Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Lovely stuff
Bin halbwegs überrascht, auch wenn das alles sehr nach Beatles klingt, fühle ich kein Plagiat. Es hat gute Laune, schwingt, bisschen lustig auch, insgesamt: frei. Starke 3.8.
Really nice! It took me three days to finish the album, but I really enjoyed it.
The Kinks are one of the most under appreciated bands from the UK invasion. It’s easy to be overlooked with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as your peers. As a whole I much preferred this to the previously revised “Aftermath” by The Stones. It’s clear that this album has been influential far beyond its release. Out of 10 I would give it a 9.1 out of 10.
They made a whole album based on that record store in Muncie
Great. I will listen to more Kinks after this.
very good album. some forgettable songs but also some really great ones
I've always really liked The Kinks. They remind me of a more-socially-conscious Beatles. A lot of their songs are timeless, and their lyrics are so great. That being said, I've always thought Lola was the better album.
An album I didn't know existed despite knowing a lot about the Kinks.
Had never heard of it. Really liked it.
Oh mama 60s folk rock
Country, rarito, parece musica de iglesia.
Super fun British pop. Really enjoyed it!
Long one of my favorites, both of the Kinks and of this era/style generally. For me it doesn't quite make it as a concept album, and a fair bit of what occurs between the masterpieces is a bit lightweight - but the great stuff is so great
Not my favourite Kinks in regards to there is no outstanding tracks but as an album it flows nicely.
Great album, great concept. An easy 4.5 but alas
Great 60 alt record. None of the songs stuck out the the overall feel of the album was great.
More fun, folksy 60s rock. I like some of their other songs, so hearing more from them was nice.
Nice for easy beach or hike day. Didn't know they sang "Lola"
Some of this sounds like modern “bro-psychedelic”, which makes me see this as well the blueprint. It’s a sound I very much enjoy.
Definitely a lot of influence from the Beatles on this one
Very good
Kinks are underrated
What an absolute delight of a pop record. I want to somehow play the songs on the violin. I want to listen again and see if I think it's a little better or a lot worse. I want a better master. I want slightly longer songs. I love the song about a cat; Reminded me of The Weakerthans.
6.5-7/10
9/10 this is another one of em albums where i dont have much to say about it. just a really good nostalgic time. writing this mid day instead of night like usual so im not nearly as rambly. maybe thats the secret ingredient???????/ good to finally get another older album btw
Great concept album.
The Beatles ahhh band. Felt like I heard the whole album one I heard the first song.
This is actually one of The Kinks' albums that I liked a little better. It won't be among my top favorites, but I enjoyed listening to it. Maybe I'll listen to it again. 3/5
Very much of it time. Good songs but I didn't love it.
Really liked some of this, particularly 'Last of The Steam-Powered Trains', but other parts were simply too unrelentingly British and twee.
Liking some of their other stuff, I'm a bit disappointed
Surprised I didn’t love this, since I’m a big Blur fan. But idk…it was maybe a bit *too* pastoral and gentle for me. Good songwriting though!
J’ai hâte d’avoir un album plus récent un peu. C’est correct mais sans plus.
Yeah this was fine I guess
🚨WARNING🚨 This album is VERY BRITISH It’s also not that bad
Late 60s folk rock. One of the first concept albums. Very influential for indie rock. Pleasant enough, but not my style.
I don’t mind The Kinks, but this album is kind of very dull and boring. Nothing stands out and the 15 songs kind of just vanished and it was over before I knew it had really started. I’m really torn between a 2 and a 3 with this one. Probably going to go for a 3 as nothing was inherently wrong with this, it was just… meh.
I really like this. This is an album that I had not heard before. I had listened to the kinks, but I think some of their later stuff. I will certainly listen again, not sure about buying it
Solid album, just not my style and the songs blended into each other and bit.
I love the title track but for the most part, think it really overshadows everything that follows. There are hints of Sgt Pepper in this album which means I'm predisposed to enjoy it at least a little bit- Do You Remember Walter? is a good example of that. Picture Book is a great song, and Green Day must also agree as they blatantly ripped off the main riff for Warning (they covered So Tired Of Waiting for You as a B Side to Basketcase in 1994 so are clearly fans). I like the off kilter piano in Sitting By The Riverside, and the harpsichord in Village Green. I found my attention wandering a bit, although that might have been the fault of me listening to the version of the album on Amazon Music. That has different versions of some tracks but also includes Days (which is one of the best Kinks songs, but it's also a non-album track so shouldn't really count towards the score). This feels like a 3.5 for me. It would be a 4 with Days, but alas... 3/5
Average kinks album, enjoyable, inoffensive but nothing more than that
I've liked the Kinks based on classic hits like Lola, You Really Got Me, Sunny Afternoon. Often silly, upbeat and reflective of a more innocent time. This album is no different but somehow I got bored with it after a few songs.
Pre Listen: The Kinks :D ! ! ! I gave their last album on here a 5/5, and I still listen to songs from it on the regular. Expectations will certainly be higher than usual here, looking forward to seeing what these lads have in store on this one. Notable Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society - Yea this is the good stuff. Thank you Kinks. Last Of The Steam Powered Trains - Instrumental work here sounds like something from Creedence Clearwater Revival. That is all. All of My Friends Were There - Least favorite track. I have no idea what they were going for here, tempo and melody changes at random, nonsense lyrics. Village Green - Favorite track, and maybe the only thing I'll add to my playlist from this album? I appreciate the unique sound to it, and the story it tells. Phenomenal Cat - Well that's certainly a song to end an album on. That's definitely one of the songs of all time. Lyrics sounds like something from Pink Floyd's early works. Post Listen: Perhaps it was my expectations being too high, but I really didn't enjoy that album all too much. :< Most every other song wasn't really bad, but overwhelmingly mid. They have minimal flare outside of weird lyrics, melody or tempo changes mid-song, and other meh tricks. It didn't feel nearly as creative or focused as their other works I've encountered by now. Thoroughly disappointed, I was really hoping for another 5/5. Oh well, there's more Kink's albums ahead. 3/5
Really expected to dislike this much more than I did. I really don’t like the Kinks or psych rock but this just seemed much more bearable than their other work. Almost popped a blood vessel hearing “A scooby-dooby-doo” though and the B-side was pretty crummy. I do have to highlight Last of the Steam-Powered Trains as it was pretty great.
Pretty good, a little kinky
Overall pretty decent, despite the fact I can't really get to grips with The Kinks. I find them a bit try-hard and the similarities to The Beatles are there for all to see. Nonetheless this album is pretty fun on the whole, extremely 'English' and poppy.
I expected more - a bit disappointing. A bit too much like the Beatles for my liking.
I enjoyed this, but I don’t think it necessarily belongs on this list.
chill
would listen again
Lively and simple lyrics with humane malody, almost top-teir
Ihan hyvä konseptialbumi. Ei hirveästi hittibiisejä, mutta oli mukavaa kuunneltavaa.
I can understand the Kinks are good and important and I do enjoy the vibe but got to be honest ain't gonna be rocking them by choice.
Ah yes, nostalgia for an idyllic past that never actually existed. I'm sure that will never be used for evil (stares at MAGA) or to profit off of weary souls looking for some comfort in a horror filled world that is draining them dry day in and day out (stares at Disney). Sounds good though. I don't hate it.
not a huge fan on the Kinks, even though some of their music is iconic from the 60's. a few good road trip hits though!
Leuke muziek! Leuk om te horen hoe creatief en vrij de muziek was in de jaren 70. Hoewel het rond deze tijd wat psychedelischer en harder werd hebben de Kinks het juist wat rustiger gehouden, een album voor leuke en vrolijk klinkende liedjes. Teksten klinken een beetje nostalgisch en lijken korte verhaaltjes uit t verleden. 4 vind ik te hoog daarom 3,4.
Beatles ahh
I guess the Kinks were more influential that I would've initially assumed, wasn't expecting this much presence on this list. That, or the fact that the book author is British (that's the answer). Anyway, this was one of the more eclectic Kinks albums I've heard from this list. You can tell that the group matured significantly here, both in terms of artistry and lyrical content. Just makes you wish that the production was a tad better though, as I felt that something was still missing despite what I said above.
So child-ish i cant believe people listened to this shit back in the days.
I wanted a kinky album :(
66/100
cheesy
*1968. *I generally like the Kinks, but this was wild. Sometimes they sound just like the Beatles when they're extra high (which I like), and then other times it's just too trippy and psychedelic for me. *After looking at the reviews, I might revisit this, but for now, it's a one and done. RATING - 6/10
Bem Beatles. Acho que já tinha ouvido algo dos kinks. Valeu saber que existe e só! não me pegou muito
Solid album. Good listen. Back to back days of kinks albums probably didn’t help.
This album is alright; psychedelic rock is not really my thing, but this is fairly listenable without getting too boring or experimental. The vocalist is fairly good, and I could see how people would enjoy this album at the time.
Whilst I enjoy the wry witticism on the titular track and the general early concept album feel of this, I wasn’t massively compelled by the bulk of it. Not great, not bad.
Nice, but sometimes a bit too silly.
Johnny Thunder
Second band repeat. I think they're doing like a sgt pepper? I liked it! Fun. Picture book was the only one I knew before. Phenomenal cat was another stand out
Wish this album had Lola on it
The album was fine, interesting enough to catch my ear every now and again, but nothing I'd want to listen to again.
Way more fun and experimental than I gave it credit for, rings around in my ears which is great
Liked a bunch of the songs
Idk if they’re being sincere here or not, but I take it as a goof & it beats another Llewelyn Davis
I should have hated this but I’ll accept this as the only 60’s music I enjoyed a little
Pretty good classic album.
The songs are catchy, performances are fun, the production is great for the time, the politics behind the album? Weird to me lol. 3.5
It sucks that every British Invasion band had to compete with the Beatles. I hear an album like this and think: "Wow this is pretty good, but it sounds like the Beatles. Wait. Why don't I just go listen to the Beatles?" I tend to enjoy the Kinks' later stuff more.
Cool sound
Not the strongest album I’ve heard, but it holds up.
It has a very Beatles-esque sound to it. I do enjoy this for the most part, however there wasn't something that really jumped out for me. I did initially recoil when I thought it was almost 3 hrs long, before realizing the rest of the album was demos or live performances. I couldn't hack this for that long. It's a decent sounding record with some fun and interesting elements, not afraid to experiment every so often. Fav Track: Sitting by the Riverside
ofc a pleasant listen but imo kind of forgettable! title track is immortal though. “picture book” also charming. i’m giving it a 3 mainly for those two + nostalgia reasons for being a kid in high school and discovering the kinks, but it’s a weak 3.
Honestly wasn’t thrilled with this. It sounds like they were heavily influenced by the Beatles Sergeant Pepper‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, but they made a worse version of it. 3 stars
Day 318 Unmistakably English, slightly twee in places but enjoyable. Highlights TVGPS Last of the Steam Powered Trains The Village
It's very very hard not to mention the Beatles whenever I listen to the Kinks... and yeah, this is basically a decent middle ground between the pop and psychedelia of that other group.
A chill, jingly album. I especially like Big Sky and the song which gives the album its namesake. I do often feel a bit underwhelmed by the Kinks, however. I am not drawn to the cheeky, light hearted nature of it all. This exercise seems to be illustrating to me how much lyricism and emotional honesty in music draws me in much more.
Good album. Right down the middle for the British Invasion. Fun and light. Would never be upset if someone puts it on, but would never really choose it. Lyrics were good and instrumentation were easy going. I can appreciate the fact that they were the forefronts of the concept album/band which is cool
You can feel the beatles influence. They cannot quite pull it off even tho this being a fun listen.
Quirky, quaint, and full of detail. Just what you want from an English songwriter.
Meh
No mega hits on here but most songs are solid.
5/10
Just alright to me, nothing really catches my attention, just sounds like average British rock. I like a few songs from the Kinks but off other albums.
I liked this album but not as much as their other album
I liked the previous Kinks album more but still enjoyed
Boppy and catchy 60s/70s rock. Not something I'll come back to though
Típica música de The Kinks, no me fascinó, pero me gustó.
Very different sound from most of the Kinks songs I know. Interesting concept, some great songs. Favorite tracks: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Picture Book
didn't pick up on why this is a cult classic, it's just aight Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: doesn't seem like it 3.2
I enjoyed it as an easy album to listen to, but didn’t make a remarkable impression upon me. Will not likely revisit.
Yeah this is fine
Gran disco
Not at all what I expected! Probably won't listen to again by choice, but glad I did.
Would not buy
It's a back-to-back real British twofer — and I get the feeling that The Kinks' the Village Green Preservation Society is set against Morrissey's You Are the Quarry as the proper way to do dedication to one's cultural practices (or is it just the an earlier example? read on...). Listening to the lyrics of this record and holding Moz to the side as a point of comparison, The Kinks lyrics seem to be written from a place of love and not resentment or bitterness. Their affection for English culture is made plain from the jump and they're obviously rooted in working-class, small-state social values. I think there's a gentle rebellion against corporate modernism, and I can hear in many lyrics a nostalgia that can certainly be read as conservative by anyone inclined towards that end of the spectrum, and yet on the other hand I hear something both more generous and even suspicious of stagnation. In the end, this text is harder to pin down than something like You Are The Quarry and maybe that's why I can give it a pass in a few places but I'd take the opinion of a young British person over mine (dumb American) when it comes down to it. How to be proud but not a proud boy? How to take an interest in home but not the homeland? How to love a country but not nationalism? These are easy questions to answer when you look at the extreme end of things, but that's the trick isn't it? How to not slide from small declarations and little acts, partial indignities, and unintended micro aggressions into increasingly more hateful acts? But if these records aren't put back-to-back purposefully then this may be some Rorschach test that I am failing. What if, even, that someone were to prefer the music of You Are the Quarry to this too close to a hippie-era folksy, near circus music? I would understand — that Moz record lyrics aside is pretty good and sounds relatively modern even today. Whereas, this Kinks record sounds like a throwback (oh my god it also has harmonica on it...). It is shackled in its era by being so much of its time. I have not rated this band kindly over the course of my 1001 listening: - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire): 1 star - Face to Face: 2 stars - Something Else By The Kinks: 2 stars One thing that is apparent to me on this record, more than the previous ones, is the Kinks have been lumped in with that "hippie sound" more as a slip in the timeline than anything else — a simple historical association because of shared musical roots, overlap in recording technology/production, and a pre-occupation with pastoralism or a "back to the land" movement. For anyone born after 1980 (maybe before?) it can all kind of blur together some times. And, I guess, this is the success (?) of the bludgeon you with The Kinks approach that this list has taken. I have finally heard them in a way that's broken through some calcified taste prejudices that I had. Ultimately, The Kinks' the Village Green Preservation Society has initiated a broader reappraisal of the band and that's powerful on its own. I still don't love it. But it's not bad. Though I'm never going to enjoy a song along the lines of "All My Friends Were There" with its circusy, vaudeville vibe. I find that mode so grating. And, is this the longest I've taken to say I like an album just fine? Probably not, but it's close. Overall, this record is a very solid 3 stars. Congratulations to the Davies brothers!
songs kinda sound the same, and the album sounds like eccentric beatles. nostalgia album about rural nostalgia. didn't mind it, probably won't listen again. was interesting enough.
3.3/5
Vähän vaihdellen perus 60-luvun rokkia ja psykedeeliä ja fever dreamia. Ihan hauska brittirokki/poppi hölmöilylevy. En ny ihan päässy sisään, valonpilkahduksia ja mitä ihmettä -hetkiä löyty, mut keskimäärin aika pliisua perus sikstarirokkia.
Jag känner att kinks är ok.
Quite good.
This album feels like pulling back the curtain of this band before they figured out their own sound and were still happy pantomiming the Beatles a la the White Album.
Welp, so.. this was an experience, for sure. It's a fun and easy on the ears kind of a folk-pop/rock album. It wasn't until the Side Two that I started to get into it truly as the songs got more interesting and dynamic imo. Over all, nothing really struck me as particularly extraordinary. Highlights: Johnny Thunder, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Village Green, Starstruck, Phenomenal Cat, Wicked Annabella, Monica
Interesting themes, but less cool than Bob Dylan and less creatively polished than The Beatles
A really nice simple album to play in the background. In comparison to the other kink albums I’ve listened too this one does not have any songs of real substance to make me want to return. But for what it is it was a fun listen.
Har lite svårt att bestämma vad jag egentligen tycker om det här albumet. Ibland kan jag tycka det kan vara lite jobbigt men delar av det gillar jag. Bäst är The village green preservation society, Picture book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Animal farm
Aight.
About halfway through my brain just like shut off
Обычное, но неплохое
I expected more.
In general I find this a little too twee. Big Sky sounds a bit ahead of its time, though. A fairly middling three.
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? I don’t know any of these songs, even though I know a lot of Kinks songs How do I feel about this artist? I really like The Kinks Pre-Listen Thoughts: A concept album about a small Welsh town? Sounds interesting Favorite track(s): Phenomenal Cat, Big Sky Post-Listen Thoughts: This was OK, not what I’m used to hearing from the kinks. Not bad but not as exciting as some of their other work.
Big Sky and All My Friends Were There are my favorites😊🏙️🏙️ Feel-good album. I felt happy and relaxed 💖Thank you
poppy, was fine.
This album is rather precious with all this British country nostalgia, isn't it. I recognize that it's a little tongue in cheek, but still. I guess "Big Sky" is a bit more interesting with its spoken word bit, and I've always liked "Animal Farm." And of course these songs all have the advantage of being very short. But on the whole I like the garage-y sound of the earlier Kinks record that I had yesterday better. I'll admit that I began counting how many songs were left after "Animal Farm." 3 stars
Light and airy, but with interesting themes. I enjoyed this, but probably wouldn't return to it as none of the individual songs really grabbed me.
A more British Beatles but not as charming
On an initial listen, I wasn't all that impressed with the album as a whole. I found it to be one of those albums which just didn't match my musical tastes. However, after realising a few of the songs had gotten stuck in my head, I had another listen. That, plus the context I learned about the Kinks and this album specifically allowed me to appreciate it as an interesting commentary on the fragility of nostalgia and a parody of those who have a strong desire to protect the "old ways". Being British, these themes really did resonate with me and were highlighted best by my two favourite songs off the album "The village Green Preservation Society" and "Where's Walter". Overall though, it's only 3 stars as I won't be listening to the whole album through and my favourite songs aren't enough to bring it up to that 4 star rating
even though i'm not a 60's lover, this album was very fun to listen to. it is cute and energetic, in a 60's way of course. i enjoyed most of the songs and would definitely add them to my playlists.
Cool songwriting, none of the songs are super memorable except the first one but maybe that's because my dad used to sing it a lot more than anything.
coole hippie vibes, simple melodien. glaube ein mal hören reicht. 6/10
Pretty solid.
I had no idea The Kinks had such a long, eclectic, prolific career. Or that they were banned from the US in the 60's. I see similarities between the songwriting on this and some Beatles records, and early Pink Floyd, purposely reflecting Ray Davies' intent to preserve British the songwriting style. This proto-concept album is a slice of music history and artistic growth unknown or forgotten by so many.
why is this basically a beatles album
Strong 6-light 7. Intrigued to listen to The Kinks more now. Bass run on Wicked Annabella is MENTAL
- I like most of the songs on here, though it loses steam as it goes on and gets a little hokey. - The mix could be better, but I like the instrumentation throughout - it's just hard to hear everything. I like the bass and guitar riffs and grooves, in general. - I like the themes that they're singing about, but I am having trouble following all the lyrics because they're a little buried in the mix.
I mean the Kinks are cool and I feel like they were putting out some great music for their time. I'm not sure they really hit for me. I think they just sound a bit too Beatlesque for me. I love the Beatles so it's good music but just isn't as catchy as their music and just feels like a Temu version.
i liked this one quite a bit more than the last Kinks record. trippy and very fun
Good old 60s beat rock music.
Well this album has aged. I don't really know whether I think it is really good or not. It definitely is not bad, but very much a product of its time. Pleasant to listen to, but I think it will fall just short of 4 stars here. 3/5
We have a pattern going on with Sticky Fingers and now this lol, a lot of classic British stuff. Familiar due to my love of The Beatles, The Who, The Animals, Yardbirds, stuff like that. I'm a fan! I think I just love all music. Not as raw as I would like, but it has a time and place to be enjoyed. I think some of the songs are a bit similar and therefore can be hard to remember or distinguish, but I enjoy the meaningful lyrics on certain tracks and early idea of a concept album. This album didn't chart or have much success but it's probably because it came out around the same time as The White Album. My favorite track was Wicked Annabella followed by Last of the Steam Powered Trains.
bättre än annat från kinks
I'll precursor by saying that i do genuinely enjoy the Kinks' work, but this has never worked as well for me as other albums of theirs. There's a lot to like here, but a lot just leaves me cold. It's no Arthur or Muswell Hillbilllies.
Kinky
Yas
Meh I am sure this is someones favourite
I love The Kinks, though this is my least liked of all their albums, I think. They certainly have a lot of commitment to the bit here, and it all gets a bit twee after a while. It's still a fun listen though, all cheerful and full of sunshine.
Couple good songs and a couple mid ones
Such excellent simple songs
Stop that. Silly. It's very silly.
Pretty good Kinks album. I may not be as enamored by it as many people seem to be, I still prefer the band's tow lower stakes albums that preceded it, but it's doubtless very good. I know there's a concept here, but it seems to ingrained in the British class system for me fully grasp. I guess that's why I like the other two better. Key tracks: Picture Book People Take Pictures of Each Other
Evokes classic English country towns to me, in a good way.
Good stuff. Classic, But sounds rather Old
Liked it a lot but not like yea want to listen to it more
A very fresh pop record. I knew very few of the Kinks and I quite enjoyed this release. Favorite Songs: The Village Green Preservation Society
Me gustó, pero no me encantó. Last of the steam es temazo.
Enjoying Do You Remember Walter Appreciate that this isn't about love or beauty but exploring people's histories Sixty tracks?! She's Got Everything is a bop
I have tried to give this album its due so many times. I just don’t get it.
Cool music but no catchy hits
"Released in 1968" yeah no shit Real talk, I have no problem with this album. Pretty enjoyable, decent songwriting, unique. But holy moly the age on this puppy shows. Crazy to think of what some other groups were doing around this time. Fave tracks: - Picture Book - Last of the Steam-Powered Trains - Sitting by the Riverside - Animal Farm - Wicked Annabella
Es una banda que conozco y me gusta. En la voz, letras y melodía se percibe nostalgia. Se deja escuchar muy fácil.
Not really for me, but not bad either. Feels very of its time, but not in a dated way, just the feel of it.
6.5/10. I know how influential The Kinks are in rock history, and I really wanted to connect with this one… but it just didn’t happen. It’s well crafted and has its charm, you can hear the impact it had. It just never fully pulled me in.
Pretty good band
This version of the kinks is a little jaggely for me.
Lowkirky Beatles
beatles auf wish
Some interesting songs! 3.5 stars
This is #day623 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's my third record from The Kinks already. I've rated the previous two a 2 out of 5, and I feel like I should revisit them. What makes Village Green work is that late-'60s pop/folk-rock sound with psychedelic elements, which I don't mind on this Thursday night. After all, they say this is the record that influenced Blur and Oasis, so that has to count for something. Still, I prefer The Beatles. Actually, The Stones. Let it be a strong 3 out of 5 this time around. Looking forward to #day624.
It's as if The Beatles and The Beach Boys had a child
Interesting album that flip flops between hyper silly and more complex seemingly every other song. Would have preferred less silly (especially on the B side), but there are things to like here. Top tracks: Picture Book, Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Big Sky
Never heard of the band, never heard any of the songs. Hated Sitting by the Riverside, but the rest were fine. People Take Pictures of Each Other, Phenomenal Cat, and All of My Friends Were There were all funny.
This was an interesting trip into 60s rock. I only new The Kinks from You Really Got me, so this album was completely new. Not as appealing as the more psychedelic stuff of this era, but still a chill listen.
I like albums that tell a story. This one was a little campy at points but I’m excited to listen to more of them. Wish I could give 3.5
Highlights: The Village Green Preservation Society, The Last of the Steam Powered Trains. In a nutshell: God save the Davies lads... An ode to nostalgia, mocking the establishment, strawberry jam and their different varieties. There's a theme, but it's not quite a concept album. It's definitely a "series of vignettes" than a concept album. The reach The Kinks have, especially this album, is far and wide. From ELO to Oasis to Green Day. If you go in knowing that the band are serious about their music while taking the piss out of their home nation, you'll be right. Overall: 6/10
Big influence on Brit Pop which might explain why it's totally decent but just not something I'm itching to spin back or ever hear again.
Enjoyable should revisit
A good pop rock album representative of its time while also pushing the envelope a little.
Encore un de ces groupes que je connais avant tout de nom. J'ai déjà essayé de m'y intéresser à plusieurs reprises, mais je n'ai toujours pas eu le déclic. Je sais que ce groupe et cet album sont particulièrement appréciés et ont un statut culte, mais ça ne m'a pas parlé plus que ça. Mais, il faut admettre que c'est très bien fait, c'est bien de son époque, c'était plutôt travaillé, mais... j'ai pas assez retenu pour en dire grand-chose.
Hier hoef je niet veel bij te typen. Het is m'n vierde Kinks album en het is in mijn beleving altijd ongeveer wel een beetje hetzelfde. Deze keer is het gezapig en gezellig genoeg voor 3 sterren.
The Village Green Preservation Society // Last of the Steam-Powered Trains //
While interesting and full of classic folk rock and interesting lyrics and themes, the album meanders on in its second half and becomes a bit. The album is good, and I may even listen to it again, but the attempt at a concept album doesn't fully work (although again it really does for the first half). If the album were shorter, it would have been higher.
I stand by my comment on the last album I had by The Kinks. They’re a less interesting version of the Beatles.
The indie/alt Beatles/Stones. A fun listen. Very English.
I liked this, felt like I was already familiar with the sound from Beatles albums around this same time - which I’m sure is greatly offensive to Kinks fans and maybe the wider music community. Consistently enjoyable, but great opening track and lyrics in The Village Green Preservation Society.
Lovely background music to our car ride home. Definitely not The Kinks I know and love!
I think this was quite pleasant background in car music but not necessarily much more than that. Very jangly!
Pleasant, but nothing grabbed me.
Old timey Honestly don't care for their sound.
Some bops but after the first 2 songs became a bit samey
Not their catchiest - okaaaay
Best Track - "The Village Green Preservation Society"
I mean, the Kinks were the Kinks, hugely influential on so many rock groups that would follow. But now nearly 60 years after it came out, most of the tracks on this particular album seem dated and not particularly memorable.
It was OK, had hoped for more
This is another album that’s not bad, but is also not particularly memorable. The Kinks were certainly creative and experimental for the time period, and I appreciate the goofiness, but this isn’t one I’ll revisit.
Solid album.
this sounds like the beatl- oh hi british invasion period <3
Definitely fun, but this is really some Sgt peppers Lonely Hearts Club rip-off hahaha
Lots of simple, happy songs. Good listen.
Me gusta, pero no está en mi top de favoritos
More enjoyable album than contemporaries
Nice album cover. The kinks are massively influential. I’ve never heard one of their albums. This album was heavily criticised when it was realised, many labelled it one of the earliest concept albums. The village green preservation society: 5/10 Wow. It’s like the kinks are doing their best beach boys impressions. Do you remember Walter?: 5.5/10 That first chord reminds me of a day in the life. Picture book: 6/10 “ this is a public service announcement this is only a test “ Johnny thunder: 5.5/10 Last of the steam powered trains: 6/10 Big sky: 6/10 Sitting by the riverside: 6/10 Animal farm: 6/10 Village green: 5.5/10 Starstruck: 6/10 Phenomenal cat: 7/10 All of my friends were there: 4/10 Wicked Annabella: 5/10 Monica: 6/10 People take pictures of each other: 6/10 All together a bit too jolly for most people. I think when people want to hear the kinks they want to hear gritty rock, not an experimental album.
Why am I drinking Pepsi when Coke exists? If I wanted to listen to the Beatles, I'd listen to the Beatles. The first two songs on this album are Beatles knockoffs. And the third one is right there, too. Song structures, quirky lyrics, some of the harmonizing...it's fine, but like I said...I'd rather just listen to the real thing. Giving this a 3. It's not BAD music. It's fine...it's just not worth coming back to. And like I said, if I'm gonna listen to someone ape the Beatles, I'd rather just listen to the Beatles.
Interessant
This isn't me hating on this album, because it's pretty good, but why do a band like the Kinks have 4 albums on this list??
Kinda forgettable but okay overall
Usually I'm not a fan of whatever type of genre this is, but this was pretty decent. Not extraordinary, but I actually like a few songs from this album.
i love the kinks but this is not their best imo
The beatles: mid edition Fav song: picture book
pretty cool, funky, sometimes country and a bit rock, some nice jams, mostly prefer some of their bigger songs than anything on this album tho
Ok
Helt ok tidstypisk pop-rock.
I liked it! Very happy sound!
Charmingly English
p133. 1968. 3 stars. Proof that The Kinks were always more of a singles band. This isn't dreadful by any means, with sharp lyrics and sly asides - but there's a lot of filler. It's all a bit tired and twee to be honest.
- Just some fun, whimsical, feel good listening
Very hippie, British, early mid 60s. Reminds me of Spinal Tap the early years, but that is my only frame of reference.
On the surface, this album sounds just like other British bands from that era, such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. But The Kinks manage to insert a few darker undertones in their otherwise happy music and thus make for a more varied and interesting listening experience. Best songs are The Village Green Preservation Society and Wicked Annabella. 7/10, just like British cuisine, their music is better with more spices.
Good album!
Halt beatles in nöd so guet
Gonna be an unpopular opinion because I know this is a lot of people's favorite album, but I bounced back and forth from really enjoying some songs ( Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Wicked Annabella, Picture Book) to absolutely hating some of them (All of My Friends Were There, Phenomenal Cat, The Village Green Preservation Society). I honestly think the kind of almost whispery, sing-songy , whimsicality of the vocals on some of the songs got on my nerves after a bit. I enjoyed the instrumentals way more than the singing. It's a British Invasion album, what can I say. It's got enough high points and interesting songs/ guitar riffs that it kept me engaged *almost* the whole album, but the lows were low.
Visai nieko, bet nieko nepamenu. Bet taip pat aš ne visai sąmoninga, tai nežinau.
Pretty interesting experiment in a variety of genres. But I can see why the kinks have largely been left behind while contemporary such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones continue to be relevant.
Three solid standouts but very samey for me....still good tho
RE LARGO MAAAN
it was ao comforting and homely, almost nostalgic too
I’ve listened to the kinks before I don’t mind the band and the album is alright but they have better music available so not their best but by no means bad
What a curious mixture of songs. The album is lighthearted and easy to listen to, I loved all the funky elements throughout the album. This is a strong 3.5 for me.
I'd never even heard of this album but as a fan of a lot of Kinks deep cuts this sounded pretty good: "lauded by contemporary critics for its songwriting. It was embraced by America's new underground rock press, completing the Kinks' transformation from mid-1960s pop hitmakers to critically favoured cult band." but it didn't really hit like i was expecting. Decent but no songs really grabbed me.
I love the Kinks but the album prior is better for mine. This might be too culturally specific to really resonate and not of interest enough to hold my attention and learn. Love Mick Avory’s drum sound and drumming.
A great song or two, but most of the album is bland.
På frågan ”Beatles eller Stones” är svaret The Kinks. Ray Davies skrev och sjöng några av 60-talets snyggaste popmelodier. På den här skivan bäst manifesterat på Big sky, Animal farm och titelspåret. Mer tröttsamt är Kinks fäbless för varietépop, vilket i olika grad hörs i exempelvis Sitting by the riverside och All of my friends were there. Och att en av deras bästa låtar någonsin, Days, spelades in i samma session men aldrig kom med på albumet är obegripligt.
This is a simple and fun album, but it just doesn't grab me.
I almost always read the Wikipedia entry for each record we review. This one has got to be the longest I've ever seen. Just the footnotes take forever to get through. Three hundred thirty listed references? You betcha, pal! Anyway... this album is fine. Maybe a little too "British" for my taste.
The Kinks seem like they are for kind of depressed people, there I said it.
Nothing special
Hört sich immer noch an wie die Beatles
7.2
Hasta ahora escucho algo de ellos en esta época. Pero puedo decir que tienen muy buenas canciones y que en medida comparten algo del estilo de The Beatles, sin embargo los de The Kinks son un poco más "recatados" que los otros Favorita sería The Village Green Preservation Society Menos favorita sería Allá My Friends Were There 3.5
Some fun little lines in here. Not enough people are talking about "God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties". Lotta sky talk. I feel very similarly about this as I did with the previous two Kinks albums. I do like it, but do we really need all 3? Just like the previous albums, this falls somewhere between a 3 and 4 -- pleasant and poppy, but old. Wait, hold on -- 'Picture Book' is where Green Day's 'Warning' comes from!?? OK, I take it back, having this album was valuable. It's like Funkadelic x 'Rill Rill' all over again! History is a thick tapestry! Kinda funny that according to Davies, 'People Take Pictures of Each Other' is about how photos "encourage nostalgia" when this entire album is a celebration of nostalgia, right? Highlights: 'Animal Farm', 'Phenomenal Cat' (naturally) Lowlight: 'Last of the Steam-Powered Trains' (supposedly a parody of other bands, but a bad joke is still bad) Also a Dominion Card: 'Village Green'
big meh
Enjoyable. Good band. What an era of music. Better than Green Onions....
Was ok. A lot of songs I've never heard before. Didn't really give it proper attention though.
Not super memorable to me.
Not what I expected from The Kinks. Very different to their radio stuff.
#869. Not a one hit wonder, but we're keeping with the plot of this book in choosing an album at random from an artist's library instead of an album that anyone has heard of. 3/5: acceptable
I enjoyed this. It's was almost good enough for me to overlook the fact that it's partially to blame for the abomination that was Blur's comedy Cockney phase.
Copia dei Beatles, noisetto
Clever stuff for 1968 from a very prolific band but I find it depressing for reasons I can't and don't necessarily want to really articulate.
Fornøyelig nok
Listened to work. A perfectly pleasant but forgettable album. Surely there's more to these guys than this one?
No se si es un álbum que volvería a escuchar de principio a fin. Algunas canciones me gustaron muchísimo y me hicieron acordar a canciones del álbum at home de shockin blue, que se lanzó un año después que este. Las primeras canciones me hicieron pensar que no era un álbum para mí, algunas ni siquiera las quería terminar de escuchar. Escuché el álbum por 2da vez y recién ahí empecé a encontrar su encanto y algunas canciones que me guardé para seguir escuchando. Tiene letras muy buenas y algunas progresiones de acordes que me quedaron dando vueltas. Canciones favoritas: 1. Last of the steamed-powered trains 2. Picture book 3. Big sky 4. Wicked anabella 5. People take pictures of each other 6. Phenomenal cat
Basic rock. Earlier (lighter) han I expected. Not bad. Nothing to write home about.
1968, the peak of the American-Vietnam conflict for the US. A time of extreme liberalization and progressive cultural transition and the extreme corruption of the UK government. Rock music was thriving, people were partying, life was a blast. The Kinks were regionally popular and their music was similar to the kingpin group The Beatles but was more experimental, more boundary pushing, more alternative. This album is considered one of the first "concept albums" and has prevailing themes connecting each song to each other. The opening track and namesake of the album is very good. A couple stand outs like "Last of the Steam Powered Trains", "Big Sky" and "Picture Book" are above average songs on this album. Unfortunately, the good songs are contrasted to flavorless bland tracks that act as filler and back-end weight. Overall the album is above average and deserving of a 6/10.
Ganz nice aber kein kauf
aight
This is ok
Ok listening
Funny lyrics, great songs, good album
Fun energy and delightfully silly.
Meh. I like the kinks but this didnt do too much for me
Ouvi-se bem mas não achei nenhuma música memorável
Não tive tempo de ouvir com muita atenção. Pelo meu gosto pessoal dou 3, mas pode ser daqueles que com mais contexto subisse
Gostei de algumas músicas, mas também houve outras que não gostei principalmente na parte final do álbum.
Honestly as first I thought it's gonna be worse. Still not my kind of music, but it was fairly listenable.
A bit too Beatles ISH for me
The Kinks are a great folk psych compliment to the typical “classic rock radio” type acts many of us know. That said, they don’t hold a candle to the Beatles, as some have claimed their superiority over the fab five. This is a delightful record, though.
I didn't mind this album, but I doubt I would seek it out in the future
A better time was had with this one compared to "Arthur", and the songs on here are actually quite catchy, both in terms of the melodies and the zany, quintessentially British lyricism accompanying them. This did start wearing a touch thin after its first third, but there wasn't anything too objectionable going on to speak of, and the final few tracks were a notable uptick away from a drawling style which had begun to set in. Even if it's not my usual bag, I did find enough to appreciate here for the chance I might revisit down the line.
Best leuk album. Grappige tekst
First listen
Pretty typical music of it's time. Added 1 song to "favourites" (sic). Strange obsession over taking photos.
Álbum mediano, primeira metade melhor que a segunda. Algumas músicas fizeram-me lembrar de Jack White. Pela maneira de cantar, letras e algums acordes na guitarra. É um esticão, talvez, comparar The Kinks ao Jack mas foi o que me fez lembrar mal ouvi algumas músicas.
Last of the steam powered trains
Pretty fun, classic '60s rock!
This is a light, effervescent album with some good beats (and some weirdness). This feels very much in the avant garde 1960s in a carefree, cool, concept way, although it’s not something I’d relisten to a lot. Top tracks: "The Village Green Preservation Society," "Johnny Thunder," "Village Green"
--The Village Green Preservation Society...my second the Kinks album this week. I already prefer the production of this one --Do You Remember Walter...a fun jaunt --Picture Book...the tinny production from Face to Face is back. lyrics are a bit kinky (heh) --Johnny Thunder...plodding --Last of the Steam-Powered Trains...this grooves. still don't like the production on the high end --Big Sky...this one is fun and weird --Sitting by the Riverside...getting Tiny Tim vibes --Animal Farm...I like the jangly guitars. British musicians were thinking a lot about Orwell in 1968 --Village Green...that damned harpsichord is back --Starstruck...fun power pop --Phenomenal Cat...I doubt the phenomenalness of this cat --All of My Friends Were There...quirky. don't love it but I could see it growing on me --Wicked Annabella...getting a T. Rex/glam feel from this --Monica...a sultry Latin number --People Take Pictures of Each Other... fun closer for a good not great record
Very middling 1960s British music. Maybe it’s iconic in its time, but today it just sounds generic as hell.
Except for a few really great songs like "You Really Got Me", "Lola", "Waterloo sunset" and a couple of other songs I'm not really fond of The Kinks. So while this album is ok, it simply lacks highlights - at least for me. But as a whole it is ok and worth having been heard.
Habe mich schon die ganze Zeit gefragt, wann dieses Album an die Reihe kommt. Das hat mit "You Really Got Me" wirklich gar nichts mehr zu tun. Ich respektiere den stilistischen Left-Turn und das für die Zeit ungewöhnliche Konzept. Die Platte fängt auch wirklich stark an, aber in der zweiten Hälfte juckt mich wirklich gar nichts mehr und das Konzept beginnt da auch schon zu bröckeln. Da hätte man wirklich noch einiges wegkürzen oder zu vollwertigen Songs ausarbeiten können. Ganz schwache 3 Sterne.
War schon fair für die Zeit denke ich. Phasenweise kam es mir sehr kreativ vom instrumentalen Songwriting vor. Unterm Strich mir aber doch zu tragend.
War schon irgendwie gut, aber ich habe bei den Kinks und den Songs die ich von denen schon kannte was anderes erwartet. Aber das ist ja mein Problem, nicht das des Albums
Kinky
A different sound for the kinks, it's not as rock and roll like other songs, but it's still enjoyable. A calm sound and a concept that makes you listen further.
Fin, melodisk 60-tallsrock med surrete tekster. Litt for surrete tekster.
Мне нравится концепция альбома, но я считаю, такой веселый стиль, без выделяющихся мрачных треков не позволит прочувствовать её по полной. Также некоторые треки концептуально не совсем подходят, из-за чего хоть это вроде и первый концептуальный альбом группы-всё ещё смахивает на микстейп
Good but starting to blend in with some of the other albums like this now.
There are 4 or 5 kinks songs I like (all on different albums) and there are 4 kinks albums on this list and somehow none of them have any of those songs. I'll never understand why people like the kinks. They are not bad, in fact I think this is the best one they have on this list, but it just sounds like watered down Sgt. Pepper. Mid 3.
noice
it's giving store brand beatles
everybody was chasing behind the beatles
This is the third Kinks album I've gotten as an OAD, and I'm still not a fan of this admittedly great music, though this record hit me better than the other two. It's pretty weird in a way that I usually like. Again, it's all just so damn British. It celebrates a culture that was already in decline when the songs were written. It's very focused on that objective, and I'm sure it resonates in a big way with folks who share a similar sense of clear-eyed nostalgia and appreciation for the songs. This album was not made for me, and that's ok. Still, there are some very interesting tunes on this record. "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains" is an appropriate rip-off of Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning." I also liked "Animal Farm" and "Village Green." But most of the songs on this record hit me like "People Take Pictures of Each Other," awesome tunes that I don't care to listen to again. The best thing about listening to The Kinks as part of this project is to figure out why I'm not into it. I'm still working on that. Three stars.
Back in the 1960s, I only knew The Kinks from their big AM radio hits. It wasn't until the early 1970s, after Lola, that I really dove into their albums and became a true fan. Ray Davies' distinctive vocals and songwriting instantly hooked me. That said, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society is a solid album, but not one of their greatest. It's often called a concept album, though the overarching theme doesn't fully click for me. A few tracks feel instantly familiar and stand out, while others are just decent fillers. Still, there's no doubt this is unmistakably a Kinks record through and through.
A very sunny day music
Musically interesting, would make solid background music for most activities
I like animal farm
Very British: I like the Kinks. They are cool. This is up there with the best 60s folk-pop/rock that I’ve heard. I can definitely see the influence this would have had on bands like ELO and the Who. While there are no standout “hits” on the record it’s still a pleasant listen with enough going on to keep it interesting throughout. I’d buy the record. Strong 3.5
I cant decide if the kinks now who they are in this album. It’s not bad, but I kind of feel like they were still trying to figure out who they are as a band
I get it. A whimsical & nostalgic look back at an England that never really was. Ray Davies songwriting is on point. But I just can't get into this album. It'sso whimsical it becomes a turn-off.