Face to Face

My fourth and last Kinks album. I've rated all of them 3/5, but this time I'm thinking this album is a step above what I usually rate a 3 (for my taste). So, considering my actual rating would be 3.5/5, Face To Face might be a good starting point for a future Kinks re-listen.

This is the 4th old Kings album on this list thus far. Guess what I’m going to rate it? This was a little less silly, with one track I recognized and don’t hate, though going back through the track list, I can’t attach the title to any of the lyrics that I can remember. Still, this does nothing to change my opinion about early Kinks.

2.5/5 was grand nice easy listen but nothing jumped out

Really surprisingly good album, started off a little weak and confusing but ended incredibly strong, fav tracks were “too much on my mind”, “house in the country” and “sunny afternoon”

70

It is good, however i dont understand all the 5 stars. Perhaps it is the disadvantage of having a 1-5 star system.

So I did like this album. Pretty groovy which made it an easy listen. I feel like it might have been pretty hype for its time however, for me, it didn’t do anything beyond what I was expecting. Overall, very approachable but not a must listen

Great 60’s rock and baroque and shows the strength of the kinks and what makes them stand out from the multitude of talent during the period. One thing I really love about this album is the different perspectives in the writing that would evolve more as the band grows. A good gosh darn album. Fav tracks: party line, rosy won’t you please come home, dandy, session man, most exclusive residence for sale, fancy, and sunny afternoon

Love these guys

(5/7) very Beatles-esque (but like 2 years behind where the Beatles were currently at)

Nope

Sunny Afternoon the only decent track on here

When the kinks are good they're very good but a lot of samey stuff 3.5

Sounded a bit too 60s for me at the start, but I really got into it. Will check more of the Kinks out for sure. Listened to in Parc Montsouris, watching the world go by!

I didn't know this album but I was familiar with some of the tracks. I don't understand why the 60's Kinks weren't more popular in North America. Good listen.

With songs like "House in the country" how can you not get excited? I joke. Maybe my desensitized music taste has produced this opinion, but albums like this are boring. Lyrically they have nothing I'm interested. There was some cool notes with the sound effects that I'll give some points too. A strong 2 I say

I actually liked this better than most other kinks albums. Maybe it's because they weren't punk this time around.

The more I listened to this, the more I liked it. Little melodies and instrumental fills keep revealing themselves through the gently psychedelic mist. At its simplest, it's tight and well-written 60s beat pop but I've heard a fair bit of the Kinks now and have started to really appreciate their distinctive sound and Ray Davies' signature lyrics and delivery.

Takes far too long to get to Sunny Afternoon. A bit middling.

Flirting with greatness. Really hear the sound of the 60's in here, couple songs could pass for Beatles tracks, but just a bit too unpolished.

OBOŽAVAM! genijalan album koji mi stoji uz bok »the kinks are the village green preservation society«. 14 izvrsnih pjesama od kojih mi je teško izdvojiti najbolje

60’s British Rock

Great album. Precursor to punk

Imagine trying to explain to Gen Z what a party line was. Or what face to face means. Or what a kink is. Anyway, it's not particularly memorable with the exception of Sunny Afternoon. There are flashes of Davies' brilliance here but it's on the next few albums after this that they really stepped it up a gear.

They sounded dated. Of albums released in 1966, this one is largely forgotten

This is boring. LIVING ON A THIN LINE, OOOOOOOO

Alright, but far less memorable/good than Empire and, to a lesser degree, Something Else. Nothing close to Waterloo Sunset, in essence. (And as always, I can't help but point out the Beatles echoes; Session Man would probably be considered a parody of Nowhere Man if it didn't sound so sincere.)

Pretty good budget Beatles album

This was nice - less twee than their later Village Green phase - but nothing stood out much for me.

The Kinks, one of the most underrated and underappreciated bands to come out of the British invasion of the '60s. I rate these guys up there with the Rolling Stones and The Who. In fact, I consider them essential to any appreciation of music from that era or any era. Ray Davies is one of the best lyricists to come out of that era and his brother is a fine guitarist. Completely underrated. Long live the Kinks.

Good 60s album

Album #256 The Kinks: Face to Face For my money, the only British band in the 60s that ever got close to The Beatles from a songwriting standpoint were The Kinks. The Who and The Stones both had some incredible highs, but their appeal was more about the instrumentals and musicianship rather than songwriting. Across the pond, you had The Beach Boys, of course, but as far as Brits go, only Ray Davies and co. were able to measure up to Lennon-McCartney. Face to Face is the start of The Kinks' absolutely brilliant run of albums that stretches all the way to Muswell Hillbillies. Face to Face is pretty much the outline for what would make The Kinks so appealing: their signature quaint slice-of-life songwriting style, combined with electrifying guitars, combined for some of the most comforting and infectious music ever created. A lot can be said about The Kinks' big singles; Waterloo Sunset, Lola, and You Really Got Me are all-timer songs that almost everyone knows; but I find that there is just as much magic present in their album cuts. Sunny Afternoon is the only real hit on Face to Face, but I’d be hard-pressed to find a song considerably worse on the album. It’s unfortunate that The Kinks seem to receive less shine than their British Invasion contemporaries; they were able to carve out their own niche and create a sense of wonder and familiarity in their music that I haven’t seen replicated since; this album is definitely worth a listen, and it might not even be in their top five. Best Songs: Sunny Afternoon, Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home, Rainy Day in June Worst Song: Fancy Score out of 10: 8.5

There are a bunch of versions of this on Spotify, mono/stereo mixes, remasters, bonus track laden editions. Hard to know then if I listened to the official version in any coherent sense. The reason that is relevant is that I found the album grew on me as it went and and some of the gems were decidedly late in the version I listened to. I’m unsure whether these were canonical tracks from the original release but songs like I’m Not Like Everybody Else and Big Black Smoke showed far more vision and punk rock aesthetic than the lackluster proto-rock first half.

Where is their big hit? Will we have to listen to Another record?

Nice album. One unforgettable song and the rest, a good listen.

Kind of sounded like Beatles lite. Not really like other Kinks albums I've listened to.

This is about as quintessential a Kinks album as I can imagine. With all songs written by Ray Davies, the group had absolutely found the sound that you are likely to associate with them by this point, and even if the only readily identifiable song here is the iconic "Sunny Afternoon," there's no way anyone could ever listen to ANY of these tracks and not immediately recognize it as an effort from the Kinks. I have no beef with the 1001 albums list including four Kinks LPs, but I do question the choice of having NO selections from the 1970s or later. These guys continued to evolve for at least two decades beyond their most influential 1960s stuff--and even had some pretty big hits with songs you might have heard of called "Lola" (1970) and "Come Dancing" (1983). I understand the instinct behind recognizing their early, most influential stuff, but to ignore all efforts beyond that seems strange.

Love The Kinks

No denying that when you think of the 60’s, there’s a good chance that these guys are what’s on the stereo

Sort of like a dime store beatles. totally serviceable, but not the best by any means.

I liked it. Nothing super special, but any easy listen.

Good album, the kinks were such a different band

Ihan hyviä ja vauhdikkaita biisejä. Stemmalaulut myös erinomaiset, kuten The Kinksillä aina.

"A Well Respected Man" is repulsive.

Beatles sounding music that's really pretty bland. Maybe because it's from the 60's, maybe because this sounds a lot like the Beatles. Either way, just wanted this to be over. Under 40 minutes , but still seemed to last a long time. Think this is the 2nd or 3rd album we've heard but I don't need to hear anymore to say I'm not a fan.

3 Honestly, I think this list has convinced me that I’m not the Kinks fan I thought I was. I genuinely enjoy a lot of their hits, especially the stuff from their early garage rock days, like You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night, but after this, Arthur, and Something Else, it feels like I’m missing something. It seems the group softened their edges a bit starting with this album, and while I’m sure there’s an argument to be made that their songwriting evolved and matured in doing so, to me, it has now resulted in three albums with a couple of good songs and a lot of unremarkable, forgettable ones. Like, I genuinely have no idea what this album did differently than the aforementioned ones to earn its own spot on this list. There was nothing on it that I disliked, but after multiple listens through, the only track that I would call a standout is Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home, for no strong reason in particular other than it simply struck me as enjoyable each time it came on (I guess it’s about the brothers’ sister eloping to Australia). Beyond that, there’s only one additional song I feel that I can even recall, and that’s Sunny Afternoon. Once again, it’s not a bad little tune, but I have no idea why it’s the group’s fourth most popular on streaming (more than Waterloo Sunset and A Well Respected Man, really?) Despite the innocuous name, I guess it’s a satirical jab at the one-percenters who “suffer” from taxes, which is a sentiment I certainly respect, but it doesn’t translate into an especially interesting song. Clearly, I missed some kind of memo on The Kinks, so if someone could fill me in, that would be great. In the meantime, after three albums’ worth of material, they still sit firmly as a Greatest Hits type of group for me.

Favorite track(s): Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, Too Much on My Mind, Rainy Day in June, Sunny Afternoon

Always liked The Kinks. Sunny Afternoon is an all-time classic, both in lyrics and the music - such a great portrayal of a rich guy down on his luck who has just decided to say 'Fuck It, I'm Having A Beer and Enjoying Whatever Is Left'. Dandy is also one I know well, which a mate used to sing to me when I was a teenager - Steve Fiford, this one's for you!! A bunch of other lesser known, but still good, songs to round it out. Well worth a listen.

So this is the first step for the Kinks towards the music-hall-y, baroque pop of their later Golden Era records. These songs are strong, I just don't enjoy this style of rock for the most part. Maybe for a song or two, but not a whole record. "Party Line" is a real curiosity - a song about something most young folks won't have any concept of in 2026- sharing the telephone lines with randos in your neighborhood. Or, maybe they will. "Fancy" is the Kinks attempt at Indian music a la the Beatles, but I have to say I actually prefer this song to any of the Beatles' attempts. "Rainy Day in June" is quite wonderful..... this is a stronger set of songs than I was anticipating. "You're Looking Fine" is the only outright stinker, thankfully. And then there's "Sunny Afternoon" is fantastic and terribly topical even now. Yeah. I like it. FOUR STARS

This was alright. I think I'm a bit fatigued by continually writing "the Kinks are a better singles band than albums band". And it definitely applies to this one too

1031 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."

This was fine. I wish this band excited me more. Sunny Afternoon was great but everything else seemed fine. Not bad at all, just fine,

60s Kinks are the kinkiest Kinks

A rare first-listen 4. I’ll go back and listen again at some point but I enjoyed it first go.

3 - decent

Big fan of the kinks but I’ve never heard this album before. Fun pop songs about British life.

My but Ray Davies and Dave Davies can write a catchy pop song. Sunny Afternoon hints at how much more he was capable of.

Good rock record

If you could bottle swinging sixties London. This would be part of it.

Not my favourite Kinks album, but some really belting lyrics, unusual instruments and the real sense of an album worth listening to

The best way I can describe The Kinks is the 60s equivalent of Indie Landfill. They rode on the coattails of The Beatles and Stones, trying to make music as good and just putting out average stuff that made up the numbers. It’s harmless and by no means awful but it just feels like it’s here to make up the numbers.

interesting and British, a bit old-sounding but still cool

Category is: campy deadbeat dad in 1966 who drives an obnoxious convertible chic. I do think it ends in a high note though.

One of my favorite bands OAT and a good album for me to get back on the wagon to

the bombs going off in rainy day in june is a fun/dark twist. this album is kind of like the zip bid dee doo wop of the 60s.

This was ok ! This was very middle of the road for me.

J’avais hâte d’écouter un album des kinks. Ils me sont toujours sympathiques mais je suis quand même moins pris que sur l’autre album Sunny afternoon : cool Me pleasant : un peu drôle 6/10

Always good.

It's more Kinks. I preferred their albums Village Green Preservation Society and Arthur elsewhere on this list. This was fine but it just washed over me. Not unpleasant but didn't leave much of an impression.

Fantastic album.

Completely forgettable rock album

I liked some tracks, overall lukewarm. 2.5

The Yanks won't get this, as its too much of a English album about the English. Their loss. This is brilliant.

A few nice songs in here. I wasn't familiar with them but they seem to be The Beatles if they never broke into the US

Kind of a fun album. I'd maybe listen to it again.

slaps

Maybe I was in a bad mood but did not enjoy this goofy sounding album

뭐라 쓰지

Beautiful classic

Nice average Kinks album. The 60’s swingy sound you’re used to. Average overall, but there’s Sunny Afternoon, so that’s a plus.

Oh it's so british

This one's really the first time that the Kinks were able to make an album that mostly captured the promise shown by their singles over the previous couple years. They're not quite operating at full power just yet, but they've dropped all the R&B-type filler and gone all-in on the wimpier sounds we all know and love them for. Not quite a classic on par with the following albums, but still really strong!

The Kinks usually rock. This one… doesn’t. I hate to say it but over and over I kept thinking about songs being “Beatles lite” or “stones lite.” Give it to me in my veins once they’ve hit their stride

I love the Kinks and it pains me to give this a three, but some of the songs washed over me a bit. Lots of enjoyable stuff though.

social observation

Sounds like a soundtrack to a Wes Anderson film. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've heard at least one of these tracks in his films. Anyways, decent record.

The Kinks may be the "Anthrax" of the British Invasion Big 4, but their impact on rock and roll and being a witty, cultured British person is sketched into society. Face to Face is their earliest album on the list, probably best known today for Sunny Afternoon, an ode to taxing rich people, what a foreign concept). Much of the rest of the album is that old fashioned Kinks proto hard rock to riffing on old fashioned British culture and mindset, I think. I have to mention they're oh so very British because I am an American. You know how it goes. I very much like The Kinks, the sort of band that fits the "your favorite musician's favorite music group that deeply influenced their songwriting. More in common with The Who than the Stones or Breatles with respect to their tonality and loudness. Face to Face is a solid enough album to be one of their selected albums on the list, although I would have expected Lola Vs. Powerman to be on the list, or one of their 80s revival albums, but the British made this list, and here we are.

Love the Kinks

not their best work

Very Beatlesque, I mean this in a good way. Some very catchy songs and a pleasant surprise. Almost feels like an album of Beatles' outakes. Really enjoyable album even if a bit derivative

They sound like the Beatles, but not necessarily in a bad way; a decent listen

Ugh one hit in the whole album.

pretty standard 60s stuff

On their fourth album, The Kinks attempted to move away from just being a singles band. While this album feels very cohesive, it is ironic that the main highlight is the hit single "Sunny Afternoon" and nothing comes close to the heights on that song. If this album was full of songs as strong as that, then this would be an all-time classic for me. The songs have personality, but are ultimately forgettable. Moving away from being a Beatles clone, they embraced baroque pop with full force. I can see how bands such as Blur took influence from this. I'm a bit fan of the follow-up record, and this just sounds like a weaker take on that album.

Kinks I think I’ve heard enough harpsichord. Kind of like Rubber Soul but all the songs are bad. Kind of low energy for rock n roll. And songwriting and production not strong enough for pop. Rather listen to the stones. Dandy, session man, holiday in Waikiki, sunny afternoon are all the worst. Rainy day I didn’t mind. Little miss Queen of darkness I liked.your looking fine was ok. 2

Everything sounds bad. Bad recordings of stupid songs. Too much harpsichord. Annoying

I hate the sound of everything

I love the Kinks vibe - every song is fun and always feels like it must be funny but it's going over my head. Nothing on this album was really breaking through beyond "great vibes" though.

Wikipedia calls everything a concept album it seems, didn't really see that here. It was fine, though. I tend to associate the Kinks with a rougher, more garage rock sound, so hearing their later work that leans more artsy like the Beatles was somewhat interesting. Makes you wonder how big these guys would've been without those aforementioned Beatles around.

Not a Beatles enjoyed at the best of times. Bob Dylan MEETING The Beatles doesn't work for me.

fun fact: the kinks are probably my favourite band. although clearly i’m a fake fan because i haven’t listened to this album before. i don’t think this is my favourite by them, but it’s still a great album - esp because this is the album with sunny afternoon

Very cool. Innovative use of sound of the time (hell yeah I can use words). Was more entertained than I thought I'd be cannot complain.

The Beatles without aura, nice for a 60's britpop trip

Boring

kenn würkli meega wenig vo ihne. schono cool de erst song. hm. alles immer churz und mega knackig. und so dandy zb herzige song aber nöd viel meh. rainy day in june het afoch donner hobbala?? little miss queen of darkness isch fun! sunny afternoon isch seeehr cool. meeega britpop irgendwie? au s einzig woni scho kennt han.

öppe s vierte "one of the first concept albums"🫩 bi rosy ghörtmer fest de barocki ihfluss hahaha uii nei dandy findi ziemlich schrecklich, sehr chinderlied sessionman hani zerst auno denkt, dass en chinderchor singt aber han mi glaub tosche (tüscht??) house in the country isch jz nöd direkt en banger aber es halt das 60er-flair wo mich halt abholt das chline "drumsolo" bi little miss queen of darkness isch na cool? iwie findi alles eifach chli langwilig hmm de ahfang vo sunny afternoon chunntmer bekannt vor I'll remember isch chli wenig für es lied aber grundsätzlich na cool ganz ehrlich, han villes eifach chli langwilig gfunde. vlt isch au eifach villes ah mier verbii will es isch instrumentell glaub villsiitiger als ichs jz wahrgno jan aber jo, knapps 3

Mildly entertaining. I hadn't known that they had written Dandy. I knew only the Herman's Hermits version. Sunny Afternoon lifts it juuuust to a 3.

Right when I begin to despair and think that I may start giving any album from the 60’s a 2 just cause I so, so sick of it all, I get this. And the Kinks remind me that humor and satirical observations in music ARE possible. 4 Boolean:TRUE

Decent old pop rock, Sunny Afternoon is obviously a summer classic and there's a lot of other pretty good stuff here, it just ends the same thing all these old 60s albums with a bunch of songs that didn't need to make the album at all

The more Kinks albums I listen to, the less I think I’d like Ray Davies if I met him - there can be something a bit sneery about his brand of social commentary. (Did any actual session musicians have to play on Session Man?) However, if I just have to listen to his music and not interact with him, the man’s an incredible songwriter.

This album was definitely ahead of its time, being one of the first rock concept albums. It embraced the psychedelic rock movement before it fully took off and also had a strong baroque pop influence. The album is also known for incorporating modern studio techniques and a lot of experimentation, which really sets it apart.

Transitional Kinks. Fun stuff, though most of the songs sound like rough drafts of Dedicated Follower of Fashion. Sunny Afternoon is by far my favorite, but Rainy Day in June and I'll Remember are close.

3/5. There are a number of tracks on here that really sound like “Help!” era Beatles songs, such as the opener “Party Line.” But it still manages to be enough of its own thing to where the album doesn’t just feel like a cheap clone. The obvious highlight is the albums biggest hit “Sunny Afternoon” which has a great vocal melody. But I also loved “Rainy Day in June” and “Most Exclusive residence for sale.” But there are some stretches that just feel like pretty typical 60’s pop stuff, though overall I liked my time with this one.

Perfectly good British pop/rock from the 60s. I like The Kinks well enough, but this didn't stand out to me as especially amazing.

4/10

Fik endnu en Arh ha da jeg hørte not like Any body Else ( bonus track) kun hørt den i Kellermensch udgaven. Det var et fint lyt. Ikke noget særligt ud over den.

Da jeg så det her album var min første reaktion: Er det virkelig nødvendigt med 4 Kinks albums på denne liste? Efter at have hørt albummet er mit svar: Nej, det havde været helt fint med bare dette på listen. Det er ikke fordi jeg syntes det er et helt fantastisk album, men det er langt bedre end de første tre jeg har hørt med dem.

nice

Showing its age. I don't care much for whether it was significant or not, because it just sounds very expected and middle-of-the-road.

I don't know the history or what happened after this album(need to do my research), but I can see how this might have influenced later punk and art-rock.

Sounds like a very stereotypical mid-60's Beatles clone... only a bit better. I hesitate to give it 3 stars, because I didn't like most of the album. But I gave the Beatles 2 stars, and "Rosy Won't You Please Come Home" is a great song...so 3 stars, but just barely.

***A good easy listening album

I know I say this more than I should but this is just a poor attempt at doing The Beatles. Which is odd to me because I didn’t think of The Kinks as a Beatles knockoff. I also don’t really think they are, it’s just this album. But sticking with the formula works as well. I’m not blown away by any means but I’m not hating my life right now either. Choice cut: Little Miss Queen of Darkness

Fun skiffle

Bien.

The Kinks are one of my favorite bands of the era. This album though, with the exception of Sunny Afternoon (which it being June as I write this, was very appropriate to listen to), is a bit of a slog. The Kinks made more fun and powerful music before this, and then really came into their own after this. I see Face to Face as a kind of boring bridge between two great versions of this band.

Ya la portada indica un álbum plenamente sesentero. Además los Kinks, hacen aquí uno de los primeros discos conceptuales. No fue bien recibido, ni tuvo apenas éxito, salvo Sunny o Dandy a manos de Herman's Hermits, pero el tiempo lo ha tratado mejor. NO es su mejor disco, pero sí que es la antesala de lo que vendrá proximamente. Inaugura aquí su época dorada, que ya adelantó otro temazo como Dedicated Follower of Fashion. Obviamente es Sunny afternoon la que se lleva todo el reconocimiento pero el resto rayan a buena altura, incluso descartes como End of the Season o Big Black Smoke. Pop costumbrista y buenas melodías.

5th Kinks album so far and I still feel very meh about them. They don't do anything well enough or unique enough to justify 5 (potentially more) albums on here. This is temu Beatles but still a pleasant enough listen.

Buen disco, típico ritmo de los 60. Disco recomendado

Kinksi bängää, rakasta musaa!

Cool, third Kinks. I don't recall much about Arthur, though I've deliberated about returning to it. I liked Australia and it had a few other decent offerings, though I thought the album really dragged its heels from the middle through to the end. Still, I thought it was an adept offering. This is the first of The Kinks' included discography so my expectations of it are understandably tempered, though I'm hoping I'll come around to it. Here goes. Hmm. The first song was adept, but I think this album loses itself quite a bit with the songs that follow. The Kinks work best when they're marching to the beat of a light, breezy, summery drum. By comparison, this album almost immediately falls into a slump when it pivots towards a slow, heavy, lingering sound along with some intermittent Beatles-esque pop rock tunes. While this album features some occasionally moments of competence, I thought much of this album was quite dated, particularly in the vocal performances and those twangy guitars. There isn't much else to say about this album, really. I commend the concise runtime, but man if it didn't feel considerably longer than 38 minutes. I've heard "Sunny Afternoon" before. Not sure where, however. Probably in an advert on television. Anyways, it's good! I'd long been starved of an adept song until this one presented itself. The Kinks work best when they're following this clean, dynamic, minimal sound. The rolling, frolicking style of the vocals works well and carries the song to a steady finish. The methodical guitar and steady tamborine adds an interesting, inquisitive sound which suits the vocals and makes the song stand out quite a bit. Other embellishments like the ragtime piano and mild harmonica are also welcome additions. Overall, an adept offering. Book time. The frontman of this band didn't like this album cover and wanted it to have a stong, dark look. Marked a pivot in this band's style, with the music being more meticulously constructed. The album wasn't particularly big at the time of release, though it laid the groundwork for The Kinks' later success. Wikipedia says this album was the first release to be comprised of original music from the band and marked a change in Ray Davies' songwriting style, with it being more satirical. The lukewarm reaction to this album has since changed, and it is now regarded as one of the most significant 60s psychedelic albums. If this truly is a pivotal release in psychedelic music, then I'm content to let this one through. I cosign this inclusion.

Given it came out the same year as revolver, it’s no revolver

Not my thingymabööli. 60-luvun länkytys ei oo mun genre. Mutta silti kuuntelisin ennemmin ku ottasin turpaan.

ehhh leave this one off, hard not to see it as the Sunny Afternoon album, just look at the play counts Will I listen to again: 5%

#982. The hits from The Kinks are pretty solid, but this is not a band where I want to listen to an entire album. It's tolerable, but I don't really care about it in any way. 3/5: it's ok

This album received lukewarm reception from critics? Why? It's the Kinks, yo. Just pure, high-energy, well-played 60s material. Nothing legendary or groundbreaking, but nothing particularly disappointing either. We get our first taste of "baroque pop" in Rosie Won't You Please Come Home, which features prominent harpsichord and a few low strings that are quite far back in the mix. The vocal falls a little flat – this usually happens when the melody is played simultaneously by both guitar and voice. Still, a decent tune. Dandy is clearly the best song up to that point, accounting for the hilariously spirited wailing on vocals, active acoustic guitar, and fun groovy atmosphere with a few interesting chords here and there. It seems the Kink boys took my message to heart, because the next song, Too Much On My Mind, is another acoustic guitar track – this time a ballad. Pretty good. Session Man, despite literally being of the 60s, comes across as a pastiche of the decade – and nothing else. It fails to avoid being, well, boring. Rainy Day is similar. There's little soul to speak of, nor are there any interesting elements – at least until halfway through, where we get some thunder SFX. Not nearly enough to let the track shine, though. We pick the quality back up in A House In the Country – very rock'n'roll inspired with its distorted riffs, grungy-yet-melodic guitar solo, gritty vocal delivery, and that distinctive piano part you hear all over the place in 50s rock. The next two songs, Holiday In Waikiki and Most Exclusive Residence for Sale, take a similar direction in terms of sheer musicianship – but are also slightly weaker because they lack hooks. Unfortunately, artists get this wrong constantly. The song Fancy breaks the pattern of bog-standard rock pieces, which I appreciate. Kind of sounds like a Beatles filler track. But hey, Beatles filler tracks tend to be pretty swell! Then we have Little Miss Queen of Darkness, a bizarre countryesque honky-tonk track that works better than it should. Nothing spectacular, just good ol' guitar Americanism. Then there's You're Looking Fine – a spirited performance with a sort of Lennon-like rock wail. Of course, everybody's waiting for Sunny Afternoon, the track with the most legitimately catchy rhythm. Turns out a swing, a decent melody, and well-composed backing vocals can work wonders. The lyric "lazing on a sunny afternoon" was surely an inspiration, if indirectly, for Queen's Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon about a decade later. I'll Remember is a solid closer. Indeed – unlike many of the songs here, there is a chance "I'll remember" this one! 3/5 Key tracks: Dandy, A House In the Country, Sunny Afternoon

The band decided that the world needed some mellow tunes to calm themselves with. But they joined it with irony. 3.5/5

No estaba en el mood

*Face to Face* (1966) is The Kinks' great leap forward. It's the album where Ray Davies' songwriting truly came into its own, pivoting the band from the hard-rocking, power-chord sound of their early hits toward a distinctly British, character-driven, and remarkably sophisticated form of pop. While not always perfectly consistent, it stands as a pivotal work and one of the first true concept albums in rock history . ### Lyrical Themes: Observing the English Eccentric The central triumph of *Face to Face* is its lyrical content. For the first time, an entire Kinks album was composed of original Ray Davies songs, and he used the opportunity to craft a series of witty, poignant, and often satirical portraits of British life . The album's loose theme is social observation, peering into the lives of everyday characters and the upper classes alike. This is the record where Ray Davies fully develops his signature style: observational and satirical, exploring themes of English culture, social class, and personal struggle with a keen, empathetic eye . The crowning achievement of this style is the hit single **"Sunny Afternoon,"** a classic of music-hall-infused pop. It's a perfect blend of jovial melody and lyrical pessimism, telling the story of a decadent aristocrat bemoaning his lost wealth ("The taxman's taken all my dough") . It's a character study so vivid and relatable that it became a #1 hit in the UK . This character-driven approach is everywhere. **"Dandy"** gently mocks a superficial clothes-horse , while **"Session Man"** offers a cynical portrait of a hired musician who is "not paid to think, just play" . Even the more personal songs, like **"Rosie Won't You Please Come Home"** (about Ray and Dave Davies' sister who emigrated to Australia), carry this uniquely English blend of nostalgia and melancholy . The album also touches on more modern anxieties, such as the invasion of privacy in the opening track **"Party Line"** . ### Music, Production, and the Shift in Sound To match these new lyrical concerns, the band's sound underwent a significant transformation. They moved away from the raw, bluesy, guitar-driven rock of *You Really Got Me* toward a more nuanced, gentle, and subtle approach, incorporating baroque pop and music hall influences . This was the beginning of what many consider The Kinks' "golden age" . The production, helmed by Shel Talmy, is notably more intricate than on previous albums. The band experiments with different instruments, like the harpsichord used effectively on songs like "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" . The sound is often described as more "adult" and "grown-up" compared to their earlier work . Ray Davies initially conceived the album with sound effects connecting the songs, a novel idea for the time. While Pye Records forced him to abandon this full concept, some remnants remain, such as the telephone ring and spoken intro on "Party Line" and the exotic soundscapes in "Holiday in Waikiki" . ### Influence and Legacy *Face to Face* was incredibly influential. It is widely regarded by critics as arguably the first rock/pop concept album . It set the template for The Kinks' brilliant run of albums throughout the late '60s and early '70s and established Ray Davies as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, a peer of Lennon, McCartney, and Dylan . While it initially received a lukewarm reception, particularly in the US, its critical standing has only grown. It is now considered a milestone in 1960s rock and is included in the book *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* . It also proved that the band could find commercial success with this more mature sound, as "Sunny Afternoon" reached #1 in the UK . ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** * **Groundbreaking Lyrics:** Ray Davies' witty, observational, and character-driven songwriting marks a huge leap forward, cementing his reputation as a master lyricist . * **Influential Concept:** One of the first "concept albums" with a loose, unifying theme, influencing countless artists who followed . * **Musical Evolution:** The shift from hard rock to a more sophisticated baroque and music-hall sound shows the band's ambition and maturity . * **Classic Singles:** Contains the timeless and brilliant #1 hit "Sunny Afternoon" and other high-quality tracks like "Dandy" and "Party Line" . * **Consistency:** For many, the album is remarkably consistent, with no "dud" tracks and a high overall standard of quality . **Cons:** * **Uneven Depth:** While many songs are good, some critics argue that a few tracks feel like "filler," and the album doesn't sustain its highest peaks throughout . * **Cohesion:** The album can feel slightly disjointed at times, caught between its new "British" identity and remnants of its old "rock" style, preventing a perfectly cohesive flow . * **Production Value:** Producer Shel Talmy was known for a straightforward, "el cheapo" production style, which some feel doesn't do the complex arrangements justice . However, modern remasters from the original tapes have greatly improved the sound .

3,5

Oli vähän hätänen kuuntelu, mut Kinks toimii aina! Pitää ehkä kuunnella vielä vähän tarkemmin tää, koska tosiaan osa levystä meni vähän ohi.

Tästä tykkäsin kovasti! Tbh vähä semmonen olo että oisko pitäny pudottaa kolmoseen ku vaikee muistaa tarkemmin tätä nyt päivää myöhemmin :D mut sellane fiilis et pitää kuunnella uuestaa koska jäi hyvä maku

Pidin tästä! Varsinkin ekat biisit oli tosi kovia! Ja biisien nimet tuppas tulemaan selväks xD Hetkittäin pohdin että miltähän tää ois kuulostanut nykyaikaisemmil äänitystekniikoilla ja soundeilla ja tuotannolla kun vähän hukku yksityiskohdat, mutta toki toi ajan äänimaailma myös tuo sen oman fiiliksensä!

Iha ok kahen pennin Beatles. Vähän inconsistent musta et osa biiseistä oli tosi fillereitä. Pari hyvää biisiä. Emt onko yliannostus kuuskytäluvun pimpelipompelia.

Love all the 60’s Kinks albums. Easy to see how this made little impact in America and not my favorite, but always a fun listen.

I really enjoyed this one

Very enjoyable

Some solid tunes

Ihan ok levy. 3/5.

spoczko miły rock and roll takie typowe 60’

Pues los Kinks siguen a tope gustándome mucho

When your mum says you've got the Beatles at home.

Very nice album. Solid piece of work.

There are parts of this record that I like a lot, but I don't find it to be The Kinks finest hour at all. The (very) loose concept of "social observation" is not anywhere close to a real concept or rock opera like the better Kinks concept records and the songs aren't really strong enough to stand alone either. It's an ok record.

sharp, well-sung little songs, kind of a companion to Parklife in its short-story approach to class and mundanity in Britain but subtler and more cohesive than that record, to this one's benefit. nothing that blows my socks of but there is real sturdiness and craft here, hoping to be wowed by the Davies crew a bit more next time but not complaining!

Fun album, always like the work of the Kinks. Favorite track: sunny afternoon other picks: rainy day in June, fancy, holiday in Waikiki

Average, sounds dated now

Kinks su po meni ono što ljudi inače smatraju za Beatlese. Bend koji je izmislio sve. Koji možda za današnje standarde nije genijalan ali je od nečeg moralo početi doslovno sve. Drugi najbolji njihov album s liste.

Love the Kinks! Such an underrated band.

Boy, the Kinks sure are underrated! Perhaps a little inconsistent at times, but this album is pretty good. Yeah, there's some fairly average songwriting, Party Line's lyrics remind me of a great Simpson's bit and that sessionist song was pretty dull. But the album is peak 60s! Sunny Afternoon is probably one of my favourite songs of all time and there's a few gems of here too. I will say that I wasn't entirely captivated throughout, but I enjoyed myself none the less. 5 Stars.

This album is like a pleasant afternoon picnic with your girlfriend. You're both pretty low on money, because you have moved out of home and rent is expensive. But it is sunny, and you are both aware it has been a while since you have gone out and done something together. The sun is shining so you've gathered the ingredients for a picnic in the local common. After a few glasses of buttery chardonnay and some crackers with camembert and quince paste, you're blissfully walking home along the quiet streets, admiring the trees that line the pavement.

Very Beatlesesque. Guess they are from a similar time. Some good catchy tunes and the rest are easy listening.

You know how people make fun of 90s comedians for talking so much about airports and airline food? And how if you think of it, it’s because comedians spend more time at the airport than most people, so they’re disproportionately disturbed by travel stuff? And how the whole thing about comedians is they’re supposed to relate with the audience, but you’re sitting there being like “Why does this guy get so mad about airplanes?” That’s the same thing as writing a song like Session Man. If you’re going to write a song about being a musician, it shouldn’t go much farther than “We were rockin and it rocked”. Anyhow they’re veering too far into concept album stuff here, and I guess only really like the Kinks when they sound dumb and powerful.

Huh. Sounds okay.

I enjoyed this one. The beats and vocals were fun. Definitely a more fun album for a 60s band.

Sunny Afternoon of course, the rest didn't really touch the sides. Beatles lite, soorry

The Kinks, in my opinion, were the best of the British 60's bands not named The Beatles. And, on this album, they reached new creative heights. The album is diverse with a lot of different styles and the songwriting is excellent. Just like the Beatles, they were expanding their sound and branching out in different directions while retaining their signature sound and style. Ray Davies is one of the best all-time songwriters and this album shows why. The bonus tracks from this album are excellent as well.

These guys were so far ahead of the curve compared to most of their contemporaries. No sap, no trying to be a bard from a fantasy novel, just clever songwriting, great hooks, and tight playing

Muy vibras Beatles, me gustó mucho. No se si resalta algun tema en especial, me pareció bastante parejo pero para bien. 8,5/10

Starts off with a couple of cool tracks. They have a unique sound, even though they are very much of the era. Love some of these tracks, like Holiday in Waikiki, and will definitely go back to this. Fancy has cool psychedelic elements, ahead of its time. Sunny Afternoon solid track. I recognize it from movie soundtracks or somewhere.

Excepto el Sunday Afternoon que me he guardado, el resto se me ha hecho repetitivo. No está mal, pero no es imprescindible aunque entiendo que una vez habría que escucharlo entero.

The songwriting's not as good as Village Green, of course, but this is really fantastic. There's at least 10 bona fide earworms here. I like Too Much on My Mind and Most Exclusive Residence For Sale the most, I think. Sunny Afternoon might even be a weaker cut? I am happy to have listened to this four times at work this week.

This really is just a lot of fun. High quality, unserious, honest and free. Ray Davies made delightful fucking music.

Another Kinks album, this one pretty boring if you ask me. 2.6/5

Always enjoy the Kinks. Pleasant album I've revisited over the years.

Was very long and a little meh. I may be getting burned out on 60's rock.

Very The Beatles, very '60s, very weak.

Not bad, but after two Kinks albums, I just don't think they're for me

Again, not their best

This has a Scooby-Doo energy to it for some reason and I can't fully explain why

More Brit Pop. yay..............

It's ok, was really hoping for more fun the Kinks

Standard fare Kinks. Which is a good thing.

Its production is highly 60s, but it’s super fun. They keep the energy up and every track brings something new. The driving grooves in “you’re looking fine” land it as my playlist pick.

Sunny afternoon obviously the highlight but lots in this

For 1966, this is actually a pretty interesting record. It’s got the 60s sound and production style, but there is a weird and interesting darkness to the pop songs. I’m not sure I loved it in a way that I would relisten often, but I thought it was very unique and kept my attention.

Of it’s time jangly almost naive 60s pop Maybe it’s Ray Davis voice that just sounds so 60s.

It's fine. They've good and original, they're just not really my favorites

So freaking good. Absolute classic.

Kinks album #3 for me! I remember liking both Something Else and Arthur more, but who knows, that could change. Happy to report for the 3rd time that I still haven't heard any Kinks songs I don't like. I particularly like Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, Rainy Day in June, and Fancy. And the way he pronounces chord pro-gresh-ee-yun.

It’s ok. But I don’t know that it needs be on the list

I feel pretty ambivalent to this. I’m starting to get 1960s and 1970s rock fatigue. It’s starting to blend together for me.

Look, Sunny Afternoon is one of the best songs ever written. However, the rest of the album isn't the best and I'm not sure if it belongs on the list as a whole, despite the awesomeness that is Sunny Afternoon. Maybe a 3.5 rounded up

I've never been very enthused about the Kinks, and this record did not bolster that disposition. It seems like the band got together in a brainstorming session with a hack marketing exec and conceived of numerous poorly-conceived compositions. "How about a song... about... session musicians. People will really connect with that societal phenomenon..." and so on.

Fine but very derivative 60s pop rock. Nothing too interesting, but overall inoffensive. Makes me glad to hear how The Kinks evolved to a more mature sound on later albums. Top tracks: Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, Sunny Afternoon, I'll Remember

I could spend most of the review extolling the virtues of Sunny Afternoon, which is one of the great British pop songs, and was listened to on a sunny afternoon… However, I will ignore this to focus on the fact they wrote a song about session musicians.

Catchy songs, well delivered. Similar pop sensibilities to The Beatles but nowhere near the same kudos and slices of life that differ but have a similar appeal. No one musician here stood out above the others and each member seemed to have an equal amount to contribute which I find can be quite a rare thing.

I am not sure what I want to say about this...finnneee? I suppose

I enjoyed these fourteen short toe-tapping tracks; it's a fun, bouncy, slightly chaotic record. All I knew from this album until this point was "Sunny Afternoon," and I enjoyed that, plus the rest with the harpsichord and guitar jingling away in the background and lyrics making fun of rich people and such. This was entertaining, I didn’t realize how much I liked The Kinks. 4 stars

I can't help it - most Kinks songs sound like children's songs to me. I know - it goes well with some of the (good) lyrics but I can't get past that merry-go-round sound. Davis' voice doesn't help. The Kinks have a few songs I like but they're not on this album. A generous 3 because they were influential so the album may deserve its place on the list.

It was alright, nothing stood out to me

The Kinks have better.

I've never really been into the Kinks, and this didn't change my mind. It was just OK.

Started out slow but I eventually started enjoying it.

Finally, some Kinks! I've always been interested in them but never got into them before I got into this website, so I've forced myself to hold off listening to them. Anyway it’s smack dab in the middle of May, which makes it a perfect time to listen to an album like this. Songs such as the cheeky "Party Line," the incredibly heartfelt "Rosy Won't You Please Come Home," the carefree "Dandy," "Little Miss Queen of Darkness," and "I'll Remember" all help to ground this album in a really beautiful sense of warmth and Britishness. While there's a couple of lulls, they aren't a huge issue, and they're also very much countered by the EXCELLENT "Sunny Afternoon." Much of the album sounds similar to one of the more lush cuts off of "Ram" by Paul and Linda McCartney, especially in the quality of Ray Davies' vocals: faraway, almost fragile at times, and frequently longing, boastful, and woeful. He brings a great bit of much appreciated personality to an already fantastic album. 8.7/10

The sixties....please let me out....please............

I am sick to death of 60s era British rock albums. Once you heard one you truly have heard them all. I don’t care if this is considered one of Rock music’s first concept albums it isn’t good.

6 - AVERAGE

Liked it overall, only previously heard Sunny Afternoon. Favorite song: I'll Remember

sounds bland

just because a band is good doesn't mean we need to put every album of theirs onto this list

3,5

They sound so much like The Beatles

Playful kinks! They almost always are right? They seem to be having fun here. It comes across maybe slightly patchy to me - there were definitely bits I engaged with more than others, but generally it felt pretty high quality and had the individual voice that I appreciate from the kinks.

Alright in terms of this generation of music, pretty much just like the Beatles

2,5

Eh

Ok great but where Lola??? -Sunny Afternoon is one of their best, it's so good! -I had never heard Dead End Street which was a non album single and is a bonus track on the deluxe version of this album on spotify. It's a great track!

The Kinks are always fun.

No notes. It's a good album.

Bring back party lines! 3.5

Some really good moments but overall just solid background today at least. A 3.5 rounded down because

Sunny Afternoon off this album has been on every one of my nice weather playlists basically since I started using Spotify, but I've never heard the rest of this album. Unfortunately, the bulk of this album is just generic English rock-and-roll for me. Lot of these songs could've been The Beatles and I'd have no idea. I don't hate the genre, but I do get bored if the band in question isn't adding anything particularly unique/interesting to their take on it. This one fell into that bored category for me.

Had a great time listening to this. Can't say I was familiar with the kinks before but definitely will revisit

Ugh... third day in a row of 60's British rock... Look, the algorithm can't be held accountable for what's on this questionable list, but it certainly can be blamed for the order it queues this shit up. Do better. Of these last three albums, this is easily the worst - so, I can confidently toss this dross a 1.

What a waste of an entry. Just give me another Beatles album that I can rate moderately high. That would cover this genre finely enough, and won’t be so offensive.

No lo escuché perdón

Better than Coldplay

I actively dislike this. Satire with no poetry. The instrumentation is mechanical and the vocals are uninteresting. Too many vocal melodies sound the same. Bad record, desperately wanted it to be over by song nine. Village Green is *so* much better.

7 / 10

You can never go wrong with The Kinks. Opzich is het album wel gezellig, maar het heeft niet echt veel inhoud ofzo. Ik heb echter het gevoel dat ik een beetje te streng ben geweest de laatste tijd, dus ik geef het een 4.

fine i guess but mostly makes me wish i was listening to Rubber Soul instead

I don't 100% get all the Kinks love, but this was fine

This is interesting to me more as historical artifact than music I will ever listen to. That said, I liked it a little more than I expected. Not terrible.

I don't dislike it, but it's fluffy in a way that was ultimately adapted better elsewhere, particularly Rolling Stones.

Not as timeless as other Kinks albums

Enjoyable tunes from an innocent era

Arcadia meets property purchase meets swinging 60s, it wears a bit thin for me.

1001 has over Kinked it

I imagine it sounded innovative in the day with its baroque motifs and vaudeville sounds. It mostly left me cold though. 2*

ok

04/05/2026 Happy enough and easy listening for a Sunday. Spotify listeners: 5.9 million

Very good Kinks album.

I’ll never understand baroque pop but this is a good album. Pales in comparison to all of its contemporaries but it’s still solid the whole way through. They obviously have strong musical inclination and they wrote like three of the most famous songs ever? But idk every hit they have there’s a cover of that I like more. Little conflicted, cause my only complaint really is that I wouldn’t listen to this on the day to day except sunny afternoon but it’s all good. Count this as the highest three I guess.

This is pretty cool. I like the kinks well enough.

This is the kind of music that has never really stood out to me. Influential yes? Especially at the time of release. Music has grown so much since this era, and its hard to justify me really liking it. Best Song: Sunny Afternoon Rating: 4.5/10 Stars: 2

A cute but pretty mixed lil' bag. They're clearly past their rough garage and straight-to-your-face rock 'n roll era, but it's just before Ray *really* saw the light and decided to join the league of Great British Songwriters. I'll take those harpsichord jams, baroque progressions and Sunny Afternoon(!) any time at all, but I'm not quite so sure about all those little ditties that sound like they could have been by the Beatles on an off-day.

First of all, I really like the album cover. I think that this somehow perfectly fits the feel of the album as a whole. This gave me the same sort of feel as a slightly edgier, yet also more party-like, version of The Beatles. I had a lot of fun with this album, with none of the songs really missing. The lyrics are well-crafted throughout, keeping you interested. The only thing I found is that the songs start to become a bit 'safe' after a while. They found a really solid sound for the album, but there's not much variety or risk at all. I think the songs are a good length, and so is the album as a whole. 'Party Line' was a really great opener, introducing the vibe The Kinks were going with, as even the slightly more meaningful songs have a slightly upbeat feel to them. Favourites: Party Line Session Man Sunny Afternoon

Good album from the 60s. The Kinks were a good group and I enjoy their music.

Typical Kinks with pretty melodies and witty lyrics. Always a pleasure.

This was really fun! Happy and chill vibes. Similar style to The Beatles. Really liked it and would probably listen to it again.

good album, sunny afternoon was a banger

Once somebody decided to turn that fucking harpsichord into firewood this album took a turn for the better. Not at all bad, but that baroque-pop-bollockness really damages the score for me.

Generic lazy 60s rock

Very fun listen

Nice 👍

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 I've never heard a Kinks song I didn't like, but on an album without the drive of some of my favorite kinks hits and much topographical difference between songs, this album felt a little flat for me. Pretty much the definition of 3 stars in my book, which sounds meaner than I mean it. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing

Enjoyable but not memorable. Tbh reminded me of Fingertips a little bit at the beginning?

Pretty fun, 2nd half is really nice

The Kinks y Face to Face son bienvenidos con los brazos abiertos en este pequeño rincón del mundo donde una persona está tratando de escuchar más de 1000 discos sin volverse loca. The Kinks siempre han sido y siempre serán impresionantes, inspirando el "revival neoclásico" que perfilará a bandas como Pulp o Blur (sobretodo a esta última). "Face to Face" es uno de sus mejores trabajos y con justa razón, ya que diría que se encuentra al mismo nivel que The Village Green Preservation Society (o incluso superior). La creatividad e inteligencia de las composiciones y las letras me llevan a una inglaterra que evolucionaba poderosamente impulsada por la estela que estaba dejando el enorme barco que eran The Beatles. Es exquisito escuchar una banda que entregaba una propuesta diferente al sonido característico de la invasión británica en los '60s. Pistas destacadas Party Line Rosy Won't Youn Please Come Home Dandy Too Much on My Mind Rainy Day in June House in the Country Holiday in Waikiki Most Exclusive Residence For Sale Little Miss Queen of Darkness You're Looking Fine Sunny Afternoon I'll Remember

Album 950. The end is in sight. But the grind continues. I don’t know how many more “yeah it was alright”s I got in me. Please list, give me a good album this week

nice

How I'd imagine a sunny day in England during the mid-sixties would sound. A little long for my taste though. I'd prefer to listen to the Beatles Rating: 6.5/10 Favorite Song: Sunny Afternoon

Rock, Beat, 1966 -> 2-3

The Kinks are really underrated

Sounds a little bit like a mix of beatles and beach boys outtakes but I enjoyed it!

Decent 60s rock

Lowest rated Kinks album for me. All others have been 4 stars.

Liked it better than Beatles somehow. Still not a fan of the era, but this is not bad.

Kind of annoying with the exception of Sunny Day. I was going to give a 3 but I feel like I'm lumping too many things into the middle

I’ve been very late to getting around to the Kinks back catalog; it’s only been happening in the last 10 to15 years. They’re a huge influence on so many bands I love, including my two favorites, The Jam and XTC. So often the influences that shape the artists I love just don't click with me, but not so with The Kinks: I absolutely love this band. From Peter Doggett’s sleeve notes for the 1998 CD reissue: “The first Kinks album to be assembled from a variety of different sessions over a period of months, rather than being bashed out in less than a week…FACE TO FACE ushered in a new identity for the Kinks. Over the previous two years they had created and honed a hard rock sound which has influenced young musicians ever since — and then abandoned it. In its place, Ray Davies designed a unique Kinks landscape, a bittersweet vision of life with all its crushing disappointments and snatched moments of pleasure. Davies peopled this world with a cast of cracked actors, bowing to the inevitable pressures of urban existence but never losing sight of their fantasies of escape.”

I might have overlooked this album for a reason. It’s an important step in their evolution, but the sonic choices just didn’t work for me. I respect what they were trying to do, but it’s not a Kinks era I naturally gravitate toward.

It had some nice vocal lines but it's not enough. It's just Beatles reloaded. The blessing for Beatles is the curse for most 60s same sounding bands, because they did it first. Also they did it a bit better.

No sabria como definirlo, y eso m gusta M gusta el final como conclusion

A bit more stripped back and primitive than some of my my favored kinks records, but still a good time nontheless.

1,9/5

If you ever get worn out from the extensive catalogue The Beatles put together, you can find some more of their style right here with The Kinks. And you'll be alright for just about 40 minutes, and that'll probably be it. There's no big massive highs here, and it's hard for me to describe it as anything but a pull from the deep well of britpop. I'm missing a bit of the thematic cohesiveness that I found in some of The Beatles stuff, and the mixing is just alright, even for the early 60s, although it is supported by some interesting effects, like the thunder in Rainy Day in June.

Better than the Beatles.

It’s like if the first few Beatles albums were good.

Fajen

Number: 93 Date: 04/05/2026 Artist: The Kinks Album: Face to Face Year: 1966 Genre: 60s Pop Rock Rating: Notes: Before: ======= The Kinks are great but they have way too many albums on this list. It has been said but bears repeating, just so you know, in case it gets a poor score, “An artist shall be represented on The List by no more than one album, except where multiple albums by that artist demonstrate materially distinct artistic character and historical significance. Where two or more albums by the same artist are determined to be substantially similar in style, scope, or cultural function, only one such album may be included, with preference given to the earliest released work.” During: ======= So, I'm 7 songs in and it's going to get a less than stellar score. Not only because of The Policy, but because I don't like it all that much. It seems the album does mark a major shift in their music style which is a good enough reason to include it in the list, given that this is The Kinks were talking about. I have no problem including 2 or even 3 albums in this list, from The Kinks, but I surprised that there is no representation of their earlier work here. 3 Party Line 3 Rosy Won't You Please Come Home 4 Dandy 3 Too Much On My Mind 3 Session Man 3 Rainy Day In June 3 House In The Country 3 Holiday In Waikiki 3 Most Exclusive Residence For Sale 4 Fancy 3 Little Miss Queen Of Darkness 3 You're Lookin' Fine 3 Sunny Afternoon 3 I'll Remember ----------------------------------------------------- 3.12 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= 3 my personal rating 2 suitability for this list 3 impact ----------------------------------------------- 2.7 composite rating

7.5/10

I love The Kinks and was happy to get this album to be. I wasn't very familiar with this album besides Sunny Afternoon, but I enjoyed all the tracks and it was a nice morning listen. Favorite Track - Sunny Afternoon Least Favorite Track - Rainy Day in June ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Its okay 2 or 3 good tracks some just too close to the Beatles for me

Meh

7/10… 60s pop / proto punk / *1966

Classic rock and roll.

Nice stuff! Some cool variety. Ray Davies is a massively underrated songwriter.

This is such a happy album

Good, but it kinda drags sometimes. Not much else to say. LCD is usually pretty reliable stuff to put on.

Crazy how close to the Beatles they sound at times. It’s like if they had 1 more Beatles level member they could have truly been their rivals or outshone them. Will have to do a discog run but really a big fan. It’s really from the jump, party line sounds like it could be Paul. Highlights: party line, house in the country, sunny afternoon

Of all the bands who were in direct competition with the Beatles, The Kinks are one of the ones that makes the most sense to me. Although I don't necessarily know that this is entirely a good thing. Face To Face sounds like a response to The Beatles' developments in pop music, and the result is a collection of great songs, but it is still a collection of great songs that, at times, has a hard time coming into it's own identity. In my opinions, it's the same problem with some of the earlier Rolling Stones records and certain moments in The Who's discography. Both bands, as well as The Kinks eventually did escape the gravitational pull of The Beatles, and then, in my opinion, start making their most interesting work (a notable exception is The Beach Boys, maybe the only Band playing the same ballgame as The Beatles who ever got them (artistically) against the ropes with Pet Sounds). That being said, this is what you'd think it is, it's a slightly psychedelic, lushly produced, and well written pop and rock album of it's time. The long and short of it is that The Kinks were keeping pace, but I don't think they had really cemented their legacy or defined themselves in the way that they would on future records. Although, my overall impression here is positive. Ray Davies can still write some great pop songs, and The aesthetic is very enjoyable. Its a solid listen.

I get the foundational brilliance of the band than the album; just really didn't do much for me.

This is a dumb opinion and I know it, but this album reminded me of if Glass Animals sounded like The Beatles. I do not really know what that means. But that was the thought I had

I listened to this album as I picked up last minute cookies on my way to an Easter Sunday lunch. In yet another instance of an album cover completely capturing its sound, Face to Face is just as bright, whimsical, and mildly psychedelic as the art implies. All of the instrumentation is tight and groovy, cresting these infectious tracks which drive you to boogie down. The vocal harmonies also lend a lot of depth to the singing, creating some really beautiful moments. Some songs lack the catchy songwriting that makes the rest of the album stick so well in your brain, but when this album hits, it hits. The sillier song topics are played with enough over-the-top self-awareness to be endearing rather than grating, and there are some true moments of emotional depth as well. This album I nothing too crazy, it's just some really well done pop-leaning rock, and that's good enough for me! Highlights: Party Line, Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, Dandy, Too Much On My Mind, Session Man, Sunny Afternoon, I'll Remember

🫤

chingao cómo me gustan los kinks. este no es de los que les tengo harto cariño como el village green o el lola, apenas hace unos meses lo escuché x primera vez, y está loco que se supone que sea el primer disco de su etapa post garage xq ya desde acá está muy bien formado su sonido ecléctico y más tranqui y el caracter conceptual crítico, satírico y super inglés de sus letras, que sería su pan de cada día en los próximos años. namás lo que me hace falta es encariñarme con las rolas

Anything released by The Kinks is 5 stars.

I don’t know a ton about the background of this band, but honestly, they seem like a bunch of stoner himbos who think they’re making extremely profound music when in reality they are producing absolute mids for the time.

Decent.