Reviews (page 9 of 13)
This is the first Kinks album I've heard where they actually tried, and whaddaya know it's actually good
I like the Kinks. This was fun. Smart and well constructed. Will definitely be listening again.
I like the Kinks alot, and "Victoria" is an all time banger, but most of this record was just kinda fine to me?
I dont lrelly like it because i dont like old music because most music are sad songs and I dont like it 1 star. Like the beat little beat but dosentgive me hype.
This album is different than the other ones we have listened to, its calmer, the instrumentals are a bit more quieter. I think its a good song. He has a good voice but the song "Victoria" sounds like it would be in the background during a montage of a character traveling in a movie. I think it has good songs but i personally wouldn't listen to this other than today. I would recommend this album because it has a good singer and good instrumental but its a tad to slow for me.
have you ever seen the end credits to a movie and heard music wells thats what this album author reminds me of because when their is a good ending to the movie their always good music like this that kinda sounds like an ending to a movie his voice also gives the feel that its peaceful and how the instruments are also peaceful this album is good and i would recommend you listen to this because its nice and peaceful
like an expression of grief of the romantic aspect of Queen Victoria and her Empire? wouldn't know also like a song about the realities of life in britain? i don't like this song because i wouldn't relate/understand
1st song: I like it because it sound like a love song and story and plus I like how they say victoria 2nd Song: i don't like it because it was kinda bored song and they singer like they are tried of it not rude way tho 3rd song-i pretty like it cus they singer so nice like it was super amazing
Have you ever heard a British singer? If you haven't I recommend this is not one you start with. I don't like the lead singer's voice, it's kinda whiny, and I just really don't like this album. The only thing I like is the background music. I highly recommend that you don't listen to this album.
This album was okay. Its lyrics felt very simple but the meaning is powerful. the song isnt really catchy or good, but the sounds are really good. So overall I really dont reccomend this album, but if you like british songs and rock then this is a good album.
Ages well. Great concept album I've never heard but it has strong songwriting and typical Kinks playing. Pity about 'Australia' being so long, half the time would have been fine. Will listen again.
The Kinks are underrated. This album has none of the famous tracks and yet every track is strong and I suspect deeply influential to following bands, and modern indie rock. Outside of the 60’s this album wouldn’t feel out of place releasing since the turn of the millennium, timeless quality.
I quite enjoy the Kinks but I knew precisely zero songs on this record. I thought it sounded good for its time, but also sounded like it was an early record, not the later stuff I’m more familiar with. Anyway, it was alright and a nice break from the hardcore punk I’ve been getting thrown!
3.5/5
I like the kinks!!
Really enjoyable album
First couple days in Australia I listened to it. A lot else going on in my head at the moment and it failed to leave an impression. Not bad, but not particularly memorable. I didn't hate it.
joa, ist auch schon ein paar Tage her;
It was alright, nothing too special
Beatles vibes, too old school for me...
Honestly this era of the Kinks is a slam dunk. While the Beatles and the Stones put out great records in 1969 - here comes Ray Davies with weird concept albums that are just amazing and ahead of their time. For my money Victoria is one of the best first tracks.
Definately different from their earlier albums but still great. The lyrics are clever and give insight into British history. Songs are nice and well written. Just another great Kinks album.
Interesting record. This sounds like it could have come out now on some songs, definitely hear a lot of modern influence. Then other songs, just sounds like an unknown Beatles track, which dates it. Overall enjoyable though.
1. victoria - 1 2. yez zir - 0 3. zon - 1 4. driving - 1 5. brain - 0 6. auztralia - 1 7. zhangri la - 1 8. churchill - 0 9. marina - 1 10. young - 1 11. nothing - 1 12. arthur - 1
Definitely more interesting than some of the 60s rock on this list. I think it made more of an impression on me than any other Kinks record has as well. Some basic critique of I guess English culture at the time but the songs that accompany this critique is a pretty good listen. 7/10
Having not listened to the kinks before, they feel like an alternate reality Beatles. The discontentment towards the war/work for an average person still ring true 50 years later.
Another British concept album to deal with. I like the kinks but this was a solid 3 for me.
Second best british pop group in history
Hard to get into at first but it kept growing on me. It’s very British and very quirky with a lot of things happening which can be tough for me. It could grow on me more but I can’t give it a higher score despite it being a classic album for many. Highlights helped the cause. Highlights: “Victoria” & “Shangri-La”. 3.5 stars.
The Kinks but can’t help but be excellent.
wow was definitely not expecting this from the 'you really got me' guys. it started strong with Victoria and then fell a bit, but at Brainwashed I was so into it and the rest was a great ride! surprised by the quality of this album vs the number of streams on spotify (yea its from 69 but come on, its better than Revolver IMO, though I think I was a bit of a hater giving it a 4) amazing and underrated album.
4.5/5
Oooh! I listened to this last year for the first time... It was an instant fiver! (10) ★★★★★
My favourite Kinks album! And "Victoria" is at least a top 5 Kinks song!
4.5 stars
4.5
Quite overrated imo. Starts off great with Victoria but rest of the album is a slog. Neither any of the tunes or the story are that interesting to me. Brainwashed has a bit more rock bite and build up in Shangri-La is ok but nothing spectacular. I don’t really like the jokey, mugging, vaudeville style of singing that Ray Davies puts on occasionally during this.
Very British rock. Complaining about Churchill and war in general.
What if The Beatles but ska? Honestly, I feel like the more robust horn section adds something good here. Brainwashed and Australia both kick ass.
I liked the 60s and early 70s Kinks
Really loved this! I had never heard it before and was pleasantly surprised.
I’ve always liked the Kinks because sometimes the Beatles are too “pop,” but Frank Zappa is too weird. They live perfectly in the spot in-between. Ok, well, maybe more towards the Beatles end of that spectrum. But you take my point.
Fully conceived concept album. Serious and silly, complex and garage sounding, as only the Kinks could do.
One of the many reasons I love David is that he introduced me to The Kinks and this album. Am I biased in my rating? Perhaps, but after countless listens together on many car rides, I still find it a great album from start to finish.
Hadn't heard this one before. Fun album. Might rate more stars with repeated listens. May be the most British sounding album I've ever heard. 3.5*
I mean it’s fine tbh. But I feel like it would change if I listened to it more
De har gjort så galet många bra låtar. Tyvärr saknar denna platta merparten av dessa. Godkänt trots allt.
poppier than I was expecting. it was fine.
Very good! Some good songs are Arthur and Victoria. Lyrics supposed to be good too but I didn't really listen too hard. Overall very listenable but not enough to save songs specifically.
Ну прикольно они троллят свою аудиторию. Слышал, что их альбом еще и концептуальный. И некоторые песни (Vitoria, Shangri-La) не пресные. Но в остальном ну ээхх.
Probably the best Kinks record I've listened to so far. I thought the songs were fun in a weird way while also being pretty straightforward rock. Other than that, I don't think anything revolutionary was done.
It took at least 5 listens to get there, but this is a really good record. Favourite tracks: Victoria, Yes Sir, No Sir, Some Mother's Son, Australia.
This captures the odd Empire facing, class obsessed, Britain of the late 60s and 70s brilliantly.
What value was this album?
9/3/24. The Kinks are a bit underrated I think. Not on the levels of the Beatles, but still very good songwriting with variety and covering deeper themes.
Fun, if a bit goofy at times. Like it overall
Hated it horrible horrible stupid boring stupid no good songs at all
Groupe connu de nom, grâce aux reprises de ses morceaux, mais aucun morceau connu dans cet album. Rock pas assez énervé à mon gout, en plus je ne suis pas trop intéressé par les arrangements de cordes ou de vent qui me gâchent l'expérience. =>2/5
Really fun album. Not exactly my speed but lots of great music.
Excellent. Been a fan of the Kinks since I was a teen. Still fresh and pointed satire.
We are know kinks songs, but this recording proves that they are underrated.
Oh yeah, fuck the queen, fuck the crown, fuck the whole bloody empire! Quintessential post war counter culture album. Great listen with a lot of cool instrumentation, lacked some variety.
This album wasn't bad, there just wasn't really anything remarkable about this album
British soft BORING rock
Awesome. Very Beatles esque. Also sooooo many medicocre indie bands from the 2010s make sense to me now because they were ripping this style off without the talent to do so.
If Victoria was the only good song on the album it would still be a 5 Star album
Like the other Kinks albums, this was fun. Nothing mind blowing in the end. 3.5/5
Nice album, full of British folklore. The Kinks are brutally underrated man...
Standout Tracks- Victoria, She Bought a Hat, Arthur
Much like The Who's "Tommy" or Pink Floyd's "The Wall", this is very much a concept album following the life of the title character, Arthur. Multiple listenings may be needed to really appreciate this album, but in this reviewer's barely influential opinion, it's too British for full enjoyment from a disaffected American.
"Victoria" is the best song on this album. The Kinks aren't for everyone, but they've been great for 60 years.
Unbelievable concept album with writing that’ll make your skin crawl and a perfectly polished sound
7,58
Another brilliant record by the most British band of the British Invasion. The Stones and The Beatles made their bones reinterpreting American R&B, but The Kinks drew their water from a much different well, and their records, and Arthur emblematically, delight and charm like no Beatles or Stones record.
The mix on this is tilting, why is everything exactly the same volume
The kinks rock. Nobody should kink shame
I really should probably give this another listen because it was fine but unremarkable but the fact that I won’t feel like it means 2
This album mostly sounded like knockoff of the Beatles. Not bad, just similar
I liked it a lot more on a subsequent closer listen. Like in the "Village Green", I'm getting a lot of Beatles, but with a tinge of Rolling Stones with the guitar work. The rock opera storytelling of the album reminded me a bit of Tommy by the Who. Really liked Victoria. Makes me wonder about an alternate universe in which I am just as familiar with the Kinks songs as the Beatles, would I feel differently? I'll give it a 4 because I was pleasantly surprised and want to compensate for my lack of exposure to some bands.
I can already tell you - just a pet peeve. I HATE when the only version of an album available to stream is some deluxe edition with bonus tracks tacked on at the end. I want to be able to listen to the album beginning to end the way it was originally released, including the natural ending to the track order. I love when the final track of an album plays and I get that feeling of completion. Mandatory bonus tracks ruin that. All that being said - Ok, what if you took the raw verve of the Stones, the richly layered harmonies of the Beatles, and the ambitious narrative reach of the Who? You'd get this album by The Kinks! It was awesome. A real collision of different tastes and sensibilities. Frontman Ray Davies is no Paul McCartney, but he's also no Mick Jagger. He's not a GREAT singer, but he's not terrible the way Jagger is, so he's got a real raw charm that he brings to the songs. And the songs are catchy as hell. They've got that same irresistible pull early Beatles stuff did, and I mean that as the highest compliment to both bands. I dunno who came first or if either band was even influenced by each other, but the music was amazing and however they got there is fine by me.
i feel like i don't have much familiarity with the kinks outside of their hits and whatever was included on the compilation record "come dancing with the kinks!" which i loved as a teenager but i would not go so far as to classify it as "good music"... i guess what i'm saying is it's hard for me to take them seriously as rock/pop musicians because i think of them as just goofy catchy 60s dance music and not anything worth thinking deeply about. and i don't think that this album changed my view very much. it has its charm but i frankly found it a bit grating. you can definitely hear the roots of all damon albarn's worst musical tendencies in this record lol. fav tracks: victoria; shangri-la; australia
I liked it! I don’t have a lot of thoughts about it tbh and don’t really feel strongly about most of the songs. However the song about how amazing is was so funny what’s the deal with that were they being sponsored by Australia’s travel bureau or something Favorites: Brainwashed, Shangri-La
These guys always puzzle me. It’s intelligent, tune-forward, multi-layered. But it’s always too clever by half. The bells and whoops and whistles, which I’m sure call to mind the music hall traditions of the Davies Brothers’ childhoods, are always way over the top. The socially conscious themes of average life in Britain are always more wink wink than they are heartfelt. Maybe I’m just not English enough to get it. Also, I don’t really like Ray’s voice. For me, they just get left in the dust by so many other bands of their era who are much less smart but so much easier to feel on an emotional level. Still, one can’t deny the artistry involved. But I never feel like throwing ‘em on.
A pretty wholesome album, but not my genre.
I should really listen to the Kinks more. Every time I listen to them I am positively surprised. This album is really great too, great album that rocks surprisingly hard. Shangri-La is my favorite here.
It was ok. I know lots of people think the Kinks are underrated, but I think they are just ok.
So you're telling me this isn't a Beatles album? British invasion/British pop is one of my least favorite genres but this was at least listenable.
Reminded me of Arthur, the animated television series for children ages 4 to 8, developed by Kathy Waugh for PBS and produced by WGBH, set in the fictional U.S. city of Elwood City and revolving around the lives of Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark, his friends and family, and their daily interactions with each other.
I wasn’t expecting this album from a band I’m most familiar with from the song “You Really Got Me.” It’s like a political Sgt Pepper. It doesn’t sound punk rock, but the message is hella punk rock. It’s kind of hard to understand the lyrics sometimes, but this is one of those albums where you should probably pull up the lyrics anyway. It’s a concept album that follows the storyline of a Brit named Arthur as he attempts to move up in the strict hierarchy of British life (and eventually does so by emigrating to Australia). It’s a biting criticism of classism and how the rulers/privileged classes in the UK don’t care about anything but themselves and are happy to send the lower classes (who continue to dream about moving up into the higher class) to their deaths to maintain their status and lifestyle. It’s actually pretty ballsy for an album that came out in 1969 — almost a decade before the Sex Pistols took the piss out of the monarchy. Rock operas seemed to be a thing in the late 60s/early 70s, and though they’re always ambitious, they don’t always land. This one does. It might be my favorite rock opera (followed by Tommy by The Who). I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this so much, but it’s cohesive and enjoyable to listen to all the way through. Best songs: Some Mother’s Son, Brainwashed, Shangri-La, Mr. Churchill Says (the guitar solo is fantastic) 5/5
A 10/10 opener with “Victoria” but it’s a shame nothing else on here rocks nearly as hard. Feels like the Kinks are the key artist that all the Britpop bands would reference ~25 years later, you can definitely see that influence here.
This would rank in the high 3s. Enjoyable!
I loved it! I have never sat down and listened to a kinks record but I am so glad I did! It’s odd, funny, biting, ironic and just a whole lot of fun! Great social commentary for the time and creative instrumentation! In a way I prefer something like this over some Beatles records (could just be because the Beatles are so played out lol) A cool listen and I am looking forward to check out more of their stuff later!
I'm not a huge kinks fan, but I enjoyed the first song a decent bit and thought I may have misjudged them. But then the rest of the album is just a little bland. There are some good moments every now and then, but not enough for a 4. Also it's a little too British for me.
Good to see this book gives some love to The Kinks who are one of the most underrated bands of the British invasion known more for their antics than there music. Their music is fantastic I've been a fan since my dad introduced me then via greatest hits they write perfectly crafted pop songs and all though this is not my favourite album of theirs it is still great full of fantastic tunes and one absolutely banger in Victoria
Этот мне понравился сильно больше, чем предыдущий про деревню. Лучшая песня - Shangri-La.
Not quite as good as their previous effort, but still a great and charismatic album from one of the most consistent bands of the ‘60s.
Very Beatles-y.
Amazing pivot from the early garage sound from just a handful of years earlier to this charming blend of folk, music hall and pop all the while talking mad shit in that oh so wry British way. Sonically, it kind of picks up where Village Green left off and since that’s my fav Kinks album all-time, that bodes well for the rating. 4.5/5
The thing I love about the Kinks is the dissonance between the lyrics and music, which are pastoral slices of life of average British people in the 1960s and 1970s, and the theme, which is overwhelming, crushing existential dread. Some great grooves on the second half of a lot of the songs here too, like the Winson Churchill one.
non mi piace los tile
This was good.
Some classic 1960s British rock pop with uplifting beats, meaningful lyrics, and a somewhat timeless sound.
Was bracing for another yawn after getting another The Kinks album just a few back. But this one I liked a lot more. Nice work, gents!
I like some stuff by The Kinks, but this album is kind of annoying, tbh. Especially "Drivin'"... it's grating. Not to mention, half the songs sound exactly the same. Not for me.
This poor album. They’re great. Love a lot of their stuff. Impossible to think the doesn’t sound like counterfeit Beatles meets Velvet Underground. Don’t hate it but I just….
Good album but not their best one.
enjoyable!
Overall a good album. Most of the songs I vibed with and had my foot tapping. Just a nice upbeat album to put on when going on a walk or something. I lost interest in a few of the songs, but good showing from the Kinks.
Surprised by how much I disliked this album. They basically like the Beatles but crappy. Favorite song was Arthur.
N sei se gostei muito...
Fun listen. Very Beatles-esque
Circus-like whimsy, a happy-go-lucky feel, A la classic rock
Still relevant social commentary but it's this type of brit-pop just isn't my thing. Favorite tunes: Brainwashed, Australia
This is a fun little album, with many quirky moments that shine spectacularly as unique to what everyone else in the rock scene (that The Kinks helped create) was doing, while surprisingly returning to their rock roots more than some of their most recent records at the time with tracks like Brainwashed or the drawn out outro of Australia. A lot of it works with me, such as the vocal inflections of the Davies brothers and their charming styles, or the sudden speed-up/slow-down found throughout the record. It allows for an album with plenty of memorable moments. I do think the album leans a bit too hard into the rock aspects at times, and I, personally, do not like the Kinks for their rock tunes, but the quirky pop tunes such as Drivin' feel like they'd fit right in on their prior album. It's hard to say too much about an album that I see as just unmistakeably "good," but this album will be a pleasure of any fan of the British Invasion, which is funny considering the concept of the album. Could see myself having far more to praise on a future re-listen. Just one more quick tangent; why does Australia, the song, deliver some of the best melodies and harmonies on the entire album, only to sour it with four minutes of random fiddling and rifling? It hurts my soul.
I wish this had been generated on the weekend, I’d throw my original pressing of this record on my turntable, sit back, relax and write a lengthy and more in depth review. I’d probably follow up Arthur with Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround or Muswell Hillbillies and maybe some select tracks from Preservation. The point is, there are very few bands who had a run of albums as strong The Kinks did from 1966 to 1971. That they don’t get the same level of recognition as some of the other greats from their era is a disappointment to me, so I have no problem preaching the gospel of Ray and Dave Davies when given the opportunity. Maybe it’s because their songs weren’t quite as immediate or polished as their peers in the Beatles and the Stones, or because they didn’t have the same cultural impact in the US, but The Kinks’ well is deep. Much deeper, in fact, and worth returning to over and over. Some of their absolute greatest songs were only released as singles and didn’t appear on proper albums. Songs like “I’m Not like Everybody Else”, “Mindless Child of Motherhood”, “King Kong”, “Preservation”, “This Man, He Weeps Tonight”….like I said, the well is deep and exploring the bonus tracks on Arthur or picking up The Kink Kronikles or The Great Lost Kinks Album compilation albums on vinyl are more than worth your time if you like what you heard here. “Arthur” is probably their best record, though I am quite partial to “Lola…”. It goes toe-to-toe with anything The Beatles or Stones ever put out. You can be mad about that if you want, I don’t know what to tell you…it’s true.
worse than generic
Generally good album, sounds a lot like British pop from the late 60s.
That was some very fun 60's pop. I don't think there was a dud in the bunch and few we quite infectious. I would definitely throw this record on again.
Definitely poignant. Not my favorite, but the commentary was good and the music was solid overall.
é rock antigão. Não é ruim não, agradável demais. Mas nada marcante, bem parecidas as músicas entre si. Não ouviria de novo, mas a banda é legal.
Shangrila hits a little too hard for a 40-year-old man.
Liked having this on in the background but wouldn’t listen again
I enjoyed! 3.5/5 Lyrics were great. Standout tracks: - Shangri-La - She’s Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
I have enjoyed it.
60’s
Really enjoyed their unique sound, my favorites were “Victoria” and “Shangri-La”.
Really liked this.
I love The Kinks’ prior album Village Green Preservation Society, but most of their other albums fall flat for me. Village Green is their only album which is good all the way through. Most of their other albums feature a good song or two and then a bunch of crap. Arthur is sort of in the middle of the pack. As a concept album, it’s solid (especially since it was written as the soundtrack to a play), but the songwriting quality doesn’t match that of Village Green. “Victoria” and “Shangri-La” are good, and some other songs are solid as well, but the album as a whole just feels like a poor attempt to duplicate Village Green which is far superior.
This is my third Kinks album, and none of them have managed to be interesting
Interesting. Not great, but a few gems.
Good enough Rock, some songs being already familiar.
this was very beer cans and cork hat - not my style but wasn’t bad
booooorrrrrinnnnggg 2/5
not good
good album by the kinks not their best but solid
Amazing. First listen to this album and I loved it! 4
I adored this album, so inventive with some fantastic tunes. I can't believe I didn't know this record. Has to be 5/5.
I can definitely see why this was a successful album: some of the tracks felt like they were well ahead of their time. I feel like it gets a bit less exciting on the second half of the album, but it was still a good listen.
3.4 - I thought I was gonna love this album, but the first few songs just didnt land for me. But then it picked up the pace and started to feel it more. Really like shangri la
Enjoyed this a lot. The Kinks are way underrated, they were the Beatles in another universe. Fave Tracks: Victoria, Australia, Shangri-La 4.3/5
This was actually really good. The only song I had heard before was Victoria, which I had always believed to have been by The Fall. I was kind of surprised to find it was from a Kinks album back in the 1960s!
For the most part I enjoyed the tunes far more than the lyrics, but standout songs were Victoria and Shangri-La
Divertido y cheeky, más de lo que esperaba
Right off the bat, I love this album from first listen. As a The Kinks album, it’s amazing. As a part of 60’s British Invasion, it’s amazing. As a part of music as a whole and regarding its influence on future artists and records, it’s amazing. Everything about this record, from the silly tunes to the introspective lyrics, is amazing. The last record that made me genuinely feel this much emotion was In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. I started to realize what this album was all about during Yes Sir, No Sir, and it hit hard. Some Mother’s Son then really drove the point forward, offering some truly heartbreaking and poetic lyricism. The rest of the record continued to provide deep, clever words with easily digestible and lovable tunes. I also love almost any concept album, if it’s done right. It’s usually so creative and daring and offers true meaning to the record and what the artist is trying to convey. The Kinks have proven themselves not only remarkable in the landscape of British rock but also capable of doing their own thing and being even more daring and creative than their contemporaries.
This is a fun concept album. On my first go around I wasn't too impressed by it, but it grew on me. My favourite three depressing tracks are 'Yes Sir, No Sir', 'Some Mother's Son', and 'Shangri-La', all focusing around the banal evil of living in a society that either does not care about its constituents or actively wishes them harm. Great commentary
Ambitious and fully realised ‘concept’ album with songs themed around uniquely British experiences of the war, end of empire, and encroaching American culture. In lesser hands it might have been too cerebral, weighty and depressing but the songcraft crackles with exuberance and humour and the melodies are stellar. An album of its time and yet one which will never grow old.
Moderately good album, but not quite as good as other British concept albums of the period, e.g. "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" or "S.F. Sorrow." Usual Kinks-y sound. Worth including on a playlist if in that kind of mood.
Really really enjoyed this one! Very close to giving it 5*
I had heard of The Kinks, but never listened to them. Really enjoyed this, it has social commentary but feels very uplifting. Stand out track for me was Victoria.
I'd rather be listening to Iron Maiden. 3.5
a wide ranging album that touches on a lot of different genres and feelings, from high energy to soft and gentle.
Son: "Mom! Can we get a Beatles record?" Mom: "We have a Beatles record at home." *hands this record* Is it commonly known that the Kinks are ripping off the Beatles? Because this record has so many similarities of the Beatles but slightly different. Different as in, not as good. Honestly, I just don't want to hear this. It's not terrible. But it's inferior.
A true delight, especially for Anglophiles. Concept albums aren't really one's thing (they try to do the work of novels or films), but this is musicaly rich and excellent throughout. "Music hall calypso" is dead on. "Victoria," "Driving," the Churchill song, and the title cut are all great, as are "Shangri La" and "Australia." Whole thing is as British as Benny Hill and clotted cream.
Will never not love the Kinks. Probably isn't my favorite album to listen to, but certainly an influential and important one.
Really good but nothing else on the album goes as hard after Victoria which was a bit of a letdown.
Truly an original band. Been diving deep lately and this one always worth it. Yay Ray
This is a brilliant concept album and the lyrics are insightful into social surroundings. Quintessentially very British and representative of the 60's era. The Kinks highlighted this so well throughout their music. Dedicated follower of fashion, Waterloo sunset etc. They were a very influential band and the songwriting talent of Ray and Dave Davies deserves recognition. Good listen
Again not my type of music but still a good listen
omg like blorbo from my video games. i can’t listen to any more british men im going to start eating rusty nails !!
Better than I expected! I wished I knew the words so I could sing along a couple times
jolly good
Reading other reviews I think I need to come back to this. I had it on as background listening and thought some was very good, but very similar to the Beatles. Overall good brit pop but I need more time with it
I think the highest form of praise I can give an unfamiliar album is to say I liked my time with it and will plan to revisit it. I'd probably give this a 3.5 after one listen. Fav tracks : Victoria, Brainwashed, Mr Churchill Says, Nothing to Say
Not at all what I expected, lota of diverse tracks with interesting instrumentality. A 4, just about.
A couple of ok tracks and a lot of plinky-plonk nonsense. Not their finest hour.
Peak Davies.
cheeky, chappy
Rich and exceptionally well conceived and executed, each song stands on it's own merits while still contributing to the larger themes. Great melodies, kicking arrangements, humor and pathos, this album stands as a rocking testament to the Kinks' contributions to the genre.
I remember my dad telling me many times over the years how The Kinks were one of the biggest bands of the 60s. I was mostly familiar with 70s and 80s Kinks. I do see where he would get that. I always doubted it. They are very Beatleesque In numerous songs on this particular album.
Album 465 of 1001 The Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) Rating : 5 / 5 Great album. I've come to really enjoy The Kinks more than I had before starting this list. Some is better than the other but I haven't ran across anything from them that just straight out sucks. This one could use a few more listens.
Good
Delightful. Victoria is a five star song and my favorite Kinks song. I also really like Shangri-La.
I’m sure the Kinks aren’t infallible, but they’ve got a run of several unimpeachable classic albums, and this is one of them. Do I like Village Green or Something Else or Lola or Muswell Hillbillies better? Honestly I think they’re all equally great.
Very Kinsky, very good. I had never listened to this one before and I think I might have loved it.
As usual, I start an unfamiliar The Kinks excited and ready to rave, and I end it wondering what has eluded me. I enjoyed this, the opening is a banger and Australia’s outright is godly, yet I’m still not in love. There’ll surely be more opportunities in this list: I’ll try again.
A few classics but a not as magnificent as Village Green. Probably unfair as it's great but just not perfect [EDIT - easily upgraded to a 5* at the second opportunity. Hundreds of albums into this project, you can't be quibbling over the quality of something like this. Arthur has grown to be one of my favorite Kinks songs, and Ray Davies is undisputedly a genius blending the best qualities of Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan while entirely original and fucking hard as nails. England's finest songwriter? Dave Davies is up there with its finest guitarists to boot]
fajne ale nie dla mnie
This was such a contrast from the previous kinks album I got a few weeks ago - that was so empty and just plain boring, I was very disappointed. This was interesting in all ways.
Very uninteresting British invasion crap.
Always interesting.
The album starts off with a banger, the best track of the album, Victoria. It never really recovers afterwards, with a few honorable exceptions, so I can’t be more generous than handling out three stars
What the ever-loving crap is this mess?
A smooth listen, I love 60’s/early 70’s rock
less douchey Beatles
I prefer this over the previous Kinks 1968 album (village green) I got on the generator. Victoria is a standout track. 3.5
Bluesy as hell.
Victoria is great. I assume a lot of this is tongue in cheek, but as a concept this doesn't feel any different to a lot of The Kinks' stories, but not as engaging as - say - Sunny Afternoon or Dedicated Follower. Good, but not great.
This starts with the rallying call of Victoria, and then goes downhill with each track that follows. It's a time piece, stirring up nostalgia for a land that no longer exists. I struggled to follow the story. The Kinks were far better as a singles band than concept album bollocks.
Brainwashed is great, and I already loved Shangri La. Overall pretty solid 4/5 album.
This album is half brilliant and half filler. Some of the songs however are immensely lifted by the production choices. The Kinks are a heavily influential band on what is to come. This era however, they are listening to the hits of the day and still rooted in the rock roots of all 60s British musicians. I could hear a lot of alternative rock in there. Some of The Strokes, Talking Heads and the song "Arthur" sounds exactly like an REM song. Ray Davies is a absolute legend
I felt a little burnt out on this particular project today. Since I can remember most of my life I’ve spent every day checking out multiple new and “new to me” albums, sometimes sharing whatever I discovered with friends or checking out music they’ve discovered. This is nothing new to me, the writing about that experience is new to me, I’m not one to think people give a shit about my thoughts toward music or anything really. It’s just something personal to me that gets me through the day. A obsession? Maybe. I’m not a fierce critic on music because I know what a challenge it is to not only create something but to then in turn finish that creation and put it out for people to hear only to then in turn praise or abuse it. Another reason I’m not a good critic is because I’m not by any means a good writer so the writing part is always a challenge for me and my imposter syndrome/inferiority complex was in full bloom this morning so yeah, fuck me right? I say all this because that’s where my head was at when I pulled this album up and began my morning run. I was familiar with Victoria so my first thought was ok I’ve checked out this album before. That’s where the familiarity stopped. Obviously I know The Kinks from the songs everyone else knows but I’m not as familiar with this one. As the album played and my run began releasing much needed endorphins my mood picked up as did my appreciation for The Kinks. The production on this album is lush and expansive but at its core there’s just some excellent song writing and musical performances. Is it going too far to say this album could rival a few Beatles albums given the similarities in sound? I mean there’s no Ringo songs here to skip. I know, probably not. The Beatles are god. I still think this was an excellent attempt at pulling those gods down from their golden thrones and made for an enjoyable listening experience as well. Anyway there’s my honest take on where I’m at today and how this album was the soundtrack to my morning thoughts. Big surprise, another 4 for me! I fucking love music!
It dawns on me that listening to these albums outside of cultural and historical context is a novelty for us, yet for today's youth, that is how they experience all media today. Our novelty is the new norm. All movies, television, books, music--everything streaming or online--are available to them immediately and out of context. The removal of 'programming' isn't getting off the grid as much as it is becoming a lack of commonality. Nothing is normal; nothing is strange; nothing is sacred. Everything just is. Is that good, bad, or just . . . is? In short, I wonder if The Kinks were fully appreciated in their time. They had hits, but did the majority of their fans truly appreciate them? I always meant to go back and check out their catalog. When Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) first started, I had to jump back and make sure that after skipping YouTube ads and what not I didn't actually select the wrong tracks. This is NOT the "You Really Got Me"/"Lola" Kinks I was expecting. I feel I missed an entire transition here. Surely there are some albums between then and now where this version of the Kinks makes sense as a natural progression. For me, it's quite a left turn . . . but I'll adjust. I chose to wait for a second listen before typing much more, and this is growing on me. "Some Mother's Son" is a dramatic telling of a soldier who longs for his childhood before being killed in the war while the local town continues about its business as usual. "Australia" is the first song that really grabbed me with its lush sha-la-la-la-las, tongue-in-cheek vocals, and erratic tempo changes; it reminds me of smaltzy lounging of The Strokes' "Call it Fate, Call it Karma", and I can imagine it as the inspiration entire Sufjan Stevens' albums. "Shangri La" mocks societal contentment with the banal leisure time of the working class, comfortable in predictability enough not to complain and to return to work dutifully each week. "You're in your place and you know where you are." They then turn their mockery to the blind obedience of authorities in "Mr. Churchill Says." In the experimental vein of early Pink Floyd and David Bowie, I hear the deep vocal strut of Hendrix (Mr. Churchill, in this context) at times, the whine of David Byrne other times, and the old-timey stylings akin to Queen's "Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon." I find this work inspired and inspirational. Another one I need to add to my collection . . . and I'll need to go back through their catalog and follow this transition more closely. Surely, there are gems to mine here. I'm ready to join the cult. Fitting that this album ends with the glowing gospel of "Arthur", welcoming everyone into the fold. "We love you and want to help you. Somebody loves you; don't you know it?!"
I only knew a few songs by the Kinks before this, so this was a rather delightful discovery–quite different to what I was familiar with. Only \"Victoria\" sounds somehow familiar...Have I heard it before in an ad or something? Sonically this is a very full, rich recording. A late-’60s post Sgt. Pepper sound with elements of blues and psychedelia. Creative and varied instrumentation. Between “Victoria” and “Yes Sir, No Sir,” it's immediately clear that this is a British album through and through, musically lyrically, thematically. The theme of “Yes Sir, No Sir” perfectly portrays the timid, sniveling, “know your place, don't question, mustn't grumble” attitude of the military, the attitude of a culture with a strong hierarchical class and social system. Oh, the noble longsuffering! The impotent smallness of an individual lifetime. “Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.” These can be rather bleak themes to explore, but the tone of the album is not morose. Indeed, there is an element of absurdity infused throughout. I've seen this before, this combination of cheeky irreverence and lyrical sketches of ordinary British people used to expose the foibles of the larger culture. It totally reminds me of Blur! I would be willing to put good money on this album being highly influential to Blur; they seem to have followed its blueprint exactly. Funny to discover this connection since I listened to a lot of Blur but had no idea this album existed. I guess there never is anything new under the sun. Other themes here involve Britain during the two world wars and the post-war period, trying to make a successful life in often empty, bland modern society while still yearning for the good old days of the past, even being tempted away by promises of future glories in far away lands. “Some Mother's Son” is a great anti-war song that, like one of my other favorite anti-war songs, “Army Dreamers” by Kate Bush, uses the perspective of the mother-son relationship to illustrate the stupidity of dying in war. I remember looking at my own first newborn baby and realizing that every asshole on Earth was some mom's baby at some point. To be a mother's son is to be the highest version of yourself, the most beautiful, innocent, eternal. And yet there they are in their hundreds, fallen in some field, bleeding out, rubbish. What a silly waste. A few other notable songs: The song “Brainwashed” rocked. More than an ode to the actual country, “Australia” is a celebration of persuasive advertising and hype, climbing to ecstatic heights and jamming out by the end. I like the Beach Boys-esque vocals during the part about how they'll have surfing like they do in the U.S.A. Shangri-La paints a vivid picture of suburban monotony set to peppy, danceable music. All in all, this is a well-thought out, well executed album that is tight and cohesive yet varied and interesting. It inspires further dives into The Kinks’s catalog. 4.5
The word that kept coming to mind for the sounds on this album was 'quirky'. I am familiar with The Kinks songs All Day and All of the Night and You Really Got Me, so this album to me was a departure from what I am used to from them. On some of the songs the singer sounds a bit like Paul McCartney to me. At other times I wondered if this band has two singers because of how different the singing sounds on this compared to the songs I am familiar with. I liked 'Brainwashed' and 'She Bought A Hat like Princess Marina'.
First Kinks album. Could hear the lineage of late 90s/early 00s UK indie rock in this. Musicianship was solid and there were a few great tracks, but I did find it slightly underwhelming.
This album is fine. I thought I liked The Kinks, but I really don't think this is anything that special. I understand the concept behind this album, but it doesn't do much for me. Best Songs: Some Mother's Son, Shangri-La, Worst Songs: Yes Sir No Sir, Australia, Young and Innocent Days
witzig, schönes 60er medldy, kleine beatles brüder
The album reminds me of the very early Beatles. Sometimes a bit more psychedelic. I enjoyed listening to it. But I won't be doing it again any time soon. 3/5
Is this the Kinks or the Beatles?
Day174 - i enjoy listening to ray davies voice but most of the kinks songs don’t click with me
this sounds more modern than i was expecting for a 50 odd year old album. will listen again.
Listened Before? N Pretty good early britpop/rock stuff here. I’ve never spent much time listening to this band so this was all new to me. Deserves its spot on the list. Added to Librsry? N Somgs added to playlist: Victoria
Of course I was familiar with The Kinks, but not this album, I probably have heard some of the songs but not a lot of them. While listening to the album the second time through I realized that this had to be a concept album and there was a story here, so I looked it up.
Fantastic album. First time listening to The Kinks, I love a good concept album. No real misses either, just an all around great album.
I need to listen to more Kinks! Enjoyable from start to finish. Great songsmanship and composition. 4/5
I don't think the album has lived up to the 50+ years of hype. I kept waiting for a mind-blowing moment that never happened.
A good listen - never heard before
No bad. Some hints of amazing in there, but consistently solid. They did a thing. They did it well. And I enjoyed it.
Out of the gate this was looking bleak, but it really grew on my after a few listens. Solid concept album with some pleasant surprises. 4 / 5 Really digging the jammy jazz interlude on Australia. Some silky smooth guitar work floating around above shifting drums, some horns, and some spoken words floating in and out of the background. Mr. Churchill Says kinda slaps tbh. Especially (once again) the guitar work through the back half. Big fan of some clean noodly guitar work.
Victoria! I like the kinks but not sure i have ever listened to this album. I give it a 3 stars
Odd naming convention for an album, but it reminds me of the movie Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation ^^ That is probably the most words I have written before even listening to a second of the album This album has the GROOVE! It started out as a very solid first half, and only got better from there. Similar sounds to The Beatles which makes sense. Australia was one of my favorites and I liked the use of the harpsichord all around. Around the halfway point of the album I was trying to figure out if this just *felt* like a 5 compared to a lot of our recent catalog. Now that I'm at the finish I can confidently say this is a 5. I could listen to this album just about any day.
Sounded very similar to a lot of the Beatles earlier stuff, but just more aspects of rock and almost more of some jamming. This album started off hot with Victoria which I think was the best song on the album, but the remainder was still really good. Some of the longer songs had some really cool jam parts. This was probably the best of the 3 Kinks albums that has come up so far. I feel like I could listen to this any day of the week
Ayy another Kinks album. From the other 2 they've been pleasant enough. I've heard Victoria great song especially the key change halfway through. Had this on in the background while working but definitely getting some Beatles out of this one. Just some whacky shit that I can get behind. Between a 3 and 4 but I'm feeling it now so 4 it is.
Fun Kinks album with some hits. Loved it.
# 261 : They've done a pretty decent job. I think Its OK, a great collection of songs, and one or two bangers. The rest require a couple of listens and then become better and better. Favourite Track : Victoria Listened : 24/06/2024
Such good pop! Really liked it
Amazing music and awesome album! Great journey.
Really under appreciated band they were there for the transition of pop rock british invasion to the harder rock and were an integral part of that change. They dont get the credit they deseve ans Davis is a top notch guitar player as well. This album you can see the late stages of the pop rock amd see the newer harder guitar riff coming up. Really liked the album maybe a bit too long with over 20 songs and some are too popish for the others that are in the album. Im giving it 4 cause it could have been more rockish. The Beatles influence is undeniable but they did manage to do it in their own fashion
Victoria Shangri-La
victoria yes sir, no sir brainwashed australia mr. churchill says she's bought a hat like princess marina nothing to say arthur
I really loved this as a snapshot of late 60s Britain, although it's not going to be my favorite Kinks album.
I found this one fun to listen to. They sound so cute...
I can't tell what this is adding to the other 4 records by The Kinks that we've already listened to but I am still just as charmed.
Wow! This is up there with Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Tommy’s The Who. This concept album would make a great movie! Super cool!
absolutely masterpiece, six stars
A good, straightforward rock album.
Great Kinks record with some fun horn parts and catchy melodies. This makes me want to check out their more popular records for sure.
Victoria is the greatest Kinks song of all time. I don't know how much I consider this a "concept" record, but I definitely love it. Essential mid-period Kinks.
This was a pretty interesting album. A lot of anti-war messages. Shangri-La is the best song here, what a jam. Cool chorus and some surprisingly cool guitar and drums. Overall i think the album is good, not amazing. Runner up song is Yes Sir, No Sir.
I'm sure this is a perfectly fine album, but I'm just not feeling it.
Fantastic concept album about Victorian era UK, that eerily reflects what was going on in America at the time with the war on Vietnam. It has some very tongue-in-cheek writing, which makes it a cynically depressive record overall given the lyrical themes. The blend of orchestral instrumentation also brings a very epic and sort of medieval / refined feel to the whole thing, emphasizing the whole concept. The songs are super catchy of course, Ray Davies really surprised me with how vivid and crisp his writing can get at times, super dope stuff. Favorite tracks include "Victoria", "Yes Sir No Sir", "Some Mother's Son", "Shangri-la", "Mr. Churchill Says", "Princess Marina", "Young and Innocent Days" and "Arthur".
Nice album.
The Kinks ushering a new political era! Dying in a war for no reason, income inequality, misplaced patriotism (is that what it's called in Great Britain?), wartime propaganda, questioning authority, parodying the advertising of Australia! This one's got it all! It's all good, The Kinks rule, and the British Empire is officially dead! huzzah
Brilliant
Decent record. It started off with a nice one then when Yes Sir, No Sir came in it really brought me back to earth. I really thought it was gonna be another banger. It wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't as good as I thought it would be since a lot of the British Invaders got lots of classic albums. I thought most of the album itself was decent, it had a couple of low points throughout but I felt like it did end quite nicely. Not something I would come back to but I didn't mind listening to it. Best - Victoria, Brainwashed, Shangri-La, and Arthur Worst - Yes Sir, No Sir and Nothing to Say 3.0-3.25
Really good, veddy British (obvs) and well worth knowing – indeed, most worthy of being far better known. The world needs more songs about "gooseberry tarts." Not sure how piercing or even relevant the satire is. But one thinks "Victoria," "Driving," the Churchill song, and the title cut are all excellent. "Shangri La" and "Australia" are epic (and pretty funny besides). One aims to spend more time with Davies.
I love the Kinks. And even though I wasn't really in the mood for this album, I loved it. Such a fun sound.
I can see their influence and enjoy some songs but overall just felt rudimentary and flat. Doesnt help that i always mix them up with The Clash and that’s who’s sound I was expecting
3/5
This album starts out sounding like The Beatles and then grows into something like a slightly more punk rock version of that. A great listen.
Eh. It’s the Kinks. I like them but this isn’t their best.
Not a band I've ever really been exposed to. Love the vocal arrangements on this record. Can hear their influence all over modern indie rock/indie sleaze. Highlights: Victoria, Drivin', brilliant opening bassline and intermittent sax on Brainwashed, Australia for the lyrics especially, Shangri-La. The whole thing feels very 60s yet forward looking, I guess that's a reflection of it being a '69 release. Will probably come back to the highlights on this, overall enjoyable listen that deserves more of my time and attention than I can give right now.
Pretty good, I like the guitars. It's cool that it tells a story over the course of the album. None of the songs really stood out to me but it feels like the kind of album that would stick after a few listens (which I'll probably never get around to in all honesty)
damn this rules hard.
So far 3 songs are basically the same-same melody, same idea of singing about a place, and all the places end with A (Victoria, Australia, Shangri La), so pretty much no originality. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none
又是摇滚
This concept was boring for me. Music was not bad
I expected to like this album more than I did, since I really liked the Kinks back in high school. This one caught me off guard, however. Some seems overly repetitious. Some seemed like it had a bit of a Monty Python sort of off-the-wall aspect, which I actually sort of like. All in all I liked it, just not as much as I wanted to.
A good old classic rock album. I liked the concept and felt that it mixed it up enough to be interesting. I wasn’t a big fan of the vocals. A pretty good album.
Oldschool, really liked two songs!
listened on 21/11/25 whilst writing my personal statement for mental health nursing. liked this album but need to give it my full attention for a few more listens before I can fully appreciate it and give it 5 stars. had already heard 'victoria' before listening and enjoyed 'brainwashed' and 'young and innocent days' in particular whilst listening.
What a fun concept album. God, the Kinks were ahead of their time.
Joda ait, men begynne å bli my 60-70-tallsrock no, håpe på nokka mer spennende i morra.
Oku dale. 7/10
Good album, some catchy songs sort of in the mold of the Beatles. No complaints, good stuff
Yeah, yeah, fine. They’re fine. Good, even.
Fan of the Kinks, but this isn’t anything to write home about. 2.8
Always loved the kinks especially the early stuff
Not bad, but nothing I would go out of my way to listen to all the way through. Added some songs to my giant playlist for variety.
Very 60s but nothing I would revisit
It's ok. Good concept album, but not really my thing.
Interesting listen, I recognized a couple tracks and favored a few. Sound and style is consistent with the time and they probably got outshined a little by the Beatles. Overall a solid album. 3.5/5
I enjoyed this. It was an unexpected surprise and a long way from “You Really Got Me.” Proof that Ray Davies is a good songwriter and can stand at least in the vicinity of that era of Lennon/McCartney.
The Kinks have always felt like the answer to the question “what if the Stones were cool and wrote interesting songs?” to me. This is a great album, I think it actually gets better as it goes on.
As someone who uses a fair amount of distortion (maybe that’s an understatement) to cover up my inadequacies on the guitar, I appreciated how clean and precise the guitar was on this. Also enjoyed it playing along with the melodies. Australia and Shanghai-La were interesting journeys. I thought the vocals on Drivin’ were grating. Perhaps this is unfair but it was just missing something to get me to a 4. I can’t put my finger on it but just needed a lil something more to get me over the hump. Call it a 3.5 but rounding down. Sorry The Kinks.
Well this was a delightful surprise and I enjoyed it very much! The comparisons to the Beatles are obvious, but it also feels very much like its own thing. The arrangements, lyrics, variety of songs all add up to an amazing album. My favorite discovery thus far in the 1001 challenge (if you can call a Kinks album a discovery). 4.5/5
More 4/4 rock than "something else by the kinks." I did not realize how many albums and good ones they had. All told more of a unit than Tommy, something to be said for economical storytelling. Great hook on victoria, good licks from dave.
Didn’t really grab me, but not terrible.
I was introduced The Kinks in the early 1970’s, Lola. Like my all time favorite Pink Floyd (introduced with DSOTM) I like the later material so much more than the early stuff. I’ll pass on this album.
There is something about the Kinks that seems so quintessentially british that I always feel somewhat transported to a different time and place every time I listen to them. A sense of mood, played with a straight back, a devastatingly quirky sense of humour, a certain idea of melancholy, a sense of rhythm. This album finds them at their best. Songs are populated with intelligent and funny / serious lyrics, interesting little finds scattered throughout (like the horn sections at key moments), fast changes that keep me on my toes and, in a way, prefigure the rise of progressive rock. They are ambitious, but without taking themselves too seriously. Listening to this also reminded me how much a band like the Libertines owes them. A really enjoyable record, that I will happily come back to.
..
I feel like I should be into this one more than I actually am
There seems to be an excessive number of Kinks albums on this list. Maybe it just seems that way to me because like every third album or more is 60s/70s pop? This record is another fine example of late 60s Brit pop that I could definitely have gone my life without hearing and not been worse off. I mean there are a couple good songs on here but nothing life changing. 2/5
ummm this was ok. A lot of the songs featured interesting switches in them which i enjoyed but nothing really stuck out to me except for like Shangri-La. I do appreciate however all of the anti-war rhetoric and think that it has nice messaging. top 3 - Shangri-La, Victoria, Some Mother’s Son
Killer record! The songwriting is phenomenal and the musicality is so delightfully fun; it is very well constructed. This is the crown jewel of the Kinks catalogue. Love listening to it end to end. There’s a wry playfulness that I find so compelling and enjoyable. And this album artwork is iconic. LOVE IT.
Wow okay. Totally obsessed with these Kinks concept albums. Definitely preferred some individual songs on Village Green Preservation Society, but this is so much richer as an album. Only comparing the two due to the conceptual nature of both. But my god. So fantastic. Hard to pick favorite songs, but “Victoria” and “Arthur” are probably my favorites. “Yes Sir, No Sir” and “Shangri-La” are really great too. Just amazing.
Beatles influenced!
..
Ok
The Kinks made a lot of very happy music :)
10/10. A themed album with this much cleverness in itself was neat. But also song to song the album doesn’t miss.
Ok,ik zou een pest hekel moeten hebben aan dit album, want veel Britser en rockeriger dan dit ga je ze niet krijgen. Maar ik vind dit echt prima te pruimen zeg. Ik heb het idee dat er zo veel plezier in dit album zit, de muziek is fun, de teksten lijken niet zo sterk, maar worden(denk ik) met zoveel plezier gebracht dat ik het echt prima te handelen vind. Een heel nummer over Australië, een van mn favoriete nummers over Austalië sinds Down Under! Met bijna een soort jazzy outro van 3 minuten!! Ze weten me wel te pakken zo zeg, erg slim! Niet alles werkt even top(is dat nou een kazoo op She's bought a hat like princess Marina? ) Maar het grootste deel klinkt echt top. Dit is voor mij hoe een rock album moet zijn, veel tempo wisselingen, beetje fout en gewoon veel lol in de muziek. Maar misschien komt het ook een klein beetje doordat ik dit vrijdagmiddag luister, vlak voor het weekend begint. Hebben ze mooi mazzel mee dan. FAVO: Victooooooooria, Drivin', Brainwashed, Australia, Shangri-la, Nothing to say
Oooooo this one’s interesting. Adding it to my relisten list
im not the worlds biggest kinks fan or anything but if they had more music like this i would be. the songs are so fun and the lyrics are so not fun but well written. havent been able to find anything else similar to this, its really one of a kind. 9/10
Typical 60s. Eng to Aus theme.
I absolutely love Victoria it’s a fantastic opener and one of The Kinks’ great anthems. It bursts out of the speakers with energy and irony, setting the tone perfectly for what follows. What really stands out across this album is the songwriting. Ray Davies delivers sharp, thoughtful lyrics that feel bold and socially aware for the time. The album tackles themes of class, empire, and the changing face of Britain with intelligence and bite, yet never loses its melodic charm. There’s real depth here beneath the hooks. It may lack the immediate, top-drawer pop singles that define some other Kinks records, but in many ways this makes it more cohesive and powerful. As a concept album, it feels ambitious and emotionally resonant — a reflection on identity and decline wrapped in distinctly British storytelling. Favourite track: Victoria — energetic, clever, and endlessly replayable. Least favourite track: Australia — it never quite grabs me in the same way and feels a little overextended. Album artwork: Amazing. Bold and colourful, it perfectly complements the grand, reflective themes of the record.
pretty good, not bad for being so 'early'
Helt ok, og er nok et av de albumene som ikke har holdt seg med tiden fordi det er kommet så mye likt i etterkant.
9 / 10 Inevitable para mi pensar en los Beatles. Muchas de las canciones están al mismo nivel. Se centran un poco más en el pop o rock suave que en la psicodèlia.
Never heard this particular one but I have always been a Kinks fan. They get the vote out of me. :)
I liked this album
This one was just alright. Reminiscent of some sounds the Beatles had already done (better) on Sgt Pepper, nothing that really stuck out as particularly memorable.
Nice, inoffensive 60s pop, that will not go down in history as a great innovation, but which flows nicely in any case. 3/5
Not for me
An interesting concept album from the Lola fellas. It was very ok.
good fun! im gonna go listen to the falls version of victoria now
cool
Good oldschool classic giutar rock. Essential of raw prepunk.music.
Victoria, great tune. Nice rhythm and melody to the song. Theres some good lyrics. Lots of social commentary from the time. Lots of meaning behind each song. I listen to the lyrics of Australia and they are still very apparent today. i connected with those lyrics on a personal level. Shangri-La was a good tune. I like how it transitioned between different melodies. Some good guitar licks dashed throughout the songs. I enjoyed the change of pace in "Mr churchill" and "she bought a hat like princess marina." Overall a couple of good tunes. Lots of meaning behind the lyrics but only the one stand out tune for me - victoria. A good 3/5.
The Kinks are a band I always thought I'd enjoy, but as I delve deeper into music, they haven't quite lived up to my expectations. While their music isn't bad, it feels somewhat middle-of-the-road compared to other bands from that era.