Face to Face
The Kinks
1966
Album Summary
Face to Face is the fourth studio album by the English rock band the Kinks, released in October 1966. The album marked a shift from the hard-driving style of beat music that had catapulted the group to international acclaim in 1964, instead drawing heavily from baroque pop and music hall. It is their first album consisting entirely of Ray Davies compositions, and has also been regarded by critics as one of rock's first concept album. Davies' blossoming songwriting style became increasingly observational and satirical, commenting on English culture, social class and the music industry. Despite containing the hit single, "Sunny Afternoon", the album's initial reception was lukewarm in both the UK and United States compared to the Kinks' previous LPs, charting at No. 12 and No. 135, respectively. Face to Face eventually earned retrospective critical acclaim, recognized as a pivotal record of the psychedelic era and an important milestone in the Kinks' evolution. The album was included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981). The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
WikipediaI 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.
A bit simplistic, but I suppose that's the time period. It wasn't a bad listen, but not something I'd return to.
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.
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.
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.
V nice. Sunny afternoon always massive chill. If I heard this when it first came out I probably would have been pretty obsessed.
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.
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
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.
Ray Davies crafts an absolute treasure trove of 60s pop nuggets whilst indulging his fascination with Englishness and class.
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.
Really wasnât 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 wasnât completely in to werenât bad to listen to. My favorite songs were âParty Lineâ, âDandyâ, âSession Manâ, âHouse In The Countryâ, âHoliday in Waikikiâ and âLittle Miss Queen of Darknessâ. I love âSunny Afternoonâ and realized that I actually should have known what to expect from 1966 The Kinks as I know this song really well! I donât know if I would have named the artist as The Kinks though if I had heard it before this. Really enjoyed this. Fantastic album.
I've been waiting for The Kinks. I don't know this album aside from a few songs. I loved every track. Super great.
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 KinksâŠsounded like other British Invasion bands.
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
Love that jangly guitar. These guys are right up there with th Beatles, the Hollies, the Zombies, etc. Love it!
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 liked it a lot more now than when I first listened to it. While not as varied as Something Else or as conceptual as Village Green, has a lot of quintesential Ray Davis style songs. Also, rosie won't you please come home is beautiful. Closer to a 3.5
It's so weird to me that we don't see The Kinks as equals to the Beatles. Their music is just as good, but their lyrics are probably more mature. Very interesting.
yo this is actually sick. just hella fun and random. didnât listen to all the mixes but Iâm sure I got the rough idea you know? some of my favourite kinks songs x
It has the same roller coaster quality that a lot of albums from this era do with all the sub three minute songs, but there were some really good songs on there. After listening through this, I feel like I need to listen to some more of The Kinks. Really the only reason this is getting a four from me is because I would rather have fewer longer songs than a crap ton of short ones. When you have that high of a volume of short songs I feel like there will feel like there are more bad songs than there actually are and the good ones are a little less memorable. Favorite tracks: âRainy Day In June,â âLittle Miss Queen of Darkness,â and âDead End Streetâ
Fantastic, can really hear the influence they've had on so many bands, as good as a Beatles album easily. Just missing maybe one more banger to be a 5
Solid, couple of the big songs on there and all the others were good too... Again, spotify gives you the 'special edition' with all the bonus tracks mixed in :( don't think it listened quite as intended
Not bad, a little too vintage for my taste, but some good songs. I liked She's Got Everything.
Ewig nicht mehr gehört aber ist ein absoluter Grundpfeiler fĂŒr die moderne Musik und ein spaĂig zu hörender Teil der British Invasion
Reminds me of Beatles and the Zombies. Lots of different genres and songs, very catchy and not one bad song.
Very 60's rock. Is nice and relaxing to put on in background. Fav was "Sunny Afternoon"
More Beatles-y than I expected. I liked approximately 60% of the album, but Sunny Afternoon is one of my all time favorite songs.
Quite elegant, with an essential preciosity that blends with the airy vocal harmonies with linear melodies and energetic instrumental interventions.(7/10) Favourite Songs: Sunday Afternoon
Nice collection of 2-3 minute 1960s guitar pop songs. Social commentary and story telling of everyday life. Some odd sound effects and bit of a medieval vibe in some places. I've never dug beyond The Kinks' famous singles, but it seems their back catalogue has depth. 4/5
Un dels discos clĂ ssics de pop dels '60 mĂ©s innovador i refinat. Lletres una mica fosques i intimistes, perĂČ melodies inoblidables i arranjaments de primera. TambĂ©, Ă©s clar, temes com 'Sunny Afternoon', 'Dandy', 'Party Line'...
Not too shabby for 1966, I can hear how this record is beginning to break some of the conventional molds of rock and roll for the time. I think the Beatles were venturing much further into unknown territory at the time but the kinks were certainly holding down and exploring their own thing
Solid. Didn't dislike any song. In the same vein, didn't LOVE any song except maybe Rainy Day in June, Sunny Afternoon (which I had already known and adored), and Most Exclusive Residence for Sale. Still a good overall album, but I'm sure they have better.
Perhaps the first rock concept album. This album finds the Kinks taking on a softer sound and more socially observant lyrical focus. 1966 was a banner year for rock albums but I think this album compares favorably and contrasts well to the heavy hitters of that year, mainly Pet Sounds and Revolver
Great early-ish Kinks. Much more enjoyable than their 80s work. Subject matter all over the place but sound is strictly Kinks. Wasn't aware - oddly enough - that Sunny Afternoon was one of their pieces. Enjoyed, but didn't add.
perfect slice of post-beatles pop rock. the only track i don't like is "rainy day in june". my favorite is "most exclusive residence for sale".
Though it is certainly vintage, I really enjoy the sometimes cheeky, very British simple rock and roll with folk stylings. Ray Davies delivery is perfect for this.
This was a very enjoyable listen. I love this sound of the Kinks, very sixties pop, but another example of a band of that era reaching a little further into musical creativity. I appreciate the interesting lyrics. "Most Expensive Residence for Sale" is a good tune with a wry story. "Sunny Afternoon" is a song I have always enjoyed, and it fits very nicely in this context. I was happy to listen to it again. I hope we get to listen to more of the Kinks.
Not a bad follow up from "The Kink Kontroversy" A nice little album that fits nicely between "Kontroversy" and "Something Else" Especially with some pf the song arrangements as they carry a certain theme throughout and The Kinks at the time were going from the furious early sixties sound to a more poetic storytelling kinda thing with more focus on a quaint English feel!
Loved the vocal harmonies in this one. Good not great. But definitely an album of the times.
The Kinks have a great 60s sound with their personal edge, that no other group had. They were The Who before The Who. Good album.
A fun little album, giving this a 4 just like the other two Kinks albums we got so far. And just like the other two it's really hard not to compare them to The Beatles. The album is pretty solid in every way and there are no bad tracks on here, but it doesn't quite rise to "fantastic" status for me either. I didn't know that Sunny Afternoon was by them, good song.
Un album-carrefour. Il y a lâavenue punk, avec lâurgence et la critique sociale (« House in the country »), psychĂ©dĂ©lique (« Fancy »), hard rock par moments. Ănergisant, bons textes. Savoureux!
A very good Links album but not their best. This album would be the start but not the peak of their golden age.
Bro, the Kinks are so fucking good. This album is awesome, mono mix or stereo mix. Don't matta. Shits too good.
I was pleasantly surprised by this Kinks album. I mostly knew their rambly (but pretty cool) older era music, but this is more room for the songwriting. The songs become a lot better than I know of them and even though you can hear beatle-esque inspiration on some songs (especially the opener) they're creating an own style. I do want to give the singer a hug though, he really wasn't going through the best of times it seems.
J'adore les Kinks. Chansons courtes et efficaces entre rock, pop et juste une petite dose de punk qu'on sent de moins en moins depuis le premier album. Cet album est parmi mes préférés du groupe. PiÚce préférée: Sunny Afternoon
I'm always shocked to hear the big four (not so much The Who) in the early sixties. And how much they change in the span of a decade. They were sooo pop-y.
I think the kinks are great and this is another example of why. Quintessentially English⊠in a good way!
Today I etched the face of Hitler onto the scarred bottom of my good friend Peter. He loves the nazis and I love etching. We listened to The Kinks as I did it. It was fun.
I thought this was a cool album for the time. I got a little more bored with it as it went, but the style if very distinctive. I've always heard good things about the Kinks, but I've never listened to one of their albums until now. The sound quality of the album isn't amazing, but that certainly happened sometimes in this period 4/5
Love the ideas of the songs, the lyrics, and the general vibe. The music is nothing special, though.
Highlights: Party Line Rosie Wonât You Please Come Home Rainy Day In June Holiday in Waikiki Sunny Afternoon Artwork: 3 / 10 Rating: 8 / 10
Considering how much I love The Kinks, Iâm surprised I havenât really got into the weeds with many of their albums. The was greta fun. A snappy set of songs with great melodies and a bit of variation in pace and feel, with the odd attempt (not completely convincingly) at psychedelia. Session Man was a highlight here, and reminds me how much of an influence this band have been, especially on Mark E. Smith.
This is one of the most underrated bands, even during the 60s invasion. Sure, there were songs that featured experimentation, but this has a more garage vibe to it compared to the Beatles' pop and the Stones' bluesy rock. If a little forgettable, there are still really good songs such as Rainy Day in June. Overall, improvements are needed, but this album is still great.
Ok Sunny Afternoon is incredible. There's a lot of serious songwriting going on here. I can see why the album was a slow burner though, little else musically stands out
eu adoro kinks, mas não conhecia esse album. a psicodelia deles é uma das melhores, eles são alegres nas melodias, profundos e até engraçados as vezes nas letras. desse album só conhecia sunny afternoon, que uma musica incrivel
I donât know any of these songs but really like them. Itâs very innocent 60s and remains easy to listen to. This album helps me understand why there are so many die hard Kinks fans. Itâs interesting that other artists released some of these songs as singles before The Kinks released the LP. I suppose itâs similar to The Byrds releasing Mr. Tambourine Man before Bob did (I think). This is a practice that is long gone.
It's lovely to hear a singer that enunciates clearly, eh? Lovely crisp sound to the Kinks Wiki tells me this album showed off a new sound for the kinks, in which case I'm not I'm not sure I'm familiar with their earlier sound. Sunny Afternoon is the obvious standout. Liked a few of the other tracks with more of a psychedelic air to them too. Slightly confused by the Spotify version of this album, as it includes several extra songs that appear to actually belong on different albums
I find that the Kinks are underrated in North America despite superb songwriting and storytelling.
achei legalzinho a vibe, bom pra passar o tempo queria dar 3,5 mas n vai ent deixa 4 msm beatles
LOVE a good harpsichord (a double edged sword, as it also dates this album a lot, but has some fun harpsichord motifs). Formulaic chord progressions taken from blues rock, but interesting things happen with the instrumentation, particularly with the use of background noises and the sitar, even if the chords are basic. Unavoidably comparable to the Beatles Rubber Soul, which came out a year prior. Similarly sarcastic lyrics, but rambles more both lyrically and in song structures. Some really funny song titles, but unfortunately they don't live up to the promise. Some of the lyrics are funny, although it's not clear if it's intentional. As a result, the album is thematically a lot stranger and less melodic. Overall, I can see where this album would be influential for some of the artists that came after because of the way it blends instrumental motifs with lyrical storytelling, but not quite my cup of tea. 3.5/5.
Enjoyed it but thought it sounded a bit more dated than village green which I enjoyed more
This is album is fine. Someone could definitely mistake it for the Beatles and thatâs not a bad thing, itâs just doesnât have anything that sets it apart or really stands out. Very average
Enjoyable jangly pop, and I kind of get what Ray was doing with all the social observation stuff. When the album takes a step back and becomes more subtle it is more enjoyable to me - e.g. Rainy Day in June.
Ah yes. Back when pop music was basically blues based rock. Fun sounds, though not especially inspired lyrics. I can hear the echoes of this album in lots of contemporary rock music, and I thoroughly enjoyed it through!
really good sound here by The Kinks who are a 1960's UK rock group. probably a 3.2-3.3/5
Mostly happy songs, fun to have on the background. Wouldn't play them actively though.
Pretty much what I expected from a Kinks album, very safe rock n roll. In the words of the great Anatoly Dyatlov: "not great, not terrible". Best track: Rainy Day in June
Can understand how the transgressive lyrics and electric rock n roll sound would have been a bombshell in 1960's England but the songs don't have too much staying power.
Pretty forgettable album for me, but better than the first one I listened to on this list.
Ich finde es auch mutiger als die Beatles aber tatsÀchlich merkt man gleich dass die dann doch eine andere Liga waren
In Conclusione: Nonostante avessi sentito nominare i Kinks varie volte e sapessi vagamente il genere (che erano piĂč o meno competitor dei Beatles) non li avevo mi ascoltati. Devo dire che Ăš stato un ascolto piacevole, qualche pezzo chiaramente l'avevo giĂ sentito perchĂ© molto popolare (tipo Sunny Afternoon). Li ho trovati comunque una versione un po' piĂč punk forse dei Beatles, un po' piĂč ruvidi e politici. Comunque divertente.
I had to look up why this album was significant. First concept album. It was good. Beatles' sound.
Sunny afternoon is great but while the album may have been innovative when it came out it hard to hear it without thinking of all thats come since now.
Los kinks eran mĂĄs los beatles que los kinks. Si se pudiera poner 3.5, le pondrĂa eso
An ok album, had a psychedelic Beatles vibe, with a more pop leaning. Not sure if I got the full experience as Spotify only had the Deluxe Edition. Best: Party Line, Dandy Worst: Holiday in Waikiki 2.5 stars
Not my usual speed. But I kinda like it. I'm not sure how many listens it's going to get over time. but his vocal range is super interesting to me. Sunny afternoon is pretty damn good I gotta say.
Soldi record but not really my thing. I liked the first couple tracks but I kinda started to lose interest by the end.
Dei Kinks conoscevo alcuni pezzi, ma non avevo ascoltato un album per intero. Riconosco la loro bravura in questo sound davvero Pop-British (non voglio dire castronerie, ma a tratti sembravano i Beatles). Nonostante la mia attenzione Ăš andata un po' a scemare, ci sono canzoni tipo Sunny Afternoon che riascolterĂČ sicuramente.
Didnât particularly like the first 5 songs, but the album really picks up from Rainy Day in June onwards. Lovely 60s English pop music.
Entertaining pop music, though not as ear-wormy as I found Village Green to be. Session Man seems to open things somewhat, especially into its transition into the sound effects of Rainy Day. A cheap trick, but effective. Perhaps especially effective because it's after several more conventional tracks. For a stretch, there's a strong sense of place, and that's one of the best parts. Sunny Afternoon is another gem, and listenable in at least two ways. The rest is good, but the concept argument reads as threadbare and I've already commented on the worm-lack.
Lovely, uplifting, easy listening. Great for a 60s themed party.. Just not in the mood for that now, over listened as a kid
This one feels like it's beginning to lay the foundations for Ray's ability to craft a great pop song with both wit and a cutting sense of social comment.
JoĆĄ jedan fin album legendarnog benda. Bar meni, sviÄaju mi se. Nije top tier ko njihovi drugi albumi, ali nije za baciti. Pozitivan je.
3/5 For some reason I just don't really have that much to say about this album. I mean it's the Kinks, it's quite good
Overall pretty good, if the rest of the songs were as good as Sunny Afternoon Iâd be a 4 but some are kind of just ok. Def one of the better bands of this decade though
Pierwsze i z pewnoscia nie ostatnie Kinksy na liscie, wiec ultra kompaktowo, plyte face to face mozna okreslic jako bardzo popowy rock, czyli cos jak beatlesy z poczatkowego okresu, w czym kryje sie troche prawdy, ale nawet sama ta plyta potrafi sie obronic przed takimi zarzutami, bo ma na siebie pomysl, chociaz nie jest to stricte konceptowy album, bo jednak widac i slychac, ze przy luzniejszej sytuacji z lejbelem mogliby stworzyc z tego cos odwazniejszego, biorac pod uwage jakie kawalki znalazly sie poza plyta, chocby dead end street, pomimo tego, ze wiekszosc kawalkow jest pisana pod standardowy czas songa popowego, czyli mniej niz 3 minuty, to opowiadaja historie ktore potrafia zaciekawic, zwlaszcza takie perelki jak session man, czyli hymn na temat heroicznej pracy muzykow sesyjnych, a zwkaszcza pana Nickiego Hopkinsa, ktorego klawisze mozna uslyszec chocby u stonesow, czyy the who, no i rowniez u kinksow, pan Ray Davies mial glowe na karku wypluwajac z siebie taki material, dodatkowo jest on glownym wokalem albumu, chociaz openingowy trak nalezy do mlodszego z duetu braci, pana Dave, do ktorego nalezy najbardziej charakterystyczny jak dla mnie instrument plyty, a bedzie to gitarka, sklad uzupelniaja Pete Quaife na basie i Mick Avory na drumsach, orginalny album to 38 minut material, ale akurat spotifaj mial bogatsza wersje z dodatkowymi trakami i wersjami mono i sterego, w tym wypadku mono robi lepsza robote jak na moje ucho, na plejke obok sunny afternoona dodam jeszcze wspomnianego session mana i kawalek o dandysie
It's not bad, but very little really jumped out at me. I'd rather listen to their peers of the day than this if I'm being completely honest. 5 to 6 /10 5/10
I was going to give this a 4 until I listened to fancy. I guess this is why you need to listen to the whole album.
I'm only somewhat familiar with The Kinks. I've heard some songs here and there, although nothing has really stood out enough to catch my attention. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case here as well. It's not bad, but compared to it's contemporaries it is a bit average.
Kind of run-of-the-mill mid-60's pop-rock to me. Some kind of Beatles-esque baroque sounding stuff (mellotron) too. Enjoyable but didn't really stand out to me. Unlikely to revisit.
Pretty fun, but wasn't very memorable. Favorites: "Part Line", "House In The Country", "Sunday Afternoon"
If The Beatles didnât polish themselves - ok but not as good as they good be. My top pick is âSunny Afternoonâ, itâs cute.
great kinks album with their famous songwriting of semi casual rock songs that are that perfect mix of 60s sound and more modern rock
Decent easy listening that drags on a bit long though and the rather basic concept loses its appeal rather quickly
Was expecting a bit of a heavier album than what this turned out to be, when I think of the Kinks I think of "You Really Got Me" with the power chords. This album is much more of a 60's folk album and they're really channeling the Beatles.
Meilleur que l'autre album que j'ai essayé d'eux, mais ça reste trÚs average comme vieux rock.
Do you like the Beatles? If so you will like this album. Not every song is a hit but those that are not are not horrible. Most songs are right around the 2 minute mark so the album flies by.
Pretty good. Slightly repetitive. Some hits and some misses. Could be a classic if it were 8 songs instead of 21.
Good but forgettable. Sunny Afternoon is a classic and the other songs are fine. Not one that I'll be going back to very often (if ever).
The Kinks are an interesting study in rock history. There are really quite a lot of albums, and the influence is great, but relatively few actually recognizable hits, especially in the U.S. this is another album I hadnât listened to before. Good, though not hitting the levels of my favorites with this band.
I didn't expect to enjoy this one, but actually it's pretty great. Sounds like the 60s.
Loved the album cover but didnât get to hear the whole album. I like the Kinks, easy background music. Just alright 3*
This was really good. I always liked the kinds a lot when I heard songs here and there, and then a few months ago this website generated a kinks album for me that a thought was complete rubbish. Glad to listen to a different one that hit the mark
J'ai fait ce matin un découverte consternante en me balandant sur Internet, je me dois de la partager avec vous. Savez-vous quels sont les trois plus grands déserts du monde? Je ne le savais personnellement pas, laissez moi donc vous proposer la liste ci-contre: le désert du Gobi, le désert du Sahara, les deux derniers mois du générateur.
Un album générique de la part des Kinks qui n'ont au passage pas eu l'élégance de me signaler qu'ils avaient coupé mon couplet sur l'avant-dernier morceau.
This isn't stand-out Kinks, but it's still Kinks and so it's still pretty listenable all the way through.
It was fine. I feel like the intros to most songs were really cool, and then it just fell into a 4/4 beatles copy.
Most of the time I couldnât tell if I was listening to the Beatles, the Doors, or the Kinks. It was a good listen but it kind of lacked originality
This seems like a great album to listen to if I was chillaxing with a brew and some bud on a sunny day outside.
Have you ever thought about what the Beatles might have sounded like if they were just okay at songwriting and three years behind everybody else? Wonder no more! Best track: Sunny Afternoon
it was just alright. not much to write home about. pleasant to listen to in the sunshine.
Both a bit derivative, and at the same time ahead of the game, in that it apes the Beatles sound, whilst also being original enough to inspire 90s Britpop. There are flashes of brilliance, but also a certain quaintness to proceedings. I wanted to like this more than I did.
Party Line is a pretty cute little song. I love the guitar on Rosie Won't You Please Come Home! Dandy's a cute little song too! I don't have much that I can say about this album yet, but these songs are all very fun to listen to. Definitely something I wouldn't pick out on my own, but very fun stuff that I'm glad I'm getting introduced to. Too Much on My Mind has such fun harpsichord (I think?) stuff on it, it really compliments the lyrics. The opening to Session Man (and the harpsichord throughout the rest of it) is Fantastic, I love it so much. Highlight of the album so far for me. Rainy Day in June's got some really strong moments, including the vocals for me. Great song, with a lot of fun cheese (the thunder is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL in my enjoyment of the song). Scratch what I said before, *this* is the best one yet! House in the Country is a nice song, but it's got nothing on Rainy Day. Guitar-work is fun. Grew on me by the end of it all. Holiday in Wakiki's got a great drum start, but the vocals just aren't here for me on the track sadly. The rest of it is fun! Most Exclusive Residence for Sale is... fine. I don't hate it, but I also don't love it. Fancy's got absolutely stellar stuff happening underneath the vocals - which are good as well. But, wow, I'm in love with the stuff happening in the strings! Another cute little song is Little Miss Queen of Darkness. Expected something, well, different based on the name but all-in-all still a fun little escape. Just a thought before I talk about You're Looking Fine - the A-side to this album has been much better in my opinion, compared to the B-side. Oh well! Anyways, You're Looking Fine is another song that I'm ok with? Not really anything to write home about in my opinion. Sunny Afternoon is *that single* so I have high expectations going in. Perhaps that's a mistake. But, I do like this! It's darker than some of the rest of this B-side (at least at first listen), and it's got very pleasing vocals and bass overall. It feels *very* 60s. I'll Remember is another great song, love love love it.
3.6 - Not as strong as other slice-of-life Kinks records (e.g âVillage Greenâ) mostly because the songs are about uninteresting characters and situations (e.g âSession Manâ).
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.
ĐŃĐłĐșĐžĐč Đ°Đ»ŃĐ±ĐŸĐŒ 60-ŃŃ , ĐČ ĐŽŃŃ Đ” ŃĐ°ĐœĐœĐžŃ ĐĐžŃлз Đž Mamas and Papas, ĐœĐŸ ĐŒŃĐ·ŃĐșĐ° ĐœĐ” ĐŒĐŸŃ.
I found this a bit disappointing - the overall sound wasn't great and the themes were very dated (which shouldn't have surprised me, I know).
I liked the album. Started of very Beatlesy but soon became more hard rock heavy. Again just listening to the album while working so I was paying too much attention, but I did like what I heard and will probably check out some more of their work.
Se deja escuchar, a veces suenan como los Beatles un poco mås sueltos, rebeldes, rockeros. Es quizås un testamento a su calidad que el disco suene tan bien después de tantos años. No aburre en absoluto. Es sólo que no me marcó como para decidir escucharlo de nuevo.
Not my go-to Kinks album. The few famous songs, "Party Line" and "Sunny Afternoon" are really great (nuclear opinion, but I always thought that the best Kinks songs were better than the best Beatles songs, even if the Beatles had better albums over all). The rest of the album is pretty unremarkable.. a good song here and there, but mostly forgettable generic pop rock.
p88. 1966. 3 stars. The primeval ancestors of Blur. Pros: Ray Davies can knock out a tune, and lyrically he's as sharp as Costello or Weller. Cons: he can't sing, the Kinks weren't great musicians, and the production hasn't dated that well. Compare this with Revolver or Pet Sounds from the same year and all the flaws really show up. It's more of a historical significance piece - "look what Ray Davies was doing at the same time as Dylan and Lennon and Wilson".
I listened to the first half and really enjoyed it. It felt like on the verge of pop and psych rock? Def worth another deeper listen.
This is the Kinks album with my favorite song of theirs, Sunny Afternoon, so Iâm pretty excited already. Instantly, however, not impressed. Party Line is pretty simple and not great. Rosy Please Come Home redeems it a little though. Maybe it was a fluke, cause Dandy is pretty similar to Party Line. Overall seems pretty simple. Definitely not as great as Something Else by the Kinks. Fav Track: Sunny Afternoon 3/5
Party Line sounds like it could be a Beatles song. I think this was around the time that those bands were makin the shift from rock n roll to a more psychedelic sound, though they refer to this music as baroque pop or music hall. Ray Davies had such a distinct voice and I bet he influenced a lot of indie singers. Sunny Afternoon is timeless and reminds me what was so good about sixties pop radio.
I always find myself rooting for The Kinks; theyâve got a boatful of classic singles to rival any of their contemporaries. But I wonder if those many singles were spread out across almost as many albums? Certainly when Sunny Afternoon kicked in the jump in quality from the rest of the tracklist was obvious (barring Dead End Street, if weâre including it in this album). That said, there are some other nice Ray Davies ditties on here, and evidently it was an important record in the creation of the 60s âBritpopâ sound.
There's some good songs on this, but honestly a lot of them sound quite similar and samey-same. Still, would probably listen to again.
This album marks their shift from garage rock to humorous pop rock that would serve as a primary inspiration to 90s Britpop. The songwriting is fantastic, full of hooks and unique styles, but suffers from overused techniques such as the vocal style and harpsichord which come off as gimmicks. I personally really enjoyed the atmospheric psychedelic songs, but still found them dull compared to other products of the time. There tends to be a lot of songs I like but am never too crazy about... it's all a bit too tame, and the lofi production works against them. Favorites: Party Line, Rainy Day in June, Holiday in Waikiki, Little Miss Queen of Darkness, Sunday Afternoon, Dead End Street
A few decent tracks, but generally not really my bag. Stand out tracks: Rainy Day in June Fancy Sunny Afternoon
Didnt get much of a chance to listen but also dont want to go back and listen, so maybe a 3
couple of good tracks but quite samey and didn't really connect with the 'concept album' thing. 2.
Questo disco non riesce ad arrivarmi, suona troppo distante nel tempo e monotono. Ho fatto molta fatica a finirlo.
Overall enjoyable but needs more variation - blends into an indiscernible amalgam of Beatle-esque jangle pop after a while.
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.
Nothing stood out as exceptional or noteworthy. Decent album but it didnât leave much of an impression on me
Meh, Sunny Afternoon has always been enjoyable to me but otherwise nothing really stands out here for me đ€·đŒââïž
KÀnner mig rÀtt likgiltig inför detta album, har verkligen ingen Äsikt, varken bra eller dÄlig kritik att dela ut...
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.
Two Kinks albums in like a week? Felt like the other album was better. This doesn't do much for me.
For those who wish Wes Anderson directed every movie. I'm a huge fan of The Kinks, but this is not their finest hour. I have to think "Sunny Afternoon" is the only reason it made the list. Sunny Afternoon aside, it's something of a snooze.
Think the person who put this list together has just done something like 'oh The Kinks, put their entire back catalogue on the list', because Face to Face is obviously the work of a skilled band and enjoyable in places, but not outstanding anywhere.
This is something of a timepiece. I'm not sure that I could give it repeat listens. It sounds like a work in progress and an indicator for what was to come. Sunny Afternoon stands out, but the rest wasn't the high standard of a Kinks Greatest Hits. At least I now know where The Coral lifted most of their ideas from.
I'm sure I would've listened to these guys if I was alive in 1966, but today I simply get nothing from this album. A few decent tracks and a lot of below average ones. It's all just a little too dated for my liking.
Un tanto monocorde. Mismo ritmo en casi todas las canciones. FĂĄcil de escuchar, pero un poco facilĂłn
It's inevitable that the Kinks would get compared to the Beatles because they both had a very similar Baroque pop sound in the mid 60s. However, when the Beatles were putting out Revolver in 1966, the Kinks released Face to Face. Apart from Sunny Afternoon and the pretty album cover nothing on this album really sticks out or catches my attention though.
Well, looks like I still don't like 60's music. I'm sure this is great, but it's not my bag.
Typical 60's British invasion rock. I enjoy it sometimes but 20 tracks? Couldn't finish every song.
Uff, schepperndes trallala, das Zeichen der swinginâ sixties. Ich hab mich daran nie so recht laben wollen, selbst in UK affinen Phasen des Musik Konsums. Lichtblick âSunny Afternoonâ kann da auch nicht viel rausholen Angestaubte 0.8
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 (âSunny Afternoonâ) less after listening to the LP. Iâve 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, thereâs not a lot else to his vocals or lyrics. Likewise, the band is competent, but nothing and no one really stands out, save Nicky Hopkinsâ terrific keyboard work throughout. Only trouble is, heâs not even in the band! Apparently, the Kinks made a conscious move away from their former garage band rock nâ 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 Englandâs 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 theyâre not coveting the havesâ stuff over on the wealthy and posh side.
Vibezinha yellow submatine massa. Curti!!
3/5
okay
More fun than I was expecting, I thought that this would be more punk but it's more like the Beatles.