Reviews (page 4 of 9)
Not one of my favorite by The Kinks. Couple of good songs but nothing I would return to. 6/10
this is so much longer than it needs to be? idk i always really liked waterloo sunset and lola and so i assumed the kinks were good? this ain’t it tho.. they took all of mccartneys whimsy but none of his cleverness (while evoking his style in susannah‘s still alive)
Has all the funkiness I've come to expect from the Kinks 🕺💃
Waterloo Sunset is a banger
Good. Not great. I always think they are hyped as this amazing thing, and there are about 5 songs of theirs that I love and meet that hype. Not sure they are on here. I'll probably give the actual food album of there's a 4 when it comes up on my queue.
Mellower Death of a clown Situation vacant Waterloo sunset
Do the Kinks ever miss? Perfect, perfect, perfect!
Very Kinks. Very enjoyable. I'm giving it 4 because I haven't got time to get to know it.
This one's pretty great. I discovered it a couple of years ago when going through the Rolling Stones 500 list. Its not as good as Madvillainy but I still like it.
Enjoyable and innovative for the time. Some classics like Waterloo Sunset.
Waterloo Sunset is an absolute classic but the rest not so much!
Sounds like mid career Beatles.
Pretty much the opposite of what luckynewman13 listened to. Did not enjoy this one at all; I think I’m not a fan of the 60s “Beatlemania” type music. I think it’s bland and unimaginative. There was one good song on here (Waterloo Sunset), and the rest sounded like they were either written by an 8th grader in the throes of a crush, or they raided the dumpster behind McCartney’s flat for the songs he threw out. Not a good listen. 2/5
I do really like The Kinks. A good amount of these songs are on playlists of mine. Solid album.
Didn’t do anything for me
Oh yeah that's the stuff
Nice Album,
Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: Tea, melancholy, and emotional repression — bottled and harmonized. Favorite Track: “Waterloo Sunset” — it’s what nostalgia would sound like if it were kind.
Low-mid 3? Opening track is not my fav but generally fine
The Kinks had burst onto the scene in the mid-60s with hard-hitting anthems such as 'You Really Got Me' and 'All Day and All of the Night', songs that would be a pivotal reference point for the future punk rock movement, but by 1967, the Davies brothers and their merry men wanted to prove they were more than one-trick ponies. 'Something Else' is, quite literally, the answer to The Kinks' more explorative and adventurous side, eschewing raw power-chord rock and roll in favour of baroque pop and almost 'shanty-like' sing-a-longs. Think Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd minus the psychedelic weirdness. It's certainly not a bad record though. The songs are short, sharp and catchy, and Ray Davies certainly proves he has the songwriting chops to rival John Lennon and Paul McCartney in places. It's quite interesting that The Kinks came out of the blocks with such punchy and aggressive tunes only to refine their sound into something more relaxed and accessible (for the time anyway). It now makes sense that The Kinks are the same band who sang 'You Really Got Me' and 'Lola', as it used to blow me away that 'Lola' was a Kinks song, as it sounded nothing like what I thought their modus operandi to be. Well, given 'Something Else' is the half-way point on the timeline between those two songs, it truly fills in the gap. 'Something Else' is such a joyful album with accessible songs and themes, and while none of the songs really hit as hard as 'You Really Got Me' or 'All Day and All of the Night' do, I can see how the songwriting of Ray Davies inspired future bands (notably The Jam, Buzzcocks, Blur and Oasis) to keep a strong British flair to their sound. Best songs: David Watts, Death of a Clown, Harry Rag, Waterloo Sunset
2.5/5
Listen, I really like The Kinks, I'd actively listen to this album, or any of their others, but it is kinda just, "something else by the kinks"
Has a jangly, circus-like sound. I think what they call baroque pop/music hall British music of the period. It’s not my taste. Most songs are short - around the 3 minute mark or less. The album is unoffensive - a pleasant listen in the background. Waterloo Sunset is the standout track.
Great
i wish this was something else by anyone else. tuneless and meandering. felt over an hour long even at a tight 35. boo!!!
i think of myself as someone who likes the kinks, but this album was a snoozefest of 60s britpop. this site links to the bonus track edition on spotify but after listening to all of it, waterloo sunset is really the only track here worth caring about in the slightest. such a bummer, since the kinks are definitely capable of writing catchy, captivating songs. favorites: death of a clown, harry rag, waterloo sunset
6.5/10 Favourite: Waterloo Sunset Least Favourite: Two Sisters
I like the Kinks. They are worthy of the list. However, this is not their best work.
exactly what i’m looking for, i love this style of music
8/10… baroque Pop / 60s rock 👂
its fine im just annoyed at how british it is
Vähän jo taiteellisempaa alkuränttätänttää briteistä
The Kinkseillä on muutama hyvä ralli mutta ei tällä levyllä. Vähän toistava. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yllättävän hyvä kuuntelu! Monipuolista tavaraa ja nykypäivänä relevanttia säveltämistä!
With their catalogue, I'm extremely surprised that this record was selected. It was their lowest selling record at the time. It is one of their most diverse and has "Death of a Clown", which is one of my favorite Kinks songs. It just seems like one of those hipster picks.
A good kinks album has no filler songs. First listen I found it boring in comparison to my favorite kinks album. 2nd listen I found it subtler and more polished. It’s probably a 5 with subsequent relistens. May need a revisit later.
Hate to say it (since I adore some other Kinks work), but this album didn't catch me. Found it a little dull.
Not sure what I was expecting, but it was not this. faded into the background without any real stand out.
I loved it. Like the album form of The Dubliners or Winesburg, Ohio.
Death of a Clown was sort of poignant, but can I have something else by the kinks besides "Something Else By The Kinks"? First listen through did give me a couple shrugs, thinking maybe .but no so much. Listened before? N Saved tracks? N Favorite tracks? None ⭐⭐⭐ Liked it ok but saved no tracks
Quintessential British invasion.
Five Stars if only for Waterloo Sunset.
Ray Davies had already been sketching out his vision of the English village green by 1966, though it would not fully bloom until The Village Green Preservation Society two years later. Which leaves Something Else in an awkward spot: a Kinks record released in the long shadow of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, without the cohesion, scope, or studio wizardry that defined 1967’s high watermark. Davies, forced into the producer’s chair after Shel Talmy’s departure, did not have the luxury of the Beatles’ sonic palette. Something Else is not beautifully or cleverly produced, nor is it particularly well sequenced. What it offers instead is a patchwork of Davies’s miniatures - sometimes sharp, sometimes shapeless. Davies has often been lauded as pop’s master of character studies, but McCartney was already excelling in that field. Eleanor Rigby in 1966, She’s Leaving Home in 1967 - these were exquisitely detailed human portraits. By contrast, Davies’s formula was becoming predictable: a few light observations in the verses, a neat chorus, little development as the song unfolds. You heard it on Dedicated Follower of Fashion. Tin Soldier Man is the worst offender here, the weakest in Davies' string of Man songs stretching from A Well-Respected Man, through Session Man to Ape Man. Even David Watts, taut, punchy and enjoyable as it is, tells us little about its subject - or its narrator, hiding behind a coy homoerotic fantasy. Davies was always coy about the person here. Elsewhere, the narratives - when there are any - fall flat. The moral of Two Sisters is traditionalist schmaltz, especially in an era when Sgt Pepper was encouraging even civil servants to expand their minds. Situation Vacant reduces itself to a stale mother-in-law gag, while McCartney was busy drawing grannies into the psychedelic fold. Lennon sneered at such fare as "granny shit," but the point stands: the Beatles were redefining the generational conversation, while Davies seemed stuck in your granda's music hall. In hindsight, I wish Davies had bided his time, learned his way around the studio, stockpiled the strongest songs. But that wasn't the way things were done then. His later albums would be criticised for their thematic rigidity, but at their best his Hogarthian sketches coalesce into broader social commentary - as they would on Village Green. Here, you wonder what is the point of listening different people who smoke on Henry Rag. Still, without Something Else, we would lose some of the Kinks' finest moments. Singular works, there would be no place for them in Davies' thematic preoccupations. Waterloo Sunset is not a character piece at all but a panoramic canvas, a Whistler-like view of the Thames that captures both the sweep of London life and the solitary contentment of the man in the crowd. Terry and Julie - Stamp and Christie, or just some young lovers that any of us might know - exist simultaneously as Swinging London icons and anonymous figures on the embankment. That duality is what made the psychedelic moment so powerful: the extraordinary rendered universal. And then there is Death of a Clown, one of the best of Dave Davies’s turns, rough-edged, sure, but somehow it pierces right through your heart. Throw in David Watts and End of the Season and you're golden. Something Else is uneven, awkward, and frequently slight - but also the cradle of one of the greatest songs of the sixties. It is the Kinks caught between worlds: too restless for the old beat boom, not yet equipped for the new studio age. It is not a masterpiece, barely a record, but it was, at least, the sketchbook in which Ray Davies finally drew Waterloo Sunset. 3 This is a delightful album and I was very happy to listen to it today. There’s a little dip in the middle with Situation Vacant, which doesn’t quite work, and Love Me Till the Sun Shines which is ill-fitting and dull. Those tracks aside, Something Else is very special. Certainly more special than anyone could have guessed from the self-sabotaging title and cover art, which have the air of having been thrown together by the record label in 5 minutes. Of course there is a double meaning to Something Else, but poor Americans, for example, who had been lumbered with a Capitol faux Beatles album a couple of years before called ‘Something New’ must have struggled to find it. It’s hard not to think of The Beatles when you listen to the Kinks in their pomp. The baroque delicacy and the English character sketches and the mix of sweet and silly. I think part of the reason I love the Kinks is that I feel a bit sorry for them. Why should any band that are capable of pop music as slick and idiosyncratic as David Watts or as profound and beautiful as Waterloo Sunset have to suffer comparison with anyone? Well they just do sadly, but The Kinks deserve all the laurels they get, however crushed, and I will add that Ray Davies is funnier than The Beatles. ‘Sybilla looked into her mirror/ Percilla looked into the washing machine’ It shouldn’t be possible to have that line open a song and then have the song turn out beautiful and affecting but there is the unique magic of The Kinks at their best. 4/5
It was OK
ooh… definitely one of my favorite kinks i’ve listened to. up there with village green and lola
I thought I was going to like this one more than I actually did.
Not the best Kinks album but I still Liked it a lot. Easy to see the influence it had on Brit-pop here.
7/10
A little too silly for me.
Had many highs and lows. It's a very decent album
This isn't bad. But it's not what I would consider good either. It's just sort of there. Somehow just this lifeless thing that wants to be weird.
Better than the Beatles and Stones by a country mile.
Waterloo sunset is 10x better than all other tracks
I love their great songs. The rest just sound like the rest honestly
Not terrible but I really don't like this British rock genre from this time period. Cheesy lyrics and tropes
# In-Depth Review: *Something Else By The Kinks* (1967) ## 📀 Overview *Something Else By The Kinks*, released in September 1967, is the fifth studio album by the English rock band The Kinks. Often regarded as one of their finest works, the album marks a transitional phase in the band's career, bridging their early riff-driven rock sound and the more nuanced, narrative-driven style that would define their later work. Despite its commercial underperformance at the time of release, the album has since been recognized as a masterpiece of lyrical storytelling, musical sophistication, and cultural commentary . ## 🎤 Lyrics and Themes ### Narrative Depth and Character Studies The album’s lyrics, primarily penned by Ray Davies, are a highlight, showcasing his knack for **vivid character studies** and **social commentary**. Davies explores themes of: - **Class and Identity**: Songs like "David Watts" critique the idealized British schoolboy hero, with undertones of class envy and latent homoeroticism . - **Nostalgia and Loss**: Tracks such as "Waterloo Sunset" and "End of the Season" reflect on the passage of time, loneliness, and the erosion of traditional English life . - **Domestic Struggles**: "Two Sisters" allegorically portrays the Davies brothers’ relationship, using the dichotomy between siblings to explore themes of freedom vs. responsibility . - **Everyday Escapism**: "Harry Rag" (rhyming slang for "cigarette") uses smoking as a metaphor for small comforts in mundane lives . ### Subtle Humor and Pathos Davies’ lyrical style blends **wit and melancholy**, often masking dark themes with deceptively cheerful melodies. For example, "Death of a Clown" (co-written with Dave Davies) uses circus imagery to convey existential fatigue, while "Situation Vacant" critiques societal pressures with a satirical edge . ## 🎵 Music and Sound ### Genre Blending and Musical Diversity The album’s sound is a fusion of: - **British Music Hall**: Tracks like "Harry Rag" and "End of the Season" incorporate piano-driven, vaudevillian melodies . - **Acoustic and Psychedelic Influences**: "Lazy Old Sun" experiments with dreamy, psychedelic textures, while "Waterloo Sunset" features lush harmonies and a iconic descending guitar riff . - **Rock and Pop Elements**: "David Watts" is a energetic rocker with a driving rhythm, and "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" leans into blues-rock . ### Instrumentation and Arrangements The band’s performances are refined yet restrained: - Dave Davies’ guitar work is melodic and economical, avoiding showy solos in favor of serving the song . - Session pianist Nicky Hopkins adds elegance with harpsichord ("Two Sisters") and piano ("David Watts") . - The rhythm section (Mick Avory on drums and Pete Quaife on bass) provides tight, understated support . ## 🎛 Production ### DIY Aesthetic and Clarity Ray Davies took over production duties from Shel Talmy (though Talmy retained a contractual co-producer credit), resulting in a **clearer, more intimate sound** compared to the band’s earlier wall-of-noise approach . The production emphasizes: - **Vocal Prominence**: Ray’s vocals are mixed front-and-center, highlighting the lyrical narratives. - **Acoustic Texture**: Songs like "Afternoon Tea" feature delicate acoustic guitar strumming and minimalistic arrangements . - **Experimental Touches**: "Lazy Old Sun" uses Mellotron and tape-delay effects to create a hazy, psychedelic atmosphere . ### Limitations Some critics note that the production feels **dated** in places (e.g., the bossa nova rhythm of "No Return" sounds contrived), and the album’s lack of stereo mixing on early releases may detract from its depth for modern listeners . ## 🧭 Themes and Cultural Context ### Reaction Against Psychedelia In 1967, as bands like The Beatles and Pink Floyd embraced psychedelic experimentation, The Kinks doubled down on **Englishness** and **nostalgia**. *Something Else* is conspicuously devoid of psychedelic excess, instead focusing on grounded, relatable stories . ### Social Commentary The album captures the **tensions of post-war Britain**, exploring themes of class inequality, suburban ennui, and the decline of traditional values. Tracks like "Tin Soldier Man" critique conformity, while "Waterloo Sunset" finds beauty in urban isolation . ## 💡 Influence and Legacy ### Impact on Later Genres - **Britpop**: Bands like Blur and Pulp drew inspiration from The Kinks’ distinctly English storytelling . - **Punk and New Wave**: The Jam covered "David Watts," embracing its anti-establishment ethos . - **Singer-Songwriter Tradition**: Ray Davies’ nuanced character studies influenced artists like Elvis Costello and Jarvis Cocker . ### Critical Reassessment Though a commercial flop upon release, *Something Else* is now hailed as a **classic of the 1960s** and included in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time . ## ️✅ Pros and Cons ### Pros 1. **Lyrical Brilliance**: Ray Davies’ songwriting is sharp, empathetic, and richly detailed . 2. **Musical Diversity**: The album seamlessly blends rock, music hall, and folk influences . 3. **Dave Davies’ Contributions**: His songs ("Death of a Clown," "Funny Face") add depth and variety . 4. **Influence**: Its impact on later genres is undeniable . ### Cons 1. **Inconsistent Flow**: Some tracks (e.g., "No Return," "Lazy Old Sun") feel underdeveloped or out of place . 2. **Dated Production**: The minimalist approach may lack the dynamism of modern recordings . 3. **Commercial Failure**: Its poor sales limited the band’s resources for future projects . ## 🎚 Conclusion *Something Else By The Kinks* is a testament to The Kinks’ artistic courage and Ray Davies’ singular vision. While it may lack the psychedelic grandeur of its contemporaries, it compensates with lyrical depth, musical innovation, and a deeply humanistic perspective. Its legacy as a cornerstone of British rock is well-deserved, and it remains essential listening for fans of intelligent, emotionally resonant music.
Forgettable. 🤷♀️ Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): N/A ⭐⭐: Didn't like it, didn't hate it. Saved no tracks.
A good album, I liked Death Of A Clown, Harry Rag and Wonderboy the most.
Representa bem a época a qual foi lançado. Minha favorita foi Harry Rag...
Liked Waterloo Sunset. kind of knock off beatles other than that
It’s fine I guess. Plenty of other kinks I like better
Absolutely loved death of a clown and harry rag. Overall pretty decent album
Uhhhhh I liked it! Fine album all in all, Two sisters somewhat irritated me but there were some real gems on here. Mainly referring to: Death of a clown and Tin soldier man here. Some songs really didn’t really do it for me but I think it had more hits than misses all and all
I have really whiffed on The Kinks all these years and have not paid them the attention they deserve. I like their indie rock vibe, and listening to this album reminded me of Guided By Voices and others that have obviously sprouted from the seeds The Kinks have dropped.
03/09/2025 I mean it was okay, I didn't get a hard on for it. Probably wouldn't listen again.
I’ve seen dozens of iterations of these lists, and they always manage to place a different album by The Kinks on it. I don’t think this is a positive. They’re clearly a good band and have some type of branch on the Tree of Rock, but lacking a universally accepted watershed album is really a detriment, IMO. And honestly, if you snuck “Listen to the Flower People” into the mix of this album, I wouldn’t have noticed.
Old Beatles vibes
I could hear The Beatles influence.
I saw the Beatles wearing army pants and flip flops so I went out and bought army pants and flip flops.
It starts out great. But it feels like it takes forever to get from Death of a Clown to Waterloo Sunset.
Clearly about the lyrics but enough going on musically to draw you in and get you interested in what they have to say
It was okay, not my favorite.
These songs all kinda sound the same. Many are repetitive; some are silly, and not in the fun way. Lazy Old Sun was deeply unpleasant, like listening to an old battery-powered tape player dying. Did not enjoy this very much. 2.5 rounded up
Love it. Many great songs here
This is unmistakably The Kinks—Ray’s songwriting quirks, Dave’s bite, the whole British-music-hall-through-a-rock-band filter—but it’s also a pivot point for the group. You can hear them stretching, testing where their sound can go. A few tracks absolutely land: sharp, charming, melodic in that “only The Kinks could write this” way. But there are also moments where the experimentation feels more like searching than finding. It’s not a bad record—far from it—but it has that classic “transitional album” energy: a band pushing past the formula that worked, trying to see what else is possible. Interesting, sometimes brilliant, occasionally uneven. A necessary step in their evolution, even if it’s not the album I’d hand someone as the entry point.
2/5
Just think, 1967 was Sgt. Pepper's and Satanic Majesties. Lazy Old Sun by itself would propel the Kinks into that company, then add David Watts and Waterloo Sunset. So it becomes an impulse in these British Invasioners to explore poetic expression. Revolver really raised the bar and taught everyone to pole vault.
In the week where Terence Stamp died it’s appropriate to have Waterloo Sunset in the mix. The kinks are always whimsical and poignant and great artisans. WS alone is a work of art that deserves top marks.
For decades, I lived under the misguided assumption that since I knew a handful of hits by The Kinks that I pretty much had them sussed and didn't need to explore further. Turns out, the best of their material is stuff that never made the radio, at least not in the States. This is another album full of great songs and clever turns and social insight and it's never a chore to listen to. I'm still in discovery mode, so I can't gauge their catalog to know which are my personal picks, but this was another great record.
I love The Kinks and this is one of their best. Ray's songwriting is in top form here: his empathy on Two Sisters; his chords on Lazy Old Sun; his cheeky wordplay on David Watts; and his everything on Waterloo Sunset. Plus Dave chimes in with three winners of his own. A classic, understated album.
Reminder to self: "Listen to more of The Kinks. You will be delighted."
Love The Kinks!
Manages to be both backward looking and forward looking at the same time.
Ні, не моє.
I really like the Kinks - their greatest hits album is wall to wall bangers - and there are a few of them on this album. There is a notable drop in quality to the album tracks - but after listening a few times they are all working their charms. The sound quality /production is pretty dog shit tho unfortunately. Fav track David Watts.
entertaining, with their cocky cockney lyrics.
Like if The Beatles were good and not great
Not a big fan
I feel like this is the kinks trying to be deep or more artsy idk. Didnt work for me compared to their other more traditional kink punk jams.
The album really opens up in the latter third and becomes much more expansive and interesting. That's not the say that the early songs aren't good, because they are, but they are much more middle-of-the-road. Either way, "Waterloo Sunset" was always going to be highlight here. It's one of the most perfect pop songs ever written and is still full of magic.
I truly do not understand this album. Clearly I'm missing something, but I didn't find any of this interesting.
Catchy but not something I would revisit
The kinks rule but this was a year or two before they really found it. Harry Rag sounds like it could be on Rain Dogs. Waterloo sunset is elite
Paul McCartney could craft a more beautiful melody but I'll be damned if you can find a finer English lyricist from the Sixties than Ray Davies. I prefer Village Green and Arthur more than Something Else but this is as good as rock and roll can get. Waterloo Sunset is another one of those Inner Circle songs. 4.5 for me.
This album is fine, and very British in its baroque-pop style. But as someone who really likes the Kinks, I get why this album sold poorly. Waterloo Sunset redeems what is a lot of meh
If you had played this for me and told me it was a joke or parody album The Kinks had made, I would have completely bought it. This is not version of The Kinks that I prefer. I recognize the voice, but that's about all.
Excellent
Cuantos discos iguales van a meter? Me tiene cansado esto. Nota: 1.7
No matter how hard I try to get into the Kinks, it just doesn’t stick.
(83/100)
It feels highly inspired by the Beatles albums the previous few years. It’s missing all the raw rock that makes the debut awesome and doesn’t have the hooks that Village Green would have.
Didn’t do much for me. I did enjoy some of the guitar licks.
pretty good but the sound is incredibly emblematic of the 60s.
The first line “I am a dull and simple lad” sums up men really. Reminded me of The Beatles, just sillier. Not too bad.
I used to really love this band and I have a relationship with this album. Possibly was more of a village green guy though? They have some of that beatles pure magic but of course through their own lens. Waterloo sunset is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I know. Unfortunately on the few times I listened through it this time it passed me by a little bit. Makes me want to try their other records again
I just can’t stand 60s baroque pop
Something else is a collection of songs that, while perfectly fine, don't have the charm of those on Village Green Preservation Society. However, it ends with one of the truly great songs in Waterloo Sunset a perfect piece of music which is head and shoulders above anything else on this album and 90% of the songs on this list.
The kinks have a ton of great songs. None of them will be found on this album. I get that they were trying different things and it is different than normal but it just fell flat for me. Hopefully next Kinks album will have Sunny Afternoon, Lola, or even an 80's pop song like Come Dancing. Anything would be better than this.
Bit dated for my taste, some catchy songs like tin solider man and lazy old sun
♫ As long as I gaze on, Waterloo sunset, I am in paradise ♫
..
A few good songs (waterloo sunset), the rest is mediocre.
Not quite a 4 for me but still an enjoyable album. Ending with Waterloo Sunset was a nice surprise
By now I know how cool The Kinks are thanks to this book, but why is another album in the list? I mean, what’s special about it? Well, I really enjoyed it anyways.
I probably would have loved this album if I lived in 1967 England. A few too many tea references for me, but obviously a hugely influential group and album.
Strange album, some songs have a bit of an edge, while some felt like they had been written around a campfire or sung by hobbits. Extra credit though for introducing me to the phrase “harry rag”
solid mid
I’m a middle of the road Kinks fan. I generally like their sound, but wouldn’t write home about them. Nothing wrong with this album, but also not a standout for any reason.
Much more pleasant and interesting than Face to Face immediately before it, a likeable '60s rock album if less unique or groundbreaking than their other contemporaries
afternoon tea more like afternoon Celsius.. or I'd catch afternoon z's
Don't see any reason why I'd listen to this when Village Green Preservation Society exists but it's still overall pleasant but just soooo British... I'd rather listen to SOMETHING ELSE hahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahah Fav song: Waterloo Sunset or Lazy Old Sun
When did harpsichords become de rigeour for pop albums in the 60s?
Beatles
Now I wish I hadn't given Arthur or the Decline… 3 stars because that one is better. Anyhow, this is decent enough, but it's a bit disappointing given that the talent level seems higher than the actual output. (Except Waterloo Sunset that is, which is lighyears ahead the rest of the songs.)
405/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Good album, not my favorite from them
It's not Lola is it.
Meh except for the couple of singles which stood out.
One of the worse Kinks albums. Still, not terrible. Fave Song: Autumn Almanac
Great first song and the rest was just a music at a 1980s diner vibe. Favourite Song: David Watts
It’s not bad but it’s not great, later half of the album was better. Did like “love me till the sun shines“ and “lazy old sun” even more so.
I quite enjoyed this album. I am gonna drink to the death of a clown the day Trump dies
Very good album of The Kinks. Waterloo Sunset is my favourite track of them.
Eén van de beste Kinks albums imo David Watts, Death of a Clown, Waterloo Sunset en Autumn Almanac! 4.2
Sorti en 1967, en pleine explosion du rock psychédélique et du "Summer of Love", "Something Else" by The Kinks est un album qui semble exister hors du temps. Alors que le monde musical regardait vers San Francisco avec des fleurs dans les cheveux, Ray Davies, le parolier et chanteur du groupe, tournait son regard vers les rues pavées de Londres, les petites habitudes de ses compatriotes et la mélancolie d'une Angleterre en pleine mutation. Le résultat est un chef-d'oeuvre intemporel, un recueil de vignettes pop d'une intelligence et d'une finesse rares. Dès les premières notes, l'album marque une rupture avec le son brut et garage des premiers succès du groupe comme "You Really Got Me". Ici, la production est plus soignée, les arrangements plus subtils, mêlant des influences de pop baroque, de music-hall et de folk. Ray Davies s'affirme comme un observateur social hors pair, un chroniqueur du quotidien capable de transformer la banalité en poésie. L'album est une collection de portraits et de scènes de vie. "David Watts", la chanson d'ouverture, est une satire brillante de l'admiration et de l'envie ressenties pour le garçon le plus populaire de l'école. Avec "Two Sisters", Ray Davies explore de manière à peine voilée la relation complexe et parfois conflictuelle qu'il entretient avec son frère Dave, en la déguisant en histoire de deux soeurs aux modes de vie opposés. Des morceaux comme "End of the Season" ou "Lazy Old Sun" distillent une atmosphère de nostalgie et de lassitude, peignant le portrait d'une gloire passée et d'un temps qui s'étire lentement. Il ne faut pas oublier la contribution cruciale de Dave Davies, qui signe et chante le tube "Death of a Clown". Avec son ambiance de fête foraine triste et son refrain puissant, la chanson apporte une touche plus rock et exubérante qui contraste magnifiquement avec la tonalité plus introspective du reste de l'album. Mais le joyau incontesté, le coeur battant de "Something Else", est bien sûr "Waterloo Sunset". Cette chanson est un pur moment de grâce. Sur une mélodie d'une beauté poignante, Ray Davies contemple le coucher de soleil sur la Tamise, trouvant un réconfort et une forme de paradis au milieu de la "sale vieille ville" ("dirty old town"). C'est un hymne à la solitude, à la beauté simple et à la capacité de trouver de la magie dans l'ordinaire. La chanson est à juste titre considérée comme l'une des plus belles jamais écrites dans l'histoire de la musique pop. Alors qu'il fut un succès commercial modeste à sa sortie, éclipsé par les géants de l'époque, "Something Else" by The Kinks a vu sa réputation grandir de manière exponentielle au fil des décennies. C'est un album qui se révèle écoute après écoute, un trésor de mélodies parfaites et de textes d'une profondeur littéraire. Il représente le sommet de l'art de Ray Davies en tant que conteur et la confirmation des Kinks comme l'un des groupes les plus importants et les plus singuliers de leur génération. Un disque essentiel pour quiconque s'intéresse à l'âge d'or de la pop britannique. Un beau 4 sur 5
Love The Kinks.
The Kinks are always good. I love their sound so much. This isn’t my pick for their best album, but it’s definitely top five for me. The second half of the sixties treated them very well, creatively speaking. The finale is possibly their best song, but every single track has its own character and they can all easily stand on their own. The reason that they never gained as much popularity as the Stones or Beatles or other contemporary bands is frustrating to me, but not surprising. Their style is a little niche, but I adore it. 4/5
Beatles sounding rock. It was okay.
I really like the Kinks - their greatest hits album is wall to wall bangers - and there are a few of them on this album. There is a notable drop in quality to the album tracks - but after listening a few times they are all working their charms. The sound quality /production is pretty dog shit tho unfortunately. Fav track David Watts.
Something Else by The Kinks I should listen to The Kinks more often. I did have a period about 15 years ago when I was really into them, and the run from Face to Face to Muswell Hillbillies, including this one, really is fantastic. I would assume this one is possibly a bit overlooked in comparison to the three truly excellent albums that follow it, and while it’s not perfect, it is a great album, with some pleasing oddities, and a nice mix of sincerity and sardonicism, ahead of some of the bitterness and cynicism that coloured them in the 70s. And any album with Waterloo Sunset can only be good, especially supported by some excellent songs like David Watts, Death of a Clown and Love me ‘till the Sun Shines. I like the slightly low key and whimsical tone, with obvious baroque, chamber pop and psychedelic influences, but it doesn't go in for big grandstanding musical gestures, or flower power hippie mysticism, and for all the harpsichord driven songs like Two Sisters there are little folky shuffles like No Return, and lyrically it focuses on nostalgia, sentimentality and generally empathetic and bittersweet pen portraits or characters and situations. For an album recorded after Rubber Soul and Revolver and contemporaneously with Sgt Pepper, the production and mixing is very haphazard, sounding quite amateurish at times, and really lacking a depth and richness. Some songs sound better than others, and generally the vocals, backing vocals and harmonies are all very good, particularly on Tears of a Clown, but the drums and bass and guitars are very up and down, and the mix is a bit all over the place, the handclaps seem excessively loud on Afternoon Tea, and the bass goes from a nice bright tone on some songs, to barely audible on Love Me ‘till the Sun Shines. It manages to overcome that because the songs are generally great, David Watts (the name of my cousin, co-incidentally), the brilliant oddness of Death of a Clown, Two Sisters and No Return, the musichall singalong of Harry Rag, the horn driven whimsy of Tin Soldier Man, the excellent Situation Vacant, the terrific soul influenced Love Me ‘till the Sun Shines, the woozy, slightly creepy psychedelic-folk of Lazy Old Sun, the classic 60s Kinks pop of the superb Afternoon Tea, the excellent Funny Face and of course the peerless Waterloo Sunset. Despite that, I’m not quite sure it is at the same level as Village Green, Arthur or Lola. It’s a superb album, but rated against them and perhaps a little harshly it is a very high 4. 🌇🌇🌇🌇 Playlist submission: Love Me ‘till the Sun Shines is one of my favourite Kinks songs, but it has to be Waterloo Sunset really
It's an album by a band I love, but an album I know isn't five material, even though I desperately want it to be. There's just too much filler here amongst the timeless classics. It'd probably be fair to take the handful of gems and give the album a five on the strength of those - but I feel there's too much that's substandard by the superlative standards set across their 60s catalogue. And I've finally realised Waterloo Sunset is perfect. Better than any Monet evoking Thames sunset. It's the highest of fours.
#112 - it's ok, like a sort of edgier Beatles
I really like the kinks and this seems to be an unplugged album. I’m not sure why it’s on here. I think there’s other albums by them that are so much better. It’s like the person who did the list wants us to know that there’s another side of the kinks. The last song Waterloo Sunset is great and I had heard that one before. Otherwise, it was completely new to me.
I don't know, 1st listen here and about 2/3rds through it.....boring and it sounds like one long song so far. Ill report back later!
The Kinks doing their own thing, and being good at it. The opening rif of Waterloo Sunset really makes me think The Strokes were trying to channel The Kinks in some of their work.
I have always respected the Kinks. I always thought these guys were the underground The Beatles. They could/should have been as big as the Beatles or Rolling Stones. Great tunes and songwriting. Pretty cool album. Nothing really stood out to me. I stopped after 8 tracks. 3-stars
A mid 3s album for me. Death of a Clown is amazing and Waterloo Sunset a perfect song. A very solid album. Kinks underrated in my books.
A delightful listen.
Was hoping to hear some Lola but not on this album. Definitely more avant-garde, experimental vibes here. Wikipedia calls it a "trend toward an eccentric baroque pop and music hall-influenced style", so... sure. Nothing super interesting but nothing that great either.
Sometimes it’s astounding that so many good melodies lived inside Ray Davies’s head.
Sitä Beatles soundia josta tykkään. Pakko verrata Beatlesiin koska siitä tätä ekaksi kuulin. Hauskaa tekstiä ja rallattelua.
im a bitch for basic 60s rock
Quite like early-mid Beatles. A couple of memorable songs, but most are quite samey. 3.5/5
Kinks aren't bad.
This is one of the biggest time capsules on this list I've had so far. A certain camp charm, very middle English. Nothing really stood out apart from Waterloo Sunset.
Something Else By The Kinks це один з тих альбомів, які сьогодні вважаються класикою, але у свій час публіка їх не особливо оцінила. Попри наявність двох британських хітів, включно з легендарною Waterloo Sunset, альбом став найгіршим релізом гурту у комерційному плані. Причина була проста, у 1967 році музичний світ стрімко змінювався. Психоделія ставала все масштабнішою, а рок-музика дедалі частіше прагнула вражати експериментами та концептуальністю. На цьому ж альбомі, зібрані прості, буденні історії, що здебільшого базуються на життєвих спостереженнях та подаються під соусом з гіркувато-солодких мелодій, створюючи вайб суто англійської, томної, та як зараз би сказали, «думерської» ностальгії. Не дивно, що саме звідси виросте наступний великий шедевр гурту - The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. Серед моментів які є головними прикрасами цього альбому, я б відзначив трек Two Sisters, що розігрує конфлікт між сімейним життям та свободою через історію двох сестер, та Waterloo Sunset, що вже став одним з найвпізнаваніших музичних портретів Лондона. Так, можливо у 1967 році Something Else By The Kinks здавався надто «скромним» та непомітним. Але ця стриманість дозволила йому постаріти значно «красивіше» ніж багатьом іншим гучним тогочасним релізам.
Not my favorite 60s band but there's still a lot to love here
Is it just me, or was "Tin Soldier Man" the inspiration for the Spongebob Squarepants theme song?
I see a lot of reviews comparing the Kinks to the Beatles, but the difference is that the later had good songs on their albums.
No exceptional tracks on here but some skips. In general OK
Its good Not as good as I thought it was gonna be, but good. Kinks have been slightly disappoting for me when I've tried to get into them in this project. They are good but im always waiting for something to blow me away. If something like Strangers was on this, i be blown away 3
The back half of this album is so much better than the front half. Goes from totally forgettable tracks to a really solid last 4 starting with "Afternoon Tea". So much of this album is forgettable unfortunately.
Meh
I mean, I'm not upset that this album's on the list or anything, but why did I have to get this now? I've gotten 6 repeat artists in a row now and it's literally only been like 2 weeks since my last Kinks album! I want different things, not my 4th album from one band. Whatever. At least this album's pretty good. I do happen to like the Kinks quite a bit. They've grown on me over time. Is this their best album? No. I liked Village Green and Arthur more. But I did like this more than Face to Face, so it has that going for it. Something Else by the Kinks is pretty great though. This may not be a concept album like the ones that followed it, but it still has the things that make the Kinks at their peak a great band. Ray Davies shows some strong songwriting chops on these songs, with "Waterloo Sunset" being the obvious highlight. The instrumentation is still great. The Kinks have this sound that's kind of hard to explain, but you know it when you hear it. Maybe it has to do with the mixing. I don't know. It's quite nice though. There really aren't any bad songs here, and the best ones are among the band's best songs in general. I really like this album. It serves as a nice reinforcement of my positive opinions regarding the Kinks. Strong 4/5. Now please give me an album from an artist or band that I haven't already gotten albums from.
Kinda sorta disappointing. The Kinks are really good this album just feels really samey throughout.
A solid album but nothing really stands out until Waterloo Sunset which is one of the finest songs of the 60s and still touching today.
The Kinks 2nd day in a row. Yesterday I got Arthur. I don't know if 2 days in a row is just too much, or this is album is not as good as Arthur. I think the latter. It has some good songs, not many great ones, and some songs are too cheesy for me. Favorite song: Waterloo Sunset.
Waterloo sunset the obvious standout on what is a very challenging listen. Lyrically outstanding but tonally all over the place. Ray Davies has always been a singer you have to love or is a complete turn off. The latter for me.
A solid album with a lot of variety. Favorite track: "Lazy Old Sun"
Waterloo Sunset already is a 4 stars. Then there are the other songs that are amazing as well. Funny, clever, inventive, trippy. The Kinks are a gem.
5 With the States as a impossibility, the Kinks turned their eyes toward British culture. Ray Davies's Music Hall-laden baroque Pop may have delivered the worst sales numbers ever. However, every track here was a single in waiting for the return to post-Summer of Love realism ("David Watts") and natural beauty ("Waterloo Sunset.")
Rolig og let hyggeligt. Siger mig dog ikke det store.
Der er godt nok lagt fra den beskidte lyd på You Really Got Me Now og så til det her barok-pop. Jeg er ikke kæmpe fan af den her version af The Kinks.
Waterloo Sunset is an outstanding tune, everything else is OK.
Clean, tight, original sound. Great production for the 60’s !
As English as cricket and cream tea. Such a good band with so many good songs. But this isn't quite the complete article.
Pretty fun album
In their classic run, I've often thought this is the weakest - and another listen didn't change my mind. It is the weakest because it is so uneven, and probably as a result of the fact it's the only one in that feted run that couldn't be argued as a concept album. I liked some of the tracks very much, and the ones I didn't particularly like just passed me by.
Big fan of the Kinks, their hits and the rest. A proper Brit band a proper Kinks album.
A great representation of a couple years into the British invasion. Never heard any of it but it all felt familiar. 3.5
Unsurprisingly I liked this album - I've always been a fan of the slightly kitschy late 60s 'britpop' sound ala Sgt. Pepper's and Village Green Preservation Society, that would also get revisited later with Blur and Pulp. Waterloo Sunset is an absolute classic, and this is definitely a stepping stone to the tighter, more musically adventurous albums that would come later. The Kinks continue to surprise me with every deep dive, and show they were more than just a standard 60s pop rock band.
This was a good dive into the Kinks, relaxing and peaceful
This was a listenable but kind of forgettable bit of 60s pop rock. Honestly, the whole time I was listening I couldn'r help but feel like the band was trying to cash in on Beatlesmania, though I say this as someone who isn't super familiar with the band outside of their hits like You Really Got Me, Lola, or All of the Day and All of the Night.
A pretty fun Chamber pop album. Could find myself liking this with a few more listens
This was pretty good I enjoyed it
I liked this, nother decent efforr from the kinks
Relaxing to listen too 👍
I enjoy the Kinks. I've always felt that they get overshadowed by the Beatles and Stones, but they were a pioneer of the British Invasion with a sound all their own! This album started off strong, got boring for a bit, and then finished strong.
It sounds like the kinks, I don’t really like the kinks
4.5
Why do I always end up liking the Kinks damnit
Jaunty and affable Brit rock. Doesn't seem that exciting to me, although I can imagine it was a bigger deal at the time.
I know the Kinks have better. You know the Kinks have better. We all know the Kinks have better. Which begs the question, how many Kinks albums are on this thing?
I *should* like the kinks. They are rough-and-ready proto-Britpop, with social commentary, quirky lyrics, raw sound and experimental phases. I like the fact that they exist! I enjoy reading about and seeing pictures of Ray Davies. However, when I'm listening to this album (with the exception of Waterloo Sunset) I am not really enjoying myself. I don't know why. I just don't think it's that nice. Sorry.
This album was okay. Nothing to write home about. “Something Else” has broken my epic album streak. I won’t listen to an album today because I’m in hospital. Hopefully, I’ll listen to the next one tomorrow. 3 stars for “Something Else by the Kinks”.
= to the Beatles Trying hard to be the Beatles
These guys remind me a lot of the Beatles, so part way through this album I was really enjoying it…but there were some clunkers in there that dragged it down to a three.
Really didn’t like it. Sounded like a collection of Beatles songs that weren’t quite good enough to be on any Beatles albums; Waterloo Sunset being the exception. So far this album generator feels a lot like a boomer driven experience.
A very fun, catchy and a bit silly album. It also contains some psychedelic elements, but they aren't as predominant as the memorable and more Pop oriented tunes. A very solid listen.
In general I don’t like it as much as the other Kinks album I’ve heard on here but it definitely has some strong tracks including “Situation Vacant”.
It's a bit dull but alright
Fantastic stuff.
Every time I hear a kinks album it's never what I think it's going to be.
weird and only mostly in the good way. could i write poetry to this? n
As this project goes on, the repeated appearance of certain artists becomes more and more irritating. This is the third album from the Kinks that we have reviewed and they are all from the same era. All three are virtually identical.
Just can’t seem to get into this band.
I cannot get over how good this band was for such a long time. They deserve to be in the same discussion as the Beatles and Stones.
I'm glad I gave this a second listen. I didn't really click with it the first time. My third Kinks album so far in doing this. Not as crazy about this as Face To Face and Arthur. This was pretty good too, but I guess for my taste I wanted something more energetic and proto-punkish. This is a pretty mellow album and it makes it feel more dated. But there are some bangers here. I do like the Kinks a lot even if this one wasn't a huge hit with me.
64/100.
It’s impossible for me to listen to The Kinks without thinking about their massive influence on Britpop, but particularly Blur. Damon Albarn took Ray Davies’ character sketches and comic scenes of English life and la la la’s and ran. I’m not English so I don’t understand it in my bones but I have a soft spot for these kinds of wry, whimsical slices of life. And I am kind of an Anglophile… just the good parts! So coming at The Kinks via Blur, even when this album gets really silly (that sea shanty Harry Rag, Tin Soldier Man) it doesn’t lose me. But really, when I’m in the mood for this sort of thing I’ll just put on Modern Life is Rubbish, Parklife, and The Great Escape. David Watts - I know this from The Jam album All Mod Cons and forgot it was a Kinks song til now. I prefer The Jam’s cover - it has more bite. Death of a clown - Kind of a Dylan song? Love me til the sun shines - these lyrics kind of suck. Afternoon Tea - this is the most English thing I’ve ever heard. I love it. Waterloo Sunset - Saved the best for last. Beautiful, classic song.
I like The Kinks. I like this album. But I don't love it. And it's not my fault. It's a man named Nathan's fault. Many years ago I was part of a trivia team and that trivia team was 5 guys in their 60s and me. I didn't get a lot of questions right because the trivia was very boomer centric, but it was a good time. It was sort of a ghosts of Christmas future situation, in a good way. They were all music guys who had lived in Toronto since their 20s. I think they saw their past in me and I saw my future in them. It was great and I miss it. Anyways, there was one guy there who had a very hot take and that take was that "The Kinks are better than The Beatles and they deserve the acclaim and respect that society has heaped on The Beatles." No one else at the table seemed to share this opinion, and had already made up their mind that society got it right and The Beatles were in fact better. At the time, I did not know The Kinks that well. At most I knew the hits: You Really Got Me, Lola and Sunny Afternoon. O, and I knew A Well Respected Man because it was on the Juno soundtrack. It also is probably still my favourite Kinks song. I could watch Michael Cera get ready to that song forever. Anyways, my lack of Kinks knowledge left me open to this hot take. I had my doubts but I said okay, i'll give it a go. So he recommended a few albums for me to check out. The one that sticks with me is The Kinds Are the Village Green Preservation Society. It's supposed to be their Sgt. Peppers. I'm not sure that it's better than Peppers, but it is a great album. So then I spent the next month diving into The Kinks, going through all their big albums, testing his claim... and ya, there stuff is good. Great even. I definitely listened to this album at the time. I love Waterloo Sunsets. It's a beautiful pop song. I actually discovered a bunch of great Kinks songs at the time, so I am glad that I listened to Nathan. Butttt they're just not The Beatles damnit. They can't hold up to that comparison. No band can really. It's not fair to The Kinks to have someone listen to their music with that bold ass take looming over them. It's too much pressure. They don't have the hooks, the sonic variety, the relatability, the charisma, the consistency. Nathan was wrong in my books. Society got it right. And now every time I listen to The Kinks, I think about this take and mutter to myself "they're no beatles." And fair or not, that's how I felt about this record. It's no beatles... but it is a solid album. It's pleasant while it's on, it sounds great, there are some catchy tunes... but it just doesn't stick with me. It doesn't help that it came out the same year as Sgt. Peppers and Magical Mystery tour. It just can't compete with those records. Sorry, I must try to consider this album in isolation. I must kill the shadow of the take. So ya, there aren't really any bad songs on this album, but many of them blur into each other. And Waterloo Sunset is just so much better than the rest of the album, it's a supernova swallowing the rest of the album hole (I guess that would make A Day In the Life the big bang allowing this album to exist). There were a few other tracks that stuck with me a bit: Death of a Clown, Two Sisters (this might be my second favourite song on the album, love the organ and the melody on "jealous of her sister") and Harry Rag (has a good baseline, good refrain). The rest are just solid. Maybe it would grow on me over time? I dunno. Side note: A comparison that came to me while listening to the record that's not a pure 1 to 1, but in Brit Pop... Oasis are The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are Blur... which leaves The Kinks as Pulp... the underrated band from that time that has a die hard contingent claiming they are the best band of the genre. I guess that would make You Really Got Me their Common People. Anyways, I hope someday I can put aside The Beatles comparison and just enjoy The Kinks for what they are. But that day is not today. 3 stars.
Waterloo Sunset is a great song, but the rest of this wasn't very memorable for me. I'm going with a 2
Ambitious with hints of the quirky and cheeky side of The Beatles. Even still, they don't quite pull it off. 3 stars
Some songs just annoyed me, and others were so boring it made me want to kill myself so no thanks guys that Arthur album was better
Cheap Beatles, except for sunny afternoon, true banger. Also the deluxe version has way too much titles, listened to each song 3 times because of it, the radio one is a true pearl for the speaker
Although it sounds more like "Something Dated By The Kinks" to me - "Death Of A Clown" and "Waterloo Sunset" make it a weak three stars album for me. 2,5
Imam osjećaj da oni moraju imati nešto bolje od ovog albuma. Nije ni ovo loše ali definitivno znam kvalitetnije i upečatljivije pjesme.
Я до сих пор не уверен по поводу этой группы, но альбом мне понравился, несмотря на простуду, лень, проебанные дедлайны, и так далее. Лучшая песня - Waterloo Sunset.
It's aight
david watts hani nöd würkli checkt. wer ischer? es isch herzige pop i guess. death of a clown chli umpa umpa time. schint aber hässig z sii irgendwie. verstohni au null glaub? no return no nice bossa time. harry rag wieder bitz zu stampfig für mich. tin soldier man findi etz au ehner schyze situation vacant hani sehr cool gfunde gad s klavier und d orgle sind super. höh es hört uuf und fangt wieder aah? till the sun shines sehr es nüt irgendwie. ultra simplistisch. afternoon tea easy arsch?
de david twat hani na cool gfunde! und funny vlt wett ich auchli meh wie de david sii death of a clown het öppis komisch veträumts gha im background gsang d perkussion isch nüt unglaublichs hahaha HAHAHAH mier passiert ständig, dass ich wett in spiegel luege aber denn id wöschmaschine lueg harry rag findi seeehr cool, de marschrhythmus isch mega tin soldier man isch na fun aber nöd meh luca wie hesch du das nöd gern?? fast jede song BANGT LOVE ME TILL THE SUUUUN SHINES ich weiss nöd ich find sie suuuper mengisch han ichs gfühl ghör ich en ahsatz vo punk (oder protopunk) und WOAAAH BAAAASSSS lazy old sun isch okkkk aber nüt unglaublichs ICH WETT AU EN AFTERNOON TEA für das, dass waterloo sunset anschinend es riese ding gsi isch, findis eifach so mega ok? WOBIII ICH HANS SEHR GERN aber iwie nöd megaaa crazy andersch als anderi lieder uf dem album? puuuh knaqqaaaaappp amene 5i verbii glaub. NOMAL LOSE
I put this album as the true origin of The Kinks as I grew to really love them. They already had released a number of albums and singles that were popular but it was on Something Else that I feel they kicked off the string of great albums that include Village Green, Arthur, Lola, and Muswell Hillbillies. I always felt that one of the things that really differentiated The Kinks from their other British Invasion counterparts is that Ray really embraced his British-ness. Not that other bands hid theirs but The Kinks always came across to a young me as very British which was interesting. I think it may have lessened their appeal to some but for me it was fascinating. From the catchy "David Watts" opener (which The Jam covered quite nicely on All Mod Cons) to the brilliant "Waterloo Sunset" that closes it, Something Else is a joy to listen to. I really must do it more often.
I find The Kinks to be pretty hit and miss, and this one is pretty middle of the road. Just your average 60s pop rock, but somehow there's still something about it that makes it at least a little bit better than the rest of the slop that was being made at the time.
kinky
The original title of this was actually (Oh No, Not) Something Else By The Kinks! Len Houmous doctored the paperwork as a prank. It cost millions in legal battles to get it changed back. 2.6 2. DEATH OF A CLOWN
Enjoyable. Waterloo sunset blows all of the other songs out of the water. Just too good. Will definitely listen to this again
Good sound. Liked this more than I thought I would
Compared to the albums released in the same year, it's incredibly boring
Its pleasant, but very stereotypical 60's-70's music. It could have been the Beatles, The Who...really any British rock band of this timeframe that did a few drugs, but not so many that it became crazy psychedelic. I liked it but nothing grabbed me as fantastic.
These guys sound like more of a hot mess than Oasis! I appreciate the variety and quirkiness they bring to their music. There's always something interesting going on, even in the more 'meh' songs, and I enjoy the stories they tell. Overall, I really enjoyed almost all of this. A few of the songs were so-so, but I'm generally pretty drawn to their sound!
This is probably the most stylistically diverse album by The Kinks, released in 1967, at the height of the psychedelic era, in which they came up with something different than other top bands. It's whimsical and quirky and one of the most quintessential English albums ever. The lyrics are fantastic, the rhythm section and guitar work is really great, and it has one of the most beloved and well known English rock songs ever, 'Waterloo Sunset'. I may prefer The Village Green...or Arthur...a bit more but this albums deserves no less than another 5 star.
Everything sounds the same. Would've been a 3 otherwise. 2/5
Favourite song: Waterloo sunset. I had known Waterloo sunset for a while and it’s a great song but the rest of the album fell short of it for me. Still liked it and think it would be worth a second listen where I’m paying more attention to it. 7.0/10
Eh. I wish I could say there was a standout hit, but I can't. They're solid musicians, but I was bored through it. 2/5
Yay another one I own! 4/5 #musicsky #albumsky
Far from their best work, Waterloo Sunset however…
Thoughts before listening: The Kinks specialized in seemingly simple pop rock songs that focused on melody and catchiness over technical prowess. I'm not sure that I actually know this album, but I'd expect more of the same. Review: So I nailed the Kinks' sound on this album. There is very little of the over the top, psychedelic sound that is stereotypical of late 60s rock music. Instead you're left with fun little ear worm ditties. This album has "Waterloo Sunset" on it which is one of the best songs of this era, but I'm enjoying everything in hearing. 4-stars
I like the kinks, but this one is not as solid as some of my their other albums.
Not the most thrilling Kinks album. I love the Kinks and there are some great songs on this album, but it doesn't seem to have the cohesion that some other Kinks album and albums from other artists at the time had. Can't help but feel that this album could've had a little more oomph to it than it does. Still a pleasant enough listen from the Classic R&B British Invasion era from a band of brilliant songmakers.
7/10 I mostly listen for the music and not the lyrics. Thats why this gets only a high 3, because the lyricism is excellent. The production is just a bit dated and maybe not as inventive as certain contemporaries. Highlights: Waterloo Sunset Two Sisters Harry Rag Situation Vacant Afternoon Tea
The songwriter shows lots of potential, but they were trying too hard to change their reputation, and created a mediocre album musically. From the sounds of it the music rayed mediocre. Tried to hard to remain pop than committing to the song.
It's got Waterloo Sunset, what more do you want?
4.0 - Waterloo sunset really is a huge song, the rest was a little forgettable
So funny to me that we’ve already had a few Kinks albums, all of which are pretty good but not really special, and now we have another one called simply “Something Else by the Kinks”. And guess what - it’s something else by the Kinks. Let’s be clear something else, not something different. It’s good, not great. It has the timeless classic “Waterloo Sunset”. It has tongue in cheek lyrics and whimsical subject matter. It has some songs that are just average. It’s a Kinks album. Nothing more nothing less. 3.8/5
Great, short rock album with well-written songs. Waterloo sunset will always be the tops.
Nice variety of songs and styles. The more I listen to The Kinks, the more convinced I am that they were the closest that anyone contemporary got to The Beatles.
Meh. 2.6
Solid album. Waterloo Sunset is of course the standout, but the rest of the tunes turned out ok.
Lo que podemos esperar de un álbum de los Kinks. Temas potentes, mucha diversión y música de calidad. Quiero más de los Kinks.
01) David Watts - 7,0 02) Death of a Clown - 7,5 03) Two Sisters - 7,0 04) No Return - 7,0 05) Harry Rag - 7,0 06) Tin Soldier Man - 6,5 07) Situation Vacant - 7,0 08) Love Me Till the Sun Shines - 7,5 09) Lazy Old Sun - 6,5 10) Afternoon Tea - 7,0 11) Funny Face - 6,5 12) End of the Season - 6,5 13) Waterloo Sunset - 9,0 TOTAL: 7,08 (71/100) Current ranking: 316/542
Pretty enjoyable.
Best wel lekker! Ze zijn natuurlijk wel vrij bekend en relevant geweest, maar doe mij the Beatles of the Stones maar!
'Alweer een Kinks-plaat?' dacht ik. Maar het energieke en het simpele van dit album werkt heel aanstekelijk. Geen conceptgedoe, gewoon een stel aanstekelijke nummers en deze keer doet de maffe humor van Ray Davies het juist verrekt goed. En Waterloo Sunset is een evergreen. Dan ga ik ook niet moeilijk doen.
Zelfs The Kinks zelf hadden al door dat er teveel The Kinks was. De titel is er niet voor niets....Maar laten we eerlijk zijn. Heel anders is het niet...
Voor de 4e en als het goed is laatste keer krijgen we the Kinks voor onze kiezen. Bij vorige platen heb ik al meermaals gezegd dat een greatest hits beter was, want de kwaliteit is niet van alle nummers even hoog. En ook hebben we meermaals al aangegeven dat 3 albums echt de absolute max is. Dus wat voegt dit album dan nog toe? Of had wellicht een ander album beter geschrapt kunnen worden uit de snoblijst? Het is in weinig anders dan de andere albums van the Kinks. Er staan wat bescheiden hitjes op en het is over het algemeen prima beatmuziek. De ene keer rockt het iets meer, de andere keer heeft het weer een hoog Jan Klaassen is Trompetter-gehalte. Het fijnste vind ik uiteraard de minst theatrale nummers en misschien juist wel een nummer als Love Me Till the Sun Shines, dat helemaal niet zo'n Kinks-achtig nummer is. Dat klinkt meer een soort vroege Clapton. Ik heb ook dit album weer prima met plezier uit kunnen luisteren, maar de overbodigheid noopt me om het met niet meer dan een vergeetbare 3 te waarderen.
Loved it, can’t wait to have this on at a bbq
Nothing special. Waterloo sunset is decent, I guess.
If they'd laid off the harpsichord it would have been 4 stars.
4/5
The Kinks really called the album Something Else because even they knew it wasn’t ‘something great.’
Listened in July 2021. For some reason, I've never gotten into The Kinks as much as I have many of their 60s contemporaries. This is a great album, but not one I feel hugely compelled to return to.
Was OK. Not much else to say about it. Didn't do much for me.
4/10
Easy listening. Could put it on in the background while doing other things. Can't say I recognize any of the songs. But I might have to bust out "Death of a Clown" when you know who finally kicks the bucket.
Nah. I tried a 2nd listen and it was just kinda annoying.
There are so many hits on this album, such an influential sounds.
Not my favorite of the Kinks’ records - I prefer the three that follow this one - but Something Else has one of the greatest songs ever written, “Waterloo Sunset”, several other career highs and some really beautiful instrumentation, like on Two Sisters. It is probably their most explicitly “British” and least contemporary sounding record - at least of their early classics. I can see why this is a lot of people’s favorite Kinks’ record.
I will I was dead
Better than 90% of british music
This is really Something Else! And it's by the Kinks! Which makes it Something Else By The Kinks! Splendid and straight to the point. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The kinks really bring the whimsy
Beach Boys - Beatles - 60’s
Good Kinks album
It’s not that it’s bad music but that it feels childish the way some of Bach’s work feels against some of Chopin’s works. It is insightful how far “Rock” has changed to what we know it as now. It would also be a disservice to not acknowledge that without these early influential bands, we would not be where we’re currently at, for better or for worse.
Good
boring.
Pure fun Brit Pop-rock. Some cool structured psychedelia mixed in with witty narrative lyrics.
Beatles at home...at home
Very listenable
More enjoyable but unmemorable classic rock
Something Else By The Kinks is an interesting title that's given to a pretty good album. As far as i have heard, The Kinks do seem to be yet another Beatles clone which were more than prevalent during the 60s and they have a lot of the things you would expect from The Beatles including all the quirkiness. I'd honestly say the worst part of this album is something that isn't really the band's fault that being the recording quality but this is to be expected considering this album came out in the 1960s. The songs still sound quirky and full of energy and the album was short so i still found quite a bit to like about this album. Best Song: Situation Vacant Worst Song: Death of a Clown
Pretty nice listen. Harry Rag is pretty bad, but the rest is classic capital B British rock.
Not quite at the same level as the previous Kinks album I had heard here but I like the variety!
Don’t mind the Kinks.
It's okay.
There are a lot of popular Kinks songs which I know, but somehow none of them appear on this album. This is a perky fast moving album from the 60s, and on a 1-10 it would rate 7 out of 10. But I think I will round it down to a 3.
Sounds like the Beatles, but album cover looks like that weird long Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album. Confusing! Generally short and poppy and nice. Also, this album title is hilarious. The only way to improve on it would be to use a different band name. I assume 'Harry Rag' is Cockney rhyming slang, which is of linguistic interest. 'Tin Solider Man' reminds me a lot of Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera ("Hide your face so that the world will never find you"). I think 'Waterloo Sunset' is the only song here I've heard before. Not sure how to rate this one, 3 or 4. It's pleasant but the sound is so "old" that I don't think I'd ever listen to this on my own. Maybe we'll be generous in hopes of someday being able to give a rating of 5!
Always good music bit this was not their best album. A bit too popish and commercial. Dave rocks
not rly astounding to me as an album but kind of astounding as an outpouring of Creativity on the part of ray, who throws out a bunch of varied and compelling character sketches in a way that makes the whole record feel like it has great Worldbuilding. but tbh outside of a few songs im not quite sure it has the Sonic Chops for me to fully say that...the melodies r bouncy and genial but maybe a tad underdeveloped when deployed across the actual song structures, and the arrangements have some rly strong moments but on the whole i think village green nails a Vivid Cohesive Vibe more. still this is a cool step in quirky, literary pop music, definitely a lot of roots for indie and singer/songwriter stuff on here. im sure Someday ill be head over heels for a kinks record but i aint heard a bad one yet
Pretty good
Pretty good
La comunidad gay debe adorar este ritmo delicado y suave para sus vestiditos rosa. Creo que tienen mejores propuestas, pero....bueno, se diversificaron hacia un publico " raro".
Mom can we listen to the Beatles? "We already have the beatles at home." The Beatles at home:
Very 60s, a little Beach Boys-esque. It's ok, but nothing really stood out to me.
Bit twee on reflection, albeit with an all time great to finish. Actually managed to listen through this twice today. Enjoyed it more the first time, and it would've earned a 4. A slight downgrade after the second spin.
Previously rated: Face to Face (4/5) Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (5/5) The Village Green Preservation Society (5/5) ************************************************************** Starts off with the best track of the album, David Watts. So catchy, and I know I've heard it earlier on the list. I thought the Kinks may have re-recorded it, but no, The Jam covered it, and I thought it was the best song on that album too. Situation Vacant is another standout for me. Overall, not their best, but it's the Kinks. I will listen to it again down the road.
Beatlecore copy cat 3/5
This wasn't bad. Short but with OK variety and songs that aren't about standard 60s stuff. A little dime-a-dozen for the time but the clown song bumps this up. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
Slightly outside of my norm but this is worth returning to
Not my favorite kinks album but still pretty good.