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

Love , The Kinks. I have this and think it's a great album

Sensational stuff

Amazing album.Way ahead of its time you can hear the influences it had on future bands. Ray Davies is a genius

Brilliant this. It sounds so 60s but so ahead of its time. Banging and fun. Loved Shangri-La.

Pretty damn masterful.

Very funky and happy! The albums sounds like how it would feel to drive off into a sunset.

Wow, I'm astounded that this came out in the 60s. What an impressive and ambitious album. The songs are as catchy as they are profound. I'm floored by how good the production is and all of the instrumental layering going on. This might be a new favorite for me in the "classic rock" genre. Damn good work, kinks. 5/5

Ive always thought that kinks deserve a bigger mention in music history and this album didnt change my mind.

Back to back 5 star albums!

These guys were ahead of their time. Brilliant.

I liked this a lot. Somehow feels loose and fresh even though it is obviously very meticulously put together.

Sociopolitical commentary✅ Concept album✅ “Fuck the government” attitude✅ “Fuck social hierarchies” attitude✅ Anti-war✅ Danceable✅ Enjoyable listen✅

The Kinks rule and this is definitely one of their best (and essential) albums.

i don't think i could possibly get an album with a more relevant title for my final generation (fuck you Robert Dimery (the kinks rule))

Their seventh album. Rock / Pop. Well, well, well. I get this the day Andrew got arrested. Very apt. Anyway fuck that piece of shit and his family. This album is gloriously brilliant and The Kinks at their best. Lyrically poetic, whimsical and yet meaningful. Great music too. A beautiful album.

Had a great time with this one, very catchy and rocking tracks. Havent listened to a ton of kinks but this has been my favorite so far. Found myself foot tapping and head bobbing throughout the whole album

Every song well crafted very good and underrated band

Immaculate

The Kinks, way under appreciated. ONe of their best.

An album I can't believe I've not heard before, some songs from it already indelible in my consciousness. Victoria, of course, I have particularly fond associations with, and the rest of the record was a joy. So far, no notes, I'll be listening to I again very soon.

IT WAS SO GOOD LIKE WHAT. giving the beatles energy 🙃

Victoria is a bop! Great political stance without sacrificing musicality or fun. (I imagine the Smiths listened?) Yes Sir No Sir is super catchy. In fact, *every* song is catchy and interesting without ever feeling too samey. Both fun and interesting, and something I think will reward future listens.

For sure gotta listen again. Made me think.

Welcome back to the generator, The Kinks. When I last rolled this band, I was given Village Green and admittedly found it rather underwhelming. Too much like a worse Beatles. Still nowhere near bad, but nothing was very memorable. Clearly, later down the road, The Kinks evolved into whatever this is here. This might not make sense but the singer, Ray Davies, has such a voice where even though I’m confident I’ve never heard any of these songs before, they just feel very welcoming and familiar. I was going to give this album a 4 half way in. The first couple of songs are pretty good but don’t quite blow me away. Cutting political and social commentary, especially with “Some Mother’s Son”. The deep and depressing song is almost sung with a level of fake joviality that I can only describe as odd, yet unique. Once we get to the 4 song streak of “Brainwashed”, “Australia”, “Shangri-La”, and “Mr. Churchill Says” is when I started strongly considering giving this a 4 or 5, and you know what. I added all 4 of them. I must have played “Australia”, my favorite song on the album, close to 100 times today. That song hooked me immediately. This is an insanely good album, and I’ve got 2 more The Kinks albums to go!! The fist one got a 3, and this one is getting a 5. I believe that’s the first time a disparity this big has happened with a band I’ve listened to during this project. I expect it to happen again, but I’m pretty sure this is the first. Unrelated to my review, but the top review for this album mentioning some blokes kinks may also be the funniest review I’ve read on the site so far, up there with the math expert on Common’s Be. Extremely good album here. Every song hooked me and I’m absolutely going to remember them later on, unlike Village Green. This album evolves so much past just sounding like The Beatles, and forms its own unique identity that I can only describe as freaking great, mostly upbeat, and catchy as all hell. A 5 out of 5.

Of course I loved this album. I love the kinks and have since high school, although I didn't realize Shangri-La (one of my favourite songs by them) was on this album! Some of the songs had a very beatles sound to them.

I can't lie, I'm a real sucker for a good concept album, and this is one great concept album. The story told over the album's course of the life of Arthur and the shifting perception of Britain manages to be humorous, sad, sardonic, and catchy all the way through. I had only heard the opening track Victoria going into this, which is a fantastic track, and there are a whole bunch more on here that are just as good if not better. I was really wavering on whether to go for a 4 or a 5, but I had so much fun listening and researching that I've gotta give it full marks Fav Track: 7 - Shangri-La Best Three Track Run: 6, 7, 8

As an Australian, I love a good biting satire of the motherland. Throw in an ad for Australia and I'm sold! Genuinely though, this album was fantastic. Catchy, well written musings on the life of the working class that I will come back to again and again I'm sure. As easy as it is to feel that British rock music is overrepresented on this list, this inclusion is absolutely warranted, even though it may be the most British inclusion of them all.

I love The Kinks! This album was new to me and a very fun listen. I especially enjoyed Brainwashed.

Best: Shangri-La I enjoy the Kinks but had never heard this album before, and I liked it so much! In my head, the Kinks are the godfathers of “Brit pop,” and you can really hear their influence when listening to bands such as Blur; however, I never find them as cringe or pseudo as some of the 90s Brit pop bands come across at times. This album was fun and such an easy listen. I love the psychedelic rock vibe on some of the tracks and the theatrical/orchestral sound to the overall production. The songs on this album work well on their own but come together to form a really poignant narrative with emotional depth.

I have definitely not listened to enough of The Kinks so I am excited to listen to this album. In my history of rock class, we covered them a little bit and it was a really interesting section. Right off the bat, I like track 1 a lot. It is kind of giving a modern indie pop song, in a good way though. I might actually put this in my indie playlist. I like track 2 a lot as well, they have such a cool sound. The vocals in track 3 really remind me of the sound in "Waterloo Sunset," in a good way. I like the transition to a more lyrical sound for this song. The storytelling in this song is so tragically beautiful. I am curious as to the history of what was happening in the UK at the time of this song. Track 4 is also really good, it has a kind of Beach Boy's-sound with the background vocals. Track 6 is very groovy. Something I am really liking about this album is that the songs are so catchy and the lyrics are critiquing the country. Track 7 is beautifully written and performed. This album is truly so good. Track 8 is so good, it may be my favorite off the album so far, although it is hard to pick just one. Track 9 is also very catchy. Overall, this is an incredible album and it is easy to listen to passively, but taking the time to explore the lyrics is very rewarding and thought-provoking.

surprisingly sweet, he kinda sounds like Patrick star. the horns??? lol???hello??a pack and what??? the horns are mixed very well the harmonies on the mother's son are really haunting, really choir like chilling song driving is low-key pop perfection the lyrics are so... true and not true at the same time didn't realize it was this progressive wish there was more variety in the lyrical content that wasn't about how real this reality is right now but phenomenal album, Arthur went on too long but thats a personal thing really happy I gave this album a second try

I didn’t expect to like this, but I really did. Had I discovered this album in high school, I would have been totally obsessed with it.

Themes of war and a man longing for his homeland, great riffs and great tunes. I understand the hype for this band outside the well known main hits everyone knows.

I'm a huge Kinks fan. I feel their influence all over this list.

Wow! Extrem gutes Album! Sehr aussage starke songs! Schwer zu beschreiben der Musikstil so ne mischung aus amerikanischen r&b und Englischem Pop oder so mir hat göaube ich am besten der song australia gefallen!

Had to restart listening to the album to truly appreciate its genius. Especially today, where lots of the songs are (sadly) still relevant, the sheer beauty of the actual music and the almost ironic melancholic and exuberant feel to them made this album one of the better ones I've listened to on here so far

Better than cilodplay

A brilliant one-off. God save the Kinks!

Heard this album for the first time about a year ago and instantly fell in love. I’m not sure what it is about it but this whole thing cover to cover just works for me. My favorite track is Shangri-La, but others that have made it onto my 1001 Albums playlist are Australia, Victoria, Arthur, and Drivin’. Yes Sir, No Sir is a honorable mention. Seriously, just every track on here is solid, and is quite possibly my favorite album of the British Invasion. idk, that might be too strong of praise, but it’s definitely top three. 10/10, 5 stars.

Goes really well with drizzle and a nice cup of tea. Brilliant album. A proper story and satire.

Proto-indie rock, without which we'd probably be missing out on so much fun, twee, modern music.

Very strong album not quite as good as village green preservation society but very close. Shangri la is an absolute classic as is the title track. A perfect skewering of the Victorian nostalgia mindset that permitted 60s Britain and to an extent still does.

I gave Something Else By The Kinks only two stars because I didn't care for the archaic baroque pop and music hall styles of most of the songs, and I thought the production of the album was lacking. Arthur is much better in both respects. It's a "concept album" about a carpet layer that was supposed to be accompanied by a television play (that never came about), but what I hear is a wildly varied and eclectic set of music that is all punchy, melodic and well-played (this is the first album without bassist Peter Quaife. Quaife told the band he was leaving and they didn't believe him until his new band was announced). The album sounds fantastic (I listened to the Deluxe Edition) and Davies clearly has a better grasp of production than he did on Something Else. I think the song compositions here were as strong as the Kinks would ever get. Melodic, catchy with addictive rhythms and an underlying harmonic complexity, and providing different musical flavors throughout. If I have a criticism, I don't think the album finishes as strong as it starts. Not a fan of the shrill "She Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina," the cowboy jaunt "Nothing to Say" feels like a throwaway, and the closer "Arthur" is monotonous. That's okay, there's enough great music otherwise to make this a classic.

Favorite track(s): Victoria, Brainwashed, Australia, Shangri-La, She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina Heard before Previous rating: 9/10

Loved

This is my 1000 listen to this record. It is the kinks white album

Kinks are always Kinks-fun and creative stories. A GOAT.

First Listen; 5; This is the first album so far (#38) that I feel like is a hidden gem for me. The lyrics are clever and biting and the music is catchy. Somehow, to me, the music feels more "modern" than other Kinks records I've listened to. I also feel like this pulls off a concept album really well. Maybe it's that the subject matter lends itself to interesting lyrics, but the album doesn't sound like it's trying to hard to tie everything together. This is definitely an album I will listen to again. Favorite Songs: Vincent; Yes Sir, No Sir; Shangri-La.

Sounds similar to The Beatles, Chicago (horns). Holy cow was "Some Mother's Son" a sad song. Lots of songs have very different segments within them.

Cóż na to poradzę, że kocham The Kinks. Są zabawni, dowcipni i po prostu fajni. Ich muzyka budzi radość, wyzwala tonę pozytywnej energii i po prostu wpada w ucho. A do tego mają swój własny, dość oryginalny styl. 9/10

Hot take - the Kinks run of 6 albums from Face to Face through Muswell Hillbillies rivals the 6 album run from Rubber Soul to Let It Be. (I’m leaving out Yellow Submarine from the Beatles run given the nature of that album) This album is in the top half of that run for me. Lola, Village Green, then this.

I was late to the game with the Kinks and had never heard this album. What an album!!! Sounded familiar while still sounding fresh and exciting. Love this!

Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire Overall 9.5/10 Good feel so far Up beat British Victoria is a great opener English Rock Yes Sir, No Sir is very good blend guitar peaks out perfect amount Overall the blend with instruments and vocals is well. 1969 Honestly just a happy album the SONGWRITING Is great They follow the Beatle queen vibe but do it in their way well Drums in She’s brought a hat like princess marina is fire Australia is also great The members of The Kinks when Arthur came out in October 1969 were the Davies brothers, Ray (vocals, guitar) and Dave (guitar), drummer Mick Avory, and new bassist John Dalton. John Dalton replaced founding bassist Pete Quaife, who left the band permanently in early 1969 Such a good closer too There was not a bad part of this album Although some parts could be made a bit better or just changed.

10/10

Staggeringly good album. I love the Kinks anyway but this is head and shoulders above anything they'd done to this point.

Still sounding great, I am a sucker for key/tempo changes and this has them in spades. Appreciated a couple of the slower songs a little more than my younger self did. Shangri-La still great but think the extended outro to Australia means it has been toppled as my creme de la creme here. Very British class consciousness, even the track listing can be seen as a comment on the class system, Victoria at the top, Arthur at the bottom.

Peak Ray Davies. Many would argue village green deserves those accolades, but for me Arthur encapsulated everything that was great about The Kinks. This album provides us with a wonderfully preserved snapshot of post-war Britain with its despairs, its imposed class structure, its regimented uniformity for the masses, and its dreams of escape to something better. One of the few concept albums which stand up as individual songs, it delivers an endless onslaught of wonderfully varied tracks, balancing the rock with the vaudevillian in a way that many others found difficult to achieve. For over 30 years it’s been firmly established as a go-to listen of mine. It’s never aged in that time. Fun, fun, fun. FFS, they even manage to effectively use a kazoo on “a hat like”! I could understand how a listener unfamiliar with the historical British references and social constructs of the age would find this album less accessible, and in that context the more experimental tracks might become grating, but as someone who “gets it”, this album scores an unquestionable maximum from me! Thank you Ray, you’ve given me so much lasting pleasure from this work of brilliance.

Simplesmente sensacional. Feliz em poder conhecer esse lado da carreira dos Beatles que eu não tinha ciência… Em um certo nível, Kinks e Beatles me parece uma “rivalidade” semelhante a Interpol e The Strokes: bandas contemporâneas com sons parecidos mas que uma fez sucesso e a outra fez muito sucesso (mas ambas excelentes). Dito isso, baita álbum com várias músicas muito boas. Yes Sir, no Sir me remeteu muito a Wings (acho que pelos metais), vibe indescritível! E se você não ficou com vontade de ir pra Australia no HINO do país, morreu por dentro. Com toda certeza vou salvar várias e ouvir mais vezes!

Classic by The Kinks. No mistakes here, 5 stars.

Briliant album. 10/10 Right off the bat. Was an interesting story through the British Empire from Queen Vicky to the Colonies and the many wars in the 20th centurary. Highly recommend a listen to this. Again 10/10.

Yes Sir, No Sir is a solid banger. Fantastic album.

This was great! There were times I got concerned with the music cause it was heading in a direction that I didn’t like, but they were quick to switch it up before it got to that point - what a wonderful surprise!

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Kinks sind einfach dufte.

Great listen

Brilliant

I think this is my favorite Kinks album, it has the most of their English shtick that I love. It’s an album that not only I enjoy from start to end but it also influences a ton of music I love decades after. Listening back through their stuff, I think Kinks might be in my top 3 of 60s bands. 26th perfect album, 854 albums in. Rating: 5.0

The Kinks are right up there with the Who as far as I'm concerned. One of the greatest British bands of all time. This album is proof. Every song on here is well crafted and well written. Four and a half Stars but I will give it five because four is too low.

By 1969, The Kinks had achieved something few bands ever do: four consecutive albums — from Face to Face through Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) — that capture the full flowering of a singular creative voice. And what a finale this is. From the moment “Victoria” explodes out of the speakers, followed by the sharp and sardonic “Yes Sir, No Sir,” you know you’re in the presence of peak Ray Davies — where melody, satire, and melancholy coexist in glorious disorder. Ostensibly inspired by the Davies brothers’ sister and her husband Arthur, who had emigrated to Australia, the album uses their story to frame a larger reflection on Britain itself: its class system, its nostalgia, its quiet disappointments. “Australia” is both hopeful and faintly mocking, a dream of escape that already sounds worn at the edges. The emotional centerpiece, though, is “Shangri-La” — a stunning, orchestrated portrait of working-class aspiration and entrapment. Critics accused Davies of sneering at his subjects, but the song is far too beautiful, too deeply felt, for that. Its shifting structure — gentle balladry giving way to aggression, then back to bittersweet calm — shows a songwriter in complete control of his craft. Even the album’s concept carries a quiet irony: the decline of the British Empire told through the life of a man named Arthur, echoing the mythic King Arthur himself. Not everything lands — “She’s Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina” veers off course — but by then, Davies has already secured his place among the greats. Arthur stands as one of The Kinks’ crowning achievements: humane, melodic, and quietly devastating — the sound of a band capturing the soul of a fading England, one perfect bridge and la-la chorus at a time.

"Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)" is a 1969 concept album by The Kinks. It tells a story that uses the life of an ordinary working-class man as a metaphor for the sweeping changes in post-war Britain and the end of the British Empire. It follows in a consecutive line of excellent Kinks studio albums that starts with "Face to Face" in 1966 and arguably ends with "Lola Versus Powerman and the Money-go-round, Part One" in 1970. The key tracks are "Victoria", "Some Mother's Son", and "Shangri-La" but "Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)" should really be listened to as a whole, as "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". The album's quality overcame its commercial weaknesses, it had no major hits and the artwork failed to capture its brilliance. Nevertheless, for me it just warrants a five star rating, which is, admittedly, influenced by love of The Kinks' catalogue. Side one 1 "Victoria" (5/5) 2 "Yes Sir, No Sir" (4/5) 3 "Some Mother's Son" (5/5) 4 "Drivin'" (4/5) 5 "Brainwashed" (5/5) 6 "Australia" (5/5) Side two 1 "Shangri-La" (5/5) 2 "Mr. Churchill Says" (5/5) 3 "She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina" (4/5) 4 "Young and Innocent Days" (5/5) 5 "Nothing to Say" (4/5) 6 "Arthur" (4/5) Total - 55 Average - 4.58 140/1001 72/140 albums reviewed were new to me.

A true masterpiece

The Kinks' most ambitious and complex album.

Awesome album. Lots of war references which I need to unpack. Will buy and listen again.

Went into this not knowing anything about it other than Victoria, so I was pretty surprised that it lives up to Village Green. So many great songs on here, and good exploration of different styles. I never really appreciated how heavy their music was, for the time. Will definitely be revisiting this. 9/10

9/10 VERY impressed. a little confused at first, but i did some research and found out this was a concept album. made a lot more sense. a very enjoyable listen, but it also played to my emotions very heavily. it made me mad, made me laugh, made me sad, made me feel devastated. related to much to it and i’m not even british. revolutionary

all timer

Love The Kinks!! Such an underrated band. Every album of theirs is fantastic as far as I am concerned. This classic from the late 60s is no exception. Just great songs and music that flow together telling the story of Arthur and the life around him. Great stuff. Need to add this one to my ever growing Kinks vinyl collection.

The album is a concept album (before concept albums were really a thing). I think this helps it hang together well, It does contain the classic Victoria which is going to be a highlight of any album. All in all strong songs performed by the Kinks, what not to like?

Is it a Beatles knock-off or influence? Do I like this album or love it? The Kinks are an important band, and this is an enjoyable album.

Permission To Breathe, Sir 1001 Albums Generator 119 (09/16/2025) Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) is the seventh album by British legends The Kinks, which came near the end of their peak period in the mid 60's through the early 70's. Somehow, The Kinks have always escaped me, even though I knew they were something that I would enjoy. And, lo and behold, I do quite enjoy this album. I was really blown away by this thing. Victoria is a great thematic opener and has a really catchy chorus before ending with this powerful climax. Yes Sir No Sir and Some Mother's Son are heartbreaking looks at the effects of war on both our young men and the women who love them. A lot of this album is about war. I associate much of the anti-war music of the ate 60's with the U.S. (because we were in Vietnam), so it is interesting to hear a British perspective on these same ideas. I love that the closing songs on both sides are these jammy tunes. Australia is wonderful and whimsical and Arthur is like country-ish? Both songs sound totally different from the rest of the album (and each other), but they are both awesome. Shangri-La is also unbelievable. If I were to criticize this album, I would say that the second half is slightly weaker. She's Bought A Hat... and Young And Innocent Days are both not quite up to the par of the rest of the songs here. However, this really is a fantastic album. I can't believe I've ignored The Kinks this long. 4.5/5 rounded up to a 5. Favs: Victoria Yes Sir, No Sir Australia Least Fav: Young And Innocent Days

I knew that I was going to like this when it was the Kinks, figured I would love it move when I read that it was a concept album. There is something special to me about concept albums. I feel that they can be potentially dangerous for bands where if the concept is not clear people might not understand what is going on. Great album.

This was a great album, although I have heard many Kinks songs I had never heard any of these and I enjoyed it quite a bit, I added multiple songs from this album to my playlist.

I still remember the first time I really LISTENED to "...the Village Green Preservation Society" and most of my memories of the band I knew for "All Day and All of the Night," "You Really Got Me," "Lola," and "Destroyer." This album is doing the same for that. THESE are what The Kinks should be known for, and not so much their garage rock proto-punk singles.

bangers.

Pretty great album. Very Beatles-esque

Would totally listen again.

I’m a big fan of the Kinks and this is probably my second favorite album. I’m a sucker for British cultural commentary pop from this era. Australia and Shangri-La take some time to get to, but are the heart of the record for me.

5/5 - You need to hear this because Ray Davies doesn’t get enough credit as a songwriter. Other than the leadoff Victoria, I had never heard anything on this album, and I loved every bit of it. Some Mother’s Son, Australia, Shangri-La — all so good, but I was into the whole concept of Arthur and the story of the lyrics. I clearly need to listen to more by The Kinks.

Kinks are grossly underrated and one of the bands that should have the majority of their discography featured on this list.

Franchement top, je connaissais le groupe et j'avais déjà un peu écouté mais c'était mieux encore que dans mon souvenir, toutes les chansons sont chouettes et vraiment différentes, les instrus sont top, je pense que je me re pencherai sur ce groupe davantage

Good

Relaxing and strangely beautiful, Wonderful!

Victoria - 5/5 Yes Sir, No Sir - 5/5 Some Mother's Son - 4/5 Drivin' - 5/5 Brainwashed - 5/5 Australia - 4/5 Shangri-La - 5/5 Mr. Churchill Says - 5/5 She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina - 4/5 Young and Innocent Days - 3/5 Nothing to Say - 5/5 Arthur - 4/5 Average score: 4.5/5 (rounding up)

I haven’t really listened to The Kinks very much but this was an extremely good introduction to them. Reminds me of The Beatles quite a bit. Every song was written very well, you can feel the quality of work put into every song when you listen to them. Definitely gonna listen to this album again soon.

It’s awesome, makes me want to be british

Perfect

Killer record. Without this there would be no Britpop at all.

strong start s meni jednom od najdrazih pjesama s himym soundtracka. tekstovi so good da su MENI bitniji od same glazbe, koja je također jako dobra. vrlo timeless jer su nazalost vrlo prikladni i danas, skoro 60 godina kasnije. banger za bangerom. ovo mora da je među boljim albumima koje sam ikada čula. jako dobro.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Best album so far in this journey.

Histórico. El mejor álbum de 1969 y uno de los mejores de todos los tiempos. Nunca se reivindicará lo suficiente la figura de The Kinks. Leyendas. Y este es su mejor disco.

Love this album - Kinks are a top band so this was an easy classic for me. Easy to listen to and talks about real issues in Britain at the time. Shangri-la is a favorite song. New appreciation for the title track too.

My dad was a fan of the kinks but wouldn’t play this one as he said they went weird. So cue my curiosity. I don’t know I think my dad may have been wrong I think it’s an excellent album. Tip top

when two brothers are freaks and they come together to make a band it’s beautiful

beatles esque and good

-Like the metaphors and storytelling about the military -Love the downtowny feeling of the instrumentals and vocals -Love me some incomprehensible words -Upbeat with some slower songs which I love

i like it

Starts with one of my favourite Fall covers...great start. The kinks have always been an edgier slightly darker version of the beatles, which I prefer. This album is really good. Like really good. I would actually like to own it. a few songs in I was saying definitely a 4, and now halfway through and on the incredible Shangri La and i am saying 5. This is fantastic. It is diverse, edgy, poppy and continually changing in tempo and style, coupled with great songwriting. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to that! 5 stars

When I was 15 I started identifying with socialism, I was radicalised through the increase in tuition fees and I wanted all my music to be righteous and reflective of my politics. My parents had a compilation of the Kinks on their CD rack which I absolutely rinsed and fell in love with. I wouldn't listen to the Beatles because they represented market capitalism whilst the Kinks... Well they represented my values much more in music. Over the years my politics and music tastes changed and I stopped listening to the Kinks, seeing it as cheesy, watered down, weak in its critique (if you bemoan consumerism in the 1960s then try living in the 2010s and 2020s!), maybe a bit tone deaf for where we are politically on the left these days. Later on I got deeper into postpunk and always enjoyed the cynical delivery of Mark E Smith in the Fall's cover of Victoria. I'd always sing along to Lola and Shangri-La in the club and at parties. But I never returned to the Kinks, almost as if it was a forgotten part of my life. A lot of music from the 60s (like rock and pop) I prefer to consume through compilations rather than studio albums. However I think missing the context of Arthur I really wasn't doing the singles justice. And now that I'm older and a bit more forgiving (although still more politically radical than the Kinks - and able to appreciate the Beatles despite their shortcomings as people!) it has been a complete joy to return to them. There's some really clever stuff in here that I had missed, Australia particularly was a highlight for me and I would never have appreciated the stripped back sadness of Some Mother's Son when I was a teenager. Brilliant album. Deservedly my first 5/5 on this listening project.

Such well crafted songs. Not sure if it's the copy I'm listening to or the cold I'm dealing with but some of the tracks aren't as dynamic as I would hope. Fun and engaging opening track. Some Mother's Son was a delight. Not a big fan of Drivin' a very Paul McCartney like song. Ooo Shangri-la is a kaleidoscope of sound. Mr Churchill Says is a jam. I think this has some slight blemishes but it still has me so intrigued that I would love to give this future listens. Never listened to this before but came close to buying it once on reputation. Happy to hear it would have been worth it.

The Beatless? I'm kidding, they're awesome

Favorite track: "Brainwashed"

Like The Velvet Underground meets The Beatles with lots of great hooks.

Very enjoyable top to bottom. A fun blend of Beatles, Velvet Underground and a transitional period into modern sounding rock and pop.

"Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)" is the seventh studio album by English rock band the Kinks. Lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist Ray Davies construction this loosely-based concept album as the soundtrack to a Granada Television play (which never was produced). The plot revolves around Arthur Morgan, a carpet-layer, and his family's plight in the post World War II and is based on his actual brother-in-law Arthur Anning who moved to Australia with Davies' sister Rose. Other bandmembers included Dave Davies ( lead guitars, vocals), Mick Avory (drums, percussion) and John Dalton (bass, backing vocals, replaced original bassist Pete Quaife). The album had universal critical acclaim but also poor sales reaching #105 in the US. "Victoria" starts off the album with an acoustic guitar and that classic electric guitar. The bass and drums come in. Wow, great sound and mix. The vocal harmonization chorus. A grand sounding middle eight. A rowdy vibe and guitar solo near the end. A song about the grim realities of Britain in the 19th century and, of course, adulation for Queen Victoria. "Drivin'" lightens the mood. Bouncy with the bass. Oooh's and aaah's in the backing vocals. Ace percussion and drums. Taking his wife out for a drive to help her forget her problems. "Australia" starts out rockin.' Humorous vocals with a high-pitched Frank Zappa sounding backing vocal, Beach Boy-type harmonies and doo-wop ones as well. A tongue-in-cheek advertisement for moving to Australia as Arther's sin is moving there. A jazzy outro with a guitar jam, horns and piano. Side two opens with "Shragri-La." A melancholic guitar, Davies singing softly, horns and a harpsichord. The song explodes getting louder and then faster. It's about Arthur's empty life in the suburbs. What a ride! "Arthur" closes the album. This songvhas a country rock vibe with the guitar. Both Davies' brothers on lead vocals. They don't want Arthur to waste his life and love andcwant to help him. A communal ending with the hanclaps and harmonies at the end. This is just a fantastic album. The production, mix and sound are incredible: horns, harmonies, backing vocals and percussion. Each instrument is heard clearly. It reminded me of a Who album but maybe better with the complexities, details and pace and instrumental changes within each song. The lyrics are serious, sad and humorous. Absolutely no filler on this album. I really need to go back and listen to each of the Kinks' album from their golden age. This one might be their best.

Solid

A kickass, anti-war, anti-capitalist, early Brit-rock ride. If the Beatles had a good drummer and were as politically subtle as a hammer to the face, it’d be this.

Easy listening.

I swear I'm not giving everything 5's, but the Kinks are the most underappreciated British Invasion band, and this is their best album, imo. Shangri-La is my favorite song of theirs, Victoria is awesome, Australia is epic, Mr.Churchill Says is the best McCartney-aping, and Some Mother's Son is the anti-war song that Roger Waters tried and failed to write for years. It's a 5.

I gave this a 4 the first time around. But damn I enjoyed it even more this time. I found myself listening to it all weekend and singing along by Sunday. For that reason, I am giving it a 5 this time. These songs are very enjoyable right from jump. 1969 was a great year for music it seems.

Pretty damn good! Frank told me to listen to this a few weeks ago so feeling particularly prepared, and a second and third time through i feel like i truly "get" it. The tone of Ray Davies is a little confusing but the story on Arthur is pretty clear. He loves Britain, its time to let go of the past. Telling the story through the lense of his brother in law works incredibly well, and is just the kind of stange humor that defines The Kinks. The story, concept, humor works and so does the instrumentation and song writing. I generally associate the Kinks with below average production/instrumentation, possibly by design, but the production here sounded great. I was pretty stunned by some of these songs, in particular the horns throughout. A year ago I bought a house that needs a lot of work, and spend a significant amount of time stressing, thinking, working on this piece of shit. Because of that, Shangri La hit a little too close to home (no pun intended). I gotta believe this is The Kinks best work?

Ray Davies is one of most intelligent songwriters of all time. This album has more depth than most novels, but the language and delivery is so simple and unpretentious that its hard to even notice how evocative it is on the first few listens. The way he describes war as 'someone killed some mother's son today.' Or how 'everyone walks around with a perpetual smile on their face' in Australia - or, in my favorite song on the album, the narrator in his old age talks about his youth 'I wish my eyes could see everything how it used to be. But its too late. So late' He's wry without ever being sarcastic; clever without being a wiseass, emotional without any sentimentality. I don't think rock songwriting as an artform has ever really topped this album. It can be debated, I think, if rock music is really the right venue for storytelling - and maybe the reason this album wasn't popular at the time is because most people just want to hear songs about love or having sex, songs that they don't have to think too hard about. But it you like art that creates a whole story to immerse yourself in - this is as good as it gets. Thats before we've even gotten to the quality of the music itself. Thats what brings this to another level. Every song is like a musical adventure, taking some strange turns along the way, and then usually ending in the same place it started, except changed somehow by everything it's done to get there. From an arrangement standpoint, I think its the best use of horns in any rock album - they always come in at the exact right time, usually the bridge, to subtly either lift the tone or otherwise take the song in a new direction. But they never overpower or call attention to themselves. This is a top 10 album for me easily. Ray Davies is absolutely a better songwriter than either Paul McCartney or John Lennon. He's way more ambitious and way more thoughtful. It's just that fewer people actually want that from music.

Get excited every time I see a Kinks album pop up - seems like they’ve got some unexplored gems I need to dig into more. I’ve seen reviews talk about them on the same plane as the Beatles and Stones, and that comparison is starting to resonate a bit. This was a real treat. Yes Sir, Churchill, Nothing to Say stand out after a few listens but excited for this to be on more regular rotation.

Never properly listened to the kinks but this was a great introduction, will be listening again

Wow. The Kinks having an amazing and innovative concept album wasn't exactly surprising when I first listened to The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society way back in January 2024. But to listen to its followup, Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), and find out that they actually have AT LEAST two of them? Crazy. It's a good kind of crazy though. I'm very happy. This album's great. This is my third album from the Kinks. Obviously, Village Green is a classic and is still probably my favorite of theirs. Face to Face was good but nowhere near the levels of Village Green. Arthur though? This one gets close. I do still think I like Village Green more, but it's a closer call than you might think. Arthur is just a very interesting album to me. As stated earlier, this one's also a concept album about the titular Arthur. Apparently his full name is Arthur Morgan, which is really funny to me because it makes me think of the funny cowboy game. This is now the second review in which I have acknowledged Red Dead Redemption 2 despite having never played the game myself. How neat. The story's pretty loose in terms of how it's told, but it seems like a nice story from what I can tell. The songs do a good job at feeling connected with one another without feeling repetitive or redundant. The songs are great, by the way. This album has the perfect blend of quirkiness and sophistication. I like it. Songs like "Victoria," "Australia," and especially "Shangri-La" make the album as great as it is. The songwriting is strong. As far as songwriting goes, this is definitely one of the best concept albums of the 60s. You know, if I had a nickel for every iconic concept album released in a year ending in 9 that mentioned Vera Lynn in its lyrics, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. So yeah, this album's fire. The Kinks have done it again! Good job Ray Davies. You made peak music again. Well, not quite peak, but it's close. Low 5/5.

I love Kinks

Ear massage.

Really solid concept album. Some really clever lyricism and stark imagery, especially on songs like Yes Sir No Sir and Some Mother’s Son. That combined with some really catchy and fun music. If I could levy any issues, the album can get a little messy at times. The solos can go on a little too long, and the vocals can occasionally get drowned out by the sheer amount of stuff going on, but these are minor issues to me. I really liked this one. EDIT: Had to go back and give this a 5. Genuinely might be my favorite discovery from this generator so far. I really really like this album.

The Kinks are definitely one of my favorite finds from this whole 1001 albums project. Favorites from this album were Mr. Churchill Says, Victoria, Shangri-La, and Australia.

great

The best Kinks album. I will die on that hill. If I could give it a six I would.

One of my favorite discoveries yet from this 1001 process. The Kinks are probably best known for being underrated and this album may be Exhibit A: a musically delightful album from top to bottom. It’s a concept album looking at life in post-war Britain, with big picture themes considered through the lens of everyday people. The opening song title fittingly refers to the empire (Queen Victoria) whereas the last song title is one man, our everyday hero, Arthur. If you listen to this back to back with Sgt Pepper it would not feel derivative, but rather like a wonderful progression. And if you listen to it back to back with itself…you will enjoy it more each time. At least that’s my experience.

This album is mystifying in the best way. The tracks are all strong and catchy and at the same time indistinguishable. The Davies make this album seem casual, as if they aren't even trying, while they capture your soul and have you singing right along with them. I don't know half of the people referenced in "Mr. Churchill says," but I bought in thoroughly. Absolutely brilliant album.

Really an excellent concept album. There are a few low spots but that’s just because the rest of the album is so good. Loved it.

Ok, this is brilliant. I had no idea they were this good.

Super fun. Lots of stuff going on; gives you an idea why so many bands listed them as an inspiration. FS: Shangri-la, but lots to choose from. (Not Australia, though. What a dumb song.)

A real lesson for me. Cohesive as a collection in sound and style, but each song distinct. Musically a great time from start to finish with some 👌 guitar and drums with catchy and energetic arrangements. Lyrically some entertaining and incisive social commentary which in many cases is still relevant today!

Great album! Each track brings something different sound wise but weaves a story throughout. Favourites include Brainwashed, Australia, and Shangri-La. Big fan of the Kinks and this style of early rock. 5/5

Really enjoyed this, nice rock and roll.

This was my first listen to Arthur. I learned this 1969 album was originally conceived as a companion soundtrack to a now-lost television drama by the same name. It tells the story of a working-class man navigating post-WWII Britain. The album captures feelings of a generation that saw the empire shrink, promises fade, and modernization creep into every corner of their lives--parallels easily drawn in 2025 for multiple nations. There’s a raw edge throughout this record. Fuzzy guitar riffs, punchy drums, touches of brass, and intricate vocals carry each track’s tale. It teeters between stripped down garage rock (even though that term didn’t really exist yet) and full on theatrical storytelling. Tracks like "Shangri-La," "Some Mother’s Son," and "Young and Innocent Days" stand out. While the bombastic "Victoria" kicks off the record, "Shangri-La" builds from something quiet and nostalgic into a takedown of the suburban dream. The anti-war track "Some Mother’s Son" is beautiful, bleak, and haunting. And at my age, my favorite track was probably "Young and Innocent Days." It’s reflective and melancholic, yet beautifully underscores loss of youthful idealism. Despite commercial ups and downs, Kinks remained a band unafraid to evolve. Their relevance lies not in stylistic consistency, but in their ability to mirror contradictions of modern life across decades of shifting musical landscapes--and make great music while doing so. This album was foundational to their future. Five stars from this guy.

Come on, it's the Kinks. They're great. Not as appreciated as the Stones and the Beatles, maybe, but they deserve the appreciation. This is classic British rock.

Rather enjoyed this. Will listen again.

This early concept album is great and shows the satirical approach The Kinks often had. It's not as great as Village Green but great enough and maybe a good start if you'd want to get kinky.

9/10 Favorite Tracks: *Shangri-La*, Victoria, Mr. Churchill Says Least Favorite: None

4.5/5.0: Excellent

'If he dies we'll send a medal to his wife.' Ray Davies effectually carries on the efforts of World War 1 poets like Wilfred Owen and Isaac Rosenberg, while also telling a story of Australian emigration and composing catchy, blues-heavy songs (check out Dave Davies's guitar work on 'Australia'). I have always found it ironic that the British band that in my opinion most aptly aped American music, w/ classics like 'You Really Got Me,' which did more than copy and paste African American artists, but actually presaged punk, came to export more Britishness than any other B Invasion clique. Conceptual after Sgt. Pepper but before The Wall, Arthur succeeds chiefly b/c, tho it's worlds from mine, you get the sense they really lived this thing.

Tremendo discazo. Lo amé. Ya había escuchado otros de los Kinks pero este me pareció glorioso. Un hit completito.

4.5

viiiiiiictoria

A Classic!!

- The Kinks are amazing. If you don't appreciate them, I can't help you. -

Really fun album. I have heard about this album for years but never listened to it for whatever reason. I need to get my own copy now.

Pretty kickass

That The Kinks – chroniclers of the British experience (though, if we’re being honest, isn’t it just “English”?) – managed to put out a concept album that covers emigrating to Australia tickles me enormously. I suppose I hadn’t ever fully considered just how important a strand of the British psyche “going to Australia” has been (and for well over a century now); the lingering upside down uncanny, as if at some stage Britain’s history decided to pack up, leave and live out an alternative destiny at the global antipode. It’s a place that you lose people to. This is another absolutely solid Kinks record. There simply can’t have been a bigger chorus in all history up to that point as in “Victoria” – I will happily be corrected on the idea, but might it be the first big indie rock banger? It sounds stadium even sitting on the train, off to service my mortgage (Ray’s ongoing patronising of the routines of adult responsibility portends punk’s most petulant attitudes). Songs like “Yes Sir, No Sir” (a sort of Catch-22 come to melodic life), “Mr Churchill Says” (a codex for literally every guitar band in the 80s and 90s), “Brainwashed” (unbelievably stylish in every facet) and “Australia” (direct, wild; the sound of a promise not being kept) cement in my mind the idea that there was no better band active in the UK than The Kinks until culture pivoted to reimagining them through those guitar bands. Pairs well with sunshine, too.

Excellent album start to finish. Can and have listened to this on repeat many times in the past. Would recommend to all ears.

Just as good as anything the Beatles made during their prime. Flipping amazing.

J'avais pas le goût d'écouter ça, c'étais bofbof la journée que je l'ai écouté

Un chef d'oeuvre. C'est l'fun sans bon sens. Après l'avoir écouté 3 fois hier, je risque de l'écouter encore aujourd'hui. 8 étoiles

Album inclassable. En équilibre parfait sur le sweet spot entre le prog et le rock'n'roll. Un peu dans la même famille que Ram. Une fenêtre sur un univers parallèle où y'a pas de règlements quand tu décides d'écrire une bonne toune. Un peu comme dans les films de super-héros quand le personnage prend pleine conscience de tous ses pouvoirs. Depuis la sortie de cet album, on parle souvent d'un phénomène nommé le "Paradoxe d'Arthur"; principe qui veut que toutes les chansons d'un album soient meilleures que toutes les autres. Un son plus réconfortant qu'un feu de foyer en pantoufles. Ok, no joke, j'ai écris cette phrase avant d'arriver à Shangri-La et là j'entends : "Put on your slippers and sit by the fire". O_O Y s'est pus jamais rien fait de bon après ça.

For some reason I've never listened to Arthur. Village Green was always my go to, and I enjoyed that so very much I didn't venture much further, beyond that and my best of CDs from teenage years. What a glorious record this is. I barely know any of the songs apart from the fantastic Victoria, but they are all very good. Real social commentary going on, extremely evocative, in typical Davies style. Some Mother's Son is fabulous. Shangri-la is the best song that isn't Victoria, and possibly the best Kinks song I didn't already know, why it's not on any of the best of compilations I've heard makes no sense at all. Even if it does go a bit Tales of Brave Ulysses near the end. She Bought a Hat may be silly in style but it's lyrics are heartbreaking and ring true, like much of Davies' writing. I am of the school that Ray the songwriter was at least the equal of Lennon-Mccartney, and probably Dylan too. Is it as good as Village Green? Probably not, but few albums by anyone are.

First surprise is the opening track, Victoria, because I thought it was a much later Kinks song, but no matter, it is an excellent start to the album. And the rest of the album has a great sound musically and the lyrics are a satirical, almost Monty Python-like, commentary on the idea of Britishness and the ‘glory’ of the British Empire. For me, it is a much more satisfying album than the more celebrated “Village Green Preservation Society.” It’s, as you would expect, quirky as only the Kinks could be, and there are some really nice touches, like the Beach Boys harmonies in the background when ‘surfing’ is mentioned in Australia. The instrumentation and arrangements are excellent, particularly the guitars and horns, and the drums have a Keith Moon/Mitch Mitchell freedom to them. I’m sure I have listened to the album before but this was a pleasant surprise.

Loved it

reallly liked it so british the hard hitting rock is great and the switch to smoother pop/RnB works so well big fan

Really dig Australia

I'm ashamed to admit I have not familiarized myself with The Kinks discography like I should have. I assumed they'd be more hard rock, less pop. I also wasn't aware they were comparable to The Beatles, which is silly of me - now I know, and I feel there is room for all on the scene. This was a great listen. Whimsy, playful, catchy British rock n roll. It's fun, I was engaged. This is another one I'll have to keep on repeat for a while.

I’m excited for this one, I don’t know any songs on this album but I do like the kinks. Plus if we’re talking about the decline of the British Empire….ha. So I read the quick Wikipedia and it looks like this is a concept album for a film that was never made. The first three opening tracks are great so far. Complex instrumentation and 60s pop vocals. “Some Mother’s Son” and “Yes Sir, No Sir” reminds me of a British version of “Find the Cost of Freedom.” I wonder if this version of the British Empire is as shitty for the Brits as it is for its subjects…ha. “Australia” is great, a bit long, but reminds me of what would have been had they made a “Blue Hawaii”-esque movie sponsored by the Australian tourist authority. Man, listening some of the crunchy guitar at the end of “Australia” how was this record not a hit?! “Shangri-La” is a working class ode to not having too much, you’re working hard and life can be tough, but that your little home with your slippers and your favorite chair is a little piece of heaven. Unlike the songs “Yes, sir, no sir” and “some mother’s son” the song “Mr. Churchill says” is a more positive song about the military, and how tough Brits were during WWII and even features an air raid siren! “She’s bought a hat like princess marina” is about post-war poverty and struggling, in a way it reminds me of pygmalion and the DRUMMING on this track is so good. Combined with “young and innocent days” I can hear some of the Beatles inspiration here…almost like “For the Benefit of Mr. Kite” territory, had that record come out yet? Is he pining for his youth here because it really was a better time, or is it stained by the nostalgia we all feel for the times right on the cusp of adulthood. It’s interesting, I sort of feel like a lot of these songs are like couplets of the immediately preceding track…is that the word I’m thinking of? “Nothing to say” the protagonist grew up a little bit, the world has changed, maybe he has kids and a little gray hair. Okay this record is a keeper for me, I love it from beginning to end. “Arthur” is the character study of the guy who this record is about, and continues the themes of the other songs. If the show ended up getting made, “Arthur” could be the theme song. There’s something about it that reminds me of sitcoms from the 70s? There’s not a single song I’d keep off the record and I love the story it tells. It’s quintessentially working class, it’s complex instrumentation, and really fucking fun (most of the tracks are fun anyway).

Quite a decent outfit

This one is GREAT. Has to be among one of my favorite discoveries since starting to use the generator. I think I’ve read that it has a recurrent theme and could be considered a rock opera, though I’m not quite sure about that. Fav tracks: Yes Sir No Sir, Some Mother’s Son, Shangri-La, Mr Churchill Says, She Bought A Hat…. 4.5/5

Brilliant album, great concept and great music. I'm a sucker for a concept album, especially ones about British culture so this is right up my street. Love it.

Well, I just had my final R.E.M. album this week, and now it's time for my final Kinks album. I was pretty underwhelmed by Face to Face and Something Else, but I enjoyed The Village Green Preservation Society, so maybe I'll enjoy this later entry as well. Arthur was outstanding, and easily the best Kinks album that I got to review. I didn't think they'd outdo The Village Green Preservation Society with me, but this album was incredible. The songwriting on Aurthur is outstanding. The social commentary is incredibly biting, and I love the way that the whole album has a feeling of "hey, we can say these things because we're English." The lyrics had such a sense of place to them, and they really transported me to England in the sixties, with the use of some great visual imagery. Musically, I really enjoyed this album as well. Arthur was some solid sixties guitar rock, with a really unique sound. It felt like The Kinks didn't try to do anything weird or avant gardé, opting to use more traditional rock sounds that helped further establish the sense of place established by the lyrics. The accessible arrangements really lured me in as a listener, making the sharp social critiques of the lyrics pack that much more punch due to the contrast. Arthur was a brilliant album, and I'm delighted that my last Kinks album to review wound up being my favorite of the bunch.

This was an instant 5 for me.

This was completely not the sound I expected from the kinks

One of my all time favorite albums

Teniendo una canción que se llame Arthur, cómo no voy a darle un 5.

This is rad af. Wild, trippy, silly, inventive and influential. Like The Beatles mixed with Monty Python.

Great album in the great class of ‘69.

Вполне себе

Victoria is a HIT! Album is a masterpiece! I like it very much. Every track is perfect! Thank you!

Kinks rule. This might be their peak. Wonderful rock opera. Favorite tracks: Victoria, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, Nothing to Say

The Kinks were on terrific form in this period. Many great songs here.

In my mind pure Punk in the sound of the Beatles. Genious.

I have yet to meet a concept album I don’t like.

Dit is het beste album van the Kinks, misschien samen met Something Else. Begint met Victoria, mogelijks het beste nummer van the Kinks. Yes Sir, No Sir is bijna even goed. Maar de rest ook echt. Mr. Churchill says, Australia, Some Mother's Son ... Heerlijk album en minstens een 4.6 waard.

Great album by The Kinks I had never heard before, outside of Victoria. Shangri-La is my favorite song on the album easily.

5/5. There are some really great and unique pop songs on here and the lyrics are funny and yet very relatable even today. Politics is politics and the only winners are the ones at the top and who say do as I say not as I do. I've heard every concept album from this time and yet never listened to the Kinks. The instrumentation, especially the drumming, is excellent And the production is full of sound. Maybe the vocals could be a little more at the forefront but otherwise, still beautiful to listen to. It is a very re-listenable album and I just ran it again once it finished. Best Song: Shangri-La, Victoria, Some Mother's Son

The King sure one of my favorite of all time especially these early albums they were just so creative. The music was great. The lyrics were great good humor.

omg, this is awesome!!!! AUSTRALIIIIIIIIIAAAAAA!

Dave Davies guitar solo 🥴🥵 This one I like :)

Great kinks. Again another unique band

What a wonderful surprise. I love the Kinks, but I haven’t listened to their entire discography. This album is amazing. Solid themes, tight lyrics with biting commentary, and almost epic poetry. I don’t hear singles. This album should be enjoyed as a whole!

Really good, almost Beatles-level 4.6

These kinks fellas sure love a good concept album

I love The Kinks, perhaps especially their weird stuff, and it doesn't get much odder than a concept soundtrack to a TV play (that didn't get made) in which hardly anything exciting was to happen. Ray and Dave spun gold out of the idea though, and made a lovely collection of songs which also work really well together

They're so COOL. So far ahead of their time. Love it.

We just don’t get this on a public scale anymore.

I will never not love The Kinks. I actually bounced around for a while when I saw this was my album today.

This was my highest album for a long time.

What a masterpiece, catchy songs with excellent lyrics.

Incredible

The first song made me cry. Played at the funeral of a close friend - I had no idea it was the kinks. I really I have no idea who the Kinks are. I can see their back catalogue goes back further and lasts longer than I expected. I really like it. I will be investigating more Kinks.

I like the Kinks. This was fun. Smart and well constructed. Will definitely be listening again.

Second best british pop group in history

The Kinks but can’t help but be excellent.

wow was definitely not expecting this from the 'you really got me' guys. it started strong with Victoria and then fell a bit, but at Brainwashed I was so into it and the rest was a great ride! surprised by the quality of this album vs the number of streams on spotify (yea its from 69 but come on, its better than Revolver IMO, though I think I was a bit of a hater giving it a 4) amazing and underrated album.

4.5/5

Oooh! I listened to this last year for the first time... It was an instant fiver! (10) ★★★★★

My favourite Kinks album! And "Victoria" is at least a top 5 Kinks song!

I liked the 60s and early 70s Kinks

Fully conceived concept album. Serious and silly, complex and garage sounding, as only the Kinks could do.

One of the many reasons I love David is that he introduced me to The Kinks and this album. Am I biased in my rating? Perhaps, but after countless listens together on many car rides, I still find it a great album from start to finish.

Excellent. Been a fan of the Kinks since I was a teen. Still fresh and pointed satire.

If Victoria was the only good song on the album it would still be a 5 Star album

It's the Kinks, it's amazing

Unbelievable concept album with writing that’ll make your skin crawl and a perfectly polished sound

Another brilliant record by the most British band of the British Invasion. The Stones and The Beatles made their bones reinterpreting American R&B, but The Kinks drew their water from a much different well, and their records, and Arthur emblematically, delight and charm like no Beatles or Stones record.

I should really listen to the Kinks more. Every time I listen to them I am positively surprised. This album is really great too, great album that rocks surprisingly hard. Shangri-La is my favorite here.

I wasn’t expecting this album from a band I’m most familiar with from the song “You Really Got Me.” It’s like a political Sgt Pepper. It doesn’t sound punk rock, but the message is hella punk rock. It’s kind of hard to understand the lyrics sometimes, but this is one of those albums where you should probably pull up the lyrics anyway. It’s a concept album that follows the storyline of a Brit named Arthur as he attempts to move up in the strict hierarchy of British life (and eventually does so by emigrating to Australia). It’s a biting criticism of classism and how the rulers/privileged classes in the UK don’t care about anything but themselves and are happy to send the lower classes (who continue to dream about moving up into the higher class) to their deaths to maintain their status and lifestyle. It’s actually pretty ballsy for an album that came out in 1969 — almost a decade before the Sex Pistols took the piss out of the monarchy. Rock operas seemed to be a thing in the late 60s/early 70s, and though they’re always ambitious, they don’t always land. This one does. It might be my favorite rock opera (followed by Tommy by The Who). I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this so much, but it’s cohesive and enjoyable to listen to all the way through. Best songs: Some Mother’s Son, Brainwashed, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says (the guitar solo is fantastic) 5/5

I loved it! I have never sat down and listened to a kinks record but I am so glad I did! It’s odd, funny, biting, ironic and just a whole lot of fun! Great social commentary for the time and creative instrumentation! In a way I prefer something like this over some Beatles records (could just be because the Beatles are so played out lol) A cool listen and I am looking forward to check out more of their stuff later!

The thing I love about the Kinks is the dissonance between the lyrics and music, which are pastoral slices of life of average British people in the 1960s and 1970s, and the theme, which is overwhelming, crushing existential dread. Some great grooves on the second half of a lot of the songs here too, like the Winson Churchill one.

Circus-like whimsy, a happy-go-lucky feel, A la classic rock

I adored this album, so inventive with some fantastic tunes. I can't believe I didn't know this record. Has to be 5/5.

Ambitious and fully realised ‘concept’ album with songs themed around uniquely British experiences of the war, end of empire, and encroaching American culture. In lesser hands it might have been too cerebral, weighty and depressing but the songcraft crackles with exuberance and humour and the melodies are stellar. An album of its time and yet one which will never grow old.

I had heard of The Kinks, but never listened to them. Really enjoyed this, it has social commentary but feels very uplifting. Stand out track for me was Victoria.

This is a brilliant concept album and the lyrics are insightful into social surroundings. Quintessentially very British and representative of the 60's era. The Kinks highlighted this so well throughout their music. Dedicated follower of fashion, Waterloo sunset etc. They were a very influential band and the songwriting talent of Ray and Dave Davies deserves recognition. Good listen

Peak Davies.

Rich and exceptionally well conceived and executed, each song stands on it's own merits while still contributing to the larger themes. Great melodies, kicking arrangements, humor and pathos, this album stands as a rocking testament to the Kinks' contributions to the genre.

Album 465 of 1001 The Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) Rating : 5 / 5 Great album. I've come to really enjoy The Kinks more than I had before starting this list. Some is better than the other but I haven't ran across anything from them that just straight out sucks. This one could use a few more listens.

I’m sure the Kinks aren’t infallible, but they’ve got a run of several unimpeachable classic albums, and this is one of them. Do I like Village Green or Something Else or Lola or Muswell Hillbillies better? Honestly I think they’re all equally great.

Very Kinsky, very good. I had never listened to this one before and I think I might have loved it.

This was such a contrast from the previous kinks album I got a few weeks ago - that was so empty and just plain boring, I was very disappointed. This was interesting in all ways.

Bluesy as hell.

Fantastic album. First time listening to The Kinks, I love a good concept album. No real misses either, just an all around great album.

Odd naming convention for an album, but it reminds me of the movie Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation ^^ That is probably the most words I have written before even listening to a second of the album This album has the GROOVE! It started out as a very solid first half, and only got better from there. Similar sounds to The Beatles which makes sense. Australia was one of my favorites and I liked the use of the harpsichord all around. Around the halfway point of the album I was trying to figure out if this just *felt* like a 5 compared to a lot of our recent catalog. Now that I'm at the finish I can confidently say this is a 5. I could listen to this album just about any day.

Fun Kinks album with some hits. Loved it.

Amazing music and awesome album! Great journey.

victoria yes sir, no sir brainwashed australia mr. churchill says she's bought a hat like princess marina nothing to say arthur

I found this one fun to listen to. They sound so cute...

I can't tell what this is adding to the other 4 records by The Kinks that we've already listened to but I am still just as charmed.

Wow! This is up there with Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Tommy’s The Who. This concept album would make a great movie! Super cool!

absolutely masterpiece, six stars

Victoria is the greatest Kinks song of all time. I don't know how much I consider this a "concept" record, but I definitely love it. Essential mid-period Kinks.

Fantastic concept album about Victorian era UK, that eerily reflects what was going on in America at the time with the war on Vietnam. It has some very tongue-in-cheek writing, which makes it a cynically depressive record overall given the lyrical themes. The blend of orchestral instrumentation also brings a very epic and sort of medieval / refined feel to the whole thing, emphasizing the whole concept. The songs are super catchy of course, Ray Davies really surprised me with how vivid and crisp his writing can get at times, super dope stuff. Favorite tracks include "Victoria", "Yes Sir No Sir", "Some Mother's Son", "Shangri-la", "Mr. Churchill Says", "Princess Marina", "Young and Innocent Days" and "Arthur".

I love the Kinks. And even though I wasn't really in the mood for this album, I loved it. Such a fun sound.

Well this was a delightful surprise and I enjoyed it very much! The comparisons to the Beatles are obvious, but it also feels very much like its own thing. The arrangements, lyrics, variety of songs all add up to an amazing album. My favorite discovery thus far in the 1001 challenge (if you can call a Kinks album a discovery). 4.5/5

Killer record! The songwriting is phenomenal and the musicality is so delightfully fun; it is very well constructed. This is the crown jewel of the Kinks catalogue. Love listening to it end to end. There’s a wry playfulness that I find so compelling and enjoyable. And this album artwork is iconic. LOVE IT.

Wow okay. Totally obsessed with these Kinks concept albums. Definitely preferred some individual songs on Village Green Preservation Society, but this is so much richer as an album. Only comparing the two due to the conceptual nature of both. But my god. So fantastic. Hard to pick favorite songs, but “Victoria” and “Arthur” are probably my favorites. “Yes Sir, No Sir” and “Shangri-La” are really great too. Just amazing.

10/10. A themed album with this much cleverness in itself was neat. But also song to song the album doesn’t miss.

im not the worlds biggest kinks fan or anything but if they had more music like this i would be. the songs are so fun and the lyrics are so not fun but well written. havent been able to find anything else similar to this, its really one of a kind. 9/10

9 / 10 Inevitable para mi pensar en los Beatles. Muchas de las canciones están al mismo nivel. Se centran un poco más en el pop o rock suave que en la psicodèlia.

cool

Good oldschool classic giutar rock. Essential of raw prepunk.music.

Great album, loved the theme and will definitely listen again.

Arthur was my first encounter with The Kinks outside of the hits, and it blew my mind that the gang behind 'You Really Got Me' could create such a marvelous well-crafted concept album!

I have rewarded The Kinks everything from 2 to 4 on this list so far. Arthur is the Kinks album that finally makes them deserving of the highest rating available … and then some. It’s easy to compare 60’s-artists to The Beatles, so I will do just that, as Arthur is as good as anything the Fab Four released - it’s a quintessential 60’s release deserving of all the praise you can thrown in its direction.

perfectly written songs and a really well executed concept album. the last third or so is slightly weaker but i think it still deserves a 5.

What a fantastic album! Creative, fun, stylish, exciting. Great discovery. Brainwashed, Australia, Nothing to Say are gonna be in my rotations for a long time.

Excellent record, very Kinks but also very modern and complex sounding, almost like a mid-period Beatles sound. I really liked it and will listen again (already listened to it twice). Five stars.

Hell yes this is a bangin' album. One of the few Kinks albums I've listened to all the way through. I don't remember what led me to it in college, but I'm happy whenever one of the songs comes on. In particular, "Victoria", "Australia", and "Shangri-La" are total jams. I'll have to check out more of their albums at some point.

Any album the begins with a tune as great as "Victoria" deserves five stars almost no matter what comes after. In this case, a damn fine Kinks album all the way to the end, and a great redemption of the frequently cringe-y rock opera format.

I remember my dad talking about how great The Kinks were, and I knew some of their singles, but wasn't that interested compared to Dylan and the Beatles etc. So in a way they've been the great revelation for me from this list. Village Green and this are fantastic albums.

Zeitreise Teil 3 - Highlight! 5/5

Not only is the music standardly great from the Kinks, but also the lyrics raise some great criticisms of things like war, poverty, and the economy. Basically, an easy 5.

this is another album i cannot be unbiased about. this album is in my top 10 of all time and it ain't 10. one of the middle points of a stretch of albums by the kinks that i think are perfect albums, this album employs a narrative that the others do not. songs focusing on the affects of war and british society and austerity, all through the lens of the titular character, arthur. ray davies knocks it out of the park with this one! i suspect this isn't everyone's cuppa tea because it is very twee, like much of ray davies' work, but it truly is a brilliant effort and album.

5 start concept stuff, super fun listen and a slice of late 60s british pop rock.

Fantastic, inventive quintessentially working class meditation on what it meant to be "British" in the 20th Century. Poignant, snarky, topical and weirdly ahistorical demonstration of the brothers' genius

God damn it I love the kinks

Amazing pop rock opera. A concept album that tells a very broad story. This album was very fun from start to finish. Engaging melodies at all times, I was never bored. Some of these songs gave me the same sort of whimsical feeling that Paul and Linda McCartney's "Ram" does. Where it's clear these musicians were having a good time, enjoying the music they were making. I just straight up had a really good time while listening to this album, not just because it was good. I listen to a lot of albums that I consider just as good as this one, but not all of them make me feel as good as Arthur does. It's something special. Classic, duh. I have to revisit, not for a second opinion but because I just want to listen again. 4.5/5

I ended up really liking this album. I guess I had a totally wrong idea of what The Kinks sounded like. I thought they were punk. This reminds me a lot of the Beatles at times but has its own flair.

Such a great album!

A surprisingly entertaining and engaging set of tunes. Meaningful lyrics and catchy melodies. Great stuff.

Very good, I knew very little of the Kinks beyond the usual hits like Lola. I was very surprised by how openly political this album is.

I will never love it as much as the album that preceded it but it's still Kinks at the top of their game. Victoria is particularly a delight.

Everything the Beatles should be

I’d never really listened to The Kinks before and had mixed expectations because they influenced a lot of bands I love but also a lot of bands I don’t care for. As it turns out I find this album delightful. It has an intellectual streak that sets it apart from other similar offerings of the time, similarly to Talking Heads vs the rest of the classic punk scene. The irreverent satire and social commentary is top notch.

New to this. And really pretty fresh to the Kinks in general outside of a few classic tracks. This has been stuck in my head with a vengeance since I listened to it. I've gone back to it again and again. I've told people about it too. Asked them if they've heard of it? Jacob's spot on; this album undeniably has its context, but it also exists wholly in its own world. And it paints such a wonderfully, comically, heartbreakingly kaleidescopic picture of post-war Britain, it can't help but bounce around in my head in more ways than a catchy song simply would. I need room to grow with this; see how it fits into the Kink's discography. But I'm optimistically going 5/5 here.

I kind of think this album is brilliant. And this is coming from someone who has been mostly underwhelmed by the Kinks. On this album they take a BIG swing, and I think it pays off. They pull off this commentary on all things British. I picture them sitting in the cheap seats, heckling, middle fingers to all forms of power, all the adults. With this dry, acerbic, cheeky, and with touches of real sadness and despair. They touch on the real costs of war, the sons who aren't coming home, and the dispassionate people who put them there. I was thinking about it, and honestly, this is the first album (by date) that deals with topics from WWII in a way that I can actually understand, that makes sense to me. Digging up a few feet under the earth to loose a bit of the trauma and disaffections of war. What other album is actually seriously (or... un-seriously?) doing that? In the 60's? Other than the Pete Seegers... really, nobody. Comparisons to the Beatles are so obvious as to not be even worth mentioning, as with all records by the Kinks, but these are topics that I just cannot imagine Lennon or McCartney touching with a 12-foot pole. Colonialism, war, the promised suburban lifestyle and its eventual letdown. There are NO Beatles songs like this. I think this is my first Kinks that stands alone. And it's a real treasure. It helps me understand more of the turbulent scene of English society from that time, warts and all, and it's FUN! Well deserved, boys. 5/5

Interesting to hear the difference between this and the other album I heard.

LOVEEE the kinks this album is perfect

What a pleasant surprise. I was only familiar with you really got me and was expecting more of the same. Instead I was greeted by some beatles-esque yes-infused proto-prog masterpiece.

Absolutely loved the album. Fun, driving, and a very easy listen. Also will never not love a concept album Top tracks: Victoria, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, Arthur

Right up my alley. Musical excellence, brilliant composition, clever lyrics, super catchy.

Album #18 The Beatles, Van Morrison with a touch of The Banana Splits all the while still The Kinks. The music tracks have stood the test of time after all they are The Kinks. It would be awesome to go back in time and listen to the album with fresh ears during that specific era of time without the infusion of musical genre's over the past 50 years.

Favs: Victoria Australia Shangri-La Arthur Feels really grand and very British. Response to Sgt. Peppers?

So this may be the first non-compilation Kinks album I’ve listened to. Absolutely extraordinary. Victoria is an all-time album opener, lyrically it may be my favorite Rock album we’ve had yet, and in an age of concept albums reaching popularity this storyline is engaging and unobtrusive. Loved it! Top tracks: Victoria, Yes Sir No Sir, Brainwashed, Australia, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, Nothing To Say, Arthur

Great album, sounds so modern. I’m not sure I can even pick a favorite

Definite similarities with other English bands, like the Beatles or Hermans Hermits. Didn’t know any songs on the album but in searching I did know several other Kinks songs. Fun use of different sounds (horns, kazoo) throughout. I enjoyed every entry on this album, favorite was ‘Shangri-La’ but not a bad choice to be made.

This seems to be a precursor for a to other music, yet to come. There's a spirit here, an ode. A few misses, but otherwise, really good, even though not a bunch of "hits".

I've been a huge fan of this since I first heard it in the 80's. Shangri-La is one of my all time favorite songs, and I love the lyrical wit and heavy Britishness of it all. I love the album from start to finish. Smart, classic, rock.

That's a good album, super iconic.

Crikey, was unsure of what to expect but from what I've heard of the Kinks had fairly high hopes. What you get is sharp social commentary on the classism in British society with some good music to go with it. I don't think the Beatles ever wrote anything which depicts British life so well.

What an album. Brilliant example of late 60s Brit rock. Guitars are instantly recognisable as that of the kinks, alongside the vocals. Lyrics are a mix of those quirky Kinks lyrics and heartfelt deep ones. Great album

Brilliant; Wonderful.

9/10

Why Tommy is considered a masterpiece is beyond me... this is a great warm sounding and forward sounding effort - rock opera without trying to sound like a broadway wanna be. It is both fun and critical I will definitely listen again.

I love this record. The arrangements are dynamic, melodies catchy without being overly simple, and overall theme cohesive. I'll absolutely listen again. Highlights: Victoria, Brainwashed, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina, Nothing to Say, Arthur

well would score higher than 5 if I could, massive sucker for that nostalgia but with an edge. it's more folk than rock at times and speaks directly to middle England with stories that are still valid all this time later, plus its a rocking record.

Enjoyed this one. It’s a fun album with an overarching commentary, some quite sad. It’s a solid 5 for me. There are a few songs with a chamber music background that really carries the issues of class that reoccur throughout the album. I really liked Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, and Yes Sir No Sir.

Man, I am vibing with these songs!

Definitely my vibe. This album slaps

Glorious. I gave it a listen, and then another, and then another. That sweet spot of proto punk and English invasion couldn't have been struck any better. The flow of the album took me on a ride, each song felt arranged perfectly to follow the last and a harmony of themes told a wonderful story. The stand outs for me were Drivin' and Australia, both for their tongue in cheek messages and just overall ear pleasing. Songs laced with messages that both hit on topics today and back in the 60's when they were first recorded are all throughout the album and have definitely placed in my regular rotation. A great timeless album to enjoy any time!

I ran through this whole album without stopping. It certainly felt like a journey. I was working, so I’ve made second stop on my favorite songs to discuss them a bit more. Yes sir, no sir. Permission to speak sir? That song stands out for its two different tones when the narrator switches between an infantryman to a general. I really liked it. I could relate with feelings of helplessness, overwhelming odds, and dreams of games we played when we were young in Some Mother’s Son. Breaks my heart how relevant it is. My favorite song is Shangri-La. Speaks to me. Maybe they were talking about the people who have it all, but I feel like the little man with a mortgage over my head. Except, there’s no train to catch, I’m already in Shangri-La. Maybe that’s the point. He’s in Shangri-La too. Where things are as good or as crap as you make them. Life ain’t so happy in your little Shangri-La. I feel that. Mr. Churchill brings out the happy naked dance in me.

A definitive 60-s CLASSIC! The witty-liryc-ed britishmen The Kinks doing their social critique bit in form of a concept album. Great playing, great songwriting, top-notch arrangements, clever packaging. Great to the tip of its' toes. I would say no more.