Reviews (page 8 of 13)
I like the music quite a bit more than I expected, but had a really hard time with the singer's very derpy voice. 6/10
This is a tough one. Had I been alive and old enough to get into this era of music, I think this would have been in my collection. Not in a way that is listen to it constantly like other albums of the era, but one that definitely connected with the time period. And so it would get out on occasionally when the mood struck. But I'm not of that period. And it's just not that strong of an album for me to come back to it. I dig it, but not enough to really pay it much mind overall.
Medio aburrido pero consistente
un peu nptq
One of the first conception albums by the Kinks, one of the original “British Invasion” groups from the 1960’s. “Victoria” and “Shangri-La” were the 2 cuts that received the most airplay.A good, solid listen.
This album doesn't sound wholly original.. It has its moments though.
I liked the satirical streak in this one, which gave it an extra dimension compared to other albums of its genre. I thought it sounded like a more cynical Beatles album - in the opening song it sounds just like Paul McCartney’s vocals on Golden Slumbers. Anyway, this is a 3.5 rounded down to 3 - for now.
The Kinks are still as clever here as their previous albums, but Ray Davies is getting a little preachy.
Not bad but these types of bands all sound the same to me
It's a Kinks album. Not one I was familiar with. It's fine.
Funny whimsical album by the kinks. Sometimes it's just a bit too, normal kinksy? Idk what to say but I miss very special moments/songs that are just bangers like Victoria. But was a nice listen however. 1. Victoria 2. She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina 3. Shangri-La
Yeah, it's alright that
Middle of the pack.
The album was fine
This is just ok. The Kinks are always best when they are writing fun, upbeat songs. Whether it's Lola, Come Dancing, or You Really Got Me, they are all relatively similarly constructed and truly define The Kinks at their best. Unfortunately, I didn't hear a ton of that on this album. Not that it is slow, but it wasn't a super fun listen to me. Pretty average album to my ear.
Half the time he sings in an annoying way. The harpsichord or whatever is really not suited for rock music, it immediately sounds like theater. I dont know what to make of this, maybe I'm not British or English speaking enough to fully grasp it
I thought this was pretty good as far as it goes. The third Kinks album i think we've had as part of this process. Very much needs to be listened to as an album, if i'd have dropped in part way through i'd have scored it way lower.
I do like the Kinks but I don't think this is one of their best.
3.5
Some gems, some noise. Some songs seem ahead of their time for the 60's rock scene. Maybe it's their influence on later bands I'm hearing.
Kinky! Totally fine 60's rock, I'm not sure I followed the concept at all but I also wasn't terribly invested.
Just about an ok album from the kinks as ever
Good not great
Good album with lots of interesting riffs and melodies going on in the background. Solid 3. Best song was Mindless Child of Motherhood.
Fun album, favorites were Mr. Churchill Says, Australia, and Shangri-la. Some songs blended for me.
Top Songs: Victoria Australia Brainwashed Wtf was up with English bands and that guitar-lute sound in the 60’s
The Kinks aren't band I think of often, but whenever I do listen to them I enjoy it. Love the horns on this album, although some tracks do seem to go on a bit too long.
Not as interesting as the Beatles' White Album, but a valiant effort. More harpsichord, which is nice.
The Kinks have an iconic sound and this album is ultimately more of the same. There are more good songs than not on this album. Not sure if I’ll revisit it again but I enjoyed the ride.
Beatle-y, not super memorable to me. I like the guitar work on some songs a lot (esp. Australia). I like the rock opera storytelling aspect.
This album sounds like someone asking the question: what if the Rolling Stones played Sgt Pepper? It feels fairly emblematic of the 60’s in general but not in a way that seems important…
I really like the title and the cover of this album it's very silly. This just feels like another british band that the person felt like they had to include because the kinks are so big so it's obligatory. Long story short, it is NOT obligatory! It's nice to listen to but I wish it were differentttttt and weirdddddddd... I would give it a two but there is a little bit of fun in it
Fine 3 stars; back story to this album is interesting!
Prob my favorite Kinks album so far. 3.5-4/5
Classic Brit 60s sound
Silnejšie aj slabšie piesne, nie zlé...
Sounds a lot like the Beatles. British invasion I suppose. Pretty good, will have to do some more investigating into their discography
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?)
3.5 stars. 60's rock concept album. Standout is leadoff earworm "Victoria". Recording quality brings down the otherwise great "Shangri-La".
I enjoyed the album, lots of songs I’d never heard - Top band!
tengo que admitir que me aburrió un poco pero me sirvió para estudiar y tenerlo de fondo
Really catchy opener with Victoria. Pretty standard besides.
Interesting take on a character
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.
Favorite songs: Victoria, Drivin', Australia, Mr. Churchill Says
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
Plain old fun. I never really listen to The Kinks, but I thought this was good. They’re creative.
I loved how it balances big themes. war, class, and nostalgia with melodies. Definitely an album to listen front to back.
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
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
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.
A fairly enjoyable listen
Pretty good
ok
Pretty neat.
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.
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..
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
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.
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
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.
inglisis istorias rato vusmen. okay bodishi its not that bad
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.
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.
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
This was good but sounded like a lot of other stuff that I've heard from this time.
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.
Solid but nothing really excited me
For the most part I didn’t really get anything out of this one 6/10
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 enjoyed these guys.
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)
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
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.
Ok listen.
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
⭐⭐⭐ 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.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
Solid 60s psych rock
Not bad, but somewhat unique.
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
music is pretty good. dated. i love the kinks but not something i'd listen to very often these days.
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
it’s fine. nothing really spectacular going on here tbh
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
It's all right. Not really a fan of the Kinks after 3 albums. 6/10
saved
Nothing jumped out to me. I really like some of their songs but this one played without evoking much of a reaction in me.
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.
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.
Rather enjoyed this
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
pretty good album
Decent 60s rock
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.
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.
Standout Songs: Victoria Brainwashed Shangri-La Mr. Churchill Says Nothing To Say Arthur
Not a bad album 3/5
not too bad, would listen again.
Highlight: Victoria
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test rating to see who I am
Sprinkled with a multitude of golden music nuggets. But on a whole I find it difficult to care. Maybe it’s my disdain of concept albums.
I was excited to listen to this, and Victoria was terrific...and then I got alternately bored and annoyed more often than was fun.
I love the Kinks, but this is not their best.
Holy music hall, this is the Britishest thing I've ever heard. I'd been craving a Kinks album after 5 Beatles, 4 Who, and 2 Stones, but I don't think this is the one. A couple good tunes, though.
It was something different to hear . I would listen to it again when I want to feel old rock vibes .
A little too 60s for me but not bad!! 3.25
Kinks is top. Met Victoria van himym en vette gitaarsounds en goeie songs
The album opened with a good sound and was an easy listen throughout, but no standouts prompting me to explore much further.
Just okay
not bad
Despite no obvious hit, this was better than the other Kinks albums we've had on the list so far. 'Victoria' and 'Shangri-la' stood out as the better tracks, and overall it sounded good for being The Kinks (being used to some of their mono recordings). Not much more to say, middle type of album - in a good way.
Every time I listen to a Kinks album, I’m struck by how good they are at coming up with tunes. It feels like meeting Frank from the movie Frank. I thought this was one of their weaker albums, though. The best-known song, “Victoria,” is obviously great. I also thought “Shangri-La” was okay, but the rest didn’t stand out that much. Mid 3.
I had never heard this record. I found it to be very nice proto-garage rock with some well-placed studio-as-instrument elements and social criticism/commentary. I enjoyed multiple listens to Arthur today, but nothing really grabbed me. This is one of those instances where I wish we could give half stars. My guess is that there are a lot of people who love this album, and I'll be happy to listen again, but I don't think this will be one that I will revisit often. Three stars.
me lembra mto os beatles - principalmente uma música que fica repetindo “driiiiive drive drive” achei super bom mas não sei se ouviria on repeat entao 3 - eu reconheço q eh bom mas not for me
Never heard of album or band. Strong opener, but definitely dated. I like the background track a lot, especially the guitar. Yes sir no sir is really fun too. Again dated, but it’s still a good song. Love the horns. Not as big of a fan of some mother’s son but the harmony is cool and it’s not horrible. Drivin is fun but nothing special. Brainwashed is super catchy. This is a great song. Guitar solo on Australia is awesome, especially mixed w the horns. Rest of it is eh. Don’t really like shangri la but also it’s not horrible. Mr Churchill says is a banger. Great songwriting and guitar. Feel like I know the words without ever hearing the song before. Princess marina is just fine, nothing special. I like young and innocent days a lot, really unique music. Great production. Nothing to say is very well produced as well. So many layers. Great guitar throughout. One of my favorites. Arthur is really good too. Guitar is so good too to bottom. Songwriting too. This album just kept growing on me. One I want to listen to again. 3.4 stars. I
Another concept album by the Kinks which, again, is packed with wonderful songwriting but this one is somehow not as compelling as Village Green. It feels a bit lacklustre in places - missing the oomph. That said, Victoria is an obvious classic (even if I prefer The Fall's cover version), and Australia and Shangri-La have a more adventurous, epic feel about them. I think it's probably an album that will make more sense the more I listen, and I'm certainly willing to put in the work. Lyrically, it's a joy throughout.
Not entirely sure what to make of this. The Kinks wrote some masterful songs. There is evidence of that here, but, and this might be entirely a result of listening to this in 2025 but at times it feels like a pastiche of something. Perhaps that's the point? But it does contain the wonderful "Victoria" am I allowed to say the Falls version is better? No? Too bad, I did cause it is.
Not much of a Kinks fan, but this was OK.
I'm starting to think there's less to these guys than meets the ear. Ray Davies' singing is indifferent, his band's playing is competent, and his tunes range from fine to occasionally great ("Australia" is a fun bit of Brian Wilson homage, and Dave Davies' playing on the title track is light and wonderful). Nothing offensive but nothing to write home about either. But here, Ray Davies is trying to play in the concept-album sandbox with *Sgt. Pepper* and *Tommy* and the big boys. And the problem he encounters is pretty basic: this is a rock opera by someone with little of value to say. According to him, his protagonist is prosaic, miserable, inferior, and justly forgotten - which just reveals Davies himself as lacking in emotional depth. I'm sure his wife and kids really appreciated his diss of the institution of family life on "Brainwashed" (although one figures they were used to it by 1969). And what's he getting at with "Mr. Churchill Says" - that Britain should have just capitulated to Hitler instead? I can see why the squares all hated these hippie assholes. Fundamentally, the trials of poor Arthur Morgan just come across as mean-spirited and mocking rather than insightful; the perfunctory attempts at empathy ("Young and Innocent Days" and the title track) are too little, too late. I wanted to like this and was disappointed.
This was fun.a few catchy songs a couple of adds but nothing mind blowing
Fun concept album! Some of the songs went on a bit too long. Honestly I was pretty excited for this album when I saw it and felt a bit underwhelmed, might be a bit harsh but nothing on this album was better than the Kinks songs I already knew. Maybe the next Kinks album we get I'll go into with better expectations. Favourite song: Victoria Least: She Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
Me when my title track is for bathrooms.
Ok gubberock, holder seg helt greit.
So So.
i really don't gaf about these blokes
A fun and interesting concept album. The majority of reviews I've read describe the concept of the album very lightly, but they all agree that the topics center around the post-war in Britain. I myself found it hard to find any clear storyline, but maybe I'm just bad at catching them. Either way, the concept may be one of the aspects that make this album stand out, but doesn't mean the rest should not be taking account. The music here make for a very fun listen. It has everything anyone would expect from the pop rock of the era: catchy melodies, pleasant singing, some "heavy" moments (like the song 'Brainwashed') and there's even some organs from the Baroque Pop movement. I wouldn't say this album is mind blowing, but it surely is a very solid listen.
Ні я послухала пів першого альбому і цей. Загалом норм, але мене конкретно нічого не зацікавило
Fine, jangly, decent 5/10
It's a fun album. 6 We're Only In It For The Money out of 10 Lizard Wizards
I like some Kinks music, but not most of this. More than half of it has a poppy 60's sound I can't abide. When they get a little deeper into the musicality, it's good. I don't like the first half of "Australia" because it's repetitive, but the bit in the middle is excellent. I don't imagine I'd ever pop this on again. Can't even go back for a third listen to see what rang out well. Let's just call it a 3 and get on to the next.
I liked Waterloo sunshine. However I couldn't but feel like I'm listening to a watery version of the Beetles.
Decent, album
Didn’t sound like the kinks I know (I think I’ve mainly only been exposed to some of the albums that followed this) so was interesting to hear a different sound to that I expected. Some moments of interest, can hear similar influences to that of the Beatles (I wonder how much interdependency there was between the two or common influences they shared) and some of the psychedelia and experimentation that followed. Found it dragged a little by the end though.
Beatles but worse
I enjoyed listening to this album and I think I will listen to it again !
Det är lite för "plojigt". Det är i grunden najs, men lite för mycket "schwung". Det är tidens anda som satt sina spår. Inte helt njutningsfullt trots hög verkshöjd.
Bitvis bra men bitvis också för många putslustiga inslag som inte faller mig i smaken. Kul och genomtänkta texter. Stabil trea.
That's not my taste in music - But ok
I mean, it’s fine. Without being that exciting
I like The Kinks. I didn’t know any songs on this. It was fine. There are definitely better Kinks albums in my opinion.
Trying to remain neutral here, but while this guy is singing, for some reason during Victoria and Yes Sir, No Sir, all I hear is a British Patrick Star from Spongebob. It's a decently fun album, but nothing revolutionary. Just a fun album. I wonder if this album had any influence on the David Bowie "Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". Titles are similar enough and they're both "rock operas". This album preceded Ziggy Stardust by a couple years, so it seems plausible, but I can't find anything about it. I originally thought this album was a concept album that started with King Arthur to "modern" England, which I thought was a cool idea.........but.........it's actually much more boring and about his sister who moved to Australia with her husband. I wouldn't watch this rock opera, but the music was good enough.
Bet this social commentary slapped in the late 60s. Still enjoyable and love the kinks, just felt privy to another time
Silda 2 out of 5, Adam 3 out of five, me 3 out of 5
Clever, well produced pop that compares favourably to the Beatles, their closest contemporary. Some interesting social commentary mixed in to the decent music, even if it comes a bit “ooh aren’t we edgy” when you’re on your 7th album an an established name that can get away with it, and even by the standards of the time it’s hardly seditious. But all in all a decent listen.
Interesting album. I wouldnt say I disliked any song. Some were a bit whacky but didnt spoil the overall interest to me. "drivin" and "Shes bought a hat like princess" did test my nerve (wierd style and instruments) but actually it added to the appeal of the album in a way. There was also vocal and lyrical interest throughout. Only odd song were the vocals sounded strained but otherwise they varied the delivery quite considerably while maintaining a polished delivery. My view of the kinks is far from this album so was a pleasant surprise. I wonder if I just missed it or if this was a showcase of the best of the kinks. Enjoyed the finale of Australia. Great musicmanship on that! Very strong 3.
I really enjoyed the listen, it's dated but it still sounds great, production wise, and I'm a sucker for a concept album. It's clearly an album produced in the sixties and has that whimsical sound juxtaposed with some political lyrics. In this way it becomes an interesting piece of social history as well as a fun listen. I couldn't help but compare this to the Beatles and I have to say there is more going on here than many Beatles albums. They have a bit more edge and less of a mainstream pop leaning. I've heard The Kinks described as proto-punk but I don't hear that in this album. This would probably get four stars if it wasn't for a few duff tracks towards the end. Cool album by a cool band I look forward to exploring more.
some catchy tunes, not stunning
For whatever reason, I've always had a hard time getting into the Kinks. Lots of their stuff is great but I find them challenging. Some good tracks on this one too but also several that seem meh.
Mediano. Não ouviria novamente e nenhuma música foi marcante.
De fato parece com uma certa banda aí mas não achei tão bom quanto O som é agradável de ouvir mas achei um pouco chatinho, sem personalidade, sinto que mal dá pra diferenciar uma música da outra
achei bem interessante a temática do álbum. gosto bastante desse estilo e gosto mais ainda quando o álbum conta uma história. atenção especial pra "some mother’s son", "shangri-la" e "young and innocent days", que foram as minhas preferidas (sou fã de letra não tem jeito). no mais, achei bem parecido com aquela banda lá. os vocais estavam bem bonitos e eu gostei da sobreposição de vozes em algumas músicas.
quando eu comecei a ouvir tomei até um susto de tão parecido é dos beatles em algum universo eles fizeram mais sucesso que os beatles e tiveram todo o prestígio deles legal e gostosinho de ouvir mas pouco original, daria 3.5 mas nao tem
OK
Okay, I love the kinks and I love what this album is doing and addressing But do I need to relisten in full? Did it leave an impact? Not massively, so only three stars But no less love for all that
I was told I have a blood kink
Not a fan
I've always liked the kinks track on the Rushmore soundtrack and thought I should look into finding more, but this album has reduced the priority of that task. Not wild about it, maybe you had to be there ...
Fun, standard Kinks
Started strong, but I got bored pretty quickly.
Not really my cup of tea, but enjoyable
I’ve listened to it a few times, but it just isn’t that memorable to me — to the point where I find it hard to write a review even a day later. It feels like a more chaotic Beatles record, with a stronger emphasis on protest themes (which, to be fair, is hinted at in the title). That said, being compared to a Beatles record isn’t exactly a bad thing. Overall, I’d call it a high 2, but I’ll round up to a 3 because I’m feeling generous.
The Kings -unlike the Beatles and the Stones - still sound very very British. I only knew the first song - and only via it's cover by The Fall. Really good album, never looked past the hits but there is some quality here.
Cool album, not usually my vibe, but really good music. Would be good on a roadtrip.
Let's go with Arthur.
It was ok? Googling that it was a concept album really improved my opinion of it Tracks to track: Australia
Good antiwar message, not so great execution, but it's tolerable.
So, none of the songs from this album are very popular, and album with most popular songs from The Kinks is not on the list curious. Comments made me realise that Kinks do sound very Beatlesy. But they also sound very like War, IMO. Hearing this album I began to wonder if it's another post Falklands War album, but no, it's just war themed for a reason that eludes me. Itself, is not bad, but it's not exciting. A couple of fun hooks, and a foundation for albums to come, sure. 3.5.
I just literally can't right now, I'm so sick of this genre.
For me this was an album of 2 parts, some tracks I thought were brilliant and some not so good. The middle section of the album had a great run of songs - Brainwashed, Australia, Shangri-La. Musically these are really interesting and I loved the energy they put forward in almost chaotic fashion. It was a stark stylistic contrast to some other songs like Yes Sir, No Sir and Some Mother's Son. Great performances and musicianship from all members.
Decent album 3/5
This album is a good one to listen to when doing small tasks or grinding out homework, I find that I get a sense of comfort from older rock like this and honestly I wouldn't say I'm the biggest rock fan I'm much more of a metal head however I think its a nice calm approach every now and then. though I wouldn't add anything here to my playlist. Fav song: Brainwashed HM: Shangri-La
Knew most of the songs already. One of my top Bowie albums. Not usually a fan of covers unless they are drastically changed. Why is lets spend the night together here.
It's not really my thing. It's an interesting kind of concept album, but it's not really clicking musically for me.
Enjoyable listen 3,5/5
Fun. This band has really good musicians who seem to enjoy playing a variety of sounds
Pretty good for the most part
I admire the vision of an ambitious concept album such as this, and the music is right. It does sound quite of its time though (British 1960s,) which didn’t grab me.
Beatles-esque but nowhere near the lyricism. Overall pretty good but I cannot see myself listening to it very regularly .
It's ok. Know this one.
Nice album but not quite my style I don't think, had it's ups and downs and didn't seem anything too special here.
If Tommy was a deep exploration of Pete Townsend’s psyche, Arthur is the entrenched underbelly of Ray and Dave Davies’ upbringing. Yes, it’s a concept album, but one that feels more like biography and therapy than rock opera. The production leaves a bit to be desired, and the album feels a bit thin on actual material. But with tunes like “Victoria”, “Shangri-la”, and “Australia”, there’s more than enough to pack a punch.
Not bad and I have been looking for the first song ever since I heard it in How I Met Your Mother. Was fun
Overlong and more than a bit pompous but I rather enjoyed it anyway
This was really distracting at work - but only because I wanted to really listen to the music. Not bad Kinks!
Not bad.
In the same vein as early Pink Floyd psychedelic vibe, just not as competent.
The brothers who were the main founding members of this band had 6 older sisters??? wild lol. I liked this one, bluesy british invasion was the vibe I was getting. Victoria is much better than I remembered, been bumping that one for a couple days now.
Solid little rock album. Nothing exceptional imo, but listenable.
very meh. did not hate it at all, very listenable, but also just nothing that really stood out for me or grabbed me. 2.5/5
Victoria is great - the rest I could take or leave. Not sure they needed to try and make a concept album.
Nah this can’t be what everyone was going on about, it’s a nice story but wouldn’t say it’s a stand out album, just a bit more Brit Rock.
This album has a Beatles vibe, which makes sense given that the two bands were popular around the same time. In the context of England in the 1960s, I can understand this album on an objective level. I liked Yes Sir, No Sir; Brainwashed; and Shangri-La. I also really liked the instrumental interludes on Australia and Mr. Churchill Says. That said, I don't think I would listen to this album in its entirety again.
This exceeded my expectations, but I probably wouldn't search for it in future 3
This album was fine. Highlight was "Shangri-La" but mostly because it was used in the show Last Man on Earth. Nothing excels and nothing really offends.
Was not expecting this from the kinks. Quite enjoyable, a bit forgettable though
Light 3
it was fine. idk why I had it in my head that this was going to be far more of the proto-punk variety. that's not a flaw, that's just me being unnecessarily prescriptive. whatever
It was ok
This was a decent record. Nothing on here got me super excited, but it was a pleasant listen. 3/5
Kinks are cool and this album was cool. I enjoyed it. 3.4/5
Fav Song: Australia
"Victoria" is a fun little proto-CCR song, but overall this one sort of falls flat. The big clunker in their otherwise flawless late-60s (plus Lola) run, no matter how many times people try to tell me it has important things to say about British imperialism.
Definitely liked this one more than the other Kinks albums we've listened to. Still not something I'm going to gush about, but not bad.
I seem to be pretty much middle of the road when it comes to The Kinks.
This feels like school
Interesting concept. Music wasn’t terrible, but nothing outstanding
This was ok, it was an easy listen. The best song on here is Victoria
3 I think I’ve mentioned this before, but The Kinks have a lot of songs I like, though wouldn’t necessarily say that I love, and what I would consider a better collection of hits than albums. Yet, it seems that they do, indeed, have quite a few critically acclaimed releases - and I just don’t really get it. Like, this is fine, but is it really a must-listen? Is it really doing anything I haven’t heard from the group prior? Granted, in this instance, it’s supposed to be a sort of concept album following the fictional character of Arthur Morgan (no, not that Arthur Morgan), intended to accompany some kind of film or television show that never ended up getting made, but I don’t really feel any sort of cohesiveness or structure here at all, in narrative or in musicality. Is there supposed to be a plot? Even if not, I couldn’t tell you a damn thing about the character of Arthur Morgan if I tried, even after listening to this four times through, so maybe it is the cowboy for all I know (Dammit, Dutch!) I’m pretty sure Some Mother’s Son is supposed to be about war, so maybe he’s a veteran? I digress, as far as the music goes, this is about as on brand as I would have expected from The Kinks. Less garage rock-y, proto-punk than I would have liked, but as I’ve come to learn from this list, the group grew a bit more Beatles-y, baroque in the late ‘60s. It’s not a bad thing, but I think it results in a lot of unremarkable, though listenable tunes. Only two songs really stuck out to me as highlights here, Victoria and Shangri-La, with the latter being one that I would go as far as to say quickly ranked amongst my favorites from the group. Unfortunately, if you’re doing an album play, you have to slog through Australia to get to it. (Anecdotally, I briefly questioned if the song accompanied the Call of Duty: Black Ops Shangri-La trailer, but I guess that was The Lion Sleeps Tonight). As a whole, this is fine, and it doesn’t wear out its welcome, but I’ve also certainly heard much better, more commentable albums - I don’t think I would go out of my way to re-listen.
Much more poppy and less punk than I would have expected. Jam band moments appear in some tunes. Reminds me of any the Beatles a bit, and very similar to a lot of British Rock from the time period.
I don't think k listened closely enough to really get caught by the story lines on the album Standouts Australia 3/5
Muito beatles demais da conta, bom pra dar uma viajada e relaxar, mas achei genérico.
The Kinks are interesting because most people know of them for their British Invasion hit "You Really Got Me" and really truly remember them for just that. But further research finds that The Kinks became more experimental as the years flew by. By 1969, they had already made a mark in the studio with their ability to paint concepts all their own. Here we have Arthur, an album that has a character at the center of it along with songs about said character. As a listener, I wasn't entirely paying attention for any signs of a progression within the story. I'm pretty sure that the concept within the record revolves around a character and his life but there's not a beginning, middle and end. I might be wrong but what I'm saying is that these songs are about Arthur and what his situation is like. Now the songs here are well-made and display loads of creativity although they may feel too loose structurally. There's a peak between the 3 track run of Australia, Shangri-La and Mr. Churchill Says; those 3 songs are 14-15 minutes of magic. I will highlight Australia for serving as a sonic precursor to The Strokes 30+ years earlier. The overall game changer about this record is that it lets me know that The Kinks are more than what I know them for. There's other records by them that broke them out stylistically and this is the first one that I got from them. I am looking forward to their other work, but as for this one, it's not one that I can give the full star treatment. By the end, I'm a bit jaded by the listening experience, but that might change in the future. The moral of the story today is that I learned that The Kinks have somewhat got me (7/10, 3/5 on this scale)
Disappointingly mid
I liked the concept album style and I've never really listened to The Kinks, so it was a good intro to them.
Too damn long
Interesting inclusion, I only really knew Victoria from this album before and it's not one you'd consider as full of hits - The Kinks have lots of classic songs but none of their most famous are on this. I suppose it's in the book because as a concept album it's notable. Ray Davies' songwriting is certainly well suited to telling whimsical stories about English people so i get that, although I can't imagine myself returning to many of these songs in future
I enjoyed it, but i dont think I'll listen again and I've got to trust my gut!
I always forget The Kinks are way cooler in my head than in reality.
The Kinks again! I'm pretty sure all we needed on this list was Village Green and Kinks, but sure- here we go- It's quite good! The sound of the Kinks is frail and thin. But the songs are good to great; "Australia" and "Shangri-La" are excellent. There is also an overarching story which isn't too hard to follow. My only real complaint is the double-tracked vocals and occasionally the "harmonies" go beyond the limits of tension into outright dissonance at times. Otherwise- high quality British invasion. THREE STARS
Okay. Fav was She’s Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina.
Oh hey, this album shares a name (the first one, not the second one) with my son! I gotta be honest... I knew next to nothing about the Kinks prior to listening to Arthur. I think the first time I heard about the band was when my high school French teacher was telling us about a song called Kinks Shirt by Matt Nathanson, whom she may have had a minor obsession with. I've also apparently heard "You Really Got Me," but I never could have told someone it was made by the Kinks until today. I'm aware that I'm missing the context of several albums to be making a statement like this, but the Kinks often come across as a Walmart-brand version of the Beatles on AOTDAFOTBE. The LP was also released after every Beatles album (excluding Let It Be, which was recorded before Abbey Road), so I don't think it's unfair to say that that their influence is strongly felt here. With a name like "the Kinks," I was honestly expecting something with a bit more bite. That said, I don't think Arthur is a bad album at all! It starts off strong with "Victoria" and has a pretty enjoyable run of tracks from "Brainwashed" through "She's Bought a Hat like Princess Marina," which all felt like they brought something unique and memorable to the table. All in all, the LP isn't something I can see myself revisiting in my own free time (especially since a few more Kinks albums are coming up), but I'll probably show it to the kiddo someday for fun! Highlights: Victoria, Brainwashed, Australia, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says, She's Bought a Hat like Princess Marina
This is fine, but some of this sounds like a Beatles ripoff. The first half of She's Brought a Hat Like Princess Marina's made me think I had somehow switched over to a Beatles album. Thought it was cool, might return to it or I might not. Or I'd rather just listen to the Beatles. But there's enough to make me want to check out some of their other music.
Beatles-esque, but slow in places but overall quite nice
Super political which was cool. It’s interesting to see them do this after having their biggest hit. TBH I think this was better written/produced than the self titled.
Not the most exciting Kinks album to include here, but still the Kinks, I guess.
Like beans on toast, it’s very British. For all of its praises, it’s just mundane and not my taste. It’s not as great as everyone says it is.
I didn't really expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised. Favourite Track(s): Victoria, Australia, Nothing to Say Least Favourite Track(s): Same Mother's Son
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (great name by the way) was a pretty good album. Of the currently 3 Kinks albums that i have heard, this one is probably the best of the bunch. The main reason for this is the fact that the production got quite a huge upgrade over Face To Face and Something Else as it sounds a lot less grainy and way more crisp. This album still has a lot of the rough values that the other two albums had by using the guitars to get that sound and that is a good thing as i did enjoy that rough sound the other two albums had. The album also had enough going on as to where it didn't get tedious. This is easily the best Kinks album i have done so far. Best Song: Brainwashed Worst Song: Some Mother's Son
I only know The Kinks crowd favorites, but I found this album to have fun music and fun hits. Will certainly relisten to the ones I felt a connection to.
Favorite Track: Australia
I found it dated. It has not stood the test of time. It was pleasant enough but equally forgettable. It didn't however offend me just OK
I’ve had three Kinks albums and still no Lola. WTF??? The first two were early Kinks and were bad. This one shows them leaning more into who they became. Not great. But not awful.
Classic whimsy
Banger Kinks
New Kinks. Less than 15 albums after my introduction to this band, no less. To recap, I love the band name and a few of the songs on Village Green Preservation Society, though I am as of yet unsold on this band. Maybe this album will be the one to put me over. Yeah, not bad. Much like Village Green Preservation Society, this music is very much my kind of deal, though I feel that there's something missing which keeps me from being head-over-heels for this band. That feeling likely stems from this album needing a few extra listens to understand - something I'm not closed off to in the future. "Victoria" is a solid opener. The songwriting and vocals are the tracks strong suit, though the plucky guitarwork gives the song a fun, bouncy energy. "Drivin'" has an equally good vocal performance with some very nice backing vocals. Again, those plucky guitars are pretty undeniable. "Brainwashed" is another good cut. The classic rock sound is pretty enjoyable, and I'm a big fan of the sudden shift down the middle of the track. "Mr. Churchill Says" is a rare track where the instrumentals triumph over the vocals. Those guitars are pretty great with how effortlessly they carry the song, though that isn't slighting the vocals in any way. I was surprised that "Australia" had a bit of a surf-rock sound going on, though that makes a good deal of sense with all of the dismal beaches that the UK has. The song is all over the place and doesn't have much focus, though I kind of like that about it. It captures the feeling of being on a holiday pretty well. Book time. Has many high points. Concept album. That's about it, really. Wikipedia reveals that his album flopped commercially, but was well-received by critics. Yeah, I'm in favour of this inclusion. It's pretty accessible while also featuring a good number of musical quirks that help to distinguish it from the competition.
Lala
Enjoyed every song. Just know they have better records coming, and a lot of sections are a little too Sgt. Pepper rip-offy.
A fantastically written pop rock album. It tries a lot of styles, both old and modern (for the time), and pretty much nails them all. There isn't a bad song in the bunch, and the lyrics range from nostalgic to the cutting satire of "Yes Sir No Sir". And yet, it leaves me a bit cold. Despite the consistency there are no exceptional songs - "Victoria" or "Australia" are probably the closest. It's almost as if the album is too well-written. This sounds ridiculous, but sticking so tightly to its formula of crafting a distinct sound for each song makes it feel a bit too calculated. There's no room for these songs to breathe, and the tightness turns into stuffiness. It doesn't help that outside of "Some Mother's Son" most of the topics seem approached from a distance rather than feeling personal. This is about as close as possible to a 4, but the fact I don't really care to hear it again keeps it at a 3.
Not really my thing tbh. I don't really love the kinks albums from this era they have a few good songs here and there but the album's as a whole experience are pretty boring 6/10 Favourite: Yes Sir, No Sir Least Favourite: Young and Innocent Days
Basic rock music, no inventing bicicle all over again. Simple riffs, familiar sounding while i have not heard it before
Australiaaaaa
It was ok
Good classic rock. Beatles era rock that gets political. Good stuff.
A lot of really songs. Some misses. Vocals can be a bit weak at times. I liked it, but not enough to listen to it more
Pretty good. I'm not dying to hear it from start to finish again, but I could give it another listen.
3,5
Hmmm. It's not bad. But it doesn't grab me, and say "turn it up." Or even play me again. 2.75 rounded up to a 3.
The Kinks are great, and this was an album of theirs I was not very familiar with, but I was just not in the mood to listen to this yesterday. I get the sense it might be a very good album. I'll give it a spin in a few days and see what I think. On a different day, it might have been a 4, but today . . .
Not their best album by a long shot. There's a few solid songs, but overall this was not anything I needed to hear . . . especially a 7-minute song about the pleasures of Australia or something.
#688. I liked a few of the songs well enough, I suppose, but I didn't really find much of it really compelling to be honest. It's tolerable is the best compliment I can think of for it. 3/5: I tolerated it.
Classic rock sound, enjoyable stuff. Particularly like yes sir no sir.
C'était plutôt sympa, je connaissais Shangri-La que j'aimais bien. 3/5
I think its pretty good. Like the earlier tracks pointing out the pointlessness of war and fighting for your country. I think the juxtoposition of how sad lyrics and cheery music works better on some tracks than others. Some neat solo guitars as well. Think i appreciate it when I am listening to it but wont be returning to it too much. I would probably do 3.5 stars if i could but would be happy with a 3
Kinda boring, not their best work IMO.