Reviews (page 6 of 8)
A solid album though sounds very much like many of it's contemporaries. No complaints though. 3/5
It's good, but The Kinks have just done so much better.
Good album. Nothing objectively bad about it, just nothing that really sets it apart from the other 60's Brit-pop. 3/5 Might listen again
The Kinks are another version of The Beatles, and this album is no exception. Nothing on here is earth-shattering. It's a mid-tier album. Favorite Song: "Rainy Day In June"
I only knew Sunny Afternoon from this one, but pretty good stuff.
Was getting Beatles vibes from this one, it felt fairly average.
Some British punk music for sure.
3 - not bad, just feels like a beetles copy
Este disco me hace acordar a los Beatles. Tiene temas realmente muy buenos, pero otros un tanto básicos.
Quintessential Kinks: reminiscent of Big Pink from the Band in that it's music from the people, improved upon and altered, and returned to them with good faith. I always forget they're actually brothers but I love that. Very fun, very light, wildly impactful 3.5/5
I wonder to what extent it's familiarity, but Sunny Afternoon is head and shoulders above the other tracks on this album. The rest are good, but not memorable in the same way. A solid 3.
I’ve heard better Kinks records. This was just okay to me.
I should like the Kinks more than I do but I don't so what can you do? This record is fine, most of their records are fine they just never blew me away with any of them
I was just sad i wasnt listening to the beatles
kennt man ein kinks album, kennt man alle
Kinks are a classic. Never heard any of these tracks. Take that back I know sunny afternoon. Seems pretty typical for the mid sixties. I’m sure there is some importance here but not interested enough to research. Also I’m not listening to the bonus tracks. So there.
Whether I actively listen to them or not, The Kinks are no doubt a very important band in the history and evolution of the 60s British Invasion. But they weren’t always as highly regarded for their creativity as they are now. Which is where this record comes in. It took a couple years and quite a few albums for them to really make waves in the industry as songwriters. I was not initially aware of this, but they were actually quite successful at the beginning of their career, especially with You Really Got Me, and even released five albums in the span of two years. But Face to Face was definitely the turning point, because they’d be on a roll from here on out until the beginning of the 70s. Much like the band Small Faces that I spoke about not too long ago, The Kinks were also a big part of the modernist youth subculture that was growing at the time. From the brief amount of music I’ve heard, I’ve learned to embrace and even appreciate how unapologetically weird this band tends to be. Even down to the conventions of their album names, they represent the quirkiness that ran rampant in this decade. And this carefree nature allows their creativity to really flourish. Best example I can give is that they are one of the few bands I’ve heard who can make the harpsichord not sound ridiculous and out of place in a rock context like this. I guess I don’t really have gripes with any specific aspect of this. Sunny Afternoon is a standout song, and feels oddly nostalgic and familiar for some reason. But of course, like many records before it, this falls in line with that same sound that has become far beyond saturated for me. So I don’t know if I see myself coming back to any other part of this. Rating: 6/10
It didn't stand out much. It was okay
Quite a few good songs but not as consistent as their other albums
fairly standard stuff, pretty foundational psychedelic shit. Somewhat repetitive in places but would go insanely hard as the soundtrack to like a sunday barbecue. 1.) too much on my mind 2.) dandy 3.) sunny afternoon
Middle of the road fare. Some enjoyable tracks, some real clunkers. Nothing that really stands out against other 60s britpop as new or innovative. Solid 3
Love the Kinks, but I'm not crazy about this one. I'd rather listen to some of the singles rather that the full thing.
Ok, but would not listen again 3/5
Waffles are better than pancakes in almost every conceivable way, they have structure, and pockets for butter and syrup, along with an excellent uniform crispiness. Then you have pancakes, which seem to attract a large following while being the inferior batter. Given the choice between the two it’s an ez choice. However, I’m not going to turn down pancakes either. The kinks are pancakes.
I actually kinda mess with this one, or at least some songs on this one. Session Man is a very fun meta song without getting too lost in its own joke. I think I’ve heard Sunny Afternoon a few times before as well. Some highlights, some songs shouldn’t have made the cut, but at least there are some memorable, very Beatles-inspired moments.
Two greats and some other good stuff.
Ok
197/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
This album surprised me. I enjoyed it. I didn’t expect to.
Pretty mid unfortunately. None of these songs stand out to me at all, in fact they are pretty tedious to listen to. Sunny Afternoon and I'll Remember are the best songs on the record and sadly they're at the very end. 3.
60s britpop overshadowed by the greats. Alright, just had me in the mood for The Beatles.
Not my favourite The Kinks album by a long shot. but still not bad. "Sunny Afternoon" brings it up to a three.
Enjoyable. Helps me connect the dots with 60s and britpop and garage/indie rock of the 90s and 00s. I really liked it. Quirky lyrics. Sunny Afternoon an obvious highlight but other good songs on here. I like the Britishness of it.
Chipper, poppy, dated
Kinks on parhaimmillaan, ku ne vähän revittelee. Tällä levyllä sitä oli vähän (ehkä normaali määrä, ei oo levyt tuttuja). Vähän jäi laimeaksi, mutta letkeydellään ansaitut 2,5 tähtee = 3
Jangly 60s power pop with a bit of Dylan and a bit of psychedelia and a lot of Beatles. Mostly bright and uptempo with short songs and pitchy lightly fuzzy guitar but some tracks with drones and slower folkier sound
Doesn't sound like The Kinks. Fairly generic Britrock.
No real big hits on this album but it was a pleasant listen. Pretty good overall maybe a 3.5
Classic band, ok album.
Reminded me a lot to the Beatles. But I guess I'm a bit older now. 6/10
I liiiike this. Like beatles and pink floyd combined in a way
Another britrock band with a good album but no standout tracks. You might even think you’re listening to the beatles if you’re not paying attention
First Kinks album on the list I quite liked.
So very British. I wish I had the lens to look at these guys when they released this. It seems like they just went with safe Beatles mimicry, but it could be something that stood alone.
Holy harpsichord, Batman!!! From what I’ve been exposed to so far, The Kinks clearly write great songs. I support their British-focused psychedelic efforts more than The Beatles, that’s for sure. That said, this is still veryyyy much a psychedelic record, and sounds very distinctly stuck in the mid-‘60s. So even though I like the Kinks in general and like parts of everything on here, Face to Face still fits within an aesthetic and vibe I generally hate. That vibe forces them to add in flourishes that I genuinely find distracting, and it makes for a hard listen overall. Not to say it’s all negative; there’s elements to every song here that I like, and there’s some songs that I’ll be returning to frequently (“Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home,” “House in the Country,” and “You’re Looking Fine”). Most of this record is just songs that I like but don’t love, though, with some songs I straight up find annoying – “Dandy” and “Fancy,” in particular. Side B is especially rough on my ears, but does end strong. Face to Face is strong, but I wish it was stronger. It’s clear this is a transitional album, and that’s fine, but that results in spotty growing pains. Growing pains are fine once I’m sold into being a completionist for a band, but not essential. Face to Face is good, but it’s not going to make you a Kinks Konvert. I’ll probably revisit this once I finish their entries on this list and decide to dive into the Kink’s full discography, but even though I now know it’s good, I also know that even on a revisit, it’ll never be my favorite record by them.
I love the Kinks. This is not their best album. It’s an ok album. Just like mayonnaise is ok.
Yeah this is cool. Very Beatles/Monkees feel. I’ve never heard this album but I dig it.
Decent album
Kinda like the Beatles but not as good
Party Line sounds so much like a Beatles song but also it's hilarious in that wondering if "she's a she at all" would come back during the internet era. Wonder how many people who listen to this nowadays even know what a party line is/was. Holiday in Waikiki is pretty good. Can't say any of the rest of this was memorable; it mostly sounds like Beatles songs (which is unfair; The Kinks are not a derivative band by any stretch but still.)
Started off great with the first track then it mellowed out a bit throughout the album but I thought it was still a good listen. I was expecting something a bit more from the rest of the record. It ended off solidly with the two last songs though. Best - Party Line, Session Man, Sunny Afternoon, and I'll Remember Worst - no bad songs (although some were a bit of a drag) 3.00-3.25/5
Kinda fun. Liked Little Queen of Darness and Sunny Afternoon the most. Some of it was too 60’s for me though.
It's all good.
This was ok, i liked sunny afternoon
This was not my favorite Kinks album. For some reason it didn't grab me.
I like the Kinks and their brand of Cockney 'kitchen-Sink' dramas. Very 60's and influential although it's not 100% my cup of tea.
I was reading other reviews and came across this review which I felt couldn't describe my feelings better so going to copy here! "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."
This is good, especially for '66, but it's got a lot in common with a sandwich. Party Line and Sunny afternoon are massive highlights, but the inside of the sandwich just gets a bit bland after a while. There's a lot of good here, and an insane amount of creativity that makes this enjoyable to listen to. There's just some drag with tracks like Dandy and Rain Day in June that just get annoying on second listen. Some of the second half is fairly forgettable, and I don't really have a desire to come back to this one.
This album is fine it’s just somewhat simple. Lots of harpsichord. My favorites were Party Line, Session Man, and Sunny Afternoon.
Bien. Estilo The Beatles.
I dig this energy! Some of these are familiar or maybe just been ripped off over time. Glad I finally got to listen to it!
Good, not particularly my style but it was good
Pretty good. Got early Rolling Stones vibes, esp on Holiday in Waikiki. Not bad overall, ran through it twice. Don't think it'll be on the regular rotation, it's a smidge droney on some tracks for me.
Sounds old, somewhat Beatles-ish. Typical 60’s sound.
Perfectly fine 60s pop rock by why listen to this when there is far more interesting stuff out there from this time period. Sunny Afternoon is an utter classic though 3.5*
I am a big fan of a large handful of Kinks songs, but have never really sat down with an album - and from what I can tell this probably wasn’t their biggest or best albums. A few lyrics and tracks come off as a bit outdated, which felt unfair to judge them on, but I don’t get that feeling from some other music from the same era. Definitely some gems in there that bring up the scorecard though - namely ‘Sunny Afternoon’ which is a bit of an all time classic in the Lovesey family lore if you ask me. That song will always remind me of boiled eggs and salad cream in the garden at Wickery Dene and High Street 😆
Fun 60s rock and roll album.
Grandfathers of britpop, jangly and eclectic, and one with Sunny Afternoon, one of the best pop songs ever. Damon Albarn took notes while listening.
I have a coworker who claims that the Kinks would've been bigger than the Beatles had they not been banned from America... I have a hard time disagreeing. The music here is catchy, but I definitely think the psych-pop of the Beatles went a bit further, time wise, than the baroque stylings here. The music is well-written, but I'm still not fully won-over by the Kinks. Favorite tracks: "Holiday In Waikiki", "Sunny Afternoon"
This album is an okay listen but nothing really stands out for me so I guess 3 stars or C seems a suitabie rating.
Listenable - a couple of standouts. An old work colleague said this was her favorite band, and I didn't know much about their early stuff other than 'Lola', but 'Come Dancing' was a fave of mine in 1983. They seemed like a fun band.
Set aside Sunny Afternoon and it's a lovely summary of when the beat boom was just going a little psychedelic, which in the Kinks Kase was bringing their inner music hall and its tradition of social observation and humour into the mix. Solid 3.5.
a little jaunty and more upbeat than what I've been getting, its fine brit pop. it also has a couple weird songs which makes things interesting. Session Man amd Holiday in Waikiki in particular. nonsensical but why the hell not?
Pretty standard classic British pop music. Dandy stands out!
Fine. Casual fun listen, not bad at all but also no stand outs
Blueberry Pancakes
Rock historians have credited the album as one of the first rock/pop concept albums, with the loose common theme of social observation. I never liked the idea of something being a concept album just because the songs have a common theme. In my mind, a concept album tells a story. By that reasoning, any guy that sings songs about getting with a girl could call it a concept album. Saying that, (and I am a fan of the Kinks) a lot of the songs just don't stick out for me. "Sunny Afternoon" is catchy but I knew it from before. Most of the others felt kinda forgettable for me, and that's NEVER good. But the 60s Kinks never grabbed me anyway. I'll give it three because it's still the Kinks, but it just doesn't stand out for me at all.
Really not sure what to make of this album. I love the hard rocking songs from the Kinks that marked their earliest work (You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night) and I also like their poppier A Well Respected Man that came out just before this album. This is more like the latter. It sounds a lot like the Beatles to be honest, though not as good. Still good, but great? No. Very good? I can't decide. They mix in more instruments and stylings like the Beatles and they do some harmonizing too (though maybe that's more layering Ray Davies' voice than pairing it with Dave Davies). Reading up on the album it is apparently an early concept album and part of the psychedelic movement. The former I dispute, as I just hear disconnected songs about British life (Britpop for a generation earlier). The latter may be why I don't like this as much as other work by the Kinks. Party Line and Dandy have fun and edge to it, and Rosy Won't You Please Come Home is decent in between those two. But I don't know how I feel about the rest of side one - too much harpsichord and weird effects? House in the Country was a nice rocker, and got me back to feeling the good vibes from the first 3 songs. And then side two - Holiday in Waikiki was okay but felt like what you get when you try to put the Beatles and the Beach Boys together. Fancy felt like they were absolutely trying to emulate the Beatles and show they could play other instruments. I don't know if I like it or feel like it's a ripoff. Little Miss Queen of Darkness sounds a lot like Sunny Afternoon, which isn't a bad thing because the latter is a good song. But why so similar? Like side one, they close well with I'll Remember. When I step back, I feel like I'm not hearing novel sounds on this album. But then I might be forgetting how much the Kinks shaped other bands of this time (not the Beatles, but Badfinger et al.) and that I'm remembering a whole genre after the fact when they were key in creating that genre. I definitely liked the album more and more on each listen. But I think it's a 3.5. I listened to a couple of their next albums and think I like them better, even though they further depart from early Kinks sounds. So I'm going to save higher scores for those later albums.
The Kinks are a fantastic Beatles cover band. That’s not completely an insult. It’s 1966, if you can emulate the best band in the world this well, you should. Party Line really sets the tone, Sunny afternoon is so deep in the playlist, it’s a bit long over 7.3/10
Quite enjoyable jangly Beatles inspired tunes
I was familiar with Sunny Afternoon, it was a song I learnt as a teenager playing guitar, and I had a particular liking for Dead End Street. An alright album of classic British rock but not worth a repeat spin.
Sunny Afternoon
Cookie cutter 60s stuff, but an enjoyable listen nevertheless.
very much beatles-esque. not a bad thing, but i've heard better from the kinks. my favourite songs off of this album would probably be little miss queen of darkness and sunny afternoon.
An album that does many things. Most of them right. None of them exceptional. Very Beatles-esque classic 60s Rock, Psychedelic Rock, a mixture of both and a rather unique Kinks sound, especially in "Sunny Afternoon", which is the clear highlight of the album for me. However, when there are 20 tracks on the first disc (I didn't even bother with the second), the quality of the album overall is inevitably diluted and it appears bloated.
Pleasant pop not super inspiring
Some songs are great while others are just okay
I'm real done with basically all the britpop on this list. It's fine, but I'm not listening to the whole album today.
Great album for the time, varied. Not the best Kinks album. Sunday Afternoon is a classic
The Kinks make me think of my dad, so this album is kinda comforting, even if it’s not really what I’d normally listen to.
Alright, The Kinks have always felt a little derivative to me though, like a more meh version of The Beatles
Pretty basic. Too many songs.
Okay. Thought it would be better. Seems like a left turn influenced by the beatles left turn but not as successful
Enjoyed Sunny Afternoon but the rest are just "ok".
This is so much like the Beatles, I can't tell who ripped off who lol Nice album though, and I think one of these songs was in Juno?
Solid album.
party line most exclusive residence for sale sunny afternoon
Listenable
I prefer their stuff that rocks a bit harder, but this has some nice songs.
This sounded familiar but not sure why (maybe all Kinks music sounds familiar)?
This is the first of 5 albums consecutively released by the group considered by many, myself included, to be the group’s peak. This is by far the weakest of the 5 but still has many fine moments, especially Sunny Afternoon, perhaps the finest example of Ray Davies’ chronicling of middle class British life in the 60’s. Albums 2-3-4 of the 5 are part of the 1001 albums, so hopefully we’ll get them down the line. They are all masterpieces.
Okay, not *everything* on this sounded the same, but I was nervous for maybe the first four or five songs, and “Mr. Pleasant” both sounds like a kinks song and has the perfect name for a kinks song. Entirely pleasant, 3.5, couldn’t bring myself to give it a 4.
4/10/24. Very Beatles-like, or perhaps I'm realizing this was the dominant sound of Rock in the 60s UK, but the Beatles get all the credit for it. Very good production and arrangements, Sunny Afternoon is a standout for me.
This is British Invasion, "Beatles Lite" stuff. I like the Kinks' sound and this is not their best work, although I do like some of the writing on here.
- eh - sounds very classic but decent energy
- they tend to sing about mundane stuff - enjoyable and British - nothing I’d really come back to
I have some trouble with this simple early era of rock/pop from the 60s, but this was a pleasant enough listen. Definitely heard 'Sunny Afternoon' in various places before but it's nice to put a band and album to it. Songwriting is good but it blends together a bit by the end.
I feel like this may not be their top album but I don't know them that well. Some good sound but not the tightest album. Sunny Afternoon is a classic.
I don't know what it is but this album feels hack. Okay, this is satirical. I'm not like Everybody Else is a catchy tune. This is Where I Belong is pretty good. Now I'm just depressed, nothing that they are pointing out with satire has changed and this came out in 1966.
I have always liked the Kinks and have an album of theirs as it is. This one is from WAY before I tuned in to them, and serves to make me think of how underrated I myself have made them. I have a couple of late 70's early 80's albums, but this is their third and it is from 1966 (no wonder the Beatles feel to it). It makes me kind of feel bad for not paying more attention. Well, better late than never!
Perfectly fine very English sounding 60s pop with some great highs (Little Miss Queen of Darkness, Sunny Afternoon) and some dull but inoffensive bits of lava lamp music (You're Looking Fine). Not my favorite bit of the Kinks catalog, but an appropriate soundtrack for Sunday morning coffee
Not my band. Really heard sounds like John Lennon and The Rolling Stones. Karen said she saw a Kinks show in the ‘80s.
I'm not a huge fan of the psychedelic period, but these guys could harmonize well. Enjoyed a couple of songs; the rest sort of merged together.
This reminded me of my childhood riding in the car with my dad. Don’t know if he played this album but it sure feels like it. Another 3 star.
Ive always felt the Kinks were a second tier Beatles. This album like all the others are very good. Still I feel they became the Minks once the beatles were out of the picture. Thos is a really good album very easy to listen to and flowing amazingly. By 1972 I feel they became a better band without the beatles pressure. Was a different kind of pressure all about taking the vacant spot. They did well I like em but this album its not my favorite. Still aweso E and freat musicianship from all members. Really good band
As my daughter said as we listened: Why does every band from the 60s sound like The Beatles? Just because!
I get it. Kitschy, easy to understand pop/rock. It feels like a less sleazy version of the Rolling Stones, a bit. A precursor to Vampire Weekend.
Interesting. They sound a lot like the Beatles and the Monkeys. I liked it
Apparently this is what music sounded like in the mid-60s. I'm not sure who was writing for whom and whether the path of musical inspiration only ever went in one direction. Anyway, I really liked a few tracks on the album. Sunny Afternoon is one of my favorites. I was also pleased to hear Dandy again. But all in all, it's not enough to get into the higher ranks. 3/5
2.5 Great Value Beatles at it again
Nice rock
150 albums. I wasn't sure I'd get this far. This is actually the first 50-album milestone where I've gotten an album from an artist I had already gotten! 50th was my first Def Leppard album and 100th was my first T Rex album, but Face to Face is not my first album from The Kinks. I listened to Village Green Preservation Society about a month and half ago and I really liked it! So, how does Face to Face compare? Well, it's definitely an earlier album of theirs, that's for sure. It kind of gives of similar vibes to earlier Beatles work. It's good, but not nearly as groundbreaking and top-notch as later work. There are things that I really liked about Village Green that are here in Face to Face, but in a way that isn't as refined as it would be in later work. There is a variety of songs in terms of writing and sound, but there aren't as many songs that truly stand out. In fact, the only song on this album that's really seemed to make an impact is Sunny Afternoon. That song is great, and there are other really good songs too, but this album isn't really anything spectacular. I like the sound and singing, but as stated earlier, it does feel a bit too similar to early Beatles. The writing is quite good. I do like it. Overall, while Village Green is still a much more noteworthy and better album, Face to Face is still a solid collection of songs with a loose theme to tie them together. High 3/5.
3/5. Much better than I was expecting, it's happy-go-lucky energy through me off but most of these are just well written pop songs. Short and sweet. Although not game changing for me, this was enjoyable and was nice to hear something that felt unique despite the overabundance of same style of music from this era.
I get that the Kinks are "important," but not sure I got this album. Looking forward to revisiting it and hearing Something Else and Village Green Preservation Society, have enjoyed those in the past.
I know many of The Kinks' hits, but haven't ever spent time with any of their albums start to finish. So far, this one is classic late-60s pop rock. Lots of stuff that I like about this. 3/5
Old timey 60’s pop from one of the bands that shaped the sound. A decent listen but I’ve never been a big Kinks fan.
Solid! Definitely wouldn’t mind this being played somewhere.
A more mello verion of the Beatles + CCR. Soothing and relaxing music. Not something I would listen to again.
It was Ok - I liked ‘Rainy Day in June’ but that was about it
Sunny afternoon is great, everything else was ok.
So a few albums ago I listened to The Clash and reflected how it reminded me of U.K. Mod rock from the 1960’s. Now The Kinks Face to Face album is generated and it to a great extent confirms that thought (at least to me). The ‘punk’ of the late 70’s and early 80’s was kind of a rehash of this rebellious mod vibe. That being said, The Kinks have some classics but this album as a whole is just okay. I have a hard time accepting it is one that one must listen to.
Like Sunny Afternoon, could leave the rest of this
2 brilliant, classic Kinks Song, Dandy and Sunny Afternoon and mostly disappointing other songs in a style the Beatles did it much better.
Good. A lot ofnworse bands try to sound like this.
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. This “concept album” made me just feel like listening to the Beatles Felt too happy, I’m glad the Stones stole R&B & the Beatles did psychedelics so rock music evolved past this
While this is clearly an important album in the evolution of The Kinks, I like the ambition and songwriting in their subsequent albums much more. Some standouts (Sunny Afternoon remains one of the greatest songs ever written) but the cohesive vision that would soon emerge in their work.
Great album. Not listened to this album in full before but enjoyed it rather a lot.
kinda boring tbh
MEH
I really like The Kinks. There's something about their whimsical themes that really chimes with me. This album is no different. It's just a really fun romp of 60s themes with the iconic sound of that British bands absolutely nailed in that period. I think the tambourine player may have been drunk, though.
I think I had only heard two of the songs on this album so most of it was new to me. There were a couple of songs on here I really dug and overall it was an enjoyable listen.
Jovial mid 60's album warm melodies with classical flair from the frequent use of harpsichord. Great song writing and use of pop song structure. Most songs don't engage with me as well as they'd like to. But, I genuinely appreciate it still. Much prefer Lola though.
3.5 stars. It was decent. Very Beatles-esque baroque pop/folk rock. Standouts are “Party Line” and “Sunny Afternoon”.
Je ne mange qu'à moitié de ce pain là
Similar sound to others of the same era. You could tell me they were lost Beetles tracks and I'd have believed it. I expected more raunch and rattle like "Lola" but it was pretty standard 60's white person rock.
I prefer this path of song writing to their albums prior. I found it easy to listen to and understand. Representative of music during its time.
Plaisant
Sunny Afternoon is a good tune, but it's a miracle I got that far into the album to hear it. It's the 2nd night running I've almost fallen asleep at the wheel, listening to these albums whilst driving home. Another quick listen before bed and maybe I just wasn't in the mood. Not a driving album, but it's not bad. 3 stars - I doubt I'll revisit it again.
This was ok. Probably not ok enough to listen to again, but good enough for a 3. It started off real slow and I was not really into it, but as the album progressed, I got more into it.
I’ll place these guys as ‘another band that could stand side to side with the Beatles and I probably couldn’t tell the difference’. Now that being said I do really like the Beatles, but it’s hard to tell apart imo for this genre. 3.5
This is the second of three Kinks albums from this list that I was disappointed in. Maybe I don't like them as much as I thought? It's not bad, it's just kinda goofy.
Not a special album.
I've been enjoying hearing more Kinks albums as we make our way through this list. Previously, I had only known one or two but it's fun to get a wider sense of their catalogue. This one is a fun, early-ish album. Definitely scratches the same itch as early Beatles albums. Fast, short, upbeat songs focusing on characters. Honestly, a bunch of these songs have parts that remind me of Beatles songs. I like when we get a Friday album like this that’s worth listening to a few times or easy to put on in the background. My first impression was that this was a solid batch of songs but that some of them felt a little clunky. I’ve put it on a few more times over the weekend though and it’s growing on me. As the melodies are becoming familiar, I’m enjoying the album more. It’s a quirky, catchy and sometimes funny album. Great album cover.
I need this album to appear on this list in the Spring. I need to be driving next to a river with the windows rolled down, inviting a crisp sixty three degree day and the seat warmers keeping my behind warm, while this is coming through my speakers. Right now, my feet are freezing. I'm stationary and there's not a lot of pretty things around me; just a grey sky outside of the window I'm facing and a 50/50 chance for snow. Hearing "Dandy" in this context is like pushing myself to eat a steaming hot bowl of soup on a tepid summer day. It's just two things that are nice when separate but together is a dilution of the quality of both things. Instead of that Spring day, it's New Years Day. I went to bed at four AM and while I didn't drink much, I feel hungover because of the distorted sleep I got. These songs don't deserve this- they deserve a cheery setting where the listener can bop their head and tap their toes and hum what they know. Outside of this experience, I am enjoying this album more than the last Kinks album, which showed up only a few album's ago on this list. I can tell there's a lot of thought that is going into these songs and I speculate that specifically there is a lot of thought about making these songs stand out on their own and not just be born from templates. I appreciate that. How about that thunder sound effect on "Rainy Day in June"? It's such a bad sample, but I can imagine the difficulty of capturing that sound back in the 1960's.
Sounds of the age it was made, but doesn't stand apart from the other music of the time.
More of the Kinks distinctive sound which is another way of saying this is no different to all the other Kinks albums I've heard.
Old sound, pretty catchy songs.
Hasn’t held up after all these years. Not really distinguishable from any of the other pop of that era.
den rå, simple lyd af 60’er rock
Évoque parfois les Beatles, témoigne d'une mutation sociale. Musicalement parlant, très acoustique pour un album plus rock.
My thought processes on first listen: “this is OLD”, “ I’m not sure about this” “lol they really do like their sound effect machine” (Rainy Day In June), “hey I know this song!”, “this is ok I guess”. Once again, I do like the political commentary. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Sunny Afternoon Rating: 3
I like their sound and message. Not particularly compelled by the songs themselves however.
Favorite Tracks: Party Line, Rosy Won't You Please Come Home, Dandy, Too Much On My Mind, Holiday in Waikiki
I love the kinks but this isn't one of my favorites. Still solid though.
Sympa pour une petite promenade en printemps je pense Mais en terme de Britrock c'est pas exceptionnel, un album pas forcément trop mémorable, je pense que d'autres albums des Kinks sont meilleurs 3/5
At the start it reminded me of the Beatles and I wasn't really feeling it, but as the album continued, I warmed up to it a lot. Looks like they were releasing around the same time as the Beatles so it makes sense that they have a similar sound. I mostly listened in the shower, and it was good. I don't have a lot of comments about it, it's pretty fine. Not really revolutionary, but definitely good.
I liked listening to this but it's nothing extraordinary. It's overshadowed by bands like the Beatles.
I really liked this album. Not full of hits. But I listened twice.
Solid Kinks material
"Face to Face" by The Kinks is a classic album that marked a significant transition in the band's sound and songwriting. Released in 1966, it's a reflection of the changing musical landscape of the mid-1960s. Tracks like "Sunny Afternoon" and "Dandy" are notable for their catchy melodies and Ray Davies' sharp, observational lyrics. The album's production is more refined and polished compared to the band's earlier, rawer work, showcasing their evolving style. While "Face to Face" is an important record in The Kinks' discography, it may not reach the same iconic status as some of their later albums like "The Village Green Preservation Society." Additionally, the more polished production might not appeal to fans of their earlier, more garage-rock-oriented sound.
Face to Face is the fourth album by the English rock band the Kinks. Initially, the album only performed averagely critically and commercially, but it has since earned critical acclaim, considered a pivotal album of the psychedelic era and the Kinks' evolution, as well as regarded as rock's first concept album. This Kinks' album is influenced by baroque pop, but can also be classified as a rock or garage pop album. This was a decent album of pop rock music that was upbeat and fun to listen to. "Sunny Afternoon" is perhaps the stand-out track, but each song had its own charm. I don't know much of the Kinks' albums or songs, so it's impossible for me to compare this album to any of their others. I guess I'll have to explore this band's other works now.
I know a few songs, but I don't think I've ever listened to a full Kinks album from start to finish. Honest, while I enjoyed it, I do wish it was less pop and more garage. I feel like some of the songs needs a bit more emotion and grit to them. For example Rosy Won't You Please Come Home felt too joyful for the subject matter. Standouts: Party Line, Too Much on My Mind, Sunny Afternoon
It's okay, not my favorite Kinks that I've heard
Classic 60s Britpop. I've always liked The Kinks but had never listened to one of their albums. The Britpop-obsessed phase of my life is long over, but it's nice to revisit every now and then. While the standout song here is obviously "Sunny Afternoon," I was delighted when "Dandy" came on. I only knew Herman's Hermits' version. Would give 3.5
Gave this one two straight listens through hoping more would connect. There are some solid jams in here (Rainy Day in June, You're Looking Fine) and The Kinks show a decent range of motion, but most of this album feels like solid forgettable service. No straight up duds which pushes this to a high 3 for me. At the end of the day though, I won't be back any time soon. --- Album opens with Party Line, which features a polka-style beat. Fine song; sounds like the 60s. Rosy Won't You Please Come Home also has a distinctive 60s feel owing to the harpsichord. I really like this song though. I'm 6 songs in with this in the background. Nothing has really grabbed my ear, but its fine 60s rock. Rainy Day in June is the first that sparked my interest. You're Looking Fine is a jam. I feel like this comes up a lot, but this feels like a direct predecessor to something like Spoon today.
Sunny Afternoon has always been a jam. Overall really like the album. Would give it 3.5
Nothing really stands out about this album. Maybe because I'm listening to it right after Aftermath and it just exudes 60's rock. Another one of these albums right around a 3.
Pretty standard sounding 60's album. If someone were to ask me what early rock sounded like this would be the exact album I would show them. No standout songs
This is pretty pleasant. Wild decision to have a random bomb explosion in the background during Rainy Day in June. All pretty standard stuff but a pleasant background listen. Sunny Afternoon is great.
Good album classic songs but the kinks would go on to make better albums
I find the Kinks difficult to review. They’re not bad, I just can’t get into them. I enjoy the odd song and they’re strong musicians I just find most of it very meh. 3 stars
This was good; classic late 60s sound. No songs immediately jumped out at me but overall good, especially having listened to alot of the crap from this era. 7/10.
Not the kinks best but sunny afternoon is good.
A more folk side of the kinks. Love sunny afternoon.
I unoo
Nice for its time but that was 60 years ago
Inconsistent overall but still an enjoyable kinks album
- Heard other Kinks albums before but not this one - Thought it was pretty good, not their best - Sunny Afternoon is one of their best songs - All round good but not great listen - Fav songs: Sunny Afternoon, Party Line, Rainy Day in June
3.3 Not many stand out songs but a solid unit of an album and my type of music so a pretty good album for me. Fave songs: Sunny Afternoon, party line
“Rosy…”, “Too Much on My Mind”, “Sunny Afternoon”, “Rainy Day in June” 3.5
Marty said my exact thoughts on this record lol!
The Kinks always seem to get lost between the rise of the Beatles and Rolling Stones. A very good band that never really got the credit (in America) that they deserved. This is a really good album, but not a stand-out. As always, clever, sometimes biting lyrics delivered in British Invasion style.
The music on here was pretty boring although there were some amusing stories within them here and there. The Beatles already made better versions of this music.
even though it wasn’t the most innovative or technically advanced, i enjoyed the simple vibe it gave off.
60s British rock, less Beatles-y than the Beatles. Favourite tracks are Sunny Afternoon and Rainy Day in June. They’re fine but it made me realise how much I am missing the Beatles harmonies, John’s sarcasm, Paul’s bass lines, George’s licks and Ringo’s fills.
I listened to this a few days ago, and already don't remember anything about it, except that it was ok. 3/5
Nothing especially wrong with this album, it just doesn't really sound like The Kinks at all. I appreciate bands who can deviate from their sound for a different project, but this felt less like an artistic decision and more like a "we need to ride this Beatles wave" decision. They've done it well enough, but it just doesn't feel that authentic either. Favorite track: Sunny Afternoon
Not my fave Kinks. When they're on, they're superb. When they're not quite on, they're pretty damn cheesy.
Not a bad album but none of the songs I really like
I'm familiar with a few of The Kinks' songs, but this was my first time listening to an album of theirs from start to finish. I thought this album was fine; it didn't wow me in any sense, but it wasn't terrible to listen to. Instrumentally, it wasn't too far off from the songs of theirs that I enjoy ("Lola," "All Day and All of the Night," and "You Really Got Me"). I liked the use of the harpsichord, and the drumming was tight and precise, which I think fits their overall musical style nicely. "Sunny Afternoon" was definitely my favorite track; I liked how the title stood in stark contrast to the dark melodies and cynical lyrics. "Fancy" and "You're Looking Fine" were really good too. I think I'd prefer to belt out "Lola" though.
There are some great standouts from this album and the majority of the reason for that is the backing track. the songwriting is equally tight throughout but half sounds the same. best tracks: rainy day in june, house in the country, sunny afternoon
This album marked a significant shift in The Kinks’ sound, moving away from their earlier R&B-influenced rock towards a more introspective, sophisticated style. The result is a collection of 14 tracks that showcase Ray Davies' songwriting talent and the band's musical versatility. One of the album's best tracks is "Sunny Afternoon," which became one of The Kinks' biggest hits. The song features a unique, almost lazy melody that perfectly captures the song's themes of summer leisure and financial struggles. "Rainy Day in June" is another standout, with its haunting harmonies and lyrics about loneliness and heartbreak. The Kinks showcase their musical versatility, experimenting with different genres and styles. "Most Exclusive Residence for Sale" features a jazzy piano riff and a dramatic chorus, while "Session Man" has a bluesy feel and features a driving rhythm section. The album ends with the epic "I'll Remember," a ballad that showcases Davies' songwriting talent and the band's ability to create complex, layered arrangements. Overall this is a pretty good record and I recommend it for anyone who’s a fan of 60s music.
Fun English 60s pop record. Actual lp didn't contain the excellent Dead End Street, nonetheless this is a fine collection of mid 60s typical Kinks social observation songs.
Typical sound for the era. Can see the inspiration for other bands, but as an album... eh.
Absolutely love the sound it's great. Problem is it gets a bit samey as the album goes on. This isn't helped by the album being 20+ songs either. Makes it get pretty boring half way through
Being that we are nearly 60 years out on this release, it has some basic music beds, but still fun. Cheeky lyrics. Following some Beatle-like formulas, but still fun. Recently read that The Kinks considered a pioneer of the punk movement - not by this album.
As good as any of the early offerings of the Beatles/Rolling Stones. 3.5 stars.
'Dandy' and especially 'Sunny Afternoon' are great tracks, but Face to Face feels extremely uneven compared to the following Something Else By The Kinks. Also, this has vastly more baroque pop which is not really my favorite thing.
I don’t mind the earlier The Kinks, but Face to Face feels like a transition album where they’re trying to master their own sound. There are a few great songs like “Rainy Day In June” and “Sunday Afternoon”. The rest of the record feels like Beatles-leftovers. That is, of course, rarely a bad thing. I just don’t feel any particular connection to it.
Some bangers on here. Very 60s, not entirely my thing but I did enjoy it.
Session Man hit me like a ton of bricks I was not expecting that baroque ass banger rainy day in june is great not bad like a 3.5/5 prob not good enough to round up to 4 tho for me
1. Party Line: decent track, swayable. 6.5/10. 2. Rosie Won't You Please Come Home: nice song, instrumentals compliment very well. 7.5/10. 3. Dandy: vocals are strong on this. Overall song aint that special. 6.5/10. 4. Too Much On My Mind: bit bland not much innovation. Chorus is sweet. 5.5/10. 5. Session Man: again not too special, word plays dont work. 5/10. 6. Rainy Day In June: pretty okay, liked the sound effects. 7/10. 7. A House In The Country: good song, love the timing on this one. Vocally very strong. 8/10. 8. Holiday In Waikiki: vibey, good one. 7/10 9. Most Exclusive Residence For Sale: like the story aspect but song itself isnt that strong. 6/10. The rest of the songs were all alright but not special per se.
somewhat ok
Ikke deres beste plate.
listened to this while building a tv stand the kinks / 10
Shows great promise. One classic
The baroque harpsichord can grate early doors and often the songs feel flippant, superficial and in the case of Session Man perhaps a little mean-spirited. The album descends into an almost ironic psychedelic instrumental before getting significantly better. Sunny Afternoon is a classic for a reason: warm, funny, seemingly relatable (despite my lack of stately home or significant taxable income). The other tracks feel immediately more mature and better for it. I never really got the kinks, but this album brings me closer.
I know this is blasphemous, but it sounds like The Beatles with a different singer, and I don't know really care for The Beatles.
Good
If it ain’t Baroque don’t fix it.
Solid
This was a fun album, not very original and sounded a bit too much like the Beatles. Nothing at all wrong with, but I also can’t say I was blown away by anything. It’s just nice. 3/5
I hope I don’t regret this rating later. I like The Kinks and it’s possible that I’ll like this more on re-listen. I already heard The Kinks Are The Village Preservation Society on this generator and I should have given it a 4. I liked this alright. Favorite song: “Sunny Afternoon”
Lachrymose-adjacent. What has always puzzled me about the Kinks is how they managed to sound so...unprofessional, when they were clearly anything but. (This is meant as a compliment, to be clear. I tend to compare them to The Stones, who always sounded (to me, at least) as if they were faking it.)
Not one of my favourite Kinks records, this is solid throughout but there's nothing too memorable outside of the delightfully catchy Dandy and the incredible Sunny Afternoon
Love the Kinks and they rarely disappoint. There's a wonderful Englishness about them that sometimes feels a bit twee. Ray Davies voice has a wonderful vulnerability about it.
Obviously one stand out track but everything else was good, especially Dandy which I'd never heard.
A few good songs like Sunny Afternoon, but I prefer their other ones
clearly the transition point between beat rockers and multi-instrumental whimsy, hints at the great stuff yet to come but not essential
Decent, they sound like a knock-off Beatles. Most songs aren’t that impressive though
I think the album sounds great, but I’m about 50/50 on the song writing. I read it is considered by some to be rock’s first concept record but I really just don’t hear it. High points for me include Too Much On My Mind, Rainy Day in June, Fancy, and I’ll Remember. 3.14159 Stars.
not as good as the other kinks album but pretty good for hippy rock 3.5
The Kinks seemed to be in transition in 1966, moving away from straightforward beat music and still working out what they might become- the songs here see Davies start making wry observations on British life and being influenced by music hall which is the direction the band would later take. There are times when Kinks are trying to mimic The Beatles or The Stones and neither work particularly well. When you think that in the same year The Beatles released Revolver and The Stones released Aftermath, Face to Face pales in comparison. Very much a marker on the road for Kinks with their best work yet to come, although Sunny Afternoon became a great anthem for England winning the World Cup.
while i had heard the kinks before (of course), i had never sat down to listen to one of their albums in its entirety. it’s very reminiscent of the beatles in my opinion. it was a good album but a somewhat forgettable one. regardless, my favorite songs were: Party Line, Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home, and Sunny Afternoon.
Bien. Estilo The Beatles.
- sunny afternoon is great - would enjoy listening to this again. Easy, fun, upbeat
That was good, not great. I'm not hearing "concept album".
This sounded much more similar to the concept album I got by the kinks super early on than the more recent one that I got. I have nothing to say about this album to be honest. Will not remember it in 24 hours.
Good
I'm discovering that Psychedelic Rock isn't one of my preferred genres. While not an unenjoyable listen, The Kinks Face To Face is influential and not so bad.
Listened Before? N It was okay. More mid-sixties british rock. I don't mind it, but I'll never listen to it again. Added to Library? N Song added to Playlist: Sunny Afternoon
It's ok
Þetta er allt í lagi, pínu bítlafílingur í byrjun plötunnar.
Fun brit-rock, nothing that grabbed my attention too much
it is quite pleasing beatles wibe, but a bit raw. I do not find it psychedelic at all. could be less schematized...
Good
Pretty good, even though I only recognised one song
Bien. Estilo The Beatles.
Quite enjoyed this, but it was exactly what I was expecting. Probably would listen to it again for a bit inoffensive background music. I reckon I’d have given it 5 star if I was listening to it for the first time back in the 60’s, but it just now feels unexciting
Nice. Real nice.
I quite liked this, but nothing really grabbed me. All quite jangly and similar sounding. I would imagine the Kinks have better albums then this. We shall see if they're on this list!
In 2001 Daft Punk released their song Face to Face off their sophomore album Discovery. Face to Face utilized a unique sampling technique developed by co-producer Todd Edwards which would take microsamples from vocals which would drastically transform the sampled songs to the point where many would be unrecognizable. Edwards claims him and Daft Punk used 70 samples, a feat of plunderphonics that could similarly be seen in The Avalanche's masterpiece album Since I Left You. Beyond being impressive, Face to Face is bouncy, fun, and almost futuristic in it's presentation. If any song were to stand under scrutiny in Daft Punk's catalogue, I nominate that Face to Face would fare the best. I only hope that it outlives myself. In 1966 The Kinks released their fourth album Face to Face. It's alright.
i love the vibe the kinks go for - works really well but does get a little one dimensional after a while
Very of its time and place. Burbles along pleasantly enough. Like a low-key picnic with some friends when spring has finally arrived. But in the 60's in London. I love how much personality shines through. Best track: Sunny Afternoon
Surprised by this one, really enjoyed it. Sounded like early Stones to me, which I dig. Will be adding to my rotation.
I dig albums that have a flow. The music it self is quite simple and pleasant. It definitely has a Beatles feel but without their polish or complexity. In the end, this was enjoyed by me.
Just ok for me.
31st October 2022 Listened on the day after, was in bed all day not feeling well after being in Norfolk for the weekend. I feel like the Kinks are a greatest hits band, potentially scandalous to say but this album blends into one. Enjoyable though.
A decent psych rock album from the 60s. This one was a more positive upbeat style rock album from the kinks. The songs are relatively short and quick. Overall most of the album is pretty decent but there isn’t anything too amazing. A solid east listening album. 6.3/10
I keep hoping the Kinks will click for me, and yet they never quite do. Guess I'll be staying vanilla for now.
Really very Beatles-esque to me, which I know has to do with their being contemporaries, but something about this one just feels like phoning in overall. Still quite listenable though.
An album for people that think Revolver is peak Beatles. Best Songs: Dandy, House in the Country, Sunny Afternoon, Worst Songs: I'll Remember, Holiday in Waikiki
This is the most like The Beatles I've ever heard them sound. Unfortunately, not as good, although some songs are killer.
haven't listened to much kinks but i enjoyed it. not quite the pop bop factor that the beatles had going on
Was busy when listening to this so forgot to look at each song name when it was playing. Decent though. I saw Ray Davies in Benicassim once and he caught a glow stick thrown by crowd mid gig and put it in his pocket to take home. Kicked straight into You Really Got Me after it. It was quite cool.
Favourite Song - Dandy One for Karaoke - Summer Time One for a run - Party Line Little fun number this one. Head bopping fun
I gave the kinks review so I guess I need to review q tip for this was OK scribbly bubbly lyrics over bouncy pop hop.
Pretty good, though a bit too much filler for my liking, not as much wit as Something Else
The Beatles if the Beatles weren’t the Beatles
Love the instruments, no songs stood out though
Unremarkable but ok hippie rock.
Wel lekker
Lovely bit of songwriting, sets a cheery mood
Though the production firmly plants in the mid sixties you can't fault the song writing. Ray Davies is beginning to flash his genius at picking apart the lives of the average person as well as the sixties rock star. Really, like lots of sixties albums, it's the production style that lets them down: Best Tracks: Dandy; Too Much On My Mind; Sunny Afternoon
Good
They sound just like the Beatles or The Beatles sound just like them. Either way, they’re alright.
Prob not what I would consider their best?
Yeah it is good
Good if you're into the kinks
Good-sounding early Kinks album. Hadn’t listened to a studio album before this, and didn’t realize across how many decades and albums their hits stretched. No single album sums up their reign, though, so not a high score.
Very varied vaudeville and 60’s rock affair.
Man, the 60s were a wild time. So many harpsichords!
Second half of the album is stellar. 1st half was a bit forgetful.
Liked it but didn’t love it. “Sunny Afternoon” was a clear favorite.
Wasn’t too bad. The only time a British Invasion was a good thing was the sixties rock.
Classic 60s. Enjoyed it a lot, far more than I actually expected myself to
I tend to be more a fan of the Kinks on either side of this, in terms of eras. I'm a huge fan of the Shel Talmy era, and then the 80s Give the People What They Want and State of Confusion era. Listening to this, you can hear the wide range, and see why they were so influential.
I'm on the fence, middle of the road, kinda unsure on this one so straight up 2.5 stars...well 3... like I like the sound, I like the vibe...but ALMOST nothing reaaaaally grabs me as something to hold onto here and revisit. But how many times have I listened to Sunny Afternoon and it still just works. I also kinda' liked Party Line. The other tracks kinda blend into one another...I know, I'm a heathen.
Nothing too great for me
great stuff.
This is a Kinks album I was not familiar with except for the one song Sunny Afternoon.
Half of this album felt like listening to the Beatles, but at half-strength; the other half was enjoyable, early rock with some clever instrumentation, but very few standouts. Overall palatable, but not excellent.
One good song...others are average. It sounds like an album that was really trying to copy the Beatles.
Loved this.
It was enjoyable, probably not gonna listen to it again
Slightly dated
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
Love the Kinks but has only heard Fancy and Sunny Afternoon from this one
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.
Like the beetles