Reviews (page 7 of 9)
Harry rag is fun Situation vacant - nice drum rhythms, weird stop near the end Love me till the sun shines - maybe fav so far Lazy old sun - cool vibes Waterloo sunset also nice but anticlimactic
Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Yeah, they had some big hits on this one I won’t forget! Favourite song: Track 13 - Waterloo Sunset
jaa ganz nett, aber soo altfattrisch
Bom, me lembra beatles e talvez tenha achado as musicas bem similares entre si dentro do album
It's alright. not much to say really
kinda cringe
I wish Lola was on this album
nothing special but not unenjoyable - the kinks have a solid formula that doesn’t really miss. highlights, as with their other albums, come when they deviate. best tracks: harry rag, David watts, Waterloo sunset
Not even the best album by The Kinks...
Hell yeah, more of The Kinks! Not my favorite album of theirs, but still immensely enjoyable. A joyful forty minute romp through The Kinks' strange, wonderful minds.
there are some nice tunes on here but the Kinks always sound a little bit fey to me. Maybe its the production levels not giving them the same sort of heft as the Who.
Twelve pretty forgettable tracks followed by Waterloo Sunset. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Waterloo Sunset Date listened: 27/04/23
Yey! I like kinks, not my fav. album tho.
Only listened to about half the album. It was ok, i guess. It didn't really hold my interest though.
Such a good album. I love the kinks. Memories of my dad's old Volvo!
Alright, but no more than that.
Greatest hits band whole album is too much
- Decent oldies vibes - Nice variety of song styles, an enjoyable enough listen - Favorite songs: Harry Rag, Tin Soldier Man
- Solid 60s rock, has some blues elements - Huge Beatles vibes, can’t tell if they’re a rip off or that’s just the sound of the time - Lazy Old Sun stands out as being different, kinda grunge?
love it!
rock pop 60-luvu ja aika pirun hyvä. ensimmäinen review Reminds me a bit of the Beatles, actually.Reminds me a bit of the Beatles, actually.Reminds me a bit of the Beatles, actually.Reminds me a bit of the Beatles, actually.Reminds me a bit of the Beatles, actually. asgr ssASDGdgfdsgfdsgfadsgADSGADSGADSGSDFHDSFHDSFHDSFHADGSÖASDTLKASFÖKASDFÖASDFLKAÖSDFLASDGÖJASDGÖLJADGS death of a clown
BL: The Kinks were synonymous with my childhood. My Dad always used to play “You Really Got Me” in his car and my mum “Lola” and “Waterloo Sunset”. This album of course has the latter. I’ve never listened to a Kinks LP the whole way through so this is going to be an interesting experience to see if my childhood love of this band and my dads constant yammering about how they changed the game was justified. AL: it was pretty good. I can appreciate for the time this would’ve been pretty crazy. The witticisms in the lyrics writing may be the highlight for me. There are some pretty wacky sounds and production choices in the first third of the album which I think play in the albums favour very well. Overall I don’t think I’d rush to listen to the album again - it had some very good points but a lot of it was just ok, and some of it hasn’t aged very well. Sometimes the overt simplicity works (“Two Sisters”) and other times it does not (“Harry Rag”) FT: “David Watts”, “Death of a Clown”, “Waterloo Sunset” 3/5
who the heck is david watts anyway. worst song on the album, david watts is a jerk
Charming with an edge
p120. 1967. 4 stars A near perfect snapshot of mid 60s Brit rock/pop, and the reason why Ray Davies is up there with Lennon/McCartney, Dylan and Townsend. Packed with knowing and slightly fey pop gems, and lyrically it's as sharp as a stiletto. One point docked for the 60s production which sets it firmly of its time.
6/10. Waterloo Sunset is an absolute classic, though.
I have a friend called David Watts. He likes this album. I enjoyed this more than expected, lots of variety and fine songwriting.
Waterloo Sunset is so good, but didn't really feel anything particular with the rest. I think the Kinks in general are very cool though, you can hear the early seeds of punk rock in there.
It's The Kinks. I like the Kinks. Some songs stuck out and some did not. Not an album i think I'll continue listening too. Waterloo sunset is a great way to finish an album.
Nothing much other than Waterloo Sunset.
Typical 60s psychedelic tripe. Basically a lot of songs about drinking tea and spending time with your grand nanny. Some of the melodies weren’t that bad, so it earns a two star.
Waterloo Sunset er frábært, hitt er stundum glettilega skemmtilegt. Renndi tvisvar og gæti oftar.
One of their better early albums. I prefer the 70s and 80s albums, but this is good. 3.5/5
pretty good
Cross between folk and rock - character driven music and so, so good. Comparisons to the Beatles are unfair - they are more than their own band.
so many tracks!!! all knock off sounds of the Beatles and the Beach Boys, pretty juvenile lyrics and a bit of the Who. Overall sounds sloppy and not at all authentic.
Eh…
not great but kinda sweet
I'm gonna be really critical of this because, while the Davies have created a fantastic album, it isn't necessarily mind blowing in any terms.
I love this album. Waterloo, Sunset and death of a clown are some of my favorite songs. I could definitely lose no return. Otherwise, it’s a great British album that those sounding a little dated has plenty of melody and witty writing.
Solid album with Beatles/Beach Boys/Doors sounds. Final track is the best but the whole album is a fun trip.
This is the third album by The Kinks that I have gotten and my opinion of them hasn’t changed much. The music is decent but nothing extraordinary jumps out to me. I will keep listening to them if I get other albums but so far I’m less than impressed.
McCartney vibes, really dig this one
Je me suis un peu senti comme Sami Naceri quand il a appris qu'un Taxi 4 allait sortir et qu'il ne faisait pas partie du casting. Allez chier, les Kinks.
Une super entame des Kinks, qui n'ont malheureusement pas réussi à confirmer ces belles promesses sur la suite de l'album. Cela n'est pas sans rappeler la carrière d'Hachim Mastour, le soit disant prodige du Milan AC.
I don't like this as much as Village Green Preservation Society or Arthur, though it does have some good tracks. Probably the strongest songs Dave Davies has contributed to a Kinks album, and David Watts and Waterloo Sunset are both standouts.
I’ve never done much of a dive into The Kinks outside of their more popular singles, so this is my first real play through of an album by them. I always saw them as the scrappy underdogs in the British Invasion scene. Their craft is undeniable, but the fan base never reached astronomical levels. Even when talking about them today, there’s a reverence, but they were never The Stones or Beatles or even The Who. I think this album is a good illustration as to why. You’ll find well crafted pop songs from start to finish, but none that really transcends the medium. Music was moving so fast by this point and this album already feels like it’s falling behind the pace. It is also deeply British, unlike some of their more world weary contemporaries. That said, Waterloo Sunset is a real gem, and it is enough to justify this album’s existence. I probably just need to spend more time with more essential Kinks albums to get their appeal, but this one felt very non-essential on first listen.
Own on Vinyl
não é ruim, mas já bom de the kinks nessa lista
I LOVED this. Such good vocals and lyrics.
This feels like an off-brand version of the Beatles (especially "Lazy Old Sun"). Not terribly impressed.
Not my favorite by The Kinks. Aside from David Watts, the rest was unremarkable. That's too bad 'cause I like this band.
not for me
Tired of this kind of goofy, overly-specific 60s music.
3.5/5 Nice and sweet short songs which fit perfectly together. Sometimes a little too cheesy but overall an easy going album. I knew the kinks but never listened an album, but will try some of their other works for sure. Favourite songs: - Death of a clown - Tin Soldier man - Waterloo sunset
Good but not my thing
1.5, wow, this sucked
Fantastic album. Feels like they were simply a step or two better than the Beatles in terms of this type of rock. Hard to dislike it at all
Some good 60s era rock. Nothing super special though.
Really like this album. It feels like it was ahead of it's time 1967. Tin Soldier Man slaps
Would drink afternoon tea whilst listening to this wonderful little album Interesting it is 13 songs and only 36 min. The exact length of time it took me to walk the dog this morning
Tin Soldier Man is an A+ The 60s seemed like such a simpler time
Classic 60's sound. Was hoping for some kinky shit. Still solid I liked Afternoon Tea.
Nice, a bit dated but the kinks are pretty timeless so still worth a listen
Not what you expect when you hear 'The Kinks'. Something Else dips its toes into the water of psychedelic and prog rock before Ray takes over the reins of studio production. It was a nice alternative sound from the Kinks. 3.5/5.
I've never been a huge fan of the Kinks, preferring the rockier early 60s albums, and this album, while sardonic, just seems uninteresting
THESE CATS WERE COOKING!!!! Sounded like the Beatles lowkey
Plan and simple I didn’t care for this album the pacing sucked and the songs were just not that interesting. felt that it didn’t deserve to be on this list at all. If we’re being honest I was bored on my first listen and confused on my second listen even more. The rating was really only saved by Harry rag in my opinion. Not the easiest listen. These cats were not cooking or swinging unfortunately.
Pokémon-sounding-ass backing tracks. The epitome of horrendously untalented British boys trying to ride in the wake of The Beatles’ success. If this were the soundtrack to my life I think I would off myself. The only redeeming quality of the whole album was Waterloo Sunset, which they put at the end of the album to hopefully use as a palette cleanser. Sadly, no amount of “musical sorbet” can remove from my ears the disgusting refrains of the previous 12 songs. 1/5 stars without a single doubt in my mind.
Why is he bad at singing its like 60’s front bottoms wtf Not all that, not bad but like i dont get why its one of the greatest Lyrics are weird but it was the 60’s I HATE when horns are playing the same thing as the vocals. Tin soldier man is Bad. Bad song. Not great. Not awful. Definitely not one of the best albums ever made.
A bit too sing-songy and repetitive for my taste. Honestly if they wanted to rip off of The Beatles they at least could’ve tried to make it sound… better? If I could rate this a 2.5 instead of a 3 I would.
Starten sagde mig ikke så meget. Teksterne er meget 60´er spacy, se mig jeg er på stoffer.
It feels and sounds like a compilation of other BritPop music from the era only not as good. There are certainly some diverse musical influences here, but none of this does it better than many other contemporary groups, and the whole thing is just boring, imo.
It was just okay
Lyrics tend towards the amusing.
seems a bit dated
„Groovy“, I say as I channel my inner flower child. „Way too meandering“, my Millennial pop-caramelized brain responds. Yes, it truly is the modern Faustian duality of man.
Doesn't really grip my interest except for a few songs.
This was good. I like the Kinks and while I didn't know most of these songs, I enjoyed them.
Funny, was just talking to a friend about going through the The Kinks back catalogue after I'm done going through Sparks. And this comes along the next day! The problem might be that every Kinks album is going to be compared unfavorably with the genius Village green. The first two tracks are great, classic poppy Kinks, after that though it loses something for me, goes a little bit too knees up mother brown for several tracks. The second half is better. Lazy Old Sun is interesting, lilting and hazy as if melted by the supposedly lazy star. End of the Season is similarly evocative, these tracks are what make the Kinks special. And then of course there is Waterloo Sunset, which blends their innate pop sensibilities together with the atmosphere to give one of the best songs made by anyone ever. Then I'm sticking Autumn Almanac on, I know it's a non-album single but honestly, what a song.
Pretty awesome album by The Kinks.
Classic.
nett
Gutes Album, aber enthält keinen meiner Lieblings-the Kinks Lieder
Halt typisches 60s easy listening. Holt mich jetzt hier und heute genauso wenig ab wie ne Mondlandung, aber schlecht ists natürlich nicht.
Absolutely horrible, music aged terribly and just about every song was dopey. It's as if the album was made by children or a budget version of The Beatles. Anyone reviewing this as a good album has got to be smoking penis. 3/10.
Sounds mostly like the most dated aspects of the Beatles music. Every so often some of the harder elements of their future bleed through, but mostly it just feels quaint. Not a hard listen, just a bit dry.
Prior to this my only knowledge of the Kinks was Lola and You Really Got Me, both really great songs. This album was entirely new to me. Listening to it, it's easy to understand why everyone compares them to The Beatles. Honestly, this album just didn't really do anything for me. It wasn't bad. Just nothing really stood out.
First of all, the Kinks are one of my favourite bands of all time and they have released a ton of good music, I would rank Something Else in my top 3 Kinks albums. This album began an amazing run of albums from the late 60's to early 70's (Arthur, Lola, Village Green and Muswell) which is a testament to the great songwriting and musicianship of the band. Something Else doesn't rely just on hit singles, though arguably Waterloo Sunset is one their best, it's a wonderful collection of eclectic songs filled with nostalgia, sentiment and humor. How many bands can use a harpsichord to good effect (Two sisters) in a "rock song? If you think of the Kinks only because of All Day and All Night, You Really Got Me and Lola, explore the depth and brilliance of these essential albums for the full Kinks experience.
Great record that's a bit of a departure from the earlier Kinks releases (mostly ballad/character portrait type songs vs. all-out rockers). Nothing here sounds like filler, really.
As an Anglophile, the music of The Kinks lets me live out my lad fantasies. These songs are little sketches of life that are not particularly evocative. I do like the pop style of the backing tracks quite a bit.
It’s mostly okay. I feel like the execution of these songs largely didn’t move me. Even the songs that had more energy still felt lethargic. Other than that, it was a lot of repetition and generic elements. I think listening to some tracks outside the context of the album will be a benefit by letting their unique qualities shine brighter. That being said, the second half of the album has considerably more interesting qualities, which can belt felt across the stretch from Lazy Old Sun to Waterloo Sunset. Faves: Waterloo Sunset, David Watts, Lazy Old Sun
I love the Kinks. Everything they did throughout the 60's and 70's was great, and no exception here. "Waterloo Sunset" is one of Ray Davies' greatest works, and his brother's "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" is a favorite of mine as well.
Really was something else. Neat chill could listen again Waterloo sunset was the standout
Really enjoyed this one
very cool
Pop tranquilo y relajado al estilo de The Beatles. Buenas canciones, sincronía del grupo y ritmos algo pegadizos
Objectively I'm sure it is a good album, but The Kinks is not my type of music.
Really enjoyed this album
it's good but it's still beatlesy which makes it fairly boring
favorites - death of a clown, two sisters, no return, tin soldier man, love me till the sun shines, waterloo sunset least favorites - harry rag
Quite a fun album! Sounds a bit Beatles like, but still has very clearly has it's own character as well. Favourites are David Watts, Death of a clown, Harry Rag and Situation Vacant. Lat half of the album is okay, but it does finish with Waterloo Sunset. All with all a enjoyable album with a great first half.
I have a greater appreciation for the Kinks after listening to their albums here.
Decent but not my thing
Greit nok
J'aime bien, le style revient beaucoupd ans les albums des années 60. Celui-ci se demarque un peu et me fait un peut penser à certains albums des beatles. Mais bon tout le monde s'influence. 3.5
Beatles
Ehhhhh
A good album for it's time, but I'm partial to The Beatles and Rolling Stones.
Just OK. I would much more enjoy a "Best of the Kinks".
Agreed to be very British. There is a song about afternoon tea which seems British. 3.3
I was never really a fan of the Beatles, but I feel like this album is what the Beatles would be like if their sound was more modernized. 3/5. Favorite Track: David Watts
This was an interesting combination of fun music and fascinating lyrics.
I was never really a fan of the Beatles, but I feel like this album is what the Beatles would be like if their sound was more modernized. 3/5. Favorite Track: David Watts
All sounds a little generic for the time. There’s no great leaps forward here for 1967. It’s ok. A little slow in places. Waterloo Sunset being the obvious highlight. This should really be 2.5 stars. Not quite making a 3.
4.2 - Another charming album of lean and poppy slice-of-life vignettes with plenty of slick guitar fills and interesting song dynamics. "Situation Vacant" tells a cautionary tale of letting your mother-in-law influence your married life. "Waterloo Sunset" is one of their more familiar radio hits.
I never knew how much I loved The Kinks until Village Green a few weeks ago and now this. They are awesome.
sorry, not a fan of this. a dull album. i guess its fine, but its not my thing. i kinda expected there to be a few bangers since i know that a few other kinks tracks have stood the test of time, but wherever those tracks are they ain't here. 2/5, because even though i was able to happily listen to the whole thing i know that i wont do so again, and that it won't leave any impression. i already don't think i can remember any of the songs lol. this might make me sound incredibly stupid, but fuck it i have to ask - is it an intentional stylistic decision to make the vocals sound as if they're recorded down a telephone line? or is it just cause they're over 50 years now, and audio recording was just shit back then? ive heard way older music that had way better vocal quality than this so I'm inclined to believe it's the former lmao fave track - two sisters. what is that, the harpsichord? love that fucking thing, if indeed thats even what it is. the two sisters from this song should hook up with the two princes from spin doctors.
Il ne faut surtout pas se laisser déborder
ils sont un peu mimis en vrai
Let's all drink to the death of a clown. Harry rag is a cigarette in British rhyming slang. Didn't know what to expect with this album but it was pretty fun. Curious what made this album make this list. There must have been something pretty unique about it at the time.
Like a whole album of the early Beatles folksy stuff. Inoffensive
Too clever to sell, wasn't it? But still a delight to hear and engage with. There's maybe a cottagecore or cozy mystery effect here that belies the more modest (if more biting) ambitions relative to their peers in this era. The Kinks are among one's personal national musical monuments / treasures. "Waterloo Sunset" is priceless.
Would listen to again.
Not terrible.
I didn't know any of these songs. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this!
Meh.
Legalzinho, tem uma vibe alegrinha mas algumas músicas tem notas repetitivas que me irritam
I don’t know. I don’t like any British music. One song is literally named “afternoon tea.” No thanks
I only knew Waterloo Sunset from this one before listening, and I'm not surprised. The sound is very of the time, with admittedly some interesting lyrics and writing here and there. My top pick is 'Two Sisters', for the lyrics and the fun use of harpsichord!
Nice. 4 stars
Enjoyed it thanks then
Not my type of stuff
Can't go wrong with The Kinks.
3.75
3.75
I see why some like it but it's too slow for me.
It was kind of slow, it wasn't bad. Not what I expected from the kinks.
Day 2
Good
KK GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD. Gooovy, baby! Very Shagalicious!
These song intros are on point. Weirdly psychedelic. Interesting Ol Eng. pop. Not bad. Beatlesque in the best way possible.
Always thought The Kinks deserved a little more credit then they received. Good riffs, good rhythms, witty lyrics. That said, only song on this album I knew was Waterloo Sunset. 3.5/5
13 Kinks songs I’ve never heard and I enjoyed them all! 3.5/5
Started off well, jolly tunes but then it just kept going
Bright and breezy
The album is very eccentric. It is not good. No need to listen to again. Not sure why 3 Kinks albums made it to this list. That was also unnecessary. It is better than a 1. Not really a 2 but I will round up.
Onverwacht
Great song writing
This was fine. I struggle with The Kinks, personally, they seem to be finding "an idea" in each song then they play "The idea" then that's sort of... it. Every song fizzled out for me. But some of the ideas in there were really nice.
Should listen to again.
It was fine. 🤷🏼
Thought I would like it more than I did.
Really disappointing. Shite in all honesty.
Lifted up to a 2 by the amazing Waterloo Sunset, which gives you an idea how shit the rest of it is
1/5. I can see the songwriting chops but this did not age very well. Not even the hit single off the album is worth listening to. Won’t put on again.
Lots of the kinks on this list. This one is okay, like the rest. It does have a couple of good tracks on it though, I like 'David Watts'
Very odd, in that specific 60s way. Very good though, and touches on themes few other bands wrote about.
A cute & chill album, which is not how I thought I'd describe something by The Kinks but here we are. For something that came out in the late '60s, this is far superior compared to the ubiquitous folksy, psychedelic rock that plagued the era. You can still hear some of that in the record, but its balanced out by light rock, pop, some R&B and surprisingly, bossa nova. Standout tracks are Death of a Clown, Tin Soldier Man, Funny Face, and Waterloo Sunset - which I was pleasantly surprised to recognize.
there are better kinks albums. its alright, but their filler songs on this one aren't really up to much.
Don't look at me in that tone, you swine. OK, OK, I did eat all the sausage rolls, but you licked my scrotum last Thursday and I wanted to get some revenge. You may have out foxed me to win that fair maiden, but I can't stand by and watch her throw herself head over heels into your cauldron of lies. Either you tell her or I will.
Wow, this was something else!
Really enjoyed Afternoon Tea and Harry Rag is good fun.
Lawd the Kinks were great! "Death of a Clown" and "Waterloo Sunset" are load-bearing songs in the English psyche. This is the album where they really hit their stride, right? Fave track - As well as the aforementioned, "Harry Rag" is infections AF - I had to look up what the dickens a harry rag, was though - apparently it’s rhyming slang! Harry rag -> fag -> cigarette! Makes a bit more sense why everyone in the song is crazy about them - I was assuming it was some sort of miraculous cleaning product! The Kinks also continue their somewhat bewildering habit of releasing some absolutely cracking singles that don't appear on the albums. "Autumn Almanac" and "Mr. Pleasant" are awesome...
The Kinks were one of the few bands who could go toe-to-toe with The Beatles without sounding like ancient dinosaurs. 'Tin Soldier Man' and 'Situation Vacant' sounds like they are coming straight out of Sgt. Pepper, and the records are from the same year - quite impressive! A bit more rowdy than the Fab Four (it's extremely rock and roll to be banned from touring the US), the album features stints into various genres with most of them being quite successful. 'Lazy Old Sun' is an innovative take on the psychedelic genre, and 'Death of a Clown' is a straight up banger blending Dylanesque folk with British baroque. Finally, 'Waterloo Sunset' really is one of the greatest songs out of the 1960s. Ray Davies' lyrics and soft vocals continuously sends chills down my spine and cements the status of 'Something Else By The Kinks' as a classic.
What a weird, weird collection of songs. Ranging from the serious to the almost silly, the Kinks somehow captures the essence of the late 60’s better than most contemporaries and manages to not sound dated whatsoever - even when held up against the Beatles. Truly not a feat most bands accomplished. This is simply pure fun and imagination from start to finish.
Good stuff
Not my bag but always liked Waterloo sunset.
Beatles-esque
Only knowing (the really pretty) “Waterloo Sunset” from the song list, I didn’t have much expectation, but: Death of a Clown Lazy Old Sun End of the Season Two Sisters Harry Rag were also standouts to me. Despite the jolly harpsichord & brass, there’s a melancholy air that I was drawn to. November 14, 2022
Partito malino, ma 'Two sisters' mi è piaciuta. Non è malvagio, ma ogni canzone è un po' a sé stante, quindi non mi convince a pieno. Però ce ne sono di belle come 'Afternoon tea'
Fantastic album, love it
This was… something else! I loved the album all the way through. None of the songs overstayed their welcome and had a nice charm across the whole album.
Meh, tusinakamaa ilman kiimaa
Veikee toki, mut ei ihmeellinen
Not as good as village green
Muy buena forma de introducirse a esta banda. Mezclando rock, con tramos experimentales no puede evitar sonar algo beatlera, pero con su propia esencia. Será por las melodías y armonías vocales, por varias de las instrumentales, o por canciones que simplemente agradan a la escucha, que la banda logra cautivarte y a las pocas escuchas ya te hacen disfrutarlos de una forma ligera y espontánea. También se siente cómo por tramos la banda busca ambientes, los cuales logra encontrar y te hacen mantener atención a la escucha. Igualmente varias de las canciones también son demasiado simples en cuanto a su composición, y por ende, suele hacerse dispersa su escucha dificultando prestarle atención.
Good album but the kinks have better
Kind of Classic but great rhythms in it. Still prefer The Beatles in this kind of classic pre rock vibe.
This was good. It was like a weird version of the Beatles. They enjoyed using dissonance with their voices, which I didn't like, but otherwise good.
I was looking forward to this one. I was very disappointed unfortunately! The only song stood out to me was the last one, waterloo sunset. There are some decent songs on here but this album just was so short I really didnt have time to take in the music. Need more 3/10
not as good as the kinks album friday. it's alright i think. less unique of an album.
Boring Oompa Loompa music
Agreeing with Jacob, this album was the most British thing Iʻve ever heard. Probably too British. There were some songs I liked, David Watts and Waterloo Sunset for instance. Death of a Clown was entrancing, and Two Sisters had the kind of baroque pop feel of some Belle and Sebastian (possibly my fav all time band). But damn is there a lot of cheeky British humor that just does not do it for me. Combined with marching band sounds and some real whiny vocals from Ray Davies, there was some truly unpleasant material on here. 3/5
Sweet, endearing record. And possibly the most British thing I’ve ever heard. This is what I picture in my head when I think of what a random British person had on in the 1960’s, while eating some equally British foodstuffs. Just fun and enjoyable to hear. There weren’t any huge standout songs to me, but they have a very immediate, almost theatrical sound that I liked. Some almost McCartney moments with the songwriting, and I enjoyed the genre switch-ups. For me, they get a 3, via a somewhat generous rounding-up.
decent 3- stars. Village green is better but both are 3 stars. Some standout tracks like waterloo sunset.
Love Waterloo, Sunday!
Storytelling and music hall mixed in this is pinnacle 60s brit pop
Great album. The Kinks best
Solid lyrics, sounds very 60s.
I love me some kinks :)
I am a sucker for classic soft U.K. rock and this album strikes all the right chords for me. Some of the songs are frustrating, with just how “amusement park” the choruses are, but it’s not enough to stain the album for me. I could use this kind of record here and then. I listen to a lot of sad shit. Lmao. Favorite tracks: Two Sisters, Tin Soldier Man, End of the Season, Waterloo Sunset Least favorite tracks: David Watts, Harry Rag
you guys i think david watts is gay the kinks are so cool, and ironically, a little bit like david watts from the album's opening track - kind of above it all, aloof. there's a certain attitude that comes with listening to kinks tracks, where they know they're contemporaries with some really great rock bands, but they just kind of don't care. they're content filling songs with la la's and doot doo's and shit because they're just having fun. the music is catchy, it has that quintessential 60s guitar and piano tone, and it's not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything. the kinks are somehow both underrated and perfectly rated - no one talks about them as rock legends like the beatles, the rolling stones or the who, because they're not, but they're still a really solid group capable of putting together some great works with a lot of staying power (you really got me, waterloo sunset, lola, all day and all of the night, etc). this album isn't super cohesive, the only thing holding it together is its general aloof nature. it doesn't stay within a certain genre, but that's not necessarily to its credit. the final three songs of this album is its best stretch, in my opinion. even then, with how catchy afternoon tea is, it's about making fucking tea. the kinks could have been legends if they tried harder. this is one where i'm like "did i really need to hear this before i die, or could i have just listened to waterloo sunset for the millionth time? did i really need to hear harry rag?" the biggest indictment on this album is comparing it to its contemporaries. here are some albums that came out in 1967: the doors debut s/t donovan's mellow yellow jefferson airplane's surrealistic pillow, which has white rabbit and somebody to love here are some albums that came out in 1966: pet sounds, the best record of all time revolver by the beatles blonde on blonde by bob dylan if you can believe your eyes by mamas and the papas framing this album that way, is it really one of the most essential 1,001 albums, or did the author just really like the kinks? i dunno. this one is okay. it can be funny and silly, but it's really not great. i really do like waterloo sunset, though. great track.
Nice album. Some dated lyrics but kinda funny. Waterloo one is great.
Not bad
I mean maybe I just like the kinks but this is such a nice little album. Short and sweet, every song stands out as a story - and although their songwriting obviously could do with a little more time and experience, the majority of these songs are enjoyable in and of themselves. Doesn't feel too forgettable but also isn't annoyingly catchy, overall the songs are just pleasant listens individually and come together nicely to create a very pretty little listen. my only grievance is a little contradictory to all the things I enjoy about the album - it doesn't really require any attention. the lyrics are pretty shallow and the production isn't anything to goggle at. pretty little album, low 4
Sounds like every other boy band album that came out in the 60s.
Davies’ baroque Britishness and joyful plodding through the songs on this record makes it difficult not to love - some classic singles in here like a David Watts and Waterloo Sunset, but also an array of great album tracks. Good fun.
Just a solid pop record. Good melodies. My one coworker says The Kinks would've been bigger than the Beatles in America had they not been banned. I've always been skeptical, still am, but I can see this record being big. Favorite tracks: "Waterloo Sunset", "Harry Rag", Afternoon Tea", "Tin Soldier Man"
typical 60s . 3/5
So excited to get this one. Already listen to it fairly regularly and love this album and 60s Kinks in general. No Return such a beautiful little bossa nova. Harry Rag sounds almost like a sea shanty. Beautiful little snapshots of a the old guard English life that was quickly disappearing, but not delusionally nostalgic in the sense of "ah the good old days" but rather pointing out the small day to day, with it's good and bad and wondering if the societal changes would actually change everyday life very much. So much domesticity in this album which is really interesting in comparison to the "kids tell your parents to fuck off" rock of the times. This album totally makes sense for 1967 - with the return to Edwardian fashion and the likes of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's. Wonderful album and I just love the whole feel of it. Takes me back to a place I didn't know, yet still somehow missed.
Good
Solid late 60s British rock album. Didn't really know anything by them before. I like hearing bands from that genre other than the Beatles. Love the Beatles. Expanding my horizons
Arguably The Kinks best album. This is the album where The Kinks could now be considered on a par with The Beatles. Each song is a little gem that paints a portrait as vivid and palpable as any band ever managed. This was The Kinks magic and when done well like on this album well there was very little on this level. 5 stars
Super solid. Great vibes.
So 60s it's funny
What if the Beatles never grew up and got good
Something Else By The Kinks made me want to listen to Something Else Not By The Kinks. This has one really good song and a lot of waffling twee. Rescued by Waterloo Sunset to a 2/5, a real example of an album that doesn't need to be on this list but is because iconic acts get their entire back catalogue catalogued.
Album title exactly reflects how I feel about it (Waterloo Sunset aside). It's decent, definitely more coherent than Arthur, but not a lot better. Scrapes a 3 on the strength of Waterloo Sunset, the rest is fine but easily disappears into the background.
Don’t mind it.
Fun pop
Oh man, I love the Kinks. Not their best album but has some fab songs & ends with my number one favourite song of all time. So can’t have too many complaints.
Meh, alright.
I like The Kinks. They have a unique flavor in their '60s rock sound. This is the third and probably the last Kinks album that I will hear in this generator, and my overall impression with these guys is yes they're not a Beatles riff-off, but much of their songs are hit-and-miss. "Something Else" is really something else. It's not as cohesive as "Face to Face" and "Arthur". It's all over the place and a lot of people LOVE albums that are all over the place. Unfortunately, I don't. But "Something Else" still has the charm and string driven ear candies. And I guess that's enough for a great Kinks album. Not as good as its amazing predecessor, "Face to Face", but still decent.
yan sanayi beatles
This album is amazing, not perfect but close too it
Ok, I like the touches on folk stuff.
Se le sai le canti a squarciagola, la vibe è quella
It’s the swinging sixties in London when this album comes out, yeah? So why does it make me want to buy a tea cosy and call my Nan? It just feels anachronistic. Sweet, with some razor Ray Davies wit, but….OLD.
I’m a big fan of The Kinks but admittedly haven’t dug deep into their back catalogue. I’m so grateful this generator gave me the kick to do just that. On first listen I was drawn immediately to the more energetic, distorted guitar laced tracks like Love Me Till The Sun Shines and David Watts and a more passing appreciation of the more “jangly” numbers like Death of a Clown and Harry Rag. But the more I consumed, the more I was consumed. A varied and brilliant album. Not to forget that this contains one of my favourite songs ever - Waterloo Sunset. Highlights: David Watts, Death of a Clown, Love Me Till the Sun Shines, Afternoon Tea, Lazy Old Sun, Waterloo Sunset
Of the many English rock albums I’ve gotten over the past few weeks, this is the earliest, and unfortunately there really isn’t anything on here that I haven’t heard better elsewhere. Musicianship is competent but unspectacular. Vocals are inoffensive, but not something I particularly like to listen to. Songwriting isn’t bad, but doesn’t really connect with me. The Kinks were undoubtedly influential, and there are some songs of theirs I like, but unfortunately, after my first listen through this, I don’t particularly like any of these. Best musical moments are the intro to Waterloo Sunset, but outside of that, it’s pretty thorough mediocrity. Top tracks: - Harry Rag – Weird, and I don’t really like it, but it’s memorable, I guess. - End of the Season – Kinda nice, but not one I’d save. - Waterloo Sunset – Intro is nice, and some of the musical parts are pretty decent. That’s it.
The songs had weird titles and lyrics that feel like they're about nothing. Also most of the songs have a 60s pop sound that I dislike like the early Beatles.
David Watts to Waterloo Sunset. Golden age Kinks.
The essential Kinks album. Will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, and Googling what a 'Harry Rag' is...
Not for me. Never been a fan of that English county fayre vibe that all the kinks albums have.
Fun album from the 60s. Sounds kinda like off-brand Beatles. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Overall great album.
4.25
Very Beatles
It's a fun and goofy album with plenty to sing and groove to. It's what their previous album Face to Face sought to do but much more refined and coherent. Features a diverse range of styles, including psychedelia, country, bossa nova, and garage, but I'm particularly fond of their music hall baroque pop sound, with beautiful harpsichord, horn, and string arrangements. As much filler as Kinks albums usually have, I actually found myself enjoying most of the songs (even the bonus tracks), and for different reasons too. Favorites: Death of a Clown, Two Sisters, No Return, Tin Soldier Man, Lazy Old Sun, Afternoon Tea, Waterloo Sunset, Mr. Pleasant, Autumn Almanac
A fun listen, didn't know any of the songs prior but still enjoyed it quite a bit . Reminded me of the Beatles.
Blurrrrrrr
ik så fedt som det lyder og ser ud
Vi tilbage! Britisk 60’er poprock, rimelig friskt, den gode stereo
Its become really dated and a bit naff
Cheeeeel
In an wild turn of events, the Kinks come out with another album of solid baroque pop
Something jelqs
Merely ok. Only Waterloo Sunset did anything for me.
A whimsical and cheeky record. There are deep layers of humour and wit buried beneath quirky instrumentation and 60s hippie counterculture vibes. Very bri’ish, but in the best possible way.
Classic 60s British Rock pop, but with an introspective spin, the songwriting is fun, introspective and they tell many stories across multiple tracks with some common things. Great listen and takes you back, the drums, keys, guitars, all great.
A few tracks get homeliness right, but all over pretty dull
Pretty good. Some pleasant, mildly catchy tunes. 3.5 stars
This is the first British Invasion era album that I've enjoyed. It still is very much a product of its time, which I personally am not a huge fan of, but still I think I'll give this another couple listens soon
Eh. Too long. Didn’t really do it for me.
Thought the kinks were a punk band haha. More like a Beatles meets Grateful Dead
Harry Rag
May not have aged the best but still pretty catchy as a whole
It’s still really really boring. It lacks the interested to keep me engaged for the length of its runtime. For this experiment The Kinks are 0 for 2.
Quite liked David Watts, didn't care for anything else
Dunno. The late sixties pop/punk/psych doesn't really do it for me.
Saw the Kinks and I was expecting fuzzy rock. The psychedelic harmonies that followed were pretty fun.
On certain days, I just got to listen to some Kinks. This is one of their best - moments of pure genius such as Waterloo Sunset are slightly offset by some more forgettable tracks. But a fine listen.
Strong start to album - David Watts, Death of a Clown and Two Sisters all great Kinks songs. A real mixture here of pop, baroque, hints of psychedelia. The following songs are all a bit middling, nothing wrong with them but not the strongest either. However, Waterloo Sunset is a strong closer to the album, and sounds as great as ever (best ever Kinks song imho)
Supremely smart and sophisticated pop – no wonder it didn't sell. Perhaps it was insufficiently bold or ambitious relative to what else was happening on this chart durnig this seminal year. "Death of a Clown" and "Two Sisters" are terrific and every cut is tuneful with interesting flourishes (some brass here, some harpsichord tinkling there). They all land with impact, for being sharp and tight, as well as awfully clever and frequently fun, with the apotheosis of "Waterloo Sunset," a pure classic of wistful melancholy.
Waterloo Sunset is one my favorite songs
Lovely tunes disguising acerbic social commentary. Fabulous
3.5/5 just ok
It’s been almost a year since I got that kinks concept album but I still remember that I enjoyed shangri-la more than anything on this album
The only song I kinda know is David watts and that’s because of the jam… Speaking of the album opens with David watts and it’s honestly not what I thought it would sound like hearing the jam version it’s a great opener though. Death of a clown is an okay jangly little acoustic song it’s not bad I just don’t get how it was released as a single and got to number 3 on the charts. Two sisters is wired but somehow works especially love the harpsichord work. No return is slow and very old fashioned sounding but I guess its a nice mid side break from what has been played already. Harry rag is probably one of the strangest songs ever but the rhythm is nice ( especially the army style drums). Tin solider man sounds a lot more crisp than the others so far it’s good great instrumentation but very obviously inspired by the drugs. The lyrics to situation vacant are pretty shit but still a well made song. Love me till the sun shines ups the quality a little as it’s a really solid pop song. I thought the rest of the album was odd and druggy but lazy old sun is is a drunken slur affected by LSD it’s not even that good just interesting. Afternoon tea is okay one of the least interesting but most listenable tracks on here. Funny face is solid I like how it randomly slows down only to explode into a ball of energy straight after. The penultimate track end of the season is okay I love those bird sounds it’s honestly a really nice old fashioned song. Waterloo sunset is a banger of a closer to be honest nothing bad here! It’s a good album and I’am a sucker for wired 60’s stuff but it’s nowhere near as good as like sgt peppers/ revolver by the Beatles ( or actually their whole late career) , Disraeli gears by cream , forever changes by love or sf sorrow by the pretty things. Still a 4/5 though! Also go mono this original review was done in stereo and wasn’t as good of a listen.
Liked it. Not my favorite
Two sisters good, finishes with Waterloo sunset. A bit too vaudeville
Harry Rag was funny Overall it was good, had some good piano and good trumpet, but I wouldn't listen to it much on my own time
Wonderful, unparalleled storytelling, varied sound, perfectly English.
Good album, with some solid tracks
6/10 Best Song - Waterloo Sunset
Feels pretty middle of the line to me. I wasn't blown away, but I thought it was a decent listen.
neat album! though not really my thing i guess, i just kinda left it on in the background. getting there though, there were quite a few tracks i liked
Waterloo sunset comes out of nowhere as a five star song but the rest of the album is just so 60s and so British that it feels a bit too of its time
Ugh - it's like a gor blimey guvnor musical. This is why you stick to the hits and not wander around the albums of anyone except the beatles and floyd
Woah this album blew me off! It's so moody and cool! Typical nonsense childish lyrics of the summer of love (in a good way, I like 'em). I'd describe it as a Piper At The Gates Of Dawn lite in terms of weirdness. It's more commercial but atill enough weirdness. 5/5 it's soo fucking good! Fav. Song is Afternoon Tea.
Interesting mixture of feelings in this album. Some distorted lsd songs, some funny ones. The more you pay attention on the lyrics the more the songs grow on you.
I quite like a few of the Kinks’ songs, but I’ve never listened to a full album of theirs. I found this one to be very eclectic and jumbled. It seemed like a collection of songs rather than a cohesive body that flowed. I didn’t dislike it, but it was very much not what I was expecting. The songs are exactly what I expected for the era, if a little more psychedelic rock. Fav Track: Two Sisters 4/5
Definitiv hörbar, würde wohl wieder zurückkommen wollen.
Kinks*i su mi jako dragi :)
Didn't realize the kinks sounded so much like the Beatles
pretty fun!
Not bad, reminds me of the Beatles but it's not really my style.
the Kinks have some great songs. This album does not contain those songs.
Deluxe edition, seems like mostly b sides
Very fun album with some interesting creative choices. A lot of songs felt like filler and some sounded very beatles-esque. Still adore Waterloo sunset.
Beatles did it better
I'll take or leave the Kinks brand of psychadelia, but it might be the contrast necessary here. Something Else turns out to sound wistful. That's impressive given the rather simple formal elements.
Waterloo Sunset is amazing
Nope
The album is a safe album from the 60s, part of the rise of the British rock scene. It is enticing to view The Kinks in the same lens of every 60s band to come out of Great Britain, but there is a debate to whether that is a lazy perspective or just a boring fact of the matter. This review leans toward the latter. Credit where it is due, The Kinks enjoy a sense of longevity that the Stones enjoy, and that is saying something. The Kinks certainly earned their spot on 1001, if only just for their single "Waterloo Sunset". It is a beautiful song, and gives this album a sense of being something special, and it is.
It's good, but I'm not sure this ranks among the Kinks top albums. It’s pretty Kinky I would say. 3 stars.
I used to think that I LOVED The Kinks. I guess I do, but this is not the album I would reference if anyone asked. That album would be one of their 'Greatest HIts' albums.
We listened to this on the first leg of our road trip two weeks ago. I did not like it. I can’t remember why specifically, but I know I don’t want to go back and listen again to find out why.
From my review of Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire): “If The Kinks hadn’t been banned from touring in the US for 4 years in the late 1960s during the height of the British Invasion, they might have been way bigger here.” Not a chance based on this boring album.
My eyes lit up when this appeared. It's from the mid sixties, when Ray Davies was at the peak of his songwriting, with whimsical ditties, stories of various characters loaded with period charm. Song titles like 'Afternoon Tea', 'End of the Season' and 'Lazy Old Sun' tells you this is a very British sounding album. The production is understated and typical of a 1967 UK Act with hints of vaudeville, psychedelia and a vast array musical instruments. It's an organic sounding record with lots of standout tracks like the insistent 'David Watts', Dylan-ish 'Death of a Clown', the striking 'Two Sisters' (featuring a harpsichord), the slightly humorous Cossack rhythm of 'Harry Rag' (rhyming slang in England for fag, as in cigarettes) before ending with the timeless 'Waterloo Sunset'. Fans of 'You Really Got Me' etc may possibly hate this but I love it.
The kinks when they started had a real visceral energy. By this point that's gone and what you have is a wry satirical whimsical album. At moments it's divine and you could not deny the power of Waterloo sunset. However its all lacks a bit of energy.
All a bit lacklustre, I'd rather listen to something else
Not bad
Understated, charming, grounded, enjoyed it a lot. 4.5
Good album. At first I was afraid it was going to be too repetitive, but there was good variation while staying connected to the album as a whole.
I didn't realise David Watts was a cover. For me, the Kinks have always been a band in the margins, not quite the Beatles, not quite Bowie, not quite this not quite that. But always so English. They still seem like that, but there were some good tracks on this album.
Folk rock, directly from the early-Beatles playbook. Death of a Clown is the standout for me. The rest is OKish. No really bad songs, nothing that blows me away either. Solid effort. 3/5
Some goofy lyrics. Music is basic, but fun.
3.5/5. Slightly above average pop-rock. I have heard better from The Kinks, but this was still a good album.
I felt like it started strong and then died off after the first few songs. Very Beatles-esque folk rock with some silly songs mixed in. Decent but not fantastic in my opinion. 6/10