from this era, but anything from SOMETHING ELSE –> MUSWELL is a good listen.

I have tried on this album a bunch of times and every time I hear it, it sounds like a Spinal Tap version of Sgt Peppers. There are some great songs.

Mix the Rolling Stones and The Velvet Underground and you get the Kinks. Enjoyable.

I really couldn't get into this.

This feels like one that needs multiple listens to digest. While I've always liked the Kinks, I haven't dug deep into their catalogue. Everything on this album was new to me, which I appreciated, and I need to spend more time in their discography in general.

Jo, 70er Rock, weiß nicht was ich sonst noch dazu sagen soll :D

Ist das längste Wikipediaeintrag zu einem einzigen Album bisher?

4 estrelas, muito interessante

Never really "got" The Kinks. Very little on this one made me prick up my eyes. The song constructions never pull me in enough that I can be bothered to listen to the "oh so clever and literate lyrics" and the tunes themselves just wash over.

I've railed against similar sounding albums by UK acts from this time period for being too twee, daft, irritating, folksy, fantastical, fanciful etc. But for some reason Village Green hits different. This record rules. The songs are so fun. They don't grate the way tracks on Ogden's Nut Gone do. Great stuff, front to back. An easy 5/5.

meh. Prefer different kinks, still pretty good tho

Vraiment bon, et surprenant. Ça me démontre à quel point je ne connais pas assez la musique des années 60. Ce n’est pas que les Beach Boys et les Beatles, apparemment...

Not impressed. Seems they were one hit wonders after all.

An enjoyable listen, some hits/singles I would listen to again. However overall it was good background rather than something I would revisit as a whole album.

I absolutely love this. This is album is a reminder that I should probably listen to more of these albums in stereo and/or through good quality headphones .

It feels like Im unearthing the road map of some of the best 90's UK rock acts. And Green Day on Picture Book for some reason. It was great, but not mindblowingly great.

Do you have to be British to appreciate this album?

Not the best The Kinks album...but love The Kinks!

I guess I don't know how to fully appreciate the Kinks, the lyrics probably mean a lot to someone wiser than me but musically it couldn't really take me very far, it did feel like it was a pretty big journey for just a sub-40-minute playtime, though I can't tell if that means something good or bad to me I already know I like a couple of things from Arthur, though, so I'm still willing to look forward to that

Listenable.

enjoyed, a bit of it's time but would listen again and stick on a few playlists

I'm so tired of only hearing the hits by this band, I wasn't very excited to listen to this one. But this is way outside of what I expected. It's got some catchy tunes and is kind of goofy at times. It's nice to discover a different side to a very familiar band. Picture Book, Big Sky and Wicked Annabella are my favorites.

Good solid old rock album. Perhaps a little old to do too much for me without the context of its time, but enjoyable.

I can dig it ☮️ Fav songs: Picture Book, Phenomenal Cat

This is a fun album! None of their hits (that I was familiar with), but I love the "character sketches" (?) very reminiscent of some Abbey Road / White Album stuff. I dug it

I was surprised to find I liked this quite a bit. Good grooves, kind of silly lyrics.

Were The Kinks a good band? Absolutely. Am I sick and tired of their music? Absolutely.

Heard it before. It's really interesting musically and makes the album stand out among other more standard 60s rock albums 3/5

Who caresssssss. This was very boring unfortunately, a lot of people seem to really enjoy it.

Best Song: Starstruck

I really like this. Very whimsical and reminded me of syd Barrett's pink Floyd. 4/5