Reviews (page 7 of 8)
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
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.
Very The Beatles, very '60s, very weak.
More Brit Pop. yay..............
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
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
I like The Kinks but there doesn’t seem to be much noteworthy about this album. They’ve got four albums on the list, I think we could easily lose this one.
Sure why not
I played all of this and registered none of it
Vähän turhanpäiväistä Beatles renkutusta. Jotkut kappaleet ihan ok, mutta yleisesti aika samankuuloista. Parhaat: I'm Not Like Everybody Else, Sunny Afternoon
Alright i like the kinks but this is a bit too much. Also not their best
It definitely has a feel of a particular era.
I feel like the more albums I get by The Kinks, the less I like them. This is just your average B-list 60s band, and there's nothing wrong with them, I just think that their music is far overrepresented on this list.
We have Revolver at home. Pretty generic mid 60s britpop. Some decent songs but mostly forgettable. I know the Kinks have some great singles but they don’t show up anywhere here. It also might be one of the worst sounding albums on this list. The guitars are harsh and tinny, the drums sound like trash cans, and the vocals are distorting all over the place (and not in a good way). Plus the playing is generally subpar. 2.5 / 5.
so far, it is a very laid-back album with lots of short forget-me songs. I do appreciate the cohesiveness that kind of reminds me of a non-Beatles, Beatles. I appreciate the easy listening that comes with this album, not something that is memorable.
Very dated flashback to the 60’s man! Doesn’t hold up as well as other artists of their era like The Who or Rolling Stones
The Kinks just don’t do much for me, never really have. This sounds like your standard 60’s Brit psychedelia. Maybe I’m missing something but at first list I was just kinda bored.
Standard Kinks. Nothing stood out tbh
chato
Released in 1966, Face to Face is a seminal album by the British rock band The Kinks, mostly noted for missing a golden opportunity to release a cleverly titled follow up 3 years later.
one of those albums that was in there for one good song rest was poor filler
"He's not paid to think, just play." This album leaves me to conclude that the 22 year old Ray Davies didn't seem to appreciate that music is more about feeling than thinking. And the only thing that he seemed to feel at this point was cynicism and bitterness. He's undoubtedly clever lyrically. But there are only three SONGS here that I care to listen to: Little Miss Queen of Darkness, Sunny Afternoon, and I'll Remember. And the fact that they're buried at the back of Side B suggests he wasn't nearly as interested in exploring his gift for song writing as he was of proving how clever he was.
It’s okay. It’s a good mix between The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and other big names from back then. It’s never as good as those other bands - The Kinks are just more “middle of the road”. Best tracks: House in the Country, Sunny Afternoon and I’ll Remember. So it’s better towards the end.
Vaikea levy. Toiseen hetkeen liian munatonta taivaan maalausta, mutta sitten taas toisessa mielentilassa ihan viihdyttävää taustamusaa. Painetaan kakkoseen...
Not a bad album but any means, but just didn’t vibe with it throughout. It’s an early psychedelic rock album - and it didn’t hook me other than Sunny Afternoon.
Okay, but still has BVD (British Voice Disease)
i mean, if youre living in 1966, and i ask "have you listened to revolver" and you say "yeah..." i mean, if i ask "what about pet sounds" and you say "yeah....." i mean, if i then ask "do you just want a break from all this revolutionary new groundbreaking stuff" and you say "yeah.........." then i guess you can listen to this
It's okay - I love the groovy'ness of it but eventually, everything started to sound the same and unmemorable.
STANDOUTS: Nope. OVERALL: 2/5; Sounds like any British 60s-70s band, tbh
This sounds so much like The Beatles and The Stones. That was my exact thought whenever a new song started. LOTS of harpsichord!! It’s a decent album, just sounds way too familiar.
Groovy! Didn’t realize The Kinks had so much in common with like Help!/Revolver era Beatles or Monkees. Indian influences on Fancy. Definitely some filler songs in here (You’re Looking Fine). Most of these songs are the kinda fluffy love songs John Lennon poopoo’d about the Beatles. Sunny Afternoon tho! Gonna be more stringent on ratings. More like restaurant stars.
How dare Ray Davies trash Revolver when he blatantly copied the Stones and the Who (and frankly, with the harpsichords, the Beatles too) in the same year! At least the Beatles did something unique. You should be ashamed of yourself, sir! Good, but the fact that they just ripped off better artists makes me angry.
There are moments here, I'll give it that! But the only thing separating this from american music in the 40s is a british accent, more expensive tech and the pretentious instinct to call it baroque pop because they used harpsichord on a couple of songs. I'll give it 3 stars as it isn't really bad, just uninteresting in hindsight.
Just a bit too 60's. An okay mix of paces but the long album and many short songs lose impact with each song.
Some songs on this sound pretty poor production-wise and some sound better. Britpop that I am unfamiliar with and wasnt really that into.
4/10
The Kinks are fine. I just can’t shake the feeling that The Beatles did everything they did but with far better production, lyrics, vocals, instrumentation, creativity, and with greater variety & experimentation in sound and genres. For that reason, I don’t find myself listening to them much. I like the racy, distorted sound of The Kinks on some of their debut album, but this was smoother and less abrasive - to its detriment. I don’t hear much that sets them apart from other British bands at the time, besides the singer’s distinctive voice - always sounds like he’s got a blocked nose! Considering this album came out within the same couple of months as Revolver, this is far, far behind. Sunny Afternoon is brilliant but otherwise a forgettable album. Sorry Dad.
Just another outdated Kinks Album
Surely there are better Kinks albums to come?
Most of this sounds like if you ordered The Beatles off Wish.com
Not my jam…
Kinda boring but twas the style
It's a little basic as you'd expect from a pop rock album from '66 but it's still fun and has some neat proto-psych production at many points.
wow. not great.
Some kinda bland simple Britrock, probably sounded better at the time, now it just sounds like old rock.
"Sunny Afternoon" is alright, I guess.
All a bit light beer groovy.
I kind of like the Kinks, particularly their lyrical Englishness, but this is a bit pedestrian as a set of songs. Apart from Sunny Afternoon nothing really sticks out.
It’s strange how eerie The Kinks and The Beatles emulate each other. In a parallel universe, Ray Davies would be on every girl’s wall and John Lennon would be fighting anonymity. Sadly, will unfairly be thought of as derivative.
Битлы на минималках. А битлы мне нравятся на три звезды бтв. А значит тут всего две. Спасибо, едем дальше.
Another mid 1960’s British album that sounds the same as the rest. Is it the Kinks? Is it the Beatles? Who knows. 2.5
Ok Beatles
Not the Kinks best, but still carries their characteristic sound.
Underwhelming
With the exception of Sunny Afternoon found this suprisingly bland. For one of the supposed best songwriters ever, I thought it was quite dated and very lightweight.
The Beatles but shitty. Except for Sunny Afternoon, which is actually getting stale at this point.
Beatles, Stones, Dylan all appear to be influencers of this record. Good but not one I’d buy or put on a playlist. Not a big fan of Ray Davies’s voice.
40+ songs, 2 hours of quality dated Beatlesque music is just too damned much
Had I been a teenage girl in 1966, I probably would have lost my mind over this album. But it's 2024, and I'm not a teenage girl.
This is the THIRD Kinks album I've encountered on this list. I assume by the end of the list I will have listened to every Kinks song in existence. I find myself liking the kinks less and less with each album. Please, no more.
Euuh ouais ? Pas de souvenirs
Perfectly fine album, nothing really jumped out of me. Obviously, sunny afternoon is a classic but it wasn't enough to get it to 3 stars.
Some good songs and I like the kinks but nothing special. Liked Session Man though
A two feels harsh but I just didn’t like it enough to give it a 3/5. I think I would have liked it more if I understood the politics that were being criticized? But as it stands in 2023, this album was boring and I’m honestly thankful it had a short run time.
A bit lukewarm album
i'm not a huge beatles fan, but i'd much rather be listening to the beatles
Please tell me this is the final Kinks album on the list I'm so fucking tired of them
60s gentle pop. Okay.
Eh. It's fine I guess.
Mids-level Beatles 2.5/5
Pretty neat and potatoes
I'm not sure how many Kink's albums we have heard on this list, but by this point I'd say it's too many. Not because they are bad, but because they all sound the same. They have their own sound...kind of a UK rock type thing (super rare on this list), but that sound is the same on all albums. At a certain point, unless the albums themselves are very different, there shouldn't be that many multiples of the same group.
Woof. Our fourth, yes you heard that right, fourth album from the Kinks, a band that prior to this list I would've considered a one hit wonder. I just took the time to scroll through their single discography on Wikipedia, and I'll upgrade them to "two hit wonder" for "You Really Got Me" and "Lola." Here's my problem: are they a good band? Surely, and they deserve A place on this list. But do they deserve four places on this list? Well, considering that NONE of the albums featuring the two hits I described are among the four, absolutely not. My suggestion: whittle this down to a max of two albums from the Kinks, which has got to be Village Green Preservation Society and one other. The other two slots can be used to inject this list with some life to balance out what feels like a lot of repetition. Anyway this album is just fine. Favorite tracks: Rainy Day in June, Holiday in Waikiki. Album art: Really dig this one! Such a cool, colorful cover, really like the art style (is it watercolor?). A shame that my rant had to fall to this one because it just looks fantastic. 2.5/5
2.5
A great 'Day in the Life' album. A very progressive and influential album that is unfortunately overshadowed by the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, and for good reason. Although very enjoyable, it never reaches the heights that its competitors earned.
60-luku pop rock bändi. Beatles mainittu 123 kertaa. EI KUULOSTA OLLEENKAAN... niin paljon eroavaisuuksia ... ensinnäkin se, että ei harkinnassa ole mitään nelposia tai vitosia heheh kaukana KAUKANA siitä kinkkerit, kinkkuset. ykkösen ja kakkosen välisellä aidalla taiteillaan tämä matka heh.. aivo kuolma sunny afternoon
Decent to have on in the background, but like the other Kinks album I've had on the project, just not engaging enough for me. 2.5/5
Never got into the Kinks. After hearing this, still not into them.
Pretty sure the kinks just throw shit at the wall and see what sticks. Some of it does though.
I tried to find a great song, but it seemed a challenge on this sixties-sounding album. Sunny Afternoon was probably the only highlight for me. 2.4/5
Perfectly serviceable mid 1960s album. Nothing mind-blowing or anything but easy to listen to while doing other stuff. I would rather listen to some of their contemporaries before listening to this again.
This is the worst Beatles album I've ever heard
---REDACTED--- look, i know you never ought to bite the hand that feeds you, and here we worship at the altar of our glorious leader r o b e r t d i m e r y (praise be to the dime) who conceived this glorious list. however, does anyone actually care about this fucking album? the kinks my god - they could have picked lola vs moneygoround which has lola and apeman etc on it. or their debut. sunny afternoon is a classic obviously but the rest, ah. is anyone really touched by davies' repeated and robotic scathing satires on such badies as the dandy and the session man? now please do not let my heartfelt concern and love for the direction and stated purpose of this institution be confused for heretical or treasonous behav... (the rest of the page is illegible as it is covered with blood and bits of brain) ---REDACTED---
I thought this was ok but like thoroughly underwhelming and forgettable.
This was just ok. I kind of lost interest in it a few times over the course of my listen. Sounds like lots of other stuff from that era. Probably wouldn't choose to listen to again.
"baroque pop"...? British invasion pop has become less and less appealing to me as I grow older. There are some good songs on here but this Beatles-esqe, harmonizing pop isn't my favorite genre.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah it’s decent Favourite song: Track 13 - Sunny Afternoon
Is there a good kinks album? I think I’ve listened to 3 or 4 and this one finally features one of their singles.
This invokes no emotion in me. I could listen to it multiple times and still wouldn’t be able to give any details about any single song. 4/10
Not a fan of the Kinks
Oh, another Beatles clone from the 60's, cool.
not their best effort.
Very tame album considering what i usually expect from the kinks. Felt more like a beatles ripoff than anything else. Sunny Afternoon is good though
It’s alright I liked one song
Fantastic lyrics. Music more in the average
A different sound than the familiar hits from them…starts heavily anti-war and then becomes almost child-like later. “Australia” is hilarious propaganda that was worth listening to for the laugh.
hymn to the unknown session musician
Meh
Some good tracks but a sound I can't get immersed in.
This is one of those albums that seems to have been included just because of English bias in the process. I'm sure it may have been great at one time, but I'm calling it a has-been with an attractive song or two.
We've made it through our 4th and final album by the Kinks, and you've gotta give it up for their consistency. I was consistently underwhelmed by the Kinks for all four albums. Occasionally decent, but never great, the Kinks likely deserve inclusion the list but not four entries. "Face to Face" was almost the worst of them. The first four tracks almost chased me away, but I stuck around and was rewarded with "Rainy Day in June" and "House in the Country," where I started to see the Kinks' potential. The middle of the album continued to achieve those lofty heights of decency, but it tailed off again at the end. But I think "Dandy" and "Session Man" are enough to keep the album at a 2 rather than a 3.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a person seeking to enjoy Kinks music, must be in want of a best-of album. Otherwise, said person will endure many a duds of a style that has aged badly. Even on a Sunday afternoon.
Kind of hard to believe this group who at the time was trying desperately to be the Beatles with hints of the Grateful Dead would go on to help shape and define punk rock.
hell naw
Lasts for only one sunny afternoon.
2 Not my thing. Sounds like British version of country songs
A little repetitive. Wouldn’t listen again.
Bit boring
It has that one nice track on it, otherwise its not super exciting
Trying too hard to sound like the Beatles (I previously thought sunny afternoon was the Beatles!). The 'baroque pop' elements are bizzare. Best songs were the more straightforward ones, enjoyed little miss queen of darkness.
Sounded like The Beatles but not as good.
eh, kinks came and went
I can see why it is a significant album given the time during which it was recorded and released. Not many of the tracks do all that much for me but that really is a matter of personal taste. This is a talented band.
was oke maar te lang
Viel me niet echt iets speciaals op
I find this kind music is only ok in short time frames kind of in the background. So to intently listen to this entire album where every song is like 7 minutes was quite a chore. I don't know how some people can just listen to these 7+ minute songs of like looping beats and patterns without being extremely bored. This would be a 1.5 if I could give it that.
Get The Beatles, and take away the production value and songwrighting abilities. You'll probably get this, a very mediocre 60s pop record. 2/5
This album sounds so damn dated. The styling and sound is peak 60s. so if thats your thing this probably a 10/10 record. and there are parts I like. Its just that there are more things I am not liking.
Assumed I would enjoy more
I think to appreciate this one I have to put it in 1966 context. It came out a couple months after Revolver. Nice inoffensive pop rock. But little to grab you, tweak your expectations, or surprise you. (prior listen)
Was unfamiliar with The Kinks but liked it more than I thought I would.
Third Kinks album, third time I didn't need to hear The Kinks. Third time I've considered giving the kinks a 1, but I still want to reserve those for real utter stinkers. 2/5.
Pure Ray Davies vocals. I liked some other Kinks albums better.
A little uninspiring. Consider that the Beatles released Revolver in the same year - that album blows Face to Face out of the water when it comes to production, pushing musical and lyrical limits, etc. I suppose it’s a little unfair to compare though. Some standout moments but altogether too forgettable.
It's inevitable that the Kinks would get compared to the Beatles because they both had a very similar Baroque pop sound in the mid 60s. However, when the Beatles were putting out Revolver in 1966, the Kinks released Face to Face. Apart from Sunny Afternoon and the pretty album cover nothing on this album really sticks out or catches my attention though.
Rainy Day in June Holiday in Waikiki
Un tanto monocorde. Mismo ritmo en casi todas las canciones. Fácil de escuchar, pero un poco facilón
I'm sure I would've listened to these guys if I was alive in 1966, but today I simply get nothing from this album. A few decent tracks and a lot of below average ones. It's all just a little too dated for my liking.
Hey Siri what does foppish mean?
Meh
Alright sound but too generic 60s for me
This is something of a timepiece. I'm not sure that I could give it repeat listens. It sounds like a work in progress and an indicator for what was to come. Sunny Afternoon stands out, but the rest wasn't the high standard of a Kinks Greatest Hits. At least I now know where The Coral lifted most of their ideas from.
Think the person who put this list together has just done something like 'oh The Kinks, put their entire back catalogue on the list', because Face to Face is obviously the work of a skilled band and enjoyable in places, but not outstanding anywhere.
Net iets te zweverig en te weinig stevig volgens ik verwachte
Zu viele Kinks-Alben, ich weiß nicht, was mit den Autoren dieses Buches los ist, ein Kinks- Album hätte gereicht. Insgesamt eher durchwachsenes Album, größtenteils gewöhnliche Sixties-Musik und damit langweilig. Dandy kannte ich sogar.
For those who wish Wes Anderson directed every movie. I'm a huge fan of The Kinks, but this is not their finest hour. I have to think "Sunny Afternoon" is the only reason it made the list. Sunny Afternoon aside, it's something of a snooze.
Sunday afternoon is a solid tune, but come on Kinks, you’re better than this.
Two Kinks albums in like a week? Felt like the other album was better. This doesn't do much for me.
Dull
I do not understand why this album is on the list. The Kinks (especially in the 60s) were a great singles band, but those best songs were usually not included on albums. And this album is a prime example of not containing singles; Sunny Afternoon is a bit of a classic, and A House in the Country got a bit of love during Britpop, but otherwise, these are not A-list songs from the Kinks. I have been reading pop music history for 40 years, and I don't think I have ever heard mention of this album. I rate the Kinks singles, but this album? Why the hell is this on the must-hear list? Someone has a fondness for 60s Kinks, and felt the need to include something, so they put this down. I honestly feel like it was a waste of time listening to this album. Not much to recommend. Get a Kinks singles compilation instead.
Sounds very dated, not much magic hidden here.
2/5 naaah
Rebuscado
Disappointing. There were a couple of songs I enjoyed.
Almost unlistenable.
Didn’t really enjoy it but glad for the listen.
Not the beatles
we'll see... ug. 2?
Was ok few good songs
All right I suppose.
Känner mig rätt likgiltig inför detta album, har verkligen ingen åsikt, varken bra eller dålig kritik att dela ut...
pretty pringle but doesn't really bingle my tingle
There's better Kinks albums than this one
liked this, but nothing spectacular
Meh, Sunny Afternoon has always been enjoyable to me but otherwise nothing really stands out here for me 🤷🏼♂️
Nothing stood out as exceptional or noteworthy. Decent album but it didn’t leave much of an impression on me
Nah. ⭐️⭐️
Viiiiele Tracks. Wenig für die Ewigkeit.