Face to Face

I gotta say, this album is quite "dandy" perfect for a stroll on a springtime day. Lots of harpsichord is welcome. I feel as if I'm on a boardwalk passing neon lights as the sun begins to set. Just groovy enough without suffering from being overtly psychedelic.

You could be forgiven for forgetting that you're not listening to The Beatles or The Rolling Stones or any of a half-dozen britrock bands. There are some bands that are just pillars of a time and place. The Kinks seem to just bounce around in the in-between spaces that aren't occupied by the greats. They don't offer anything really new or unique to the britrock scene. They're just sort of filler. Not that the album is bad. It's not bad by any measure. There's a lot of good stuff on here. There just aren't any tracks that stand out. In every case, someone else did it better.

A bit simplistic, but I suppose that's the time period. It wasn't a bad listen, but not something I'd return to.

Classic Kinks: always a pleasant listen. I don't deep-dive into their work the same as I do some from that era, but I never regret listening through one of their 1960s albums. "Sunny Afternoon" might be my favorite all-time Kinks song.

So this is what caused Britpop? PS: I love the Kinks

I fully expected to love this album. I consider Ray Davies one of the great working class lyricists; he's capable of writing with great compassion and insight. He is also capable of snappy, indelible songcraft. But not here. The melodies are standard 60s pop and instantly forgettable for the most part. Same goes for the song structures. Although I appreciate his ethnographic focus on Face to Face, Davies' lyrics are not specific and incisive enough to have much impact. The performances are shockingly mediocre as well--they range from charmingly ramshackle to downright flabby. This is a classic? I don't think so.

Every song on this albums is just okay other than Sunny Afternoon which is great.

I think to appreciate this one I have to put it in 1966 context. It came out a couple months after Revolver. Nice inoffensive pop rock. But little to grab you, tweak your expectations, or surprise you.

Already my third Kinks album in this exercise. I love this album. Ray gives us such wonderful little vignettes with colourful characters and places. Many memorable songs. Love it. 5 stars

I've been waiting for The Kinks. I don't know this album aside from a few songs. I loved every track. Super great.

Call this album pride month because it was SOSOSO colorful !! Rainy Day in June reminded me of several shades of blue, Too Much On My Mind was yellow. The entire album was shades of red and orange. I got really into it after a few songs and I genuinely enjoyed it so much that I didn't notice when it had ended. It was really slow but it was still interesting.

Part of their mid/late 60s stretch of perfect albums.

A more raw beatles sound, Not sure which came first though

Fun music. They sound like The Beatles who were more willing to take risks with weird lyrics. Toward the end of the album, they took some musical risks that I really enjoyed. Dead End Street and Big Black Smoke were standouts for me.

This reminds me of this one Beatles song.

This is fun, nice and jolly and easy to listen to. Not much that elevates it though - Sunny Afternoon is superb, but not much else that I think I'm likely to go back to. Just squeaks a 3 as well.

OK. Sunny Afternoon slaps.

V nice. Sunny afternoon always massive chill. If I heard this when it first came out I probably would have been pretty obsessed.

Maybe just the day, but this was annoying almost the whole way through

I do not understand why this album is on the list. The Kinks (especially in the 60s) were a great singles band, but those best songs were usually not included on albums. And this album is a prime example of not containing singles; Sunny Afternoon is a bit of a classic, and A House in the Country got a bit of love during Britpop, but otherwise, these are not A-list songs from the Kinks. I have been reading pop music history for 40 years, and I don't think I have ever heard mention of this album. I rate the Kinks singles, but this album? Why the hell is this on the must-hear list? Someone has a fondness for 60s Kinks, and felt the need to include something, so they put this down. I honestly feel like it was a waste of time listening to this album. Not much to recommend. Get a Kinks singles compilation instead.

Maybe, face to face, the Kinks are really something to look at. Unfortunately, 'Face To Face' is nothing much to listen to. This might be the only time I can remember liking a single (‘Sunny Afternoon’) less after listening to the LP. I’ve never fancied the Kinks much, nor understood why they are so often exalted to the same stature as their British musical colleagues, namely, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. While Ray Davies does sing with conviction on 'Face To Face,' expressing cultural commentary with a lot of snippy humor, there’s not a lot else to his vocals or lyrics. Likewise, the band is competent, but nothing and no one really stands out, save Nicky Hopkins’ terrific keyboard work throughout. Only trouble is, he’s not even in the band! Apparently, the Kinks made a conscious move away from their former garage band rock n’ roll to more of a softer pop sound. Girl, they really got me before. But on 'Face To Face,' I just kept wanting to be released. Most of the LP is a critique on England’s class and socioeconomic issues in 1966, which works as a snippet of history, but not as an enjoyable or inspiriting musical experience. On second thought, it only partly works as a snippet of history, a contextual one as seen from the have-nots in the industrial part of the city scoffing at the general commercialism in Britain during the mid 60s… at least when they’re not coveting the haves’ stuff over on the wealthy and posh side.

Me gusta

I’ve learned through this challenge that I really love The Kinks. I always liked them well enough, but never listened to entire albums, just singles. But wow. Every album from them I’ve had on this list so far has been perfection. My favorite songs are “Party Line,” “Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home,” and “Sunny Afternoon,” but there really aren’t any weak songs on the album. This will be on heavy rotation for me going forward.

9/10. Most of the songs made the playlist. Great album.

bands with two brothers who hate each other >>>>

Gran disco

Dieses Mal habe ich mir die Stereoversion angehört. Klingt noch einmal besser als die Monovariante. Was mir besonders an der Scheibe gefällt, ist der Einsatz vom Cembalo. Dadurch bekommen die Lieder das gewisse etwas. "Sunny Afternoon", ""Dandy" und "Dead Ende Street" sind natürlich die absoluten Klassiker. Genauso wichtig sind die Songs: "Too much on my mind" und "Fancy".

Auf die Kinks ist Verlass. Viel zu oft im Schatten der Beatles, aber sie brauchen sich nicht zu verstecken. Hier sind die Klassiker vertreten: Dead Ende Street, Sunny Afternoon, Dandy. Aber das ist noch nicht alles. Unbedingt anhören. Die DeLuxe Ausgabe bietet auch Stereo Mixe an. Lohnt sich

the kinks are my beatles

Felt like hints of the Beatles in there

Always exciting to see a band you like come up on this list! Really enjoyed this one, and included some classic songs! 5 ⭐️

While The Beatles were perfecting their craft by looking for inspiration both inward and outward, The Kinks were doing the opposite. I should explain. Around the time of Rubber Soul, The Beatles took to America and The East for their musical direction and started writing more personal lyrics, best exemplified by In My Life, which set the stage for one of the best runs of albums in recorded music history. In contrast, The Kinks moved away from their musical backing in American Garage Rock and R&B and instead moved towards a sound inspired by British Musical Hall and traditional Folk. But their real innovation was lead songwriter Ray Davies’ beginning to move away from the typical teenage love songs he had written previously, and move further outside of his own experience and instead write character pieces. This was an utterly inspired decision. Practically no-one in Pop music at that time was doing character studies, and by the end of the 60’s they were all over the place. I don’t think they would have been if Face To Face wasn’t as good as it was. From the satirical and ironic portrayals of wealth and success of House In The Country, Most Exclusive Residence For Sale, and of course Sunny Afternoon, to Too Much On My Mind’s portrayal of neurosis, to the now outdated but still sharply observed brilliance of Party Line, Ray Davies’ writing is abundant with smart lines and a sense of genuine affection for his characters, which when coupled with the brilliant little earworms that pepper the music makes for an album that’s just a pleasure to listen to

The Kinks are fun, I always get a kick out of them and their wacky tunes. There's something so quintessentially 60's counterculture/hippie rock about their sound that is so ambient and delightful. I wasn't alive during this time, but to me, they perfectly encapsulate how it sounded to be a young and idealistic free thinker in the 60's. Very few bands can be so of their time and yet remain timeless; the Kinks are one of those rare few that have done so. I love them. Fantastic album artwork too!

Wow, I didn't really know this album...only the two big hits. At times it sounded like the Stones, at times the Beatles, or maybe those two bands sound like the Kinks! Ray Davies is one of the great songwriters of our time. Somehow they make that harpsichord work in many songs! I can't wait to give this a few more listens. Liked songs added: - A House In The Country - Sunny Afternoon - Dead End Street

So many classics! The Kinks are hard to beat.

One of my favourite albums ever

Fabulous

I always forget The Kinks started in the 60s - I think of them as a later rock band… so when I hear this music, it’s so surprising to me. A pleasant surprise, but still. Great early concept album. Would love to hear the unreleased tracks and get and even better sense of Davies’ full concept.

Great

The Kinks are one of the best ever!

they're great

Love Ray Davies and the boys

The Kinks older stuff is underrated.

The Kinks are the shit. I wish my reviews were better but my life sucks rn.

Honestly this is a really good Kinks album and it really stands the test of time. I never listened to them until recent years, but they are fun to listen to!

Amazingly soothing, lighthearted songs. Great rock/blues sounds in some tracks too.

Not a single horrid song, dead end street and sunny day were favorites of mine

Typical Kinks, fun lrics

PREFS : TOUT MOINS PREF : RIEN

New pandora station

I need more kinks in my life

Love this album. Love the kinks. It has such a good beat and energy and the style of music is just my thing. I love sunny afternoon, and Rosie won’t you please come home. Low 5

I love the Kinks. I've been listening to them since I knew what music was, so I might be a little biased. I find their English wit and dreary up-beat sadness really endearing. Sunday Afternoon is one of my all time favourites. They are weird, silly, sad and I love them. But to be fair, I think I prefer their later albums. Overall a solid album. Low 5

Out of the string of classic albums Ray Davies and co. released from *The Kink Kontroversy* to *Lola Versus The Moneygoround*, this is my least favorite, for reasons I can't quite fathom myself. All the key ingredients of the Kinks' second period are there, though. Here are the witty, sarcastic cuts about the British middle class (opener "Party Line", for instance, or the upbeat ditties "Dandy" and "A House In the Country"--another clear inspiration for later britpop stalwarts Blur). We can also find tongue-in-cheek, quite "meta" callbacks to their rockier beginnings ("Session Man"). Plus moody setpieces such as the wonderful "A Rainy Day In June", the droning, quasi-psychedelic "Fancy", and obviously that timeless hit that "Sunny Afternoon" is. Reading myself again, I realize *Face To Face* deserves to be considered among the band's finest records. It's just that the whole doesn't gel the way their other classic albums do--maybe because the album's tracklisting is a little too topsy-turvy, even compared to the band's usually eccentric and "messy" standards when it comes to 180-degrees turns. So I will switch my initial 4/5 grade to a 4.5 - 5 one nonetheless. Face to face with Davies' songwriting genius, it's the least that i can do. Number of albums left to review: 691 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 151 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 71 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 86

That's good stuff

LOVE.

The Kinks are real story tellers on this album. The lyrics are just as important as the musicianship, and all together makes a excellent listen. There is only one well known track on this album but you won't be disappointed with any of the songs. Great stuff from the mid-60's!

richtig geil

Top 20 or so

Another superb album from the most English of bands. Better than The Beatles in every department.

Really good mid-late 60's musid

This is possibly my favorite of the Kinks' earlier albums. You can really feel the beginnings of a distinctive sound they're defining for themselves, rather than the focus on playing American rhythm and blues that bedevils so many English bands of that era. Musically, the album is crisp and charming, with some fun baroque touches that give a lot of depth to the arrangements without sounding overly quaint. The whole album is a pleasure, but "Sunny Afternoon" is truly delightful. Fave Songs (All songs, from most least favorite): Sunny Afternoon, Little Miss Queen of Darkness, Holiday in Waikiki, Rainy Day in June, Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, I'll Remember, Dandy, You're Lookin' Fine, A House in the Country, Party Line, Fancy, Most Exclusive Residence for Sale, Session Man, Too Much on My Mind

This is a really great album, I didn't know it but thank you 1001 album generator, this music is wonderful and it reminds me to the Beatles but with a very special touch! 5 stars :D

I just know one song of this band, so for me this album is absolutely great and a beautiful discover. I would listen to it again anytime.

Correct link for the original album https://open.spotify.com/album/11bCxxD2wy2iXMshA3nHvk?si=cYIZYOkoTHqjnumbBAM6lg

very good album

The kinks has a modern sound, and although it's not on the album, You've really got me is one my favourites.

Unique name. Some unique elements in the sound. Same casual atmosphere. Definitely the same vibe at The Beatles. But definitely not a riff-off. Far from that, it's a different beast on its own. A not-so-common gem of '60s rock.

Awesome, love the sound!

I’ve always enjoyed The Kinks. This was a solid album.

very cool

Up until the release of Face To Face in 1966, the Kinks were primarily known as a hit singles band, but this album would be a turning point. Face To Face was the first of a string of soon-to-be classics the Kink's albums recorded in the late 60's. This too, is the first of Ray Davies vision of concept records that he explores further in the late 60's and 70's. This might be considered one of their "under the radar" masterpieces and ironically this is the only Kinks record I don't have on vinyl in my collection, though I've listened to it many, many times and I would consider this a must-hear! I really need to buy this album!

I mean, it's The Kinks. I'm never not going to love this.

Love that jangly guitar. These guys are right up there with th Beatles, the Hollies, the Zombies, etc. Love it!

Loved it!

Amazing, legendary album!!!!!

Got a soft spot for The Kinks, and this is one of thier best albums.

Anazing songs

Amazing album alot of cool songs!!

I have heard of The Kinks, but did not know this album. It was not what I expected at all, but I very much enjoyed it. The album had a sound similar to British bands of that era. Out of the context of the album, I would not have guessed that the band was The Kinks…sounded like other British Invasion bands.

Really wasn’t sure what 1966 The Kinks would be like. But I loved it! It has got a great vibe and is a very good listen. Most of the songs I really enjoyed, and even the ones that I wasn’t completely in to weren’t bad to listen to. My favorite songs were “Party Line”, “Dandy”, “Session Man”, “House In The Country”, “Holiday in Waikiki” and “Little Miss Queen of Darkness”. I love “Sunny Afternoon” and realized that I actually should have known what to expect from 1966 The Kinks as I know this song really well! I don’t know if I would have named the artist as The Kinks though if I had heard it before this. Really enjoyed this. Fantastic album.

Wau! 🔥🔥🔥

Loved the album. An unexpected new classic for me.

The Kinks are, to my ear, the most consistently listenable of the big British bands from this era. I put 'em up there with The Beatles, Stones, and The Who. All of whom were shuffling towards the concept album at this time. This album is thoroughly enjoyable and I'd throw it on nearly anytime.

classic Kinks album, not much else to say

Excellent! Not heard previously and really good.

Ray Davies crafts an absolute treasure trove of 60s pop nuggets whilst indulging his fascination with Englishness and class.

ALready my third Kinks album in this exercise. I love this album. Ray gives us such wonderful little vignettes with colourful characters and places. Many memorable songs. Love it. 5 stars

Great summer feeling album. Stick it on and listen front to back

Really enjoyable album. Fan of the Beatles will like this.

Old and gold

funky

4 stars

Ett mycket vasst album med flera klassiker.

This album is simplistic in its arrangements and, at times, even repetitive, but it’s hard to fault it when it’s delivered with such enthusiasm and tongue-in-cheek humor. Ray Davies’ sharp wit and observational lyrics shine throughout, and the band’s charm makes up for any lack of complexity in the music. It’s an album that feels like a cheeky grin—playful and irresistibly enjoyable. The mix of satire, storytelling, and lightheartedness gives Face to Face its enduring appeal. While it may not be the most sophisticated record, it’s packed with personality, and I found myself thoroughly entertained. Standout Track: Mr. Pleasant Score: 4/5

4 - This is a lighter four than the others. Maybe I'd like this more than Arthur? IDK, I haven't listened to that one in a long time so I don't know how my opinion may differ now. Even if it's not my favourite, there's still some good songs on here. I mean, I did still give it a four, after all. I'd say none of the tracks are as strong as the strongest tracks on the other Kinks albums on here, at least for the time being. I may end up changing my mind with relistens. There's a bit of a lull in the middle if I remember correctly, but oh well. I still liked my time with it. It's better than a lot of stuff on this list.

Not quite reaching the same heights of their scouse contemporaries but getting very close!

Too Much On My Mind // A House In The Country // Most Exclusive Residence for Sale // Little Miss Queen of Darkness // Sunny Afternoon 3.5/5

I do enjoy old Kinks. I'm always surprised when I hear them because I'm so used to Lola as the sound of theirs I'm most familiar with, but this almost Beatles sounding stuff makes me smile.

It’s such a fun album. Hard to not bop along to songs like “Little Miss Queen of Darkness”