Reviews (page 4 of 13)
Likes: some good hooks; light-hearted poppy vibe Dislikes: front half is too sing-song; some of the hooks make me cringe; back half didn’t register much Overall, I know what the Kinks represent in rock history. But I don’t hear any of that on this record. Victoria is a good track though
Sounds a lot like the Beatles. British invasion I suppose. Pretty good, will have to do some more investigating into their discography
Love the Kinks and this album....they always mix sincere nostalgia with a sort of cynical detachment. This album is a critical look at what British history actually is....ahead of its time in that way.
I frequently confuse The Kinks for The Beatles. And this album, for me, is a very clear example of how these two bands can sound very similar. Both have a 60s rock sound that is still influenced here and there by rock and roll artists of the time. I think that I recognised "Victoria" more than any of the other tracks. But I wouldn't say that I was particularly familiar with that song. Even after a couple of listens, I dont feel like I have very strong feelings about this album at all. It is absolutely fine and if it was playing at a friend's house or in a pub. It wouldn't want to male me leave but it also wouldn't make me ask who was playing. I'd just assume that it was a Beatles album that Id never heard before. (2.000)
This was alright. It wasn't bad but I'm not a fan of the Kinks - I don't like his voice. Same issue as usual, if you push through your diaphragm it'll sound much better. Someone should have told him that I guess.
Ging gut klar das Album
solide
Nicht Kinky genug für mich
I'm not a fan of concept albums. I like some of the songs a lot (Victoria, Brainwashed), but for the most part the concept overdone is boring if not outright awful (She Bought A Hat). All in all, the album hits some highs but mostly just mucks around in thematic stasis. Good at times, but mostly meh. 3 not so impressive stars (In other words, why in the hell is this album on this list?)
I’m not sure the kids realize just how perfect and original the kinks were. I have a lot of thoughts in this album, this band, the passage of time and how much is being left on the side of these roads due to the instantaneous nature society. But I’m just listen to this album again.
I dig it
Fun!!
A classic, and I seem to have been in the mood for late 60s' British humor today, so I had more fun than I was expecting! (Princess Marina almost lost me)
It was fine. I see how The Kinks are very influential but...
This is a solid, above average album, but not something that would probably approach a top 1000 list for me, personally. There may be some 'it was great at the time' bias here, but I'm not sure. It kind of sounds like a lot of psychedelic stuff out around that time - it basically sounds like the Kinks version of Sgt. Peppers..
3.5 stars. 60's rock concept album. Standout is leadoff earworm "Victoria". Recording quality brings down the otherwise great "Shangri-La".
4 A bit inconsistent but the highs are high and the lows not that low
a fun time machine back into the sixties; surprisingly great musicianship and vocals; can really feel the Beatles influence
I enjoyed the album, lots of songs I’d never heard - Top band!
Just okay
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.
tengo que admitir que me aburrió un poco pero me sirvió para estudiar y tenerlo de fondo
Some tracks are better than others, but it's just not a sound or style that interests me at all...so far
A fun and quirky album that will take you on take you on a breezy ride. I was far more familiar with their second album, so this was a treat and a fun album to wake up to.
I quite enjoyed it
Good. 3.7
Really catchy opener with Victoria. Pretty standard besides.
Pretty damn masterful.
Very funky and happy! The albums sounds like how it would feel to drive off into a sunset.
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.
Interesting take on a character
Had a great fun sound, even if it was a bit of a drag at a few points. Trim a few songs and it's perfect!
As I’ve listened to more albums from this era, my inclination is how similar they all sound. It doesn’t interest me but they opened up so many people to create the music I love today.
The Kinks are just always catchy and fun. They never disappoint.
There were a lot of fun songs on this album, with a few favorites including "Victoria" and "Australia". The musical stylings were interesting because they had variety but with particular notes of Beatles influences as well as some softer, more modern sounds like Wilco.
This is one I need to listen to more. I listened through once, and I like it, but I think I want to get to understand what the 5 star reviewers are saying. I mean they have hits for sure, but Ive never really delved into their albums as a whole. I will have to come back and update it.
pleasant
Was fine. Did nothing for me
i listened to the first few prb 3.5/5 rounding up 4/5
Wowowowow! Favorites were: Victoria, Some Mother’s Son, Young and Innocent Days; Least favorite was Australia probably. I liked it a lot!
This album is so close to being a 5. But I just barely feel like it doesn’t reach it. Around half of the album is straight masterpiece level. Insanely good stuff, that does so many things so right. Songs like Some Mother’s Son, Brainwashed, Shangri-La, Young and Innocent Days; these songs are on par with some of my favorite music. But the album just doesn’t come together in the way a 5 star album would. It’s missing something that I can’t really put my finger on. But it’s still really good and I’ll listen to it many more times in the future.
A Kinks classic. Not one of my absolute personal favorites of theirs, but it's pretty great just the same.
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
Favorite songs: Victoria, Drivin', Australia, Mr. Churchill Says
Crazy lovely art!
Ive always thought that kinks deserve a bigger mention in music history and this album didnt change my mind.
Some Sgt Pepper influence going on here. I didn’t love this one. 2.5 stars?
Back to back 5 star albums!
Ok. I did not love it but I was hoping to enjoy it more frankly. Some of the reviews say Ray Davies is a better writer than the Beatles. I disagree. At least on this album. 3 stars as I lost interest
A bit flat. Not my favorite by The Kinks. Concept albums are a crapshoot, though.
'60s KInks is always a good listen. This is no different. Nothing that blows my mind here but solid pop-influenced rock that is very listenable.
Buenas melodias. Temas tranquilos pero no lo volveria a escuchar.
Plain old fun. I never really listen to The Kinks, but I thought this was good. They’re creative.
These guys were ahead of their time. Brilliant.
This was cool. I like that it was a concept album, probably one of the first? I like the psych and blues elements. I love the zany weird nature of The Kinks. Its been a hard week for me, so I probably wasn't in the right mind set.
The Kinks have some pretty great songs, but there are just too damn many of them. I guess this was about the banality of middle class life in England in the late 60s. Mission accomplished I guess?
Never listened to much Kinks, maybe they're significant, let's see. Check Wikipedia: concept album, okay. Track 1, Victoria: I know this! Covered by The Fall, long ago :-) Songs roll on, they're actually pretty catchy! Vocals are not high in the mix, so lyrics are not impinging on my mind, so be it. Wait, there is a song called 'Australia'? Read the lyrics - it's a solid take on the image of Australia promoted in the UK (from Victorian era until time of the album, when the Davies' brother-in-law Arthur actually came to Australia as a "ten pound Pom"). Overall, I'd say the album is well-made and entertaining, not compelling to listen again but if someone (miraculously) suggested putting it on I wouldn't mind at all, so I'll (generously) call it Good, 7/10.
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
Pretty good! Never heard early Kinks!
I loved how it balances big themes. war, class, and nostalgia with melodies. Definitely an album to listen front to back.
Good album :)
Yeah. I think I don't get it. I'm also not British or a baby boomer; that might have something to do with it. 2 stars.
I liked this a lot. Somehow feels loose and fresh even though it is obviously very meticulously put together.
I like the Kinks. This album sounds of the time.
I think 3.5 is fair for "good but far from best album from a generally very good British Invasion band." Victoria is fantastic, Shangri-la and Australia are good, but it's not Village Green Preservation Society and also nothing surprises or delights me, here..
6/10
Сподобався альбом, є дійсно хороші та цікаві пісні. Концепція "веселі пісні про серйозне" мені імпонує
Напевно найцікавіший альбом кінкс, з тих що я чув. Саркастичний, різноманітний. Australia взагалі топ. Але все ще не мій гурт.
3.5
Album number 100 and it's another Kinks album. Hooray... I guess? Needless to say I went into this pretty cynical, but by Australia I realise that this is defo the Kinks album that should be in the list. Tighter. More exciting. Same arena as Rolling Stones but more politically charged. I am slightly concerned I haven't heard Lola, You Really Got Me, All Day and other big hitters, which means there is even more Kinks to come... and yet not one single Chumbawumba album. 6.5 / 10
Otro embole QUE VUELVAN LOS ALBUMES PEAK
Genuinely brilliant album, lyrically genius, the theme runs through as a seamless thread that doesn't detract from each individual tracks quality. Way more impressive as a coherent whole than any Beatles album with better guitar work and equally (again, if not better) lyrical delivery. Excellent stuff, loved the listen.
Victoria is a good start. These guys are like an even sillier Beatles. Drivin' is like a song the Beatles rejected for having silly lyrics. Australia is another silly ass song. The songs just get goofier and goofier, Exhibit A: She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina. Nothing to Say is the best song since the lead track. Arthur is good too. I wonder if the Arthur is also a reference to royalty?
Sprawling, big sounding, and a pleasant surprise from a band I only thought to be known as the "You Really Got Me band"
Arthur by The Kinks feels shaped by whatever The Beatles were putting out just a few years earlier—yes, I’m looking at you, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. While it sometimes seems like every other British Invasion band of the ’60s became obsessed with baroque flourishes and couldn’t resist hauling a harpsichord into the studio, the result here is strange but genuinely compelling. It’s not an album I likely would have sought out on my own, which is exactly why working through the 1001 list sometimes pays off—emphasis on sometimes. I didn’t recognize any of the tracks, and none really lodged in my head as instant earworms—but even without a standout hook, it was an enjoyable listen overall.
This album was haphazard at best. At that time, NO ONE escaped the Beatles and neither did these guys. It seems as if they were trying to put their own spin on melodies they couldn't get out of their heads and it rarely worked.
Great album, especially the middle. Standout songs: Yes sir, no sir Brainwashed Shangri-La
Gillade väldigt mycket!!
I have to deduct points because this album sounds very beatles-esque but I love the kinks and this is such a good frickin album with 0 skips
Sociopolitical commentary✅ Concept album✅ “Fuck the government” attitude✅ “Fuck social hierarchies” attitude✅ Anti-war✅ Danceable✅ Enjoyable listen✅
It's like the Beatles but more British and less talented
A fairly enjoyable listen
Pretty good
Top Songs: Victoria Brainwashed Shangri-La Arthur
The Kinks rule and this is definitely one of their best (and essential) albums.
From Village Green to this album, they really developed that Kinks sound that I like. This is another no skip album, there are a couple low moments but not worth skipping. Not fond of the Beatles sound they try to emulate on a couple songs. Then there are just some killer 60's rock pop songs. A great opener with Victoria then close the first side with Australia! The second side is just as good, I give a little edge to side 1 though.
ok
Quite fun
Pretty solid album!
I liked it. This came out in ‘69? Wow. The artist’s work was elevated through the remaster on this one for sure.
This album was pretty great!
This is a pretty solid album
Another great entry in what may end up being the best single week of this project ever? Nothing less than a 3.75 for me!! And this one is great fun! The middle sequence of Brainwashed-Australia-Shangrila is so strong it really makes this album for me! But the rest is really fun! The Kinks are great!
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))
The whole album is solid, but this is a rare case of the B-side being much better than the A-side. It is just that good. I can't get enough of Ray Davies' acid satires about British society. I may not be a peasant living in post-war England, but I feel like this was made for me.
Pretty neat.
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.
Straight up Beatles at home The only songs I knew from the Kinks were You Really Got Me and Lola, and this list features neither. I can see why they got so popular, but also why they didn’t reach that same level of fame as the other British Invasion bands. We happened to get dinner with my father this day and he told me that they were kinda soft banned from ever playing in the US due to a variety of reasons including violence and breaking union regulations, which Wikipedia confirmed. Victoria and Shangri-La were the standouts, and although there definitely wasn’t any offensively bad music, the rest just kinda sounded like discount Beatles. A pretty high bar to clear, but it’s pretty much impossible to not compare the two bands. This is definitely on the higher side of 3s, but there’s so much other British Invasion music so why would I listen to this again over the competitors.
some good songs, decent variety, good rock but ueoughhhhh those drums hurt me ears mate get off the cymbals
Good stuff. Always liked the Kinks. Lovely opening track Victoria, not every band writes a love song to a dead world leader. Probably the best known song on the album, but the others don't disappoint. Liked Australia, liked Shangri La, liked Mr. Churchill. And I like to think about the times that the album came out. This album was in the era of the Beatles, Led Zep, the Stones, the Doors, the Who, and more. So it's easy to see how this one flew under the radar. The thing about the Kinks is they have good albums but probably not one absolutely great one. But they have a career filled with great songs. Would say you could put their Greatest Hits up against anybody's Greatest Hits and they wouldn't disappoint. Closer to 3 1/2, but 3 for our purposes here.
The album and the songs all sound good, but I can’t really explain why they sound good. I feel like I can’t just say that I like the Kinks and give this a four, so it gets a three because I don’t really know how I feel about this album.
This is nice. Lukewarm. It's "fine." It's just sort of... there. I feel like I would be super dismissive of this album for stuff like In the Court of the Crimson King, Abbey Road, Zeppelin, CCR, and Zappa. Really like the drummer and how much you can hear him. Heavy production, very large garage band sound. Not sure if I would revisit. I’m enjoying the themes in the second half of the album more than the first half. Overall, I like the album, it doesn’t scratch my itch. It’s a very consistent sound throughout and not off putting per say, it’s dynamic and I appreciated all of the different instruments and their usage. Also It's a concept album, and I LOVE myself a good concept album. But in 1969 there were a good number of better concept albums by King Crimson or The Who or Genesis, and I'd have been too obsessed over those to give this a real chance. I have the hindsight of historical value, so I'm gonna bump it up to a lukewarm 3. Did I need to hear this before I die? Probably
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
The Kinks will always be more enjoyable to me than the Stones and Beatles. I don't rate this as one of their best, but Arthur is still a banger. The textures of this album and the 'vibes' are unmatched
Very enjoyable album but not my type of music.
Difficult one for me. The music does little for me and I'm not interested in lyrics. But the lyrics are the more important part of the songs. In every aspect better than The Beatles but less exalted..
Every song well crafted very good and underrated band
The day after Sgt Pepper! A cool concept served by some great Kinks tunes.
kind of weak relative to other kinks
Not for me, but I can respect this for what it is. Best Song: Victoria Rating: 6.0/10 Stars: 3/5
1.5
Immaculate
The Kinks, way under appreciated. ONe of their best.
Sigh. Here we go again. Another band that clearly deserves a place with an album that clearly does not. This is the most boring and vanilla Kinks album. It's a British invasion album that no one remembers. It's fine. But it's not good. I just don't even know what to do with this. Influence (Kinks? 4. This album? 2). Quality 3. Intangibles 3. Hits 1. This is the most meh thing I can imagine 2.
very summery i liked
I was really excited about this after hearing Victoria...super cool song. The rest was just fine. Cool concept album. A lot of it reminded me of late-Beatles.
Felt kind of shallow as satire but mostly enjoyable to listen to. Victoria my favorite, liked Arthur and Shangri-La well enough
There’s some really clever somgwriting on this album, but at times it’s a bit inconsistent. Still an enjoyable listen. Favourite tracks: Victoria, Brainwashed, Australia.
BEST SONGS: - Yes Sir, No Sir - Australia
Lots of Beatles vibes. Wasn't really my favorite
Fico pensando como que essa galera decide capa de álbum, se é no modo foda-se, se é muito pensado, tem umas capas que são muito aleatória, e me chama atenção. Pior que gostei da Yes Sir, mais do que a mais famosa. Acabei gostando do álbum conforme ele foi avançando, me lembra um dos melhores álbuns de todos os tempos (Tommy), muita coisa similar ao jeito do The Who tocar. Vou dar 4* só de brabo.
pas si pire
3,4 Highlights: Victoria, Shangri-La
Good, Shangri-La being the highlight. 3.5
Through this challenge, I’ve come to realize that I’m a big fan of the Kinks. There’s good material here. The jam on the end of “Australia” is impressive. Their influence on the Talking Heads and others is plain. They’re humorous as ever. But there’s not enough that’s musically catchy here to make it memorable. It’s a 3.
Good vibe, love the kinks now
inglisis istorias rato vusmen. okay bodishi its not that bad
I began to feel I was inconsistent listening to this. After discovering I had a slight bias against anything I felt sounded American, did I have the bias against anything excessively British? Turns out not really. I have this a few listens and will be coming back. The Kinks are a great singles band but I've rarely listened to albums. This has it's kooky British moments but is solid, varied and enjoyable. With surprisingly rocking lead (as well as rhythm) work. Shangri-La stands out among what I didn't know. Very enjoyable.
Listening to this album somehow makes me think that this is the sound I imagine when I think of the UK 60s. Like this is the epitome of the term the swinging 60s or something. More songs than the Beatles or the stones. It's so English, the tone of it all, lyricwise and musically. I love it. I know the kink's greatest hits and comparably I'm not sure the songs here really stack up (beyond victoria, which was on it), but I suspect they'd bed in more after more listens.
It's solid. Mastered well (at least the 2019 remaster).
Twee 60s English rock, I don't really follow what's so spectacular about this 3*
Love it or hate it the album tells a clear story. Things were going great until the back half, then the temptation to start skipping around tracks REALLY began. I think a stronger finish ends with a four star score from me, but the clever song writing still earns a solid 3.
Wow that was an unexpectedly good ramblin' time. "guys let's lay down a track about how great australia is" *everyone jams for 7 minutes*
Thoroughly enjoyable traipse through an album criticising the British, by possibly one of the most British coded bands out there. I had no idea of this album’s existence, but I feel it will grow on me even more. Loved some of the guitar hooks, the lyrics were genius in places, and I found I liked all of the songs. Highlights include ‘Australia’, ‘Victoria’, and ‘Mr. Churchill says’. 7.5/10
I’m not sure yet what vibe this album gives off but I like it! Victoria has so much going for it as a track even though it’s mostly a singular lyric. Yes sir no sir had such a cool orchestral section! It reminded me of a marching band, but then the guitar came in behind it and it honestly was awesome! I don’t know if this is sacrilegious to say, but No Mothers Son reminded me of The Beatles, actually a lot of this album did. Drivin’ was a good track. It was almost trancelike if that makes sense. Going into Brainwashed after that was slightly like whiplash, but I totally felt I could dance to it. Australia commented on another country in a way that only the British really do. It was positive, but in a way that felt like it was about to racially profile you. Shangri-La was great! I loved it. Mr Churchill says was cool as I chose to write an essay on the Churchill speech in grade 12 English, not that I’ve given it much thought since, but it was fun to hear it again in this way. She’s bought a hat was so much fun. I can’t say I’ve heard a kazoo in a track for a while and I love when you can hear that the band had a fun time making a track. Young and innocent days and Nothing to Say were great! To close, Arthur was a good track. 4/5 ⭐️! Enjoyed this one! 41/1089
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 🙃
Im loving this, giving me like beatles vibes
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.
Um álbum muito britânico por definição, mas recheado de sarcasmo e critica.
I definitely think I will need more than a day to allow this one to sink in. My first listen started out strong, but I found the record to feel over indulgent as it went on. Both 'Australia' and 'Arthur' started out great, but I felt resentment set in towards them as they went past the five minute mark with repeating choruses. The choruses on 'Victoria' and 'Shangri-La' are so big and infectious. There's lots of fun guitar parts and big sections peppered although out the record. This feels like a lost Beatles album filled with McCartney cuts that were too weird for the rest of the band, but this is a lot heavier on the biting social critiquing than anything Beatles ever put out. I feel like my rating could go up if I had more time with this.
Nah. Just don’t get the Kinks
Solid rock band. Solid rock album.
javel // jeg hører ikke godt nok etter til å fange opp historien, men dette liker jeg sykt godt!! smakelig dramatisk, melodisk og med noe på hjertet. noen sanger drøyer en del. høydepunkt: Yes Sir, No Sir, Some Mother's Son, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, Young and Innocent Days
Not really my style.
This was good but sounded like a lot of other stuff that I've heard from this time.
Beatles after too many drugs? Maybe it’s unfair to rate this so many years later after so much has come after, but I liked only one song on this I think.
Victoria is a great pop song. The rest is fusty stuff, written by and for the brits of the time. Seldom heard a harpsichord I liked in the context of a pop song.
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.
How have we had the same problems for 60 years breh these guys were woke as hell… and made fire music. I love the contrast w the dark lyrics and beautiful/wacky songs
Solid but nothing really excited me
Pretty enjoyable, but it would be much better in the summer.
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.
Couple good songs but couple skips
I enjoyed this one. Not sure id listen to it again but definitely hit the mood today
I liked this more than I thought. Kinda Beatles-ish, but different. The only problem is some of the songs went on too long.
Great album, the kinks are sick
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
For the most part I didn’t really get anything out of this one 6/10
Very underrated band and album
It’s okay
This is a fun album, the lyrics are fun and I enjoy the anti-establishment sentiment a lot. I'm not going to sit here and lie to your face, this kind of music just isn't for me. It's enjoyable background music, a nice bit of 60s rock and honestly, I'm not a total philistine, like I do find it pleasant, it just doesn't grab me.
Kinda the point where The Kinks - who are one of my favourite bands - start to go off the boil a bit and into wacky theatrical concept town. But there's still lots of charm here and some really good songwriting at the core and its such a unique little slice of post-Imperial decline in the late 60s that everyone else in pop was ignoring. I feel like this record is them at their most eccentric and you can either get on board the weird suburbia train or you can let it chug away over the horizon. I'm all aboard baby. Choo choo!
I the different sounds it’s weird and fun
I enjoyed these guys.
The Kinks are never bad, but their albums never hit the full on highs of some of their peers.
Мне около 13, ребенок бейби-бума, родители суровые люди, заставшие войну и детство в отголосках великой депрессии. Они не слишком то эмоциональны, но все же действительно любящие и даже слишком заботятся о моем благополучии. 1963 год, в нашем штате тепло, солнце в golden hour, папа на заднем дворе жарит барбекю, скоро подойдут соседи, тетушка Маргарет принесет пирог, подозрительный дедуля с дома наискосок захватит виски для того, чтобы впечатлить отца, но на деле выпьет все сам, но зато еще молодая Маргарита захватит наскоро сделанные, очень острые и очень горячие тако! Вот вроде все отлично, но отчего-то все же печально, эти люди не видят жизни за пределами нашего благополучного пригорода. Может и я когда-то решу здесь остаться, но точно не сейчас! (Останется, ей всего 13, а в 17 она залетит от задиры из школы и не сможет поступить в колледж, но это шестидесятые, в целом не так печально раз виновник на ней женился)
This was great. Really nice narrative. Some of the standout tracks for me was Some Mother's Son, Nothing to Say, and Shangri-La.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I'm not really getting the plot at all through the songs, but maybe I'm just missing the important lyrics. Without that, it feels like fine sometimes good rock but nothing particularly special. Yeah, there's some good moments on this album, but I didn't get it as a whole. Another listen or a deep dive on the lyrics would potentially change the way I feel about this album, but first impressions are pretty mid. Favorite Song(s): Shangri-La
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.
Actually really enjoyed the songs on here. None of which I’ve heard before (that i know of). Great classic pop/rock that had me listening in the car, at work, while cooking, while cleaning, all over the place.
Great stuff
This one's been on my list for quite some time now, glad to finally check it out. I personally believe that albums like Tommy perfected (or as close as you can get to it, I suppose) the early rock opera form, but this is nothing to sneeze at either. Side A in particular feels weirdly influential on the Elephant 6 music collective, which it very well may be. There is a gigantic bombast to this that I didn't expect from the Kinks, only really having heard their biggest hits from 64-66 and then "Lola". Exciting stuff.
This album to me sounds like what I 'hear' when I think of the Beatles or 60s groovy rock music. It's zippy, catchy and enjoyable in spots but not something I would go out of my way to find. 3/5
So very very very British 🫡
Stand-out tracks: Victoria, Yes Sir, No Sir, Shangri-La, Mr.Churchill Says, Nothing To Say I'll keep ti brief this time since I don't have much to say about this one, neither praise nor really significant criticism. There are a handful of tracks I enjoyed and others I felt indifferent about. The album doesn't feel particularly innovative or special, it kind of just feels like a typical 60s rock record.
Highlights: Victoria, Drivin', She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina, Young and Innocent Days Not a lot went through my head while listening to this record. Highlights were based on brainless consumption (and they kinda sounded like Beatles tracks). Didn't have the time and the record didn't mause me too much, very monotonous.
Ok listen.
Another Beatles clone. Yay for this list.
Despite thinking Ray Davies is a songwriting genius I was less impressed with this one. Perhaps because there were a lot of songs and so some of them felt like fillers. Despite that it was an interesting mix of styles.
not bad but just meh
I'm a huge Kinks fan, but in spite of its' cleverness, I'm not a huge fan of this album in particular.
Not good
I understand why people like this album. The album gives me beatles vibes, but the album is not my cup of tea
Sounds a lot like the Beatles in a way that I wasn't expecting. Didn't do much for me. I can't even really remember any of what I listened to.
Maybe this caught me on the wrong day, because I like the Kinks, but this struck me as meandering and campy—and it makes total sense that it was intended to soundtrack an aborted TV project. The songs feel written for specific scenes or story beats, so it's cohesive in one sense...but still kind of irritating and overlong (at only 48 minutes). I'll save "Victoria" to a playlist and skip the rest. Maybe I'll come back to this another time and see if it hits better.
⭐⭐⭐ Är inte ett album för alla, väldigt britiskt. Samhällskritik i efterkrigstidens England. Bäst är Shangri la men gillar även Victoria, Brainwashed mfl. Uppskattade lyssningen och ibland känns de före sin tid. Har dock lite svårt för när det nästan landar i någon slags tivolimusik som i She bought a hat.. m.fl. Så det landar på en 3a.
The Kinks sit firmly in a 'its awesome' or 'its dreadful' camp. Listen to a Greatest Hits and you'll see what I mean (or hear what I mean). But I still remember the day I first heard 'Victoria'. This song is great in every way. Still one of my favourite songs to this day. And I was very excited when I bought a copy of this album. Oh, hey! Track one: Victoria! I was excited! But then it went into the rest. This album, no; most songs on this album are VERY inconsistent! Take 'Australia' for example, mundane lyrics, but a cool melody and then an absolutely killer outro. 'ShangriLa' is in the same vain. Great parts within a song, but then pulled down by others. 4 Stars. And I really mean it.
This album is like lying in bed in your hotel room and hearing your neighbour listening to music and having a good time. You like the thought of it, so you put some music on in your room to try and capture the same magic. It’s just not quite the same though.
I love The Kinks! This album was new to me and a very fun listen. I especially enjoyed Brainwashed.
Tremendo album. Primero que escucho de los Kinks. Me encantó. 8/10
Best: Austrailia Actually quite shocked by what this album achieves. So deep with social commentary and very well arranged. I think a lot of later Brit Pop is a poor attempt by comparison and you can see how this would influence Blur etc. It feels wrong to give it a 4 but I feel like it just doesn't quite make me feel so much and that is a requirement for 5
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.
Fine - one or two decent tracks but nothing that memorable
It was enjoyable, I wish there was more to the scale, as I liked this more than the other 3s on this list, but not quite a 4. I'd have to say 3.5. Was fun, but no takeaways from me and I won't be coming back to it.
Australia caught my attention for going too long, but other than that, pretty palatable.
In the immortal words of John Danielle quoting someone else: "Good luck to all bands."
I’m a big fan of a lot of The Kinks’ work so I was excited for this, it lowkey wasn’t as good as I expected. Not as good as other albums of theirs anyway. Fav song is ‘Shangri-La’.
I thought this was utter shite on my first listen - the sort of drivel perpetuated by individuals with their heads permanently wedged up their own arses. Second listen was a bit better, where some of the humourous, distinctly British quips and playful guitar licks on here were able to come to the surface, but the vocals are difficult to stomach for appreciable portions of this album, and some numbers did still feel quite self-indulgent and aimless.
It’s fun. Definitely not what I usually listen to but I think if the Beatles and CCR had a baby, this would be it.
Enjoyed this, suprised by the genre, was expecting a more rocky sound but that's my mistake
I really enjoy The Kinks. Their musicianship is very underrated and they have an iconic sound. Great album overall
Álbum interessante. Boas músicas e bem executadas. TRN Conch.
Solid 60s psych rock
Not bad, but somewhat unique.
Kinks, yes. This album… no.
I was also quite surprised by this one, they had a formula stuck with it and even by the tail end it was still fun. 3.5 but rounded down to be harsh
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.
Good
++: Drivin', Australia, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina, Nothing to Say, Arthur +: Victoria, Yes Sir, No Sir, Some Mother's Son, Brainwashed +-: Young and Innocent Days 7,9/10
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
Surprised I've never heard any of these. Solid 4.4/5
This album was alright, just didn't really do it for me. Clearly a Beatles contemporary, but didn't have the same hooks for me. Got some The Who vibes from it as well, which also isn't much of a surprise. It was fine, but it didn't stand out to me.
For a long time, The Kinks have flummoxed me. They’re often heralded as one of the big 4 British Invasion bands, alongside The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. But they never seemed to fit in that lineup neatly, always seemed a bit too ragtag or dated compared to the others. As I listened to this album through the first time, I didn’t really get it, and was trying to understand WHY they’re considered so great. Once I got to the end, I didn’t feel like I’d given it the proper attention to rate properly, though I was pretty sure I’d give it a 2 or 3. I started from the top, preparing myself to really listen, and as “Victoria” crescendoed to its climactic chorus, I got it. I suddenly saw the appeal. It was actually great, there was actually something there! I listened to the album through again, and enjoyed it so much more than the first time. I’m not sure what changed, or even how to articulate what is good, but it IS good, and that’s enough.
music is pretty good. dated. i love the kinks but not something i'd listen to very often these days.
- Me gusta el sonido y es bastante accesible, fácil de escuchar. - Se les nota la influencia de los beatles - Me gustan las voces dobladas - Me gustan los cambios de ritmo, como en australia al rededor del 1:30
IDK, nothing really grabbed me, although I didn't find it outright bad.
This is an alright album. It feels a bit wrong to give it only a 3, but it feels a bit much to give it a 4. It would deserve a good 3.5. However, my heart is making me lean more towards the 3 than the 4.
The horns Bartholomew, they burn. The political commentary and Kermit the Frog fronting Canned Heat style vocals act as a soothing balm, but the horns do not relent in their mission to scar me. Oh, Bartholomew, do I have much time left? What's that I hear? The 7 chimes of the riverboat organ? It truly is too late for me. Tell them that the melodies are expertly crafted, the Kinks always bring great driving rock guitars, and the prose, oh the prose! As I take my seat next to Gabriel I still imagine the lyrics making me smirk slightly whilst making coffee. Oh what a feeling. It has becometh cold. I grow weary of reviewing. Cover my eyes with bitcoins or perhaps one of the monkey NFTs. I wish to be prepared for an insufferable ferryman. Tell Ringo Starr "kinks better lol". Fare thee well. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Yes Sir, No Sir, Some Mother's Son, She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
Kinda like the Beatles, not my vibe
What a great classic album. Timeless, super fun and groovy, makes me want to dance! Easy to listen to as I work.
it’s fine. nothing really spectacular going on here tbh
positive surprise, so remarkable!
Fun album. I’m familiar with the Kinks, but not with most of the songs on this album.
purely for HIMYM
Mycket 60-tal förutom Beatles förstås låter daterat. Men inte Kinks. Kanske inte lika uppfinningsrika som the fan four. Men solid tidlös pop. Stark fyra
Tja mja ok... Det var fint. Lidt hill billy ind i mellem, men jeg kom nemt gennem det. Ikke noget som stikker særligt ud.
Okay album. Ikke mere. Ikke mindre
#12/1001🇬🇧 Doing this project might be the thing that really gets me into the Kinks, but probably not this album. Its well crafted, but the whole concept album thing annoys me a bit and i can never really get into them. I see this as a snapshot of Britain in the 60s still coming out of the shadow of WWII and the daily personal struggles of normal people living alongside commercial regeneration and pop culture. Best tracks: Victoria, Mr Churchill Says, Arthur. 1 point deducted for the Kazoo in She's Bought a Hat...
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.
porra bom pra caralho hein tava esperando lixo veio ouro
eh bem legal, até. rockzim bão e variado, nada cansativo e divertido!!! curti bastante, até!!
It's all right. Not really a fan of the Kinks after 3 albums. 6/10
Solid rock concept album. Don't totally love the vocals on this one, but it's fine in general. The music is nice. "Brainwashed" and "Arthur" stand out in particular.
saved
Very delightful and pleasant listen. I think there could’ve been a bit more variation but the production’s solid. Great listen.
This music is so much fun. Its like the Beatles never came over to America and just got more weird and English as time went on
Nothing jumped out to me. I really like some of their songs but this one played without evoking much of a reaction in me.
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 don’t mind The Kinks, but hadn’t heard any of these songs apart from maybe Victoria. Some of the arrangements were a bit dated and the whole suburban rock opera vibe didnt really gel with me.
Not as good as their other stuff.
A very nice one. A little time bound but not cheesy, not derivative feeling. Just a solid 60's british rock record from one of the premier british rock bands.
I put on this album to try to get in some steps today and it was pleasantly dancy. There were a couple of tunes ('Australia' is a great example) where it started and I wasn't sure I was going to like it but after about 15 seconds I was all in. I'd put this one on again for a long headphone walk or a road trip.
Leuk album en duidelijk in mijn straatje qua Britse gitaarpop. Ik hoor meteen waarom The Kinks zo invloedrijk zijn en hoe dit doorwerkt richting bands als Arctic Monkeys. Victoria en Shangri-La waren voor mij de stand-outs. Het concept/rockopera-achtige verhaal maakt het interessant, maar daardoor voelt het ook minder als een album dat ik vaak opnieuw ga opzetten.
I liked this one, and I mess with the cover art.
my first listen and i just can't believe the kinks have flown under my radar for 34 years, i really enjoyed it. super interesting and layered, not what i was expecting at all. has a band influenced 00s indie music more than the kinks??? my ears don't believe so!
Rather enjoyed this
Repetitive
Repetitive
Really wanted to love this album. But McCartney cornered the market for vaudeville-tinged pop a long time before this was released. The odd moment of brilliance and some very modern guitar, mean that it gets a generous 3
18-1-26
I'm a huge Kinks fan. I feel their influence all over this list.
pretty good album
Decent 60s rock
Brilliant
Very fun, I'm enjoying the sound of older records. I especially like the random Australia propaganda halfway through...
Meh, it was fine. (3)
This is really intriguing. I quickly realised that it was a concept album and then looked up the back story. The fact that it was supposed to be a TV drama/play really made sense. I would love to have seen how that turned out. As an album, it's fine - some good tracks but I think the story is the interesting part here.
Muy bueno
Nothing special.
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.
That was intriguing - I intend to go back and listen again and establish the story
I really like The Kinks. I had a box set my Dad got me that was one of the first albums I owned. This isn't one of my favourites though.
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!
3.5
Good lyrics and message. I can always get behind anti-war messaging. That said, the songs felt mostly same-y and not much stood out to me. It's definitely not my cup of tea.
Monty Python ass music (good) 4/5
Heil
Great stuff from The Kinks. Starts with a bang with Victoria (one of my favourite tunes of theirs), and carries on with the theme of everything that is wrong with Britain in the 60s.
Standout Songs: Victoria Brainwashed Shangri-La Mr. Churchill Says Nothing To Say Arthur
The Kinks have a lot of Opinions About British Things. I, as a simple American, largely do not, other than the standard "I just think they're neat!" So while I'm not the target audience for the social commentary, that doesn't mean I didn't like this. Because, after all, I think they're neat. Good times with this one.
Not a bad album 3/5
not too bad, would listen again.
Highlight: Victoria
I lurvvv the kinks
6.8/10. A band that I am familiar with but I have yet to hear an album from them until today, I may have gone into this album expecting to like it more than I actually did , it does have some great songs but it just didn’t resonate with me for the most part. Favorite: Brainwashed Least Favorite: she’s bought a hat like princess Marina
Vibe a la Beatles. Pas vraiment ce que j'écoute au quotidien mais cool à écouter.
Mid for me. Good music but doesn’t move me.
Lyssnade på labbet. Positivt överraskad. Väldigt trevligt album! Mer proggigt än jag förväntade mig, låtarna hade många små vändningar. Intressant lyrik även om jag inte gått in så mycket på djupet. Lutar åt en 4/5.
2/5 While I didn’t find much of the sound of the album to be interesting to me, coupled with poorly aged sound quality, I can’t help but feel that this album deserves to be analyzed more in regards to the time it was released in, to better understand the background and climate these lyrics are meant to reflect. It feels, from start to finish, like a very political album.
pov I’m at a farmers market trying to get aesthetic pictures and theres a band playing music
Very Beatles-y. Tough around the edges in a good way. Notable tracks include Victoria, Yes Sir No Sir, Mt Churchill Says, Young and Innocent Days.
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
not great
A satirical poke at the British Empire that laughs at the pride and tradition amid the post-WW II economy. Interesting story line but the music was a bit sleepy for me.
Better than cilodplay
strong first half and the second was just meh
I enjoy the Kinks to a point. This album, as with Village Green, is enjoyable but eventually feels repetitive and not particularly gripping. Not a terrible listen, and surely had its moment in its time. But not a repeat for me.
Loving the sound so far!! Got bored of it eventually, however would listen to it in the background.
A brilliant one-off. God save the Kinks!
Not my favorite
It’s an album lacking in confidence. A lot of nice moments buried under way too much fluff.
Rv
Favorite Songs: Some Mother’s Son, Young and Innocent Days Least Favorite Song: Brainwashed Definitely liked this one more than my first Kinks album. Listened to this on a roadtrip and it was perfect.
Lovely stuff
It's okay. It started to get better as it went.
Scream rock is not usually my first choice of listening, but as far as it goes, I liked this album. There were hidden gems and it wasn’t totally head bangy the whole time. Favorite track: Flight of the Rat.
A