Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

I didn’t hate it. Few bops

This was whatever and even annoying at times

Gets repetitive

Strong opener, but it fell apart and I lost interest quickly after that. Too ambitious and proggy. 90 % of the songs should be two or three minutes shorter. Best songs: Victoria, Brainwashed and Nothing to Say

Trash

47/1001 The Kinks - Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ I think this album reinstates my belief that The Kinks are a singles band. Yes this is a concept album, but it needs to the tunes to carry the concept, which this simply doesn't. You have the one good song in Victoria at the start and then a couple of glimmers here and there, but nothing to interest otherwise.

I’ve never listened to an album by The Kinks, and I’m not sure this was the best first one to listen to as it was a little light on recognisable hits. I enjoyed the lyricism (especially in Mr Churchill Says) and the feel of the album (especially in Shanghai-La), but I just wanted something which was a bit more memorable.

- another good road trippin album - “Victoria” is a good opening song 🙂‍↕️ - I liked the vibe change of “yes sir, no sir” - very monotone, nothing stood out or was too special - i like it but it’s “meh.” it feels like im trying too hard to find something memorable about it (other than Victoria and australia, i loved those two songs)

2. rocky as any other well i am not enjoying but its not bad...

Lyttede ikke så meget

Victoria: ⭐⭐⭐ Shangri-La: ⭐⭐⭐ Everything else: 🫠 and a stupid hat.

Ew, 60s music

Victoria is pretty good. The next four are fairly dull - great last chord on Brainwashed though. Australia is pretty good - quite a Julian Casablancas sound. Mr. Churchill Says - not great but interesting having the air raid siren in it. She's Bought a Hat is okay? Not their nonsense-best. Young and Innocent Days is the best so far. Final two aren't great - just all in all not a P A T C H on the Village Green Preservation Society!

Wasn't a fan

Meh. Never really liked the Kinks sound.

Sounds very similar to many other albums from this time with no real stand out tracks.

The singing seemed out of tune on a couple songs. Some nice little riffs but overall not great

Just ok. I am a fan of the kinks. But this was just ok

Not bad really— I’m just finding I don’t really like the Kinks (other than Lola). Take Australia, it starts out like a perfectly competent 60s rock song and then devolves into meaningless nonsense. And then the rest of the songs that are on wacky old instruments (kazoos, harpsichords and ragtime pianos)? Not for me

Ehhh

- Literally one of the worst vocalists I have ever heard. - Lyrically dull and uninteresting. "Soldiers die at war. Have you ever thought about that?" - shite

Not fun or interesting

This was ok, but I'm just so bored of old records

It was okay, a change of sound for the band, and a few standouts.

not a fan. 2/5

Ok, very Kinks witty but not my favourite of theirs.

Meh

Arthur is not aging well at 55 years old. Wearing a rumbled out of style shirt, two stones overweight, and with a heart condition he sits in his rocker at Shangri-La complaining about how the war took his friends, the poor state of the economy, and his mundane job. This harsh critique of the British lifestyle by Ray is certainly 1001 List worthy, it’s just not an enjoyable listen. (2.2*s) They get better and we’ll be hearing more from The Kinks.

Another from The Kinks, really? There's maybe 2-3 good songs on this whole album, it doesn't deserve to be in the list. The more I hear from them, the less I like. Too hokey and carnival sounding. I did not enjoy. 1.85.

Too much Kinks here list and probably we ain't done I'm afraid. Arthur is the best of the albums so far but still meh. Again, I get a knock-off Beatles album feel here. I may be wrong but with the Davies bros debuting about a year after the fab 4, it's like they were taking notes or maybe they were all on their own and had same idea. "Victoria" was recognizable and "Shangri-La" takes top track spot. Will have to play it at the openmindz next gathering. Starting to feel like these guys should be The Stinks really. Please just send me their debut and be done...2.05 stars.

It's hard not to feel like The Kinks are over-represented on this list at this point. This is already the 3rd entry and I hate to say it but I fear we could be in for another. I don't mean to discount the talent of The Kinks but we've already been exposed to what it is they offer. While that has its place in music history, I don't personally feel like they deserve to be placed at the top of any legacy lists. For what it's worth I think Arthur was probably the best album of the bunch thus far. Even with that I'm not even sure it belongs on this list. It's a coherent concept album with the typical Kinks flair. There's some variation in style with some of their light humor mixed in. For my money I'd probably leave Arthur on the list and remove the prior 2 albums. Overall as I get further exposed to The Kinks it makes me only want to stick to the hits and avoid the rest of their collection. I will likely adjust my scores to prior Kinks reviews. 2.39 stars

I guess I would maybe say unremarkable...? Not unlistenable, but pretty unmemorable.

Better than I thought it would be. Still not my style. Pretty raw, which is fine.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Some tracks are quite good, while others don't really fit, resulting in an overall mediocre experience. Production/mixdown is horrible.

Never heard of them before, and honestly wouldn't care if I never heard them again. Victoria and Yes Sir, No Sir are good songs but dragged down by the rest of the album that's mediocre at best and downright migraine-inducing at worst.

I’ve always loved the Kinks. Part of the 60s British Invasion. They have some great hits. Unfortunately, none on this album. I can see the timing of this album was during the Vietnam war, so the subject of several of the songs makes sense. Just didn’t strike a chord with me.

I feel like this would go hard for people who like the Beatles.

What the fuck are you doing here? This album was noisy and boisterous, and not always in a good way. It was ok, but The Kinks are treated on this list like the Beatles. Come on. I don't care if I ever hear The Kinks again.

Not a fan.

Not great. Where’s all the good tunes Kinks??

This one not as good as the other, not sure what happened.

Drivin' is horrendous every time it hits the chorus. I wanted that to end as quickly as possible. Music just doesn't click with me, found getting through this album a slog. 2/5.

Viktig historie. Ikke helt min kopp te. Litt mye fjas innimellom.

Second Kinks album in 3 days. Sgt Pepper’s vibe.

The Kinks are a band I've heard a lot before. Not many songs from this album though and I kind of get why after today. While their sound is similar to their more famous songs there is something missing for me with this album. Nothing bad about it, just something missing for it to be really good.

19th C vibes ,height of the empire vibes. Farce probably better in the 60s. Shangri-la was good though

I'm not enough of a Kinks fan to willfully endure this album and enjoy it. There were a few decent songs but the vast majority had me fast forwarding to the next song before the song that was playing was over. 2.5/5

I guess without the twee, poignant backdrop of a Wes Anderson movie, I just don't really like the Kinks.

I have no interest in the vocals, a detriment to my enjoyment. The instrumentals were okay. 1.5 rounded to 2

Tore-ee-uh!

not my style

1. These songs sound created for the purpose of delivering the lyrics. Songs created to serve as a vehicle for a narrative or lyrical theme, as opposed to those created first and foremost for their MUSICAL power and communication, frustrate me: Dylan, Carole King, Musicals, Opera. These songs almost always lack coherence and emotional integrity. They sound calculated and disjointed. I am drawn to music - harmony, melody, rhythm, instrumentation, performance. As a result, even when I TRY, I can't focus on lyrics until I am so familiar with the harmonic and song structures, arrangements, and performances that my mind can start to wander onto things it finds less magnetic. When the music is an afterthought, it is apparent, I grow frustrated, and I never process the lyrics. I literally just don't care; not because I'm willfully ignorant, but because my interests lie elsewhere. 2. It's a shame because Ray Davies is a masterful songwriter when he wants to be. This album is filled with great musical ideas. But, with the possible exception of Victoria, they are never developed. They sound tossed out to fit a lyrical phrase, haphazardly vis-a-vis all of the other musical ideas, and are left unexplored. 3. These lyrics are not very impressive. The concept is interesting and impressive. But Ray so often comes across as a person desperate to show off his wit. The problem is, I don't find him nearly as clever as he finds himself. 4. The end result is an album that presents like a mediocre novelty record in the spirit of, say, Monty Python. And quite frankly, Monty Python records are more enjoyable because those blokes were that clever.

Starts off normalish on the first track then the second track kind of takes off. A little silly for my liking, even though it has an interesting cinematic concept. My problem is with the execution, not necessarily the idea in the first place. Of course Kinks fans would love this. I enjoy some of their singles, but this album doesn't do it for me. Australia and Shangri-La are both pretty good tracks for example. In general the second half is better than the first half. Well, at least until Princess Marina... ughh.

Meh...

2/5

Ei mitään kiinnostavaa sisältöä tällä lätyllä.

Ugh. Started out 3* but then got weird

Besides Victoria, nothing else was interesting

Not bad but a bit boring honestly, mad respect

I usually like the kinks, but this was not it..

Jetzt hani scho gmeint mer loset The Fetish, aber es sind ja zum glück nur The Kinks. The Kinks - DIE Indie Band vode 60er, 70er jahr. fast scho uf Beatles-Niveau wenn mer so wott. Aber irgendwie flashed die mich mit ihrne kinky tricklis ned so fest. Qualitativ und mit em Wüsse, dass das eini vo dene Bands gsi isch wo so viel anderi Bands inspiriert, prägt und ufgeilt het, müssti ihne fast drü sexy peitsche hieb geh. Aber wenni uf de hottness-Faktor mun lose woni wärend dem Album verspührt han, muni wider chli Härter (hehe) bewerte. Darum gits nur zwei Füess is Gsicht. Aber uf e hotti Art und defür en Linke und en Rechte.

Some mother’s son - wow. This album must have been on the mood board for the early seasons of Black Mirror. Or maybe it’s the accents.

Ois kolmonen mut -1 ku saanut kuulla ihan tarpeeksi monta kinksiä

Nope. Don't like this.

eh british

Australia is not at all accurate, and much like a flight to Australia, too long.

Suena mucho a The Beatles y no a the kinks

Mostly tripe

I have decided the kinks are slightly annoying and most of their sing as haven't aged well. This one is just too apple and pears for me.

Mostly notable as an early Kinks album, but no standout songs

2 yndlingssange Australia Mr. Churchill says Jeg tror genren er en form for klassisk rock med sådan noget tadala ekstravagant sang. Stor fokus på lyrics, som er et produkt af dens tid og man derfor virkelig først værdsætter det derigennem. Tror det har inspireret en del kunstnere ind i 80’erne. Ikke min smag. Ligger på en høj 2’er

Never would have listened to this otherwise. Not a huge fan of the music but like the concept of the album.

Very British 60’s rock album

Mostly nice bouncy very British folk pop. Some dated songs that are still okay

Decent classic rock album with some neat ideas.

I found this weirdly bland. I get that there is a narrative arc but when the arc is prioritised over the actual tunes then im not keen

not my cup of tea ☕️

Not really digging it

Background music for making supper. Nothing to report.

This was boring. I'm sure I've heard good Kinks songs before but I guess they are from a different album.

Nothing memorable.

Kinda mid. Has glimpses of greatness and bits and pieces of better artists. Fav Track: Yes Sir, No Sir

The Kinks, it turns out, have many great songs. Unfortunately, none are on this album.

Some albums are timeless but this really hasn't aged well. It comes off as a selection of show tunes. A "rock opera", supposedly. 2/5.

It took me a long time to get through this album. It was ok. The first songs were good, the rest of it seemed to be more of the same type of music. Overall, not a bad experience, but not a great one either.

this was a pretty ok listen. however, several tracks really had a Sgt. Pepper's Beatles vibe (not my fav Beatles album)

no my style

Better than the other Kinks album, but pretty unmemorable.

Not their best album outside of about 2 songs

it was alright. liked australia and victoria but not really anything else.

2 Stars (5/15)

I was a bit disappointed by this album. Maybe I wasn't in the mood to listen to "Arthur". That happens to me occasionally. One good thing is that the Kinks weren't trying to imitate the Beatles. This must be the third concept album from 1969 I didn't like. 2 stars for "Arthur".

So late ‘60s, psychedelic Beatles ripoff with a heavy interest in Paul, All Over The Place So Let’s Call It A Concept Album™️, it hurts. I was so excited when I first heard The Kinks, but this list has really proven that they were just a lesser copycat band who chased trends and rarely did them well. Sure, they can play, and sometimes they stumble into something amazing, but most of the time, it’s derivative. Arthur especially is just overblown and insufferable ‘60s pop; a big idea with very little depth in practice. A huge step down from Village Green, and a huge let down for me, personally.

Pretty boring. I've always thought the Kinks were pretty dull for a 60's band but I was hoping this one would be different? Nope.

I dont lrelly like it because i dont like old music because most music are sad songs and I dont like it 1 star. Like the beat little beat but dosentgive me hype.

This album is different than the other ones we have listened to, its calmer, the instrumentals are a bit more quieter. I think its a good song. He has a good voice but the song "Victoria" sounds like it would be in the background during a montage of a character traveling in a movie. I think it has good songs but i personally wouldn't listen to this other than today. I would recommend this album because it has a good singer and good instrumental but its a tad to slow for me.

Ages well. Great concept album I've never heard but it has strong songwriting and typical Kinks playing. Pity about 'Australia' being so long, half the time would have been fine. Will listen again.

joa, ist auch schon ein paar Tage her;

I mean it’s fine tbh. But I feel like it would change if I listened to it more

What value was this album?

Groupe connu de nom, grâce aux reprises de ses morceaux, mais aucun morceau connu dans cet album. Rock pas assez énervé à mon gout, en plus je ne suis pas trop intéressé par les arrangements de cordes ou de vent qui me gâchent l'expérience. =>2/5

This album wasn't bad, there just wasn't really anything remarkable about this album

The mix on this is tilting, why is everything exactly the same volume

I really should probably give this another listen because it was fine but unremarkable but the fact that I won’t feel like it means 2

This album mostly sounded like knockoff of the Beatles. Not bad, just similar

non mi piace los tile

I like some stuff by The Kinks, but this album is kind of annoying, tbh. Especially "Drivin'"... it's grating. Not to mention, half the songs sound exactly the same. Not for me.

This poor album. They’re great. Love a lot of their stuff. Impossible to think the doesn’t sound like counterfeit Beatles meets Velvet Underground. Don’t hate it but I just….

Surprised by how much I disliked this album. They basically like the Beatles but crappy. Favorite song was Arthur.

worse than generic

é rock antigão. Não é ruim não, agradável demais. Mas nada marcante, bem parecidas as músicas entre si. Não ouviria de novo, mas a banda é legal.

This is my third Kinks album, and none of them have managed to be interesting

this was very beer cans and cork hat - not my style but wasn’t bad

booooorrrrrinnnnggg 2/5

Son: "Mom! Can we get a Beatles record?" Mom: "We have a Beatles record at home." *hands this record* Is it commonly known that the Kinks are ripping off the Beatles? Because this record has so many similarities of the Beatles but slightly different. Different as in, not as good. Honestly, I just don't want to hear this. It's not terrible. But it's inferior.

A couple of ok tracks and a lot of plinky-plonk nonsense. Not their finest hour.

Very uninteresting British invasion crap.

This starts with the rallying call of Victoria, and then goes downhill with each track that follows. It's a time piece, stirring up nostalgia for a land that no longer exists. I struggled to follow the story. The Kinks were far better as a singles band than concept album bollocks.

This album is fine. I thought I liked The Kinks, but I really don't think this is anything that special. I understand the concept behind this album, but it doesn't do much for me. Best Songs: Some Mother's Son, Shangri-La, Worst Songs: Yes Sir No Sir, Australia, Young and Innocent Days

I don't think the album has lived up to the 50+ years of hype. I kept waiting for a mind-blowing moment that never happened.

I'm sure this is a perfectly fine album, but I'm just not feeling it.

I can see their influence and enjoy some songs but overall just felt rudimentary and flat. Doesnt help that i always mix them up with The Clash and that’s who’s sound I was expecting

It's ok. Good concept album, but not really my thing.

I was introduced The Kinks in the early 1970’s, Lola. Like my all time favorite Pink Floyd (introduced with DSOTM) I like the later material so much more than the early stuff. I’ll pass on this album.

..

There seems to be an excessive number of Kinks albums on this list. Maybe it just seems that way to me because like every third album or more is 60s/70s pop? This record is another fine example of late 60s Brit pop that I could definitely have gone my life without hearing and not been worse off. I mean there are a couple good songs on here but nothing life changing. 2/5

..

Ok

This one was just alright. Reminiscent of some sounds the Beatles had already done (better) on Sgt Pepper, nothing that really stuck out as particularly memorable.

The vocals took me a minute to get into, but once they did I started to like the singing style. My biggest gripe is that some of the songs are aimless and go in varied directions, but despite that parts of this sound super modern and seems like this influenced groups like the White Stripes and others.

High 2

Was expecting to enjoy more. Soft 2 on a good day

Unremarkable, doing what the Beatles had been doing for the 5 years prior and not as well

Boomer rock.

man this starts off great but what a sharp drop off. I get its indicative of the times, but it feels like too much message and not enough music. its just storytelling put to music and I'm not for it.

The Kinks are a bit of a Greatest Hits band for me despite them being quite pioneering and relentless at concept albums. I like 'Something Else' as an album but not spent too much time listening to the others and certainly not this one. And it's OK. Always loved 'Victoria' and 'Shangri-la' and those really stand out, the rest does seem to be treading familiar ground, complainy nostalgic lyrics with strummed guitars and a clumping rhythm section. Also I really don't know why The Kinks were always so behind the times with sound quality, sounds like it was recorded in a shipping container. Compared to other 1969 albums it sounds horrible, in the same year we had 'Hot Buttered Soul', 'In the Court of the Crimson King' and even the folky 'Five leaves left' from Nick Drake is miles ahead of this. Not amazing and the arch snarkiness seems ill aimed and just a little bitter.

Man könnte meinen Sir James Paul McCartney raus zu hören: aber nein. Das Album hat durchaus seine längen.

I have tried with other Links music, but just cannot get into it. Too british

They took some notes from the Beatles.

Beatles-esque. Didn’t move me.

Agressively british, I don't hate the lyricism but the long voice pulls aren't great, they're grating. 4/10

Ok, but apart from 'Victoria' nothing really stood out

eh

Not my cup of tea

meh. this sounds so 60s.

Back to back Kinks is not what I wanted. This one was marginally less twee than the last so I loathed it a bit less. Thats the only reason they aren’t getting another 1

Meh.

This album was just ok. None of their hits I am familiar with were on this album.

Beetje oubollig en begon snel te vervelen

Kind of average…

Eh

Niet helemaal mijn ding maar best prima voor op de achtergrond. Ga het niet snel nog een keer luisteren denk ik

Can I recognize this was great and also dislike it today? favorite tracks: Shangri-La

Like the idea of them but not this album in particular.

Me gustaron The Kinks pero ahora me turraba un poco

Not for me.

Kinda boring

Very Bri'ish. Not directly my style of music.

Meh...

I'm

Liked the first song. The rest wasn’t very good. I like the punk vibes

liked it, saved a few songs. not my favorite kinks album but would definitely listen again.

I can imagine a time in my life where I would like this, but it is not this time. Psychedelic, Magical Mystery Tour sound, very pretty and competent but Meh for today

Gear: Focal Clear Mische (2019 Remaster): insgesamt doch arg dünn. Drums von "Yes Sir, No Sir" strikt links recht spannend. "Shangri-La" mit beeindruckender Soundstage - aber alles kracht bei höherer Dynamik. Schade. Mugge: All Filler No Killer Wertung: 2/5

My first time with this album. They certainly got better quickly.

Alright. This is my third attempt to get through this album. Why? It kicks off with "Victoria" which is a total banger. So what's my problem? Well, I think it's that it's a real steep drop off after that. I want to like the Kinks. They're clearly a very important band and, unlike The Kings of Leon, which I just had to grit my teeth through, they have bags of character and personality. This is a concept album, though, apparently, and I think it suffers the problem of some concept albums and musicals have of having the music being less important than the message or story or whatever-the-fuck it's meant to be about. So after "Victoria" you get eleven songs that have a lot to say for them in term of tone, and lyrical content and musicality... but don't quite have any hooks or riffs that you can get hold off. They just meander along quite nicely with a sense of good old British cynicism. I must say, and this isn't the album I expected to say it about but, it's mixed really well! There's a lot of instrumentation and the drums and backing vocals and horns and everything all sound really clear and distinct! So basically, I want to like it more than I do. I'll try some other Kinks stuff, but I have a feeling they might be a "singles band" for me. Interestingly, I just read the two songs I liked ("Brainwashed" was a distant second) were chosen for the A-side and B-side for the American single off of this album. Brainwashed reminds me of "Modern Life is Rubbish" era Blur - so I guess when they were trying to "sound British" they just wanted to sound like The Kinks!

I really tried with this one but not for me….

Like explaining the Custard Cream to anyone outside the UK

Beatles cover band

Ach nö...

I didn't like the first 5 songs... too jaded, pure pop sound. Brainwashed was the first hint of what the Kinks were capable of. Good track. That was about it - one song I liked. However, for that era, I like them more than the Beatles. So, a 2 will do

Got bored of this album after the first song. Very forgettable music. I had something I was going to say but I forgot. 4/10

This was just kinda there noise in the background didn’t care for it but did not hate it either.

not my thing

This isn't the Kinks album for me and I hope that we see them again.

This album is anachronistic in all the worst ways. It's not only that it's from a long bygone era, it's that I can't even see the influence. When I listened to Motörhead, it's easy to hear the foundations of music that came after. The same goes for the Donovan album; not my cup of tea, but it's interesting, unique, and one can hear why it was popular in its time. This album is none of those things. It drags, it's boring, and I cannot understand why this band is heralded as influential.

Nothing new, not even an interesting twist

"Some Mother's Son"

Highlights: Australia. In a nutshell: a concept album that doesn't hit the target. I'd say skip Arthur and go to "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" (a better album that pokes fun at British culture). Overall: 4/10

Meh

While I wasn't a fan of the overall production of the album, I appreciated the energy, the chunky guitar rhythms, and depth and subject matter of them lyrics. Not something I could find myself listening to regularly.

the kinks can be so fucking predictable

Boring and it sounds uninspired.

Started off strong, but fell apart as it went on. Victoria is a smash though

一般般，已经没有什么印象了

I hadn't heard the Kinks before today. Gotta say, it's really meh. A lot of bands tried to sound like the Beatles. This was not a good attempt.

Another rock album from the 60s... It's fine, but not my vibe. I did like Brainwashed though. 2.5/5

Eh. Some good songs, but I found myself bored and struggling to listen to the end. I think The Kinks are a greatest hits band for me, I don't need to listen to whole albums.

no

нормас, приятные 60ые

Чуваки продолжали пилить концептуальщину. Здесь она более прямая, более понятная, оттого мне кажется, она проиграла по наполнению и вариативности. Но выиграла по качеству звука, прям прогресс заметен, бЕшЕнЫй. Стерео всё равно осталось, но ладно...

Копипейст прошлого ревью, но то будто даже лучше было

Nope

Tired of all this Brit rock, god damn

Cuando arrancó pensé que la iba a romper, pero me terminó decpcionando. Me quedó un sabor amargo con este disco.

No

Listening to this album is like traveling around the world. Music is pretty avg.

Ninguna canción de este disco está entre las 10 más oídas de Spotify pero empieza bien con "Victoria". Lo siento pero se va a quedar en 2 estrellas, hay mejores discos de ellos que oír.

I like a lot of the songs by The Kinks but it was difficult for me to get through this album for some reason. I just feel like this album is too "British" for me to get it. It falls flat for me.

I'll forgive this album for being less than stellar after yesterdays album. I think we just recently got a Kinks album but I'm learning I'm not a huge fan. I know what sound they are going for, I've just heard it better from others.

Few too many Kinks in this 1001 Albums hose. Our third, and it's diminishing returns. They aren't bad, but I don't find them very interesting. The decline and fall of the British domination of popular music is more appropriate. A couple tracks I did take away from here, one of which was maybe entirely instrumental. I'm good on these guys. Favorite tracks: Australia, Nothing to Say. Album art: What do we got here: a mug, a band photo, a swan, a kettle, a hand holding a flag of the band name? What does it all mean? I don't know, but I do enjoy this art style. This is a pretty cool cover. 2.5/5

Meh? Kind of fun and jangly, but discordant and sort of redundant.

A different sound than the familiar hits from them…starts heavily anti-war and then becomes almost child-like later. “Australia” is hilarious propaganda that was worth listening to for the laugh.

Parempi kuin odotin, johtunee siitä että on lähempänä kunnon 70-lukua, parempaa ja raskaampaa rockia

Tämä sisältää taitavaakin sävellystyötä, ja levyn konsepti on sinänsä viihdyttävä. Lopulta musiikin esteettinen ilme ei kuitenkaan mahdollista varauksetonta nautintoa.

Not a lot to say about this one. Seems like a very standard album for its era, not really a fan of the vocalists voice

Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXEWNdCnfw0&list=PLAyDusZa0PT_Rb4_Zrc1a4nN1nc4TAGjl&index=12 Coté 2/5.

Sounded good but idk just not my style

I’ve argued this point with my mates before, I’m my humble opinion The Kinks are a good ‘Best Of’ band and nothing more! A Best Of will give you all you need from them without having to sit through the 8+ below average tunes on each album. This album is irrefutable proof that I am, in fact, absolutely correct. I’ve never heard any of their albums that are all great songs and this is no exception. Two or three bangers and every other track is forgettable. Sorry, not sorry.

Not the best kinks but a few slappers

Nothing on this album stood out to me. Pretty straightforward tunes. I did like the song Shangri-La, though. The stripped down Mr. Churchill, with the twangy southern guitar, stood out a little bit. A boring review for a boring album.

Complaining about someone’s vocals on the heels of praising Bob Dylan is, admittedly, a little rich, but I struggle to enjoy Ray Davies voice. Paired with the unevenness of the tracks, I couldn’t find my way into this record. My wife expertly described this album as having “a Monty Python vibe,” and if this concept album had actually been the backing track to the TV show that it was written for but that was never produced, I might have enjoyed it more. The only stand out for me was the complete lack of bangers.

one or two good songs

I recon Victoria is one of their top songs, alongside Waterloo Sunset, Lola and You really got me. I get a lot of CCR vibes from this song also, which is interesting coming from a 60s Brit band. The rest of the album didn’t resonate with me though

Feels to me like they were trying to do a Sgt. Pepper's thing... with mixed results

Þokkaleg plata en vekur ekki almennan áhuga á bandinu.

What Kinks I've heard in the past I've liked, none of it was on this album though. I like the sound of this mostly. It sounded pretty dated. Thought it dragged a bit. The whole concept album type thing I generally am not a huge fan of.

Apart from the first names of 90s-era kids’ cartoons, I don’t see the comparison of this album to Tommy. Maybe Ray Davies doesn’t translate well across the Atlantic?

The song Victoria holds up and the Churchill song stood out. The rest of the album was unremarkable.

1969. Victoria

Started off and ended kinda strong, but the whole middle was kinda meh. Just not for me I guess. Standouts: Victoria, She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Maria, Arthur

Not the worst concept album ever, but still: it's fairly boring.

A fun listen but the words/music often sounded muddy, the vocals were not strong, and the songs were a bit long

Their sound works on the kind of twee Britpop songs, especially Victoria and Driving. But most of the album is really like lo-fi blues rock, and they just don’t do that that well. In particular, relative to their competition they’re really lacking in instrumental and vocal talent- their singer straight-up sucks, he’s constantly flat- but they still heavily feature vocals and mediocre guitar solos. Even the twee stuff, which they do much better (the more developed instrumentation covering for their shortcomings elsewhere), and which better suits their harmonic style (heavy on somewhat abrupt key changes) is not as good as their contemporaries (eg Zombies).

The Kinks do Rubber Soul

Not my favorite Kinks tbh

Also dull.

This is fine. Not quite as exciting as you'd expect from a Kinks album, it's more of a concept album focusing on the end of the British empire. Maybe it's a bit unfair, looking back on it from almost 60 years later, but it doesn't really tackle any of the interesting themes around the end of empire. The musical style is all a bit twee, nothing particularly striking. An underwhelming 2/5.

New music would say I liked some song but still a meh

I’m incredibly biased even as a self proclaimed not a Beatles fan that this band can make no name for itself in my eyes as this bands entire existence resides in the shadow of the Beatles creations

Eh wasn't really my cup of tea.

09/03/2022 Hmm…I’ve liked Victoria on this album for a long time, but frankly….I wouldn’t listen to this album. I’ve never been a huge Kinks girl, but Village Green Preservation Society is way better imo. However….you can’t tell me that all of 2013/2014 indie rock got their brand from this band. Australia literally sounds like a strokes song. — Studio was roughhhh today, but I ended up slaying and got a shit ton of work done so I could enjoy the long weekend. Heading to San Antonio to see my Lukey :)

Didn't like it

Esto fue aburrido

Surprised this has not been bumped off the list by better recent albums

Ahhh, the late 60s punish continues. 2/5.

Vähän jo unohtunut mitä tuntemuksia herätti kun kuuntelusta on jo muutama päivä aikaa. Levy jäi ainakin kesken joten kertonee riittävän paljon.

Klassikkobändi ja suunnannäyttäjä, mutta hirveästi ei enää kanna tähän päivään biisit. Joitain aivan huippuja löytyy bändiltä, mut tälle levylle ei niitä ollu eksyny. Pitää kyllä kuunnella vielä levy uudestaan

Meh, had a few good songs but most just fell flat for me.

Aside from Victoria, Mr. Churchill Says, and Arthur, there wasn’t much of interest to me. Nothing to Say is a straight up Beatles rip off.

Clash? Yes. Kinks? Nah.

2

Not doing much for me, would rather hit skunk spray than listen to too much more.

#niksaan

hmm... some 1960s brit pop. There are some great lyrics and themes but the music is all just so saccharine.

More fiddly than I expected Its OK

Best Song: Australia. Kind of catchy and fun lyrics. Worst Song: Yes Sir, No Sir. Lyrically cliche, slow and plodding. Overall: I can feel the influences that this album must have had, but it feels REAL dated.

Enjoyed listening but don’t need to hear it again as it’s “old” 2*

It did actually grow on me a little bit and there were one or two good songs but I think I expected better.

Gute 2 Sterne, vor allem wegen Mr. Churchill Says.

I tried. I like a small number of Kinks' songs, but listening to this album all the way through, in all honesty I didn't hear any tracks I liked. Some bored me, others annoyed me.

man this seemed like it had a lot of potential before it fell into the same trap that all concept albums of the era had where it's a bunch of unfinished songs presented as suites or something and hey look you do you ok but i know what you're doing

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) by The Kinks (1969) The Kinks get on board the ‘concept album’ train with this interesting piece of work, sort of a Broadway musical soundtrack. It has coherence, but it doesn’t say much. This ain’t Der Ring des Nibelungen. Nor is it Tommy by The Who (1969) or Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967). Bob Dylan did this much better in the last verse of “Black Diamond Bay” (Desire [1976]). But then, Bob Dylan does everything much better. It was the late 1960s, and this little piece of aspiring avant-garde artistry by The Kinks illustrates the disconnect between peace and prosperity on the one hand, and fashionable ennui and acedia on the other. For the mainstream middle class, times seemed so bad, but history shows times were really quite good. So the mockery (in “Mr. Churchill Says”) of Churchill’s WWII leadership of thirty years prior is more than a little obtuse. The same could be said for the politics of nearly every song on the album. Dramatically, then, this playlet lacks depth, compactness, engagement, power, and resolution (Have I left anything out?). But musically, it is modestly interesting, coming as it does between “You Really Got Me” (1964) and “Lola” (1970), the two songs for which The Kinks are most famous. There is a nice extended jam in “Australia” (the song, not the country). With this recording, containing painful vocals (e.g., “Some Mother’s Son” [!]) but colorful compositions and horn-flavored instrumentals, the listener can, with slight determination, make it through the twelve tracks before moving on to something that is more productive, meaningful, edifying, and/or otherwise of interest. 2/5

Kinda boring.

there was some sick guitar riffs for some of the songs. it did give off sitting in the round table vibes so that’s pretty sick.

Off-brand Beatles with tired voices.

Nope.

just not feeling it - totally hit and miss band for me. Shangrli la is a good tune though. 2

Bit boring tbh

This one is a tough sell for me. I appreciate their musical talents and there are some really great rock songs here. But the content is SO political, and so British, that it becomes inaccessible fairly quickly. I'm all for politics in music, but it's been done much more powerfully and subtly in the decades since by other groups. While I appreciate their bravery and forthrightness, I much prefer their later hit music. I would likely not listen to this album again.

Some ok songs but wasn’t excited to finish

not unpleasant but i wasnt into this at all.. no stand out tracks, MAYBE king kong if i must choose an okay song. but its pretty generic as everything else.

Average 60s 70s music which didn't actually really stuck in any way. Easy to listen and even enjoyable background music, which is sadly also really easy to forget.

Kind of boring

Meant to be a concept album but I didn't really get the themes other than war is bad and the empire isn't great either. Maybe that's cause I only listened once, but idk

2*

Not my preferred music

I really didn't like this album as much as I should have done, I found the music immature and uncollected, actually felt chlostrophobic at times, yes the guitar riffs are cool, but not much else.

A little too obscure

booooring

Started off meh, fairly strong in the middle with Brainwashed, Australia and Mr Churchill Says all being good then descended back into meh for the finish.

wasnt ready

Too 60's for me. Just reasonably dull. couple of decent songs, but a lot of boring on it. Good songs don't make up for the boring. Definitely a change from 50's music, so can see why it was so new.

Some songs are catchy because they’re so repetitive, but overall I can’t picture myself going back to this album

Bored, didn’t care about it lol.

Some solid rock tracks on here with interesting arrangement but dragged down by some ho-hum filler in between.

1.9

I'm sure I've said this before, but if I never had to listen to The Kinks again it would be too soon....let me out !!!!!!

2/10 idk man this is like the 12th British rock band and I'm just tired

A bold choice to commit your career to being The Beatles but worse. Same dull hippy-dippy sound I’d hear off their albums but with grating vocals on top of it. Yuck.

no - too twee

Horrible

kinda just pissing me off. i do like other kinks songs but i hated this album

Don't rate this album at all simpley not a good album starting from the voice overall not a fan of it 1.1/10

Meh....did nothing for me, they just sounded all the same. Completely forgettable. Victoria is OK.

Another tedious sixties album.

3/10 - another overrated album from its time

Thought this was super mid, had none of the charm of Face to Face. Very gcse drama vibes to its narrative

Not for me, I think this album would only be good if you heard it at the time it came out.

I am all for an album that tells a story but this was unbearable. Listening to Arthur was like sitting through a young writer reading their first novel out loud. Word play, subtlety, and expanded vocabulary would have made it easier to listen to.

I just don't get the appeal of The Kinks. It felt like a slog to get through. Victoria is pretty good, other than that, pretty forgettable.

Jonninjoutava, mitäänsanomaton aikansa tuote, joka ei ole kestänyt aikaa. Ei herätä mitään muuta kuin sen, että milloin tämä loppuu tai olisiko seuraava biisi edes jollain tapaa hyvä tai edes ok. 1/5

1.5

I like some Kinks tracks, although they are not a band I listen to much. Certainly the first couple of tracks on this album so far are so poor I’m glad they weren’t my introduction to the band. Finished the whole thing now. Pretty dreadful throughout. Very disappointed as I had looked forward to this when it came up.

mehhhhhhhhhhh nao curti muito hippie poucas se destacam

#33 Britain strikes again with a snoozefest 😪

I have to call it. It’s been 8 songs and I want to rip my ears off. This is not my vibe at all.

Boring and tiring not for me

I like the later Kinks stuff better

Ehhhh!!!