Reviews (page 6 of 13)
The Kinks are possibly the most underrated band of the British Invasion. Too many times I have mentioned them to people who have never heard of them. While this album doesn’t have any of the songs that they are most known for, it’s still solid from beginning to end and well worth the listen.
This was a sweet reminder of the days when an album was crafted by individuals, and not every second of every song had to be an in-your-face hook. No specific song stood out to me, but as a whole it was very listenable.
Great
Solid 3.75/5. I get the context and listening now is probably fresher than 68/69 but a lot of stand out tracks. Not a 5 star but a solid listen. Deciding bt 3 or 4 was tough. Gave 4 for the ending half really pulling it up.
An album I had meant to listen to for a long time and very good listen it was too. I expect I'll come back to it. Some of the songs sound a bit silly jokey (Phenomenal Cat) but there are hidden depths, and it never sounds pretentious. Fave tracks: Picture Book, Wicked Annabella, Johnny Thunder.
A lot of Beatles influence
Folk Pop sounds through the lens of Psychedelia. Picture Book is probably the best known track. Solid songwriting and playing.
Full disclosure - haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but what I've heard is fun, fun, fun!
Ironic view of the good ol’ days and criticism of cultural stagnation. Also use of Village Green in Hot Fuzz is on the nose.
I really enjoyed this, I thought the vibes were great. Some of the songs were kind of goofy but overall I liked it a lot. I liked the first song, the first few seconds sounded close to something I'd heard in Portlandia. Edit -- In hindsight this wasn't as good as I thought it was. Bumping down to 4.
7/10 - Quite enjoyable. Most of the songs were fun to listen to. Nothing absolutely stood out but it was a fun listen.
I enjoyed the front of the album, the back wasn’t that great though 7.5/10
Pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Lots of catchy and well made songs 8.5/10
This and the previous kinks take are only leading me to believe im not a big kinks fan. I can definitely see the innovation and influence they had given this album is from ‘68, but there’s a certain daintiness I don’t really enjoy from them. Enjoyable enough listen, but the lack of edge over the course of a full album rubbed me the wrong way. A couple of decent head-bobbers on there, but nothing that Wowed me.
Decent
Never owned skunks album but like their radio hits. Didn’t know a single song on this album but it was fun.
This is just good, silly, fun. Very enjoyable.
I was ready to label this album as another "old and forgotten" record, that is on lists like this just to show "knowledge" and quirkiness of the author. Usually I'm right, but this time "Preservation Society" turned out to be a pretty good and a fun album. Songs had a modern sound, they were very diverse, and most importantly, enjoyable. So looks like The Kinks was a pretty nice band!
The Kinks have a very identifiable sound due to Ray Davies' voice. I like it, and it also has a similar level to all the songs. Nice listening but doesn't blow me away. Picture Book, Big Sky and People Take Pictures of Each Other are standouts for me.
Another very enjoyable Kinks album.
This was like listening to the Beatles for the first time. Whimsical and energetic and emblematic of (what I believe) the '60s were like.
This was so fun!! I haven't thoroughly looked at the lyrics but this is refreshing from what I normally mean into. I think my favorite out of this is Johnny Thunder.
A classic folk sounding album. Nice, easy listening.
This is like someone said "Ray, do us a favour mate, make the quintessential, slightly camp, UK 60s / 70s pop album", and they've nailed it!
One of the very few albums I’ve heard that sounds close to the mid-period Beatles. The lyrics are all a bit too nostalgia-ridden.
Sounds a lot like the cross of CCR and The Beatles.
7.5/10 First Nick Drake I’ve ever knowingly heard, aware of his reputation Really nice this - spare production, good guitar, excellent voice This is how you do an album that does not hugely vary in style - make it good, short, and don’t outstay your welcome Really sets a mood, liked it quite a bit Best: Parasite
✨concept album✨ the baroque tune really won me over
I always forget how much fun The Kinks are to listen to. It's a great vibe to start your day to.
Same energy is the White Album by the Beatles. Fun album, whimsical.
Enjoyed this album. Some familiar songs with catchy tunes...brought back some old memories.
Killer album. Starts off very strong
Wow, an album by a group who can play their instruments without being in conflict with each other and actually sing, with intelligible lyrics to boot! How did they slip into this list? And this isn’t even one of the better Kinks albums
If there ever was a band that epitomises 60's London, it's The Kinks. So upbeat and still cool.
Good, classic Kinks!
Classic whimsical rock. Not too fetching, but okay to listen to.
A great concept album. Some great songs, some relics of an era.
These English lads are better than I remembered. Fun, upbeat, and dare I say cheeky
Rock
This was better than I had expected, musically and lyrically
Solid music
- Heard this before - Title track is a classic - Really consistently good album - Fav songs: The Village Green Preservation Society, Starstruck, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains
Just lovely. Fave: Picture Book
mellow, good vibrations, sophisticated and progressive sound effects. i like it!
Sounds very much like The Beatles
It was alright
Very 60s! I know some Kinks songs but not these ones. I like them though. Standout songs - Starstruck and Wicked Annabella.
delightful
What a fun discovery. Loved almost every song.
Not sure if it's copying or influencing but it sounds very familiar despite only having heard maybe one song on it.
Excellent album and sound but nothing really stood out to me as exceptional
4/5 ça se laisse écouter
Got the Stereo version of the album. Loved the natural sound of the instruments that give a feeling of an honest (and 60s) record. Sounds to me like a mix between the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Nice album!
Fun and silly! I liked it.
It is good.
I really enjoyed this album some songs I have heard before but didn't know which album they had come from. It has an overall sound similar to the song Days which I have always liked. Good choice good variety of music on this album I will listen to it again
Hard to believe this album failed to chart on release.
Early Beatles Like
I went back and forth, but I know some of it was really good.
It’s nice no cap it’s like when I be kinda jolly no cap like kinda foresty camp tree ahh vibe
It is questionable whether this album belongs on the list, given that it is supposed to cover the history of music in general, not the history of The Kinks. But I like the elaborate instrumentation of the '60s (today, a rock band just needs a guitar, bass, and drums, and everything else is electronic), and I enjoy their sense of humor, even if it is a bit naive from a modern standpoint. Plus, the lyrics to some of the songs actually have an interesting premise.
What a band.
Brilliant!
Delightful though decidedly dated.
Another classic!
This was very nice, much better than the few Kinks hits I knew already, and when it ended I wanted more. Stand-out: The Village Green Preservation Society
Fun. I know the Kinks sound, but none of these songs. Picture Book is a good one.
great, better than the beatles
fav.: All Of My Friends Were There
The Kinks are fun!
The 60’s and 70’s were a time to be weird. Doing an ass-load of drugs and making strange music was totally acceptable. But people still continued to stick with what was popular, like always. And this record from The Kinks really is the best of both worlds. I was really shocked at how good this actually was. This is what I want all pop rock to sound like. The style of songwriting is a balancing act of whimsical fun and legitimate social commentary. It’s just all hidden under this layer of humor and boundless joy. If they didn’t have a blast making this, I don’t know what to think. Although it was mostly a failure critically when it came out, there is an undeniable charm that latches onto the listener. Just don’t have high expectations. Not because it isn’t good. But because you can’t listen to an album that opens with The Village Green Preservation Society and expect anything that takes itself that seriously. Rating: 7/10
Pretty good. I'm not very familiar with The Kinks but I liked this a lot.
The Kinks are great, but a little intimidating. This was the first time I listened to this album but it was really good.
pleasantly surprised
A very cohesive album full of beautiful little poppy gems.
Quite a while since the last Kinks album - this one is my favourite of the three so far. Village Green, and Picture Book were good, and the album was wonderfully bizarre and cohesive. I do normally enjoy a concept album, no exception here.
I'm constantly reminded of The Beatles everytime these guys come up. Which is to say I really enjoyed this. Highlights: Picture Book Johnny Thunder Last of the Steam-Powered Trains Animal Farm Wicked Annabella
Much better than the previous kinks album we had, more what I expect from the kinks. Still none of the big hits though but I really enjoyed it. Very British. Highlights: Do you remember Walter Last of the steam powered trains Village green Picture book Perhaps was getting a little tired of it by the end but I'll be back
This was a very tame record for The Kinks. Much more psychadelic than their regular fare. Very similar to Sgt. Pepper era Beatles. Favourite songs: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Big Sky, Picture Book, Village Green, The Village Green Preservation Society Least favourite songs: Do You Remember Walter? 4/5
A lot of fun this one. Kinks always are. Nothing incredibly revolutionary about this, but it’s original, unique, has good production, lyrics, vocals, and I enjoyed it. 4/5
Rating: 8.5/10 Great album, impressed with the consistency and variety here. This album is a mix of rock, pop, baroque with orchestral elements implemented and everything sounds very good, most songs on this album are really great. This album is also incredibly catchy, the melodies on here are fantastic. Some songs were not done as well as others but overall this is a consistently high quality album with plenty of variety and catchy melodies. Favorite songs: Village Green, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Big Sky, Village Green, Starstruck. Worst song: Do You Remember Walter?
Good
underrated band, definitivno. meni su ful dragi, odličnih albuma imaju, a ovo im je top.
No entenc per què phenomenal cat té coros fets per un minion. A part d'això, molt bé. M'ha agradat especialment com comença lalvum, m'ha recordat molt a Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Nice
Dope!
Honestly, I just love The Kinks. Long, long album. Weird and upbeat in that Kinks way.
Some red hot lines: We are the custard pie appreciation consortium. I bet you're fat and married and you're always home in bed by half past eight. This album is the definition of twee.
Light-hearted and joyous - I really like this album.
Got me vibing, enjoyed it
Fakker hardt med the kinks
I do love the Kinks. Pretty great.
Many classics, love the Kinks anyway - so what's not to like. Quite a few songs from Hot Fuzz
twink beatles, art hoes gon love this
Best Songs -Last of the Steam -Sitting by the riverside -Village Green -
Its incredible to think this is the same band that got big with You Really Got Me. I may be biased because I love this album but the songwriting on this is really strong and its one of those albums that really has its own identity. Not a huge fan of Phenominal Cat but Side 1 is incredible.
Overall upbeat and cheery, not sure what the lyrics is saying but I would totally dance to this on a random night, by myself.
kinky
Sounds like knock-off Beatles? Listening further I was pleasantly surprised. This is a good album. It's got a pleasant character and a lot of it sounds pleasantly modern. Lots of Mac Demarco in here, lots of King Gizz, lots of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, lots of Whitney, lots of the Strokes. It's good shit. Well worth a listen.
Fuckin goofy 4/5
Very nice Listen
Nice! Great album.
Really good!!
Add one star for the variety of instruments
A lot of similarities with The Who (unsurprisingly), and clearly an influence on the next couple decades of rock and early punk music.
This was pretty good. I love The Kinks' sound, and this album feels like where they really find it. The themes are strong and they're present in every song. I'm not sure if the album is trying to be a caution against nostalgia or is itself struggling with the present, but either way, it's great.
Well I think I was in the perfect place and time for this album. Seems like it was written for the end of summer in an area obsessed with British Nostalgia but starting to reckon with the realisation that those days are gone It begins twee and sickly sweet but even in the first song it starts revealing the dark underbelly of a society unravelling itself "Preserving the old ways from being abused/Protecting the new ways for me and you/What more can we do?" Do You Remember Walter is where the realisatuon for the loss of the traditional and usual really kicks in Picture Book details the attempt to prove that a marriage isn't fallin apart because the pictures "prove they loved each other a long time ago" Last of the Steam Powered Trains is a masterpiece Big Sky, Animal Farm, Village Green and People Take Pictures of Each Other are all great also I don't actually love listening to it but it's pretty carthartic and interesting to see something that resonates so deeply with rural, ex-tourism town and village life Very very glad it wasn't the unironically bubblegum boyband pop of the 60s and actually had some bite to it
Many great tunes and only a couple granny songs.
You know I’ve actually listened to this one before so I’m excited about that . Also I went to a show once that was a kinks tribute band and they played on the worthington green so they did a bunch of these songs to be thematically appropriate so that was fun. Anyway, yay British Invasion!! (In music. We do not condone British imperialism) This is a fun little album that just goes “I’m a little British guy and I live in a village!” 4/5
it's fun british invasion music idk we listened to it while setting up the tech table I like it
It’s hard to get over the blatant Beatles imitation of some of these songs. Maybe this was just a product of the era. Big Sky is the first song to give its own identity and it pays off hugely and it Carrie’s all the way through to Starstruck. The rest of the album falls away a bit
Enjoyed
Wasn't expecting this from the Kinks, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Light and fun.
Excellent. Animal Farm is a banger.
Impressions: Sounds like The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” As you go along the tracks, it gets better and better. I think it’s much better than the aforementioned albums. They did great work on the 2018 remaster. For a concept album though, I hated the album cover, wish it were more artful rather than just putting the band’s photo in it. Favorite tracks: Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Train, Starstruck, Wicked Annabella Rating: 4/5
Great album. Awesome mix of rock and pop.
Good
Quite good.
These cats clearly inspired The Mothers of Invention, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Group of Four, The Talking Heads. Unusual sounds in pop/rock is such a wonderful concept, and this is some of the best early execution.
Old-school, feels like Beatles
nice album
Quite twee. Vibey
Two albums ago was my review of a Radiohead album. I realized that there are similarities between them and The Kinks. Radiohead's music meandered and Thom Yorke's singing sounded like he is clinically depressed. But The Kinks seems lighter, doesn't meander, and their singer, who can't really sing either (let's be honest), pulls it off because he doesn't come off as trying to convince everybody how depressed he is that nobody "gets" him. This was a really good listen.
really great sound, can sound a bit like a musical, but it makes you dream and float so i forgive it
Une belle découverte, dommage que le son sorte d'un poste radio des années 30
tres belle voix bravo
Чувствовал себя как дома ))
Super fun! The Kinks!
Pretty wild how a record can flop and then 30 years later all of a sudden it comes out of nowhere and influences every indie band on the planet.
The opening tracks have this fun jangle pop rock quality that is infectious. Phenomenal Cat is stupid as hell.
An all time classic by one of the all time greats! I can't help but equate this album to a Monty Python skit for some reason. It's like in that realm of specific British humor with its musical tone, even though the lyrics are pretty dense. Davies does a great job of balancing happy, silly, baroque pop music over top of concerning lyrics about the fast-approaching modernization of our world. The compositions here though are what I'm really drawn to. Unique chord progressions like on Do You Remember Walter? really challenge the typical pop structures of the time, and only a handful of bands managed to achieve this well. The vocal panning is also bizarre in ways that wouldn't work for hardly anyone else. It continues to amaze me that The Kinks aren't talked about the same way The Beatles or Pink Floyd are in terms of their songwriting abilities. Sure, they may not have defined what studio production would mean for the next 40 years, but the Davies were so damn good at BEING this band that continued to evolve their sound across their whole career.
A satirical yet sincere, biting yet bucolic romp of a record from an iconic band that somehow still remains underrated after all these years.
It reminds me to David Bowie
Enjoyed it, went to some unexpected places.
Great listen, will listen again
I've never heard an album that sounds so much like The Beatles before. It was pretty good!
Probably the most English album ever recorded and I'm all in for that. Ray Davies is one of the geniuses of British pop.
Nice raw, happy and energizing sound
good overall and a couple stand outs
Like the kinks, Some of the goofy stuff is whatever
Love the kinks, and this is a good album, just not their best!
4.5/5. What an incredible and under appreciated band, the musicianship and songwriting is in peak form. The fact that they were banned from touring in America could’ve definitely been a huge blow to their best days, but the latter 60s emphasis on Britishness rather than commercials hits were quite influential on the Britpop movement and even American indie rock so perhaps it wasn’t so bad.
Overall ret god, fine vibes og kunne lide de fleste af sangene :)
I enjoyed it! Need to listen to more of the kinks
4. Really enjoyed this! Starstruck is definitely one of my fave songs.
A hopping 60s bop
Lots to pull from musically.
I like it. It doesnt seemed forced or trynna fit in something.
I’ve had two The Kinks albums come up now and I have really enjoyed both of them having not heard them before. This one was really weird but still had some great singles, eg Picture Book. I really enjoyed the 60’s groovyness mixed with wacky English eccentricity. Some tracks near the end were a bit much but I will definitely come back to this.
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society God save Mrs. Mopp and good Old Mother Riley We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them
Enjoyable.
Good
Good album. Not every song was a winner but solid overall.
The Kinks is rapidly becoming one of my favourite bands. Before I went on this journey I didn’t give them too much attention, but now, they’re really hooking me. They have this unique way of crafting songs and melodies, they were one of a kind! 8,5 out of 10
Really liked this, need to listen to more of them.
Didn't know they did village green!
Love a bit of Kinks: honestly not too bad from an album which is just solid classic rock/pop music which has held up really well even 50 years later. Definitely could see myself coming back to this one but still on the fence for a 5, not definite on it which is my issue. Just felt it was missing one thing I couldn't put my finger on.
Fun Album to listen to. Lots of upbeat tunes and very easy to sit through the whole things.
This was fun!
Очень приятный барокко альбом. green vilage великолепный трек алкоальбом: яблочный сидр со своей яблони
Folk-pop-rock. Está entretenido. Un 4.
Enjoyable esp with the eeriness that creeps in
i enjoyed this album! i didn't know anything on it in advance, except picture book sounded a bit familiar. the main riff from it also reminded me of Green Day's "Warning," which was fun. i liked how the character portraits of each song worked together and how this was basically just an early concept album of sorts. favorites: the village green preservation society, picture book, village green, all of my friends were there
Very Beatles. Pretty good.
Man, the Kinks are so good. Ended listening to two more albums after we finished this one.
quite good! a little british for my taste Favorite Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society, Picture Book, Village Green 4/5
The beginning of the Kinks’ most creative years. This record is great and tells a lot of old British traditions and ways of living. Very influential in my opinion. I feel like they influenced a lot of britpop groups.
I'm impressed. I only knew of The Kinks big hits. This is very good. It reminds me some of Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. But this is better, in my opinion (and I'm a big Pink Floyd fan).
C'est super bon, ils ont un peu de genre melanger mais ca sonne bien et c'est agréable. 4
It's very beatles-esque but with a nice zane to it
Still very satisfying stuff from the Muswell Hillbillies
I don't think I've ever listened to The Kinks outside of radio play or media placement before this. They're one of those bands I've been "sort of" aware of for a while. I knew of this specific album's existence due to it being an early volume in the 33 1/3 book series and now I've some more reason to seek that one out - this is fabulous stuff! Very enjoyable first listens - twice back-to-back! "Do You Remember Walter" is my favourite song right out of the gate, but there were no songs I didn't enjoy!
I really enjoyed this album, the Kinks are highly underrated.
Really nice 60’s pop 4/5
Pretty good album if you like 60's folk-rock. Kind of weird in a good way which I show that genre typically is. Personally I liked it. Sometimes the vocal inflections were a little too weird for me to the point that they were not a good listening experience like at the start of "People take Pictures of Each Other" and in "Monica". Some of the guitar melodies and riffs on this album though were incredible. Loved the instrumentation in general on "Wicked Anabella", "Village Green" and "Sitting By the River". Overall though I liked the album and my favorite songs were "The Village Green Preservation Society", "Wicked Annabella", "Village Green", "Animal Farm", "Do You Remember Walter?", "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains" and "Picture Book". 9/10
Riktigt bra asså kommer absolut lyssna på flera gånger. Har aldrig riktigt lyssnat på dem men ja.
Fan det är ju bra - ska jag våga ge en fyra fast jag lyssnar på det för första gången… eh annars blir det bara treor
Great tunes here. All time band at their best. 4star only due to all songs sounding the same. Trying to be objective here
Chronically underrated . . . But this early stuff IDK.
Well preserved.
This era of The Kinks is pretty great. I enjoyed this.
Nice easy listen to start the day. Not something I'd ever put on voluntarily, but it was fine for what it was.
God save this and that, whatever rhymes. So begins the tongue-in-cheek themes surrounding the village green, tying together a very loose concept of sketching out characters from Anywhere, UK, including the more unsavory village types, like the hoodlum and the prozzie. It’s all a kind of false walk down Memory Lane. You know, the place where Walter used to stroll? Anyway, a fine place to escape to when things get rough or hectic.
Love
Picture Book is a great track.
Very experimental album for the era, '69 rock from the uk is now what i expectef to hear but really up my alley. 4/5
13.04.23. Очень сочный и красочный альбом, который может похвастаться шикарной работой с инструментами, нежной британской атмосферой и обилием невероятно красивых песен. Эту пластинку я рекомендую послушать абсолютно всем, кто увлекается 60-ми.
I've never listened to this album before. Classic Kinks.
This is a wonderful album, I enjoyed it more than I expected.
One of my favourite Kinks albums.
Their crowning achievement acc Ian. Jess disagrees.
Reminded me of the Beatles and a little of the beach boys. Fun happy vibe, great lyrics and rhythm. Very diverse song content.
4 stars all day long.
Folk-pop-rock. Está entretenido. Un 4.
It's fine. I'm pretty bored with the London sound of the 60's at this point, but this was a good listen
Some forgettable songs, but I think an overall enjoyable folk pop piece.
Unfairly overlooked at the time, and perhaps overrated subsequently. Ray Davies ripping off the fantastic keyboard player Nicky Hopkins guarantees this album less than 5⭐
Very fun album with some Beatles vibes. Album wasn't anything mind-blowing but it was an enjoyable listen. 7/10
legalzinho rock n roll
I liked it. Best song picturebook
3.5
Some interesting ideas that probably laid the groundwork for later styles of rock (punk etc). But it’s interspersed with too much of what John Lennon would call “Granny Music”.
A pretty good album. I enjoy this era of The Kinks quite a bit.
Listen again :)
nice to listen to
Really interesting album, I enjoyed the flavour of Beatles but much edgier.
Noice
The Beatles from a parallel universe as I like to call them. Enjoyable album with their signature folk-pop with an edge sound
I quite enjoyed this album. At some points I caught a hint of ELO mixed with the Beatles- no complaints there. Occasionally there was a song where I got a little irritated by the sound but overall this album was a success in my book.
Another early Kinks album to continue revising my opinion of this band, at least the early period of their work. It's so damn British and fun, and I write once again that in almost the exact same way the very early Who were - and I'm writing this as a long time Who fan, but the overall songwriting is better here. "Phenomenal Cat" would have fit comfortably on The Who Sell Out. "Do You Remember Walter?" is the immediate favourite, but there's so much variety of styles on the album that it's easy to find a new hilite upon each listen. Tempo changes and various instrumentation both keep the songs fresh - dammit we always need more flute in popular music. I'm not sure what's keeping me from giving this a 5, perhaps a touch of previous unfamiliarity but there's nothing I don't love about virtually all the songs both in sound/composition and the almost nostalgic subject matter. It might come down to a slight disconnect with the actual playing... too often when I listen to The Kinks I wish they could have played a bit more recklessly or without abandon. ...kind of like The Who, to continue to beat the hell out of that comparison. Which to be fair the reserved playing might make this even more authentically British. Overall an excellent musical trip and an absolute keeper of an album. 9/10 4.5 stars
Lemppari-Kinks, ja bändistä tykkään muutenkin paljon, oi!
3.5
I wanted to like this more than I did - it has some cracking tunes on it (VGPS, Johnny Thunder, Starstruck among others) I just wanted it to be slightly better - that's hype for you, I guess, always going to be slightly disappointed! Definitely adding it to my playlist though.
I swear every time I listen to The Kinks they remind me of a trippier versions of The Beatles
This is certainly an interesting album. It's not the sound that I've come to associate with the Kinks, but it helps me understand better why The Kinks are so highly regarded as a band as well. The definitely took a chance with this album. It cuts this weird little slice through British domestic life and dedicates itself to preserving it. It's not clear how sarcastic this is meant to be, but it is clear that it's not entirely sarcastic. What results is a pretty pleasant album about the little things in life. It doesn't blow you away either ideologically or sonically, but it's a cool idea and they executed it well. Sometimes life isn't about moving forward, sometimes it's about stopping and smelling the roses 4/5
The Kinks don't miss.
One of the most enjoyable records of 1968 and maybe The Kinks' best project ever. In other words, this is a really good album.
Kinky
Clever, gritty and folksy. Sign me up.
A proper transition between Something Else and Arthur. They drop the crazy instrumentation into a more consistent and simple music hall baroque pop sound, adapting a concept album approach about the influence of American and European cultures on Britain, an idea that would be taken further with Arthur. I think moreso here than any other album, you can hear the influence on Britpop, in regards to its eclectic music hall style, humorous lyrics, and mix of vocal styles, especially adopted by Blue. They still do incorporate other genres to support their concept, such as the very American swampy blues of "Last of the Steam-powered Train", but never straying far from its formula. The obvious example is the calypso "Monica", sounding like a trip to Trinidad. Likewise, Kinks always tend to have at least a couple psychedelic songs in each album, and this time we have "Sitting by the Riverside" sounding very much like "A Day in the Life." The other psychedelic track being "All of my friends", really goofy with a grand chorus. The most unique song is "Wicked Annabella", a perfect favorite with a chaotic horror theme behind it. Some of these ideas could be improved, and there were several weak songs I didn't find noteworthy, but they were all at least decent. I think with all Kinks albums, it's two primary problems is a hazy lofi production and a feeling the songs are a bit incomplete, but those might just be me. Favorites: Village Green Preservation Society, Do you Remember Walter, Picture Book, Big Sky, Sitting by the riverside, Village Green, Wicked Annabella
Banco. 8/10
I was trying to articulate in my own head why it bothers me that they're so obviously aping the Beatles, and I think I've decided it's because they play without joy. It doesn't sound like they're having fun; they're just...copying another band. But, I suppose if they're going to do that, they picked a good band to copy. Is that fair? I feel like I'm being a bit unfair, but also I don't think I've told any lies. Best track: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains
Certainly silly but I found the concept funny and interesting. Nice harmonies 7/10
Cute, and possibly reactionary? Jk it was fun
It's good
The way that this album has been composed and recorded is fascinating!! I knew the title track but didn't know much beyond that. I am so interested about how this album was inspired and written. I gather that Ray wanted to write an album that portrays his feelings of wanting to keep tangible evidence of traditional British characters, objects and rituals rather than just having photographs and nostalgia. I think he really managed that but I would question how great Britain ever was and the pride in it haha. I still love it though because the idea of these things being "great" and not just hilarious is really funny. Like a village green preservation society and worshiping cricket (the most dull sport to watch ever) and just those up-tight British nosy judgemental neighbours, all harmless and hilarious. Anyway, I really like a concept album and I like short songs so hooray! I'm also so into this folk-pop-rock sounds from the 60s I love the creative musicality and the vintage recording sound. Fun album!
It was nice yeah, always liked the kinks. I think I prefer them in small doses though
Very cleverly conceived and exceedingly well executed. A delight to hear. Somehow, it's hard to imagine how it can be so, but, after all these years, Kinks still feel underrated.
Kiva och mysigt
Haven’t quite caught up to the hype with this album but it’s got great songs yeah. I like ”Do You Remember Walter” a lot
Lät bra!
Catchy and memorable, this is an inspired piece of pop music combined with insightful social observation.
The Village Green Preservation Society - had me in the first half ngl Do You Remember Walter - koliko god mrzim usporedjivati stvari ovo daje toliko sgt peppers/magical mystery tour vibes za sad Picture Book-a scooby doobie do Johnny Thunder- eh Last of the Steam Powered Trains- TA USNA HARMONIKA, i like this one trenutno ne mogu dovrsiti s pisanjem ovoga ali za sad mi je okej album WILL LISTEN TO EVERYTHING
Sounds a lot like the Beatles. It's pretty good
Cool. Good. Would choose again for this era and vibe.
Always love the kinks. Maar ze hebben wel betere albums. Ik hou wel van hun catchy nummerkes.
Village Green simplesmente uma das minhas músicas preferidas da VIDA
really nice 60s rock album, wanted to get into the kinks for a while now so that's a great introduction to their music i think. also starstruck is great because of last night in soho
Love the harmonies straight off. Feels like it was inspired by Sgt. Pepper.
The Kinks are probably going to be forever associated with their hard rocking singles- “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night”- but that’s not really reflective of their sound. A good chunk of their material is more folksy, like this album, which I like a lot. Terrific harmonies and hooks throughout. It’s a real highlight from the British Invasion. B+
Davies’ smarm and British charm - three quarters of this album is brilliant - musically, pop wise and lyrically - and thematically is wonderfully consistent - yet the last few songs start slowing down the freshness and pace of the album and it falls short of being a perfect classic. Great band very good album.
You don't have to be British to like this album but it certainly helps. Best Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society; Picture Book; Starstruck
Takes me back to a time I wasn’t even born yet. Has that nostalgic feeling. All in all a solid album with some real bangers. Some of the songs are a little forgettable but still totally danceable. I think if I would really immerse myself into the album (and go over the lyrics some more) I would uncover more songs that could become some favorite sing-alongs. Something for the future to consider. Favorite song(s): “Do You Remember Walter?” & “Village Green” Recommended?: 👍
Really enjoyed this, similar to the Beatles. Standouts are "Picture book" and "People Take Pictures of Each Other"
Not bad
I typed a bunch here but it didnt save.. Enjoyed for the most part, but unfortunately the production value is a turn off for me with the poor recording quality and the audio panning. Will listen again though
Very good album
slayed
first listen a lovely escapade
The most proudly English of all the British Invasion groups delivers a treatise on not only the UK’s vanishing rural way of life, but nostalgia and how it can both enhance and spoil one’s perspective. Ray Davies really comes into his own as a songwriter here.
Is there an album more English? Quirky, very 60s. Much underappeciated and possibly the greatest Kinks album despite not having any hits. God bless Ray.
I'm excited for this one. Already a fan of the kinks. Their sound is so warm and nostalgic and happy. I love their sound, I love the guitar and the melodies.
The Village Green Preservation Society are songs of the common people, soft, humble and gentle, combining admirably with elegance. (7/10) FT: Picture Book
Hazy 60s rock, I enjoyed this album - it's stood the test of time.
Want to say 3.5, but that's not an option and in this case I have to round up as it quite enjoyable album.
4.5
Good classic Psych-ish rock by the Kinks. Not my favorite of their material but objectively it's good.
Having played this in both 12 and 15-track configurations (handy being able to do that with CD, eh), I'm not 100% sure now which of the two I preferred, but I suspect Ray Davies was probably right in the long run... And part of me feels it should've been a lot more successful than it was, but at the same I'm not surprised somehow that it wasn't. It doesn't sound like "1968" somehow. I've often felt that if all 1960s music was lost except for the Kinks' records you'd never guess psychedelia happened. This is exhibit A.
hmmm
solid. Didn't like it as well as the other one, but good!
Genre: Pop Rock 4/5 An album I had never listened to before, and it's truly an absolute pop rock gem. This one stands up to any other rock output at the time. A real treat from the late 60s. The Kinks, a band more widely known for their huge hit song You Really Got me, had grown out of the British Invasion sound just as much as any of their contemporaries, and The Village Green Preservation Society is a real triumph. They blend together baroque pop and psych pop influences seamlessly, and they ended up making one of the best British rock albums from that time period. The song that I kept going back to from this was All of My Friends Were There, a part psych-folk/part waltz cut towards the end of the album, which details a performer who drunkenly stumbles through his act. While he's telling the crowd that this is unlike him, he notices all of his friends are there to witness it. And their best friends too. He hides in disguise for a few years, before utilizing liquid courage once again to go up on stage and prove he can still perform, remaking his old friends in the process. And it's all told by lead singer/songwriter Ray Davies perfectly, and he does it all in under 2-1/2 minutes. It's truly a perfect pop song, with its adult themes presented in a kitschy, relatable way that anybody can digest and enjoy. Beyond that one tremendous song, the title track is a great little rock song, Picture Book is a delightful musical retelling of looking through old family photo albums, Sitting by the Riverside has some great psychedelic vibes hidden beneath its cutesy, old-timey, Music Hall sound, amongst some other really wonderful, well-played, and well-written songs (Animal Farm, Wicked Annabella). This is one of my favorites so far throughout this exercise, and even if a few duds sit within this 15-track album, this will be one I'll go back to many times over.
The weirdest damn cheery album I have heard in awhile.
Brilliant and odd, and really fun. Reminiscent of Sgt Pepper's and Pet Sounds, but more tongue in cheek.
I find a lot of music from the 60s and 70s just doesn't quite hit with me for whatever reason. Maybe it's the same reason I'm not loving a lot of newer music. But not this album. This was great!
-Pretty nice rock album -Couple parts sounded Beatles-like -Quick, Pleasent tracks -Notjing stood out like crazy, but it was all nice rock
Lovely bit of music there. Still the clear unencumbered sound of 60s
Disco sesentero muy chulo
big sky!
Very fun Brit pop album. I didn't like it quite as much as some of the other Kinks albums, but still a good time.
What a delightfully strange album. It’s part ode and part send up of English life with a psychedelic twist. The album spans genres though it is mostly whimsical folky psychedelic music punctuated by bluesy heavier tracks. I can hear shades of David Bowie in this album and believe that it must have been an influence on him.
Started strong. I kind of wasn't really listening towards the end though. Just get yourself a 'best of The Kinks' album instead.
God save Donald Duck, kinky.
Hi- The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter?, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Village Green Lo- Sitting by the Riverside, All of My Friends Were There "God save Donald Duck" is a great way to get me on board with your message, but the opening track is cleverly written, promising and upbeat. Picture Book features a chord progression reminiscent of Walkie-Talkie Man by Steriogram. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains is fun and lovable. Animal Farm is carefree and bright and Village Green is incredibly charming with its plinking harpsichord guiding the listener through a journey of memories, melodies, and sharp progressions. This album seems both way ahead of its time but also solidly belonging there, feeling like mid-2000s britpop (and it is VERY British) meets 60's psychadelic. Every track is tight, but not abbreviated...They do suffer from lower audio quality, which is really just an unfortunate product of their time, because this is a very enjoyable listen, otherwise, one that I'll keep in rotation!
Não reconheci as músicas.
Tykkään. Aina miettinyt kuunteleeko näitä kukaan vai onko jäänyt täysin Beatlesien varjoon. Mutta syytä olisi. Kokonaisuutena päihittää monet Beatles-levyt, vaikka hitit puuttuukin.
Ajalta, jolloin brittirockissa paistoi aurinko. Kenties vähän itseään toistavaa, mutta sitten tulee Wicked Annabella tuulettamaan menoa. sanotaan 3.5/5, pyöristyy ylöspäin.
The best Kinks record with lots of really good songs. The production is a bit thin, which is a shame because there is a lot going on instrumentally but you can’t hear it very well.
Fantastic, it’s The Kinks, nuff said!
It's like what Rubber Soul was for The Beatles, the start of a great new chapter in the bands history
4.5
This was pretty silly
Very cool earlier Kinks sound.
Un disc que és gairebé un quadre impressionista sobre la vida anglesa. Tot i ser preciós i recomenable, mai he entés l'aura que l'acompanya. La banda va fer millors discos abans i després
Liked it, very relaxed
fun and good
All very quaint, quirky and pleasant but nothing outstanding. I think it might be the production is a little muddy, maybe lacking a George Martin figure to punch it to a 5?
Very good 60s rock album Especially like picture book, steam powered trains
,,The Village Green Preservation Society" noice vocals, kinda similiar to the beatles ,Do You Remember Walter" nice, smily vibe, kinda lite, i would say cherfull to listen ,,Picture Book" similiar vibe to previous ones ,,Johnny Thunder" i like the guitar ,,Last of the Steam-Powered Trains" good old vibe ,,Big Sky" good to chill ,,Sitting by the Riverside" cherfull, nice ,,Animal Farm" nice guitar, nice chill ,,Village Green" kinda different, single main voice, another vibe ,,Starstruck" feel the old times ,,Phenomenal Cat" more calm and not as energetic and positive as the other ones ,,All of My Friend Where There" that simple, positive vibe i like it, ,,Wicked Annabella" not as good, still ok ,,Monica" nice to listen, i liked the vibe ,,People Take Pictures of Each Other" cherfull, nice instruments whole album has that nice, cherfull vibe (that i find similliar to the beatles) it was good to listen, enjoyed it. i liked ,,all of my friends were there" but i found every song here nice. i could go back to this album. hasn`t found the fire song here. 7 or 8/10
Before this record, I thought The Kinks were some kind of "one hit wonder", but this work changed my mind. These guys know how to write an earworm, for sure. This is a fun album - Short songs with poppy melodies. I liked the first half more than the second one (there is where my favorites are: Picture Book and Big Sky).
This album encapsulates my view of what the music scene in the late '60s was like (not having been around at the time). Jangly, poppy, a whiff of beach boys. Very nice
I swear I wrote stuff yesterday, must have forgotten to save it! Ray Davies is an amazing songwriter. Wit and nostalgia. Sometimes a bit sludgy when they try more rocky stuff, but when it's light and dreamy it's sublime. Anything with Village Green or Cat in the title is brill. As is Down By the Riverside. Picture Book is overrated (see the rockier bits being a bit bland, but Ray Davies lyricism covers for it).
liked it, like a wes anderson soundtrack
Boisterous and fun, this is a cracker of an album, full of groove and sizzle. Highly recommended. Top tracks: Last of the steam-powered trains, Big Sky, The Village Green Preservation Society
A little gem of an album.
Another fun album by The Kinks. I think I like this one more than Arthur.
Got better as the album went on, seemed basic, but good melodies and lyrics.
Pleasant sunshine pop album
Toe-tapping, no song overstayed its welcome
Reminds of the Beatles. I like the rock 'n roll vibe that this album gives. A nice and relaxing rock sound, that brings back humble rock startings. 4/5
Really good. I can see the way they influenced a bunch of other bands after them.