Reviews (page 7 of 8)
I always find myself rooting for The Kinks; they’ve got a boatful of classic singles to rival any of their contemporaries. But I wonder if those many singles were spread out across almost as many albums? Certainly when Sunny Afternoon kicked in the jump in quality from the rest of the tracklist was obvious (barring Dead End Street, if we’re including it in this album). That said, there are some other nice Ray Davies ditties on here, and evidently it was an important record in the creation of the 60s ‘Britpop’ sound.
I like Sunny Afternoon, but nothing else really.
Party Line sounds like it could be a Beatles song. I think this was around the time that those bands were makin the shift from rock n roll to a more psychedelic sound, though they refer to this music as baroque pop or music hall. Ray Davies had such a distinct voice and I bet he influenced a lot of indie singers. Sunny Afternoon is timeless and reminds me what was so good about sixties pop radio.
This is the Kinks album with my favorite song of theirs, Sunny Afternoon, so I’m pretty excited already. Instantly, however, not impressed. Party Line is pretty simple and not great. Rosy Please Come Home redeems it a little though. Maybe it was a fluke, cause Dandy is pretty similar to Party Line. Overall seems pretty simple. Definitely not as great as Something Else by the Kinks. Fav Track: Sunny Afternoon 3/5
I listened to the first half and really enjoyed it. It felt like on the verge of pop and psych rock? Def worth another deeper listen.
p88. 1966. 3 stars. The primeval ancestors of Blur. Pros: Ray Davies can knock out a tune, and lyrically he's as sharp as Costello or Weller. Cons: he can't sing, the Kinks weren't great musicians, and the production hasn't dated that well. Compare this with Revolver or Pet Sounds from the same year and all the flaws really show up. It's more of a historical significance piece - "look what Ray Davies was doing at the same time as Dylan and Lennon and Wilson".
Not bad , kind of like a discount Beatles.
Sounds similar to early Beatles.
Average. Nothing bad but nothing great, either.
Not my go-to Kinks album. The few famous songs, "Party Line" and "Sunny Afternoon" are really great (nuclear opinion, but I always thought that the best Kinks songs were better than the best Beatles songs, even if the Beatles had better albums over all). The rest of the album is pretty unremarkable.. a good song here and there, but mostly forgettable generic pop rock.
Se deja escuchar, a veces suenan como los Beatles un poco más sueltos, rebeldes, rockeros. Es quizás un testamento a su calidad que el disco suene tan bien después de tantos años. No aburre en absoluto. Es sólo que no me marcó como para decidir escucharlo de nuevo.
I liked the album. Started of very Beatlesy but soon became more hard rock heavy. Again just listening to the album while working so I was paying too much attention, but I did like what I heard and will probably check out some more of their work.
I found this a bit disappointing - the overall sound wasn't great and the themes were very dated (which shouldn't have surprised me, I know).
Not bad
average - liked it fine but nothing stood out
Лёгкий альбом 60-ых, в духе ранних Битлз и Mamas and Papas, но музыка не моя.
3.6 - Not as strong as other slice-of-life Kinks records (e.g “Village Green”) mostly because the songs are about uninteresting characters and situations (e.g “Session Man”).
I'm bored of that late 60's London sound at this stage. That said, it's pretty good
Sub Beatles pop
Party Line is a pretty cute little song. I love the guitar on Rosie Won't You Please Come Home! Dandy's a cute little song too! I don't have much that I can say about this album yet, but these songs are all very fun to listen to. Definitely something I wouldn't pick out on my own, but very fun stuff that I'm glad I'm getting introduced to. Too Much on My Mind has such fun harpsichord (I think?) stuff on it, it really compliments the lyrics. The opening to Session Man (and the harpsichord throughout the rest of it) is Fantastic, I love it so much. Highlight of the album so far for me. Rainy Day in June's got some really strong moments, including the vocals for me. Great song, with a lot of fun cheese (the thunder is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL in my enjoyment of the song). Scratch what I said before, *this* is the best one yet! House in the Country is a nice song, but it's got nothing on Rainy Day. Guitar-work is fun. Grew on me by the end of it all. Holiday in Wakiki's got a great drum start, but the vocals just aren't here for me on the track sadly. The rest of it is fun! Most Exclusive Residence for Sale is... fine. I don't hate it, but I also don't love it. Fancy's got absolutely stellar stuff happening underneath the vocals - which are good as well. But, wow, I'm in love with the stuff happening in the strings! Another cute little song is Little Miss Queen of Darkness. Expected something, well, different based on the name but all-in-all still a fun little escape. Just a thought before I talk about You're Looking Fine - the A-side to this album has been much better in my opinion, compared to the B-side. Oh well! Anyways, You're Looking Fine is another song that I'm ok with? Not really anything to write home about in my opinion. Sunny Afternoon is *that single* so I have high expectations going in. Perhaps that's a mistake. But, I do like this! It's darker than some of the rest of this B-side (at least at first listen), and it's got very pleasing vocals and bass overall. It feels *very* 60s. I'll Remember is another great song, love love love it.
Both a bit derivative, and at the same time ahead of the game, in that it apes the Beatles sound, whilst also being original enough to inspire 90s Britpop. There are flashes of brilliance, but also a certain quaintness to proceedings. I wanted to like this more than I did.
Missing some bangers
it was just alright. not much to write home about. pleasant to listen to in the sunshine.
Better than most of Eurovision and Scott Kelly's cat.
3.5
Favorite song: Sunny Afternoon.
Have you ever thought about what the Beatles might have sounded like if they were just okay at songwriting and three years behind everybody else? Wonder no more! Best track: Sunny Afternoon
Ok
Another oldie. Others have been better.
Fun and easy listening!
This seems like a great album to listen to if I was chillaxing with a brew and some bud on a sunny day outside.
Most of the time I couldn’t tell if I was listening to the Beatles, the Doors, or the Kinks. It was a good listen but it kind of lacked originality
It was fine. I feel like the intros to most songs were really cool, and then it just fell into a 4/4 beatles copy.
Is fun, not really my style.
This isn't stand-out Kinks, but it's still Kinks and so it's still pretty listenable all the way through.
Fun for a summer ride
Not my favorite era for the Kinks, but it's still good stuff. 3/5
Un album générique de la part des Kinks qui n'ont au passage pas eu l'élégance de me signaler qu'ils avaient coupé mon couplet sur l'avant-dernier morceau.
J'ai fait ce matin un découverte consternante en me balandant sur Internet, je me dois de la partager avec vous. Savez-vous quels sont les trois plus grands déserts du monde? Je ne le savais personnellement pas, laissez moi donc vous proposer la liste ci-contre: le désert du Gobi, le désert du Sahara, les deux derniers mois du générateur.
This was really good. I always liked the kinds a lot when I heard songs here and there, and then a few months ago this website generated a kinks album for me that a thought was complete rubbish. Glad to listen to a different one that hit the mark
Loved the album cover but didn’t get to hear the whole album. I like the Kinks, easy background music. Just alright 3*
I didn't expect to enjoy this one, but actually it's pretty great. Sounds like the 60s.
Ett underhållande album.
Cheeeeeelin
Enjoyable, competent. Not their best, not their worst
The Kinks are an interesting study in rock history. There are really quite a lot of albums, and the influence is great, but relatively few actually recognizable hits, especially in the U.S. this is another album I hadn’t listened to before. Good, though not hitting the levels of my favorites with this band.
Good but forgettable. Sunny Afternoon is a classic and the other songs are fine. Not one that I'll be going back to very often (if ever).
Not really my scene but fully appreciate they were big in the day
Pretty good. Slightly repetitive. Some hits and some misses. Could be a classic if it were 8 songs instead of 21.
3 stars for Sunny Afternoon alone, but it's a bit meh in places.
Better than average British band from the timeframe.
Do you like the Beatles? If so you will like this album. Not every song is a hit but those that are not are not horrible. Most songs are right around the 2 minute mark so the album flies by.
Wait this isn't Daft Punk
Not my jam but not the worst
Meilleur que l'autre album que j'ai essayé d'eux, mais ça reste très average comme vieux rock.
Was expecting a bit of a heavier album than what this turned out to be, when I think of the Kinks I think of "You Really Got Me" with the power chords. This album is much more of a 60's folk album and they're really channeling the Beatles.
Sounds like the Beatles, which was fascinating!
Decent easy listening that drags on a bit long though and the rather basic concept loses its appeal rather quickly
Kinda boring. Prefer their earlier work.
great kinks album with their famous songwriting of semi casual rock songs that are that perfect mix of 60s sound and more modern rock
If The Beatles didn’t polish themselves - ok but not as good as they good be. My top pick is ‘Sunny Afternoon’, it’s cute.
Prima muziek voor het huidige zonnetje!
Lang niet zo goed als The Beatles, maar zeker niet verkeerd.
Best leuk.
No comment.
Pretty fun, but wasn't very memorable. Favorites: "Part Line", "House In The Country", "Sunday Afternoon"
Kind of run-of-the-mill mid-60's pop-rock to me. Some kind of Beatles-esque baroque sounding stuff (mellotron) too. Enjoyable but didn't really stand out to me. Unlikely to revisit.
Beatles vibes
Not bad, lyrics and singing ok. Guitar riffs more generic sounding than I expected.
New album for me.
I'm only somewhat familiar with The Kinks. I've heard some songs here and there, although nothing has really stood out enough to catch my attention. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case here as well. It's not bad, but compared to it's contemporaries it is a bit average.
It's fine, but it no longer sounds exciting
It’s a Kinks album! What’s not to like!
nothing too note-worthy
It was alright. Nothing really memorable.
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Party Line, House in the Country, Little Miss Queen of Darkness, You're Looking Fine, Sunny Afternoon Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Fun to hear the switch from their dirty rock and roll roots to the more sophistipop. I still haven't really found a Kinks album that I love front to back unfortunately (Arthur has come the closest), but each has its moments and putting their songs on shuffle is always a good time. Ray Davies what a lad.
I was going to give this a 4 until I listened to fancy. I guess this is why you need to listen to the whole album.
It's not bad, but very little really jumped out at me. I'd rather listen to their peers of the day than this if I'm being completely honest. 5 to 6 /10 5/10
kinda repetitive but some hits
Pierwsze i z pewnoscia nie ostatnie Kinksy na liscie, wiec ultra kompaktowo, plyte face to face mozna okreslic jako bardzo popowy rock, czyli cos jak beatlesy z poczatkowego okresu, w czym kryje sie troche prawdy, ale nawet sama ta plyta potrafi sie obronic przed takimi zarzutami, bo ma na siebie pomysl, chociaz nie jest to stricte konceptowy album, bo jednak widac i slychac, ze przy luzniejszej sytuacji z lejbelem mogliby stworzyc z tego cos odwazniejszego, biorac pod uwage jakie kawalki znalazly sie poza plyta, chocby dead end street, pomimo tego, ze wiekszosc kawalkow jest pisana pod standardowy czas songa popowego, czyli mniej niz 3 minuty, to opowiadaja historie ktore potrafia zaciekawic, zwlaszcza takie perelki jak session man, czyli hymn na temat heroicznej pracy muzykow sesyjnych, a zwkaszcza pana Nickiego Hopkinsa, ktorego klawisze mozna uslyszec chocby u stonesow, czyy the who, no i rowniez u kinksow, pan Ray Davies mial glowe na karku wypluwajac z siebie taki material, dodatkowo jest on glownym wokalem albumu, chociaz openingowy trak nalezy do mlodszego z duetu braci, pana Dave, do ktorego nalezy najbardziej charakterystyczny jak dla mnie instrument plyty, a bedzie to gitarka, sklad uzupelniaja Pete Quaife na basie i Mick Avory na drumsach, orginalny album to 38 minut material, ale akurat spotifaj mial bogatsza wersje z dodatkowymi trakami i wersjami mono i sterego, w tym wypadku mono robi lepsza robote jak na moje ucho, na plejke obok sunny afternoona dodam jeszcze wspomnianego session mana i kawalek o dandysie
I enjoyed this, they're not my fave but good sometimes.
Overall pretty good, if the rest of the songs were as good as Sunny Afternoon I’d be a 4 but some are kind of just ok. Def one of the better bands of this decade though
was fine
3/5 For some reason I just don't really have that much to say about this album. I mean it's the Kinks, it's quite good
I dig a couple of these songs. But Sunny Afternoon is a classic.
lots of short songs, it´s ok, but musically not inspiring to me
Još jedan fin album legendarnog benda. Bar meni, sviđaju mi se. Nije top tier ko njihovi drugi albumi, ali nije za baciti. Pozitivan je.
This one feels like it's beginning to lay the foundations for Ray's ability to craft a great pop song with both wit and a cutting sense of social comment.
Not the best but okay
Good
Good collection of songs unfortunately firmly stuck in their time.
Lovely, uplifting, easy listening. Great for a 60s themed party.. Just not in the mood for that now, over listened as a kid
Entertaining pop music, though not as ear-wormy as I found Village Green to be. Session Man seems to open things somewhat, especially into its transition into the sound effects of Rainy Day. A cheap trick, but effective. Perhaps especially effective because it's after several more conventional tracks. For a stretch, there's a strong sense of place, and that's one of the best parts. Sunny Afternoon is another gem, and listenable in at least two ways. The rest is good, but the concept argument reads as threadbare and I've already commented on the worm-lack.
This band reminded me of the Beatles. Very 60s rock.
Didn’t particularly like the first 5 songs, but the album really picks up from Rainy Day in June onwards. Lovely 60s English pop music.
Dei Kinks conoscevo alcuni pezzi, ma non avevo ascoltato un album per intero. Riconosco la loro bravura in questo sound davvero Pop-British (non voglio dire castronerie, ma a tratti sembravano i Beatles). Nonostante la mia attenzione è andata un po' a scemare, ci sono canzoni tipo Sunny Afternoon che riascolterò sicuramente.
Soldi record but not really my thing. I liked the first couple tracks but I kinda started to lose interest by the end.
Pretty aight, can vibe to this to be fair.
I think I'm supposed to like this but eh
Not my usual speed. But I kinda like it. I'm not sure how many listens it's going to get over time. but his vocal range is super interesting to me. Sunny afternoon is pretty damn good I gotta say.
An okay album by the kinks.
Feels like I'm on holiday
Didn't finish it, bit boring again
An ok album, had a psychedelic Beatles vibe, with a more pop leaning. Not sure if I got the full experience as Spotify only had the Deluxe Edition. Best: Party Line, Dandy Worst: Holiday in Waikiki 2.5 stars
Los kinks eran más los beatles que los kinks. Si se pudiera poner 3.5, le pondría eso
Sunny afternoon
I had to look up why this album was significant. First concept album. It was good. Beatles' sound.
In Conclusione: Nonostante avessi sentito nominare i Kinks varie volte e sapessi vagamente il genere (che erano più o meno competitor dei Beatles) non li avevo mi ascoltati. Devo dire che è stato un ascolto piacevole, qualche pezzo chiaramente l'avevo già sentito perché molto popolare (tipo Sunny Afternoon). Li ho trovati comunque una versione un po' più punk forse dei Beatles, un po' più ruvidi e politici. Comunque divertente.
Cool album. Might have to check out more albums?
Ok
Ich finde es auch mutiger als die Beatles aber tatsächlich merkt man gleich dass die dann doch eine andere Liga waren
Pretty forgettable album for me, but better than the first one I listened to on this list.
Fun Brit pop
Can understand how the transgressive lyrics and electric rock n roll sound would have been a bombshell in 1960's England but the songs don't have too much staying power.
Pretty much what I expected from a Kinks album, very safe rock n roll. In the words of the great Anatoly Dyatlov: "not great, not terrible". Best track: Rainy Day in June
Some old classic tunes.
Classic sound but overall nice.
Would listen again.
very beatlesy
Mostly happy songs, fun to have on the background. Wouldn't play them actively though.
Album cover is awesome! I like the songs. :) It is pleasant!!
Lots of interesting singles here but overall a fatiguing listen due to its length.
3
It was fine. Preferred their earlier stuff I think.
Cracking album. Some great songs here
5
2,8
.
really good sound here by The Kinks who are a 1960's UK rock group. probably a 3.2-3.3/5
Ah yes. Back when pop music was basically blues based rock. Fun sounds, though not especially inspired lyrics. I can hear the echoes of this album in lots of contemporary rock music, and I thoroughly enjoyed it through!
It was an ok album not my fav
Pretty good, some good sounds. Dragged on a bit and wasn't my favorite but solid
Nice enjoyed it put not amazing
heerlijk brits albumpje, niet verkeerd
Didn't like this as much as Arthur. Just OK.
Enjoyable jangly pop, and I kind of get what Ray was doing with all the social observation stuff. When the album takes a step back and becomes more subtle it is more enjoyable to me - e.g. Rainy Day in June.
This is album is fine. Someone could definitely mistake it for the Beatles and that’s not a bad thing, it’s just doesn’t have anything that sets it apart or really stands out. Very average
Zanimljivo, u ruhu '60 roka -Mr reporter
Very similar in style to The Beatles, mellow and peppy.
paar gute Songs, sonst eher nicht meins
noice old pop i think
Was okay, it had different genres which made it interesting.
Fun, nothing special
Lyder lidt som Beatles men lidt mere mainstream
It was a bit less put together than I thought it would be
Enjoyed it but thought it sounded a bit more dated than village green which I enjoyed more
LOVE a good harpsichord (a double edged sword, as it also dates this album a lot, but has some fun harpsichord motifs). Formulaic chord progressions taken from blues rock, but interesting things happen with the instrumentation, particularly with the use of background noises and the sitar, even if the chords are basic. Unavoidably comparable to the Beatles Rubber Soul, which came out a year prior. Similarly sarcastic lyrics, but rambles more both lyrically and in song structures. Some really funny song titles, but unfortunately they don't live up to the promise. Some of the lyrics are funny, although it's not clear if it's intentional. As a result, the album is thematically a lot stranger and less melodic. Overall, I can see where this album would be influential for some of the artists that came after because of the way it blends instrumental motifs with lyrical storytelling, but not quite my cup of tea. 3.5/5.
Not my style of music so far (on 3rd song)
Sunny afternoon
It’s another Kinks album. Quality but perhaps over-familiar
Fine ig
I just don't seem to dig most music from the 60's.
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.
Nope
Sunny Afternoon the only decent track on here
I actually liked this better than most other kinks albums. Maybe it's because they weren't punk this time around.
This is boring. LIVING ON A THIN LINE, OOOOOOOO
Where is their big hit? Will we have to listen to Another record?
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.
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.
Maybe I was in a bad mood but did not enjoy this goofy sounding 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
Not a Beatles enjoyed at the best of times. Bob Dylan MEETING The Beatles doesn't work for me.
The Beatles without aura, nice for a 60's britpop trip
Boring
4/10
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.
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%
No estaba en el mood
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.
Sunny Afternoon of course, the rest didn't really touch the sides. Beatles lite, soorry
Very The Beatles, very '60s, very weak.
More Brit Pop. yay..............
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.
I've never really been into the Kinks, and this didn't change my mind. It was just OK.
I don't 100% get all the Kinks love, but this was fine
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*
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
Generic lazy 60s rock
Pretty fun, 2nd half is really nice
Rock, Beat, 1966 -> 2-3
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 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.
1,9/5
Meh
I get the foundational brilliance of the band than the album; just really didn't do much for me.
🫤
no fue tanto mi estilo, algunas joyitas pero un poco olvidable
Only other kinks album I’ve listened to was something else, enjoyed that a lot so was expecting more of the same, but this fell a bit short for me. Didn’t seem to have that “quirky” upbeat sound. One or two stand out songs, other than that a bit under average
We don’t need 4 albums from these guys. Why do we need another, lesser Beatles?
I think I’m allergic to dates sounds, especially on albums longer than 35 min.
One song worth returning to. I hate when songs end by fading out. I listened to this after The Strokes album and it's just like a worse executed concept
These songs all sound kind of like I’m at a carnival. It’s hard to take them seriously. They almost sound jokey. I admittedly didn’t listen closely to the lyrics, but I’m not inclined to go back.
This album isn’t really my thing but I liked the vibe anyway and I liked a couple of songs. My favorite was Sunny Afternoon.
If Len Houmous ever offered you a kinky face to face you better be prepared if you said yes. Who knows how many of Len Houmous’ children are now running around unaware of their genetic musical talent! 2.3 7/14 House In The Country
Generic 60’s rock album
Unbearable Album with some bangers and interesting bits carefully sprinkled in
Not for me. Perhaps the later albums will suit me better. It was just too much 60s British, almost comically so.
Многапесен Простые, легкие, битловые Что-то для семейного прослушивания Есть хиты, но переслушивать не стану
beatles sounding mf
It insists upon itself
I wanted to like this more than I did.
I appreciate how influential The Kinks were but I just can't get into their music. It's too boring for me and the vocals are annoying
Bouncy but dull, almost non-descript. I expected the album to be more interesting but it was cautious and vanilla.
meh don't need this much old Kinks, like the Who their old sound gets old quick
This is like an old rollercoaster. A steady click, click, click, and then you are moving quickly forward, sometimes going up, other times on a scenic flat, or downhill. Occasionally, you are on a different ride altogether.
A fun vibe, but, not something I'd listen to again.
I realize this is the precursor to Blur et al. Apart from that, it's neither offensive nor noteworthy.
Almost every song sounded like someone walking with jangling keys
Beatles clones
2.5 not my thing
Oväntat med en disslåt mot studiomusiker! Bättre än senaste Stones helt klart. Gillar texterna som sparkar vitt och brett. Men det här 60-talssoundet har jag lite svårt för. Men helt OK! Finns absolut ingen anledning att klaga på att Zombies, Stones eller denna är med på listan – när man lyssnar mer på 60-talet förstår man bättre hur överlägsna Velvet Underground var sin samtid.
would have given a 3 but had to skip a couple songs
Fine. Actuakly a bit boring.
2.43
British Invasion is a big deal, I get it
So mid. I hate to be so reductionist but they really are a discount Beatles with less lyrical skill. I've got no nostalgia for this so it does not land. I love the cover though! That's a 5/5.
Album review 011 Face To Face by The Kinks (1966) Rating 2/5 1966 was the year we saw Pet Sounds, Revolver, and Blonde on Blonde released. I can’t help but compare Face To Face with these, which maybe a bit unfair, and feel this isn’t a truly great album. If we were still in the 60’s (or even in the 90’s for that matter) I’d likely rate this much higher but almost 60-years on, Face To Face now sounds very much a product of its time and has little to excite or interest me.
Hørtes ut som The Kinks
To me, just a typical Kinks album. One above average cut - 'Sunny Afternoon', one very lame throw-away 'Holiday in Waikiki, the rest average.
Best Song: I'm Not Like Everybody Else. Ignoring the "pick me" energy, there is an intriguing energy in the build-up to each chorus. Worst Song: Rainy Day in June. What a terrible idea to have just a loud thunderclap in the middle of the song. Even if the recording technology of the time had been good enough (it wasn't), what gimmicky move. Overall: I did not like the first Kinks album offered to me by this list. I did not like the subsequent Kinks albums offered by this list. I did not like this Kinks album. I hope I receive no more Kinks albums.
This is #day455 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's the first of four albums by The Kinks, yay. "Sunny Afternoon" is probably the most memorable cut here; the rest feels like mid-'60s Beatles-lite pop rock. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day456.
Not my fav, but not awful.
Early Kinks, like early Beatles, can only take you so far.
This is my third go-round with The Kinks, following Arthur and Village Green. They’re still as jangly as ever. There’s good jangle and bad jangle, and this is just somewhere in between. I think the harpsichord threw it off for me as well, making it sound dated and Renaissance Faire-esque. I did like some of the lyrical concepts and wished the execution would’ve been better or perhaps even more modern. There are a couple of songs I quite enjoyed and would listen to again. Overall, it’s just a middle of the road album I wouldn’t revisit.
The kind of 60s stuff that I find very boring.
Temu Beatles
Generic Brit-Rock of the era, but nothing special and doesn't hit the same as The Beatles etc.
Sounds a little dated Gets better as it goes Sunny Afternoon*classic*
I don’t like it. It’s like the Beatles, but boring. Doesn’t do it for me.
I didn't like this at all. A lot of the songs sounded like they were written about someone the band hated and it came off as cynical. I don't know enough about 60's culture to know if they were trying to make a statement about society or what. The music sounded like every other British band from the 60's who wanted to sound like the Beatles.
2.5
Hooray! More britpop. I mean it's better than most britpop I've heard. There are a couple of tunes that I enjoyed but the whole of it left me kinda... bleh. It sounds like most of the music coming out at that time sure they are the front runner for that but since it doesn't hit with me this is a miss.
I did not really like this album. I can see that is is some people's vibe but not really for me. 4/10
Pretty standard 60's pop, not something I'd revisit
60's boink-a-doink rock with social satire might have been ground-breaking at the time and opened many doors for future artists, but I found it underwhelming. It's clear that the musicians *can* do something interesting and they're choosing not to, which is not the choice I want them to make. Funny, quirky, fun, and ultimately forgettable.
Another Kinks album so soon? Better than the other one, but I don't like.
I usually like the kinks, I didn’t enjoy this album. I liked track 3 but that’s all.
The Good: A face to face experience! The Bad: I didn’t like the face I was paired with… The Ugly: My face to the paired one… what??? It would have been nicer had this album shown up on a Sunday, and I would’ve had the opportunity to say that “on a lazy sunny Sunday afternoon…” Alas, it was Tuesday, and that means it wasn’t… Though there are reasons enough to really enjoy this album, I have a difficult time finding them. The sound—I believe that on Wiki they refer to it as baroque—has never been my thing. As a matter of fact, it ranks close to the bottom with rap and psychedelia… Yes, the songs are well written. Yes, the songs are of a nice time limit. Yes, there are good harmonies. Still, aside from the sunny afternoon song, I find all the other tunes to be similar, and boring… 2 1/2* downgraded
Not my taste
Kinda lame
It's fine. Whatever. 2 really good tracks. The rest are just okay. British
I felt nothing listening to this album. I didn't feel happy, nor sad, neither did I feel angry. I was empty.
My first Kinks album. Not bad at all, but not fully my type either. An easy-breezy listen on a Tuesday morning.
The generic early rock sound, nothing special.
Saying "Mr. Blabla" to everything is a tired gimmick
Gear: Dunu SA6 Artwork: 🦋🧔🦋 Production (Original Mono & Stereo Mix): 🔊🔇👎/🔊🔊🆗 Music: 🕵️♂️🌞🧘♂️ Rating: 🐛🐛(🐛)/5
Not really that kinky.
Sunny afternoon is a good hit. the rest feels a bit simple and forgettable. Dandy was comically bad
Low rent Beatles.
Sounds like many other 60s albums; very few exceed the Beatles for me. Not sure it's held up over time, it was just ok for me. 2*
Sounds like the Beatles, but not as good. Nothing particularly pulls me in.
2+ Stars (6/15)
Not bad but nothing incredible. And their later albums with good songs aren't on this list. What's up with that?
One of these stars is purely for how much Sunny Afternoon still bangs (even if this particular afternoon is *far* too sunny), the rest of the album just mostly made me want to shove everyone involved in a locker, sorry
Didn’t mind this when it got a bit more prog/psychedelic, but mostly it seemed an album made completely of novelty songs.
I got so bored, that at some point I opened Instagram and caused the album to stop playing. When I finally realized the album wasn’t playing, I had no desire to even pick it back up where it left off. It wasn’t that the album is bad, it’s just uninteresting as hell.
I really like British pop music and I know that the Kinks have had a big influence on British bands after them. But I personally have a problem with the Kinks and I can't even really justify it.
I don’t like the Beatles
Not something I particularly enjoyed.
Mrh
Ok
Inoffensive.
Our 2nd of 4 Kinks album on the list, and still not kinky enough for me.
I really didn’t like it. It was like The Rolling Stones but somehow worse
Classic 2 star. 1 great song
An interesting album with a pop undertone. The age comes through clearly but not in a bad way. Not exactly music that I like to listen to but it was fun listening to.
a collection of pop songs that don’t do much for me .. there’s just enough here for me to avoid a 1 but not much more
Serious Beatles vibe that you don't really hear in their later stuff. But you can definitely hear their unique sound developing too, which is pretty cool. Overall not gonna make the rotation though.
Don't remember a single thing about this, at least it wasn't grating.
OMG why so many Kinks albums? Yes, I hear differences in Face to Face compared to the other albums, but I don't think it's enough to warrant yet another entry. The Kinks had that art/baroque pop sound locked in. Their lyrics hit harder, especially in "Sunny Afternoon", and I liked what they did. Fact is that I was dreading the album, and it was the typical sound I expected from them.
The fourth Kinks album on this project now (so far), and I am just hoping we are DONE with them at this point. This album really didn't do anything for me and I really don't even have any comments. Oops.
Solid jangle album. Lazy Sunny Afternoon is a GOAT. Decent otherwise. High 2s.
Kinks concept album or vanity project, not there best
Very dated
I’ve definitely heard of them and a couple of these songs before and I know they’re considered influential, yet nothing was considerably wowing for me. It was good, but something is lacking.
"Party Line" is fun, but as this rolled along I couldn't escape the feeling that I've heard it all before and executed better. By that I'm referring mainly to their contemporaries. Unsure who influenced whom, but most of these songs sound like lesser versions of songs The Beatles and The Stones wrote. And why bother with pale shades of better music? The second half really blends together into a forgettable repetition of ideas, and it took me a moment to realize it ended because it wasn't holding my attention anymore. Yet another album I'm dropping into the larger pile from these that I can't say I needed to hear.
Standard Kinks stuff. Ok if you like this type of 60s style I suppose, just not for me
Prefer ass to ass
Disappointing considering some of the songs these lads have done.
Fine for what it is... inoffensive background music. But only Sunny Afternoon has anything memorable
1. party line - 1 2. rozie - 1 3. dandy - 1.5 4. mind - 1.5 5. man - 1 6. june - 1 7. country - 1 8. uuaikiki - 1.5 9. zale - 1 10. fancy - 1.5 11. queen - 1.5 12. looking - 1.5 13. zunny - 1.5 14. remember - 1 15. everybody - 1.5 16. dead - 1.5 17. zmoke - 1.5 18. pleazant - 2 19. belong - 1.5 20. reporter - 1 21. little - 1
i liked this i think i would en joy more in the summer. fun album
Kind of boring. The first half was better than the second half. One part of Rosy won’t you please come home sound exactly like another song that I can’t think of right now and it’s driving me crazy. I think it’s interesting how so many of these sound like a product of their time. I thought more of them would sound timeless but there’s only a couple that have. This wasn’t my favourite but I can see why someone who likes music from the 60s, likes the Beatles, etc would be really drawn to this. And I liked party line quite a bit.
Klingt für mich wie eine langweiligere Version der Beatles. Lieblingssongs: Too Much On My Mind oder I'm Not Like Everybody Else, cringe.
A much less interesting take on the Beatles.
I feel like I'm going crazy
2 sterne
It was fine - I didn’t really get the hype. Not nearly as interesting as I had expected it to be.
- hat mich irgendwie nicht abgeholt, fand ich sehr eintönig und wenig überraschend (was nicht immer schlimm ist, hier war es aber eben teilweise zu eintönig)
This album kinda proved to me that I’m just not a fan of psychedelic rock music like this. There were a few tracks here and there that I liked, like Fancy and Sunny Afternoon. Loved the horn on Dead End Street. But I know for I fact I won’t listen to this album again, thus a 2.
This isn't my first rodeo with a 60's Kinks album, and I feel the same way about this one as I did about the other. It's hard to put my finger on what it is that I don't really like about them. Maybe it's a little bit of a sing-songy quality? The album's not terrible or anything... I'm sure many folks really like it. It's just not for me.
This album's OK, but there feels like so much filler. I suppose it was paving the way for their amazing albums at the end of the decade, but I don't think it's good enough on its own merit to be here
liked songs: Dead End Street This album is... fine. It's very 60s and not super interesting to me, but there's nothing wrong with it. 2.5
I don't know what it is about 1960s British pop but it all blends together for me in a way that this album, despite its delights, is just one among many jangly others. I'm sure it was groovy when it came out decades ago but it fails to keep my sustained interest over the course of its track list today.
Beatles ripa pff
Just fine