Reviews (page 10 of 12)
Music for depressive pixie boys. Quirky and fun but somehow also boring??? Not the kinkies at their best 3.3
I like Some Mother's Son and there's a nice distorted riff on Brainwashed. The longer more complex songs like Australia and Shangri-La are my favorites. Goes in a more psychedelic direction on She's Bought a Hat... Overall good but not great.
Some Mother’s Son is a great song. The rest is OK.
It’s fine. I like the kinks, but I am really so tired of this list feeding me 60s rock. It all starts sounding the same, and it’s getting hard to take individual albums on their own merit. This is easily the third kinks album I’ve had already out of like 130 albums. On top of that moby grape, cream, deep purple x 3, traffic, etc. It’s too damn much.
Aika Beatles tyyppistä, mutta mielenkiintoisempaa. Välillä aika meemi. Parhaat: Yes Sir No Sir, Shangri-La, Arthur
Probably should listen more. Had an ethereal indie pop vibe I would liken to the Beatles, but it wasn't that kinda vibe last night.
Shallallallalla
Victoria is a strong opener. The switch in the middle of Yes Sir, No Sir is interesting. Brainwashed is very catchy. Started off pretty strong but got a bit boring.
I'm generally here for The Kinks. And I enjoyed this album... on balance. Sure, some of the songs felt EXACTLY like Monty Python joke songs (I'm looking at you, "She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina") but they were balanced out by some really solid Beatles-esque rock songs. I'd like to have given this a higher score. No, scratch that. I'd like for this album to have earned a higher score. But it didn't.
First time I didn’t get too excited, but on the second listening I started liking the album
Has its moments but kinda dull
nice to listen to. I like the music and the musical concept of the album but I dig it down one star because I don´t like the vocals.
Not really a big Kinks fan but this album was pretty good. Liked the concept of the waning British Empire through the eyes of a hard lucked everyman. Not of al the music hits but enough to rate it higher than the previous Kinks albums I've listened to on this list.
Paar easy listening nummertjes, verder niet zo bijzonder
Tja, wat kan ik hier weer over zeggen. Wel weer oké, maar er waren geen nummers bij die er voor mij echt uit sprongen. Niet super, maar ook niet slecht
Not bad, not great. It's like Punk Beatles
This was ok
A pleasant enough listen with plenty of politics women throughout. This is one of the few Kinks albums I've listened to straight through -- and it's certainly inferior to Village Green, in my estimation. That's not to say it's bad. It's just not great. Unexpected banger: Brainwashed, I guess...
Pretty good Beatles-y rock. Nothing that really grabbed me but it was good and I'll keep it around for a couple more listens. It's hard when The Beatles did all this first and so very well, raises the bar to ridiculous standards and now with all the benefit of hindsight, it's hard to judge them fairly hearing them all together. Still, I enjoyed it and will listen to it again.
One to give more listens, I wasn't paying 100% attention and there were little hints of lyrics peeking through that made me want to look into it more. Some great tunes though, 'Shangri-La' and the closer especially, though 'Australia' feels like it goes on for about 3 or 4 minutes too long.
I was underwhelmed. It was clever, but didn't light my fire.
Bright and jangly up-tempo songs that channels the Beatles and, with a tad harder edge, lays the ground for power pop to come. Great lightly crunchy guitar sound. There's a near constant backing vocal part that takes on the function an organ might have of giving some bedding/continuity alongside the more stochastic guitar/drums parts in addition to being a harmonic counterpoint. A few songs (Mr Churchill, Australia) get a lot looser, delving into a trancey psych jam that has an almost Can feel to it.
Les Kinks se démènent toujours avec la même vigueur pour remonter ne serait-ce qu'un tout petit peu dans mon estime avant la fin du générateur mais c'est malheureusement peine perdue. Désolé les Kinks.
A few songs went on too long but overall good
So much better than so many of their contemporaries, The Kinks drive a dagger through the heart of the English establishment with this opus.
It's ok. I thought I'd really like it, but it's a bit slow.
Fun album. Especially knowing how many bands they influenced.
3.5 It’s got its ups and downs. Very much an artifact of ‘wall of sound’ British era. Not my jam but I can see others rating it higher.
Needs more Lola
This may be sacrilegious in the world of rock-n-roll aficionados, but this just feels like an extension of The Beatles.
Different. In a good way.
I am familiar with the Kinks, but I can't help but think that the studio tried to enlist the beatles, got scammed and got some sort of beatles rip off. Still OK though
Quite nice, not exceptional
Has it's moments but overall it's just a tad dull.
It was ok. Lots of blues influences and a good listen. Personally, I would most likely not listen to this again.
Was okay. Not really my thing.
Victoria is a great track. The rest is uneven. A lot of it sounds like a Beatles cover band.
Decent album
A couple songs were great.
Very Beatles-esque. Love the first track and love The Kinks in general but they’ve got better albums I would say…
I really like The Kinks but never find myself loving them
It's going ok.
On the one hand, I can see why people like them. But I can't stand the lead singers voice. It's such a well made album with brilliant instrumentals and thought-provoking lyrics, but I just can't deal with his voice. I want to like it, but I just can't. However, I can't give it less then a 3, because it's clear its good music.
Very Beetleish.
Downloaded 1 song.
Muito, mas esse mar de álbuns de "rock clássico" dessa lista começa a fazer parecer que esses álbuns não são a norma e não o ótimo.
I think this is a workmanlike concept album - it may have made more sense had the projected TV play been made. I don't see why critics seem to laud the quality of the lyrics, which seem rather so-so to me.
Prior to listening to this I was only familiar with a couple Kinks songs. Biting social commentary and a complete album concept about modern British working class life in the late 60s, coupled with war and politics. It has that slightly off kilter feel that the Kinks did so well, along with Ray Davies' warbling singing, mixing in serious along with silly. A little Beatles-esque, a little Who thrown in, but all great to listen to. Drivin' and Shangri-La are my favorites.
Brief moments of brilliance, a little too corny around the concept at times
Wel een geinig album, leuk voor de eenmalige listen
Fun
If my kink was catchy, not bad but fairly average albums, then this would be an easy 5.
I like The Kinks and I enjoyed this album. I don't believe I've ever owned an album but then and I'm not sure why.
British-Invasion-Light
An interesting concept album. I don't think I'd listen to individual tracks necessarily but at a whole it's very cohesive. Standout track: Yes Sir, No Sir
Not special.
Meh. I'm on vacation and don't feel like writing up a large thing but I felt very 50/50 on this album. Nothing new to write home about. 5/10
Political
I liked this. Old school rock and kinda punk-ish. 3.5/5
Fine, but not anything I'd relisten to.
They are trying so hard to make their point heard, and it gets a bit tired being hit over the head with it on every track. The chorus of Shangri-La is the best on the album so far Did you know this is a protest album? The Kinks would like to remind you once again that this is a protest album.
I liked the instrumentals on this album well enough, but I think the draw is certainly the thematic elements. As opposed to the contemporaries that I have listened to plenty (e.g., The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, etc.), the Kinks "Arthur" is the first album I've heard from the 60's that is so dang...British. Plenty of the themes are applicable to the states, sadly; however, I can only imagine that I'd appreciate this album a whole lot more over tea. Fav Tracks: Australia, Shangri-La, & She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
altogether decent. classic rock.
Listened in Madison at work
Decent effort by the Kinks bit not their best. A bit repetitive and the storytelling is better on other albums
It's fine.
I thought it was going to be more of a punk album with the name like the kinks but it was really nice guitars and melodies. I enjoyed it
solid record. few very cool songs and the others were alright. solid
I like the Kinks a lot and have flitted between a 3 and a 4 here, they have better albums. They have an uncanny ability to have sections of almost comical, upbeat music that then turns into a lovely, melancholy melody. Like being at a village fair but everyone suddenly starts crying.
Decent. Can see why people would love it but not my cup of tea.
Easy to listen to, but the songs all blurred together into sameness after a while. I knew there was some social commentary in there, but it was a bit difficult to relate to. Victoria is pretty catchy.
Didn't connect with me as much as other music from The Kinks
Two and a half, I guess. I respect this Britrock thing, but it doesn't really move me much. Feels like a period piece. Would listen to other Kinks, though.
This is a lot more poppy than I thought it would be. Some of the vocals were pitchy but it's still a good album.
I know a bit of the Kinks, but with the exception of Drivin', all tracks on this album are new to me. Victoria is good, Drivin' is good, though a bit bouncy, and I really like Shangri-La. Cover reminds me of Monty Python's opening montage. But on the whole the album is not that exciting. My true score falls somewhere between a 2 and a 3, but I'll record a 3 since it's better than the albums I've scored as 2.
6.5/10 - More politically active than I expected, and it was interesting to hear rock that sounds like the Beatles but is very explicitly criticizing various aspects of Britain. Interesting for this reason, but not my something I would choose to listen to very often. Favorites - 1. Nothing to Say 2. Victoria 3. Drivin’ 4. Shangri-La 5. Yes Sir, No Sir
I was looking at other people's reviews while listening to this. And one stuck out especially. "Bit twee." Yup. That about sums it up. I'm not British (though I do live in the UK now, but I feel like the vibe of this album doesn't quite hit the right way if you're not a nostalgic brit of a certain age. Very catchy, and Victoria is really good, but I couldn't really move past how quaint the whole album sounds. Bit twee.
For a band that essentially created punk this was a more art infused album.
Very british rock
Good 60s rock...that's about it
Very British. Album reminded me and Fran of the beetles.
Gem: Victoria, every song enjoyable
Verdient nog een luister sessie
3.5
The album was meh.
Average
Victoria is good Austrailia was ok but too long. This might just be the new belle and sebastian album
Ik kende The Kinks uiteraard maar van enkele nummers en heb het verder nooit een kans gegeven, al was dat niet bewust. Daarom was dit wel een extra leuke "ontdekking". Wel had ik iets te vaak het gevoel naar een minder goeie versie van the Beatles te luisteren.
Leuk!
At first it sounded like a bag of hipster feed but eventually I was boppin along and it was aight
This is like a worse version of the Beatles but that’s still kinda good
While the sound was likely revolutionary at the time, it has since been replicated so often by other bands as to unfairly seem a bit generic now. But for what it is, it’s still classic.
1. Victoria - weird singing style for me. The music is ok. 2. Yes Sir, No Sir - interesting concept for a song. 3. Some Mother’s Son - not that memorable. 4. Drivin’ - this one was ok, very 60s pop to me. 5. Brainwashed - I like the instrumental of this one and it’s sound, esp guitar. 6. Australia - did not love this one, 7. Shangri-La - the second half is kinda boppy. Interesting lyrics 8. Mr. Churchill Says - this one had bits I liked. 9. She’s Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina - this one is weird to me. 10. Young and Innocent Days - not that memorable 11. Nothing to Say - I liked this one 12. Arthur - good closer Overall didn’t live the style of singing, but I always like a concept album. Sometimes I really liked the music and how it changed but other times it wasn’t that memorable
Starts off with promise but fades. Similar to Beatles with some goofy pop. Some individual songs are good.
Ehh not my favorite... 5/10
Liked it, didn't know any songs beforehand but do like The Kinks songs that I've heard. Would consider listening to again
Sort of like the The Who
Ja fun maar very british idk of ik dit echt op zou zetten
J’ai parfois l’impression d’entendre un jeune Paul McCartney. Un album cohérent dans ses thématiques et textes mutins. J’aime quand le versant rock se fait plus prononcé.
Mid
It was okay. Not the best work the kinks have done. Victoria was the high point. 3/5
Great Value Beatles, but Shangri-La is excellent. I was leaning towards a 2 but the second half won me over.
не мое гнусавый голос, не всегда чистый вокал, который попадает в свою же гармонию.
Very fun! Bouncy great music but by the third listen I was skipping g songs to not hear em again.
Decent Kinks album, but none of the hits I know. I'm not quite getting why they chose this one for the 1001 albums list.
Australian Beatles!
I don't quite understand why this album was picked. Kinks contributed a lot to musical development at the time, but perhaps not this one?
I don’t think this genre is really for me, but I really loved the tracks that stood out to me (Victoria, Some Mother’s Son, Shangri-La, Arthur). Some Mother’s Son in particular made me have to stop what I was doing and sit still while I listened to it, it was incredibly powerful. Driving and Australia felt really dire though.
Not my type of rock, too many beatle's like songs but it was good from start to end at least
weird and happy
Pretty good, nice tunes.
Another really good album.
Sound very similar to the Beatles, not a knock on them, as their subject matter was a bit different.
This was almost a 4. Good album, some of the more theatrical songs bring it down a bit
I respect it, the message was probably stronger then, and the music is a bit two-dimensional.
I've always enjoyed the Kinks. They've always had that sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek tone in their songs, like there's something more there than they're letting on. But honestly, I'm more into the later Kinks: 1976 or so to the late 80s. The early stuff, when the band were doing more concept albums, I never fully got into. Part of the problem is that I should have read about the concept album beforehand. I did not fully realize the story here and the album itself didn't really make it clear either. Part of it also might be because I'm not British, so some of the stuff I wasn't getting. The songs themselves? I liked most of the songs, probably my favorite was "Victoria" and "Australia." I liked how "Australia" went off in different directions. "Drivin' " kinda... yeah, I was not fond of that one in particular. So the songs separately I liked, but as a cohesive whole I did not see the story and the connections. And that's a problem for an album if you don't "get" it. Maybe I need to listen to it again. The songs were decent, and I liked them, just not enough to go "wow!"
This album has a niche. I think it needs more than one listen to appreciate.
Alright
Fun, not a bad album. 3/5
Solid
Victoria & Shangri-La were decent, just couldn't get into the album
каждый раз удивляюсь что кинкс намного приятнее звучат чем в моей голове. но нарратив не успела осознать, поэтому не прониклась
liked it. concept was interesting throughout and the 4 song stretch in the middle was fantastic, brainwashed is a personal favorite. didn't blow my mind, but might come back once or twice. Favs - Brainwashed - Shangri La - Victoria
ya des bon bangers, victoria, shangri-la ya aussi des daubes
I am really enjoying being exposed to the bands from around this time that arent the Beatles. They're all I knew for so long, its great to hear their contemporaries. This album was good, but the guys voice would go from good to goofy too much. The song about the Mother's Sons was very sad :(
Decent album. Favorite track was Victoria and it was a good upbeat tune. All around a good album.
Yea, it was good. Nothing crazy, good right band. Yea, fine. 3 stars
Burn the monarchy
Coole titel, toffe muziek en goede lengte maar er mist nog iets ofzo idk
It was OK, nothing stood out as exceptional. Beatles inspired classic rock but not as good as the Beatles. They sound more like the poppy earlier Beatles albums but do have some moments inspired by Sgt Pepper.
Some good tracks. Some not great
2.5/5. This was fine. I like some albums from The Kinks, but this was one a little off for me.
A great album. Nothing unexpected here and a few lovely songs.
Very Beatles like
ahhhh
Better than I thought it would be.
These kinky British boys are pretty talented. This had some great lyrics and melodies. 3.5
The Beatles for people who can't afford The Beatles.
it's alright but i didn't really enjoy it that much
Never listened to a kinks album before! Really good! A punk Beatles?!?
Hadn't realised 'Victoria' was a Kinks song. Enjoyed listening to this despite not being a big Kinks fan.
Kinks got way better stuff out there, this one isn't it. Still a big Kinks fan though.
some great tracks, some that were just decent, but overall some very high highs, mature kinks album
Victoria!
Good, different, nice album overall
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, very strong vocal performances and classic sound Favourite song: Track 6 - Australia
I enjoyed the 60s rock aspect of this album, it was fun
Rock, with a good mix of instrumentation (horns particularly)
Pas de kinks shaming
j'ai voulu mettre 4 au début mais ca devient vite un peu kitschos non ?
it's meh
They go in a lot of different directions here and I really like some of them. Victoria is a cool song, even though I prefer the up-tempo live version. Fantastic dark psychedelic sound on Some Mother's Son. Sangri-La rocks, as well. I think this is a band where I really love my favorites by them, but can easily leave the rest. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding
Like a few later tracks. Funny how similar themes are across eras (eg suburban angst on Shangri-La).
Some great tracks, but the ‘music-hall’ style songs really set my teeth on edge.
I generally like The Kinks but I feel this album gave me a better sense of why some people don't
Good songs. I enjoyed this one. Just the right amount of 60’s rock sloppiness. Brainwashed sounds like it may have been an inspiration for Blur’s “song 2”.
This was cool, I enjoyed listening to it. Probably won’t listen again but fun songs!
arthur caused the industrial revolution (fav tracks: Victoria, Australia, Arthur)
Not my favorite Kinks album, but the baby enjoyed a couple tunes.
Relaxed surfy influenced Rock, not too Bad dringend summertime, and right noch i am enjoying the Sun:)
This was fine, one or two songs I liked and the rest were grand.
I enjoyed this. I did not remember how much like The Beatles they sounded.
This had a lot of cool bits. Many McCartney like bits along the way.
victoria is a pog song
Good, what you would expect from the Kinks, a couple of radio friendly unit movers along with some more experimentals.
extremely british Beatles-y protest-y britpop that's a bit too pompous and long for me despite the eclectic lyrics and songs. 2.75/5
solid rock album. apparently they have more music that You Really Got Me and Lola.
Very good was a fan of the Monty python vibe
Godt å høre at det ikke bare var Stones og Beatles som kunne lage slik musikk
Genres: Rock Formed: Muswell Hill, London, in 1963 Run time: 12 songs, 48 min, 37 sec The seventh studio album by the band. On the whole, the album is a social commentary on 60’s Britain. A few songs are about the war which doesn’t seem very contemporary, but I’m guessing at the time those who remembered it are at loggerheads with the younger generation who didn’t have any idea of the sacrifice made by many. The narrative of these songs, written by Ray Davies, is fantastic. He is very good at picking out the quirks and foibles of the British public. Spotify: Least popular song: track 11, “Nothing To Say” with over 500k plays Most popular song: track 1, “Victoria” with almost 20M plays. Eight tracks with over 500k plays and three with over 1M plays. Track 3, “Some Mother’s Son” is quite profound, discussing the effects of war on the families of soldiers. My favourite song is track 1, “Victoria”. Who knew a song about Queen Victoria could be so catchy? I enjoyed listening to the album, but this is the only song I clicked on the “like” button. Listen Again?: No, but I will listen to a Best Of… My Rating: ***
3.75
This music wasn’t bad but I couldn’t help feel like it just sounded like a worse version of the Beatles.
Pretty good Kinks album. Wouldn’t say it is a must listen to.
I enjoyed it. Songs are easy to listen to and very consistent in quality and sound and that's what I expect from The Kinks. The standout track for me was "Victoria". 3/5
Pretty good
3.5
Good! Very catchy and well made. I want to listen more
The Beatles Lite.
solid album, shangri-la is a great song among a few others 3 stars.
Better than face to face, victoria was good and it was largely enjoyable. Leans on the Beatles a bit too much still and the harpsichord still sounds ridiculous.
I enjoy a concept album but only really liked Some Mother's Son.
Pleasant enough but not consistent
Nice collection of pop rock songs, not my favorite from them, but still pretty entertaining.
Another Kinks album. This is number 4. Like the other albums it is eccentric and not memorable. No need to listen to again. It was relatively short. It is between a 2 and 3. I guess I will round up for no reason in particular.
Victoria is such an earworm, I love it!
The Kinks have always been solid.
Always like the kinks. This one was my favorite but still good
Helt oki, noen sanger er bops andre var veldig sytete
3.75/5 Lots of fun tunes but the album didn’t do a ton for me
Standouts: Victoria, Arthur, Mindless Child of Motherhood.
victoria : 5/10 yes sir, no sir : 6/10 some mothers son : 4/10 drivin : 8/10 brainwashed : 7/10 australia : 7/10 shangri’la : 6/10 mr churchill says : 5/10 she’s bought a hat like princess marina : 4/10 young and innocent days : 4/10 nothing to say : 6/10 arthur : 6/10
Not my typical genre, but it's a solid album that's an easy and enjoyable listen, although some tracks did go on a little long for my taste. My top 5 tracks (in no particular order): She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Maria, Mr. Churchill Says, Yes Sir, No Sir, Brainwashed, Shangri-La.
They're a good Beatles knock off. Hard to get excited about.
It was interesting, a concept album by the kinks, I've never heard any of these songs before. Overall it wasn't bad.
Its not fantastic but not bad either, they are a classic british rock act from the 60s and you get pretty much what you except
Pretty good, never listened to it but was an impactful anti war message.
Victoria is soooo catchy, this so sounds sooo 60's London, thus it gets a bit much
It was good. I wasn't able to sit down and really listen to the lyrics so that might have changed my opinion some but it was a good listen. Not something I'll come back to.
This is discount recycled Beatles, which isn’t necessarily bad but it’s not that special to me. I think Shangri-La is a standout.
Listening to The Kinks is like taking a really pleasant Sunday drive. It doesn't really matter where you are going, or even if you "arrive" at any destination. The road just meanders and you enjoy the ride.
J'adore les Kinks et l'ecriture de Ray Davies... Hélas, je suis plus amiureux de ses singles & EPs merveilleux que des "operas rock" auxquels il semble s'être consacré à partir de la fin des années 60... Peut-être est-ce dû à mes difficultés de compréhension des subtilités de la langue, de la culture et de l'histoire anglaise (même difficultés avec les textes de Oeter Gabriel) ? Sans doute même... De plus je trouve que l'influence grandissante de Dave Davies sur les choix du groupe (son beaucoup okus "hard" rock, tentation de conquérir les stades américains, ...)s'est faite au détriment de la grande finesse, délicatesse de Ray Davies... D'où un désintérêt grandissant pour les albums des Kinks durant toute les seventies... L'album solo de Ray Davies avec tout ses invités heureux de contribuer à un disque de cet auteur exceptionnel est remarquable... Il m'a fait penser à ce disque sublime que de grands artistes avaient offert à Roy Orbison, permettant à cet autre immense créateur de connaitre un crepuscule enchanté...
Good
Better than expected. Crazy 60s pop rock. Moments of zaniness but a bit tired thematically.
Definitely not something I expected from the Kinks. They definitely branched out from their normal style and subject matter to do a cool history concept album. I enjoyed it.
Very up and down. Best track: Nothing to Say
3.4
Brainwashed was my favorite song. An overall laid back album.
yes sir no sir reminds me of some of montreal songs - talk/singing voice is really similar. it's a catchy album but it's sooo british. but not bad
Some great tunes on here
this is my second album i've gotten from the kinks. I like the song victoria. so far i don't think this one is better than the previous album. the mixing of this isn't that great and it's hard to really hear the lyrics in my opinion. the instruments are just a lot louder than the singing.
First time with this album. Some thoughts. Best listened to with a few pints of room temperature English ale and a basketful of gooseberry tarts. Major points for the scathing social and political commentary, that is still very much applicable today, and not just in Britain. Musically a bit too jangle pop for most of the time, I know The Kinks are capable of rocking a bit harder, and I would have liked to see them do that here more. Overall a good album that I don't see myself returning to all too often.
3.5/5
Typically solid Kinks album. A bit of a step up from “Village Green,” honestly…
For some reason I've struggled to describe the album or what I think about it. It's excitingly novel in a lot of ways but also chaotic and seemingly unconcerned with its moderately shabby presentation. What's clear is this is an album where the lyrics and the topics they cover are meant to take front stage. The album is lyrically sharp and poignant at points ('Some Mother's Son') and tongue-in-cheek at others ('Yes sir, No Sir', 'Platic Man'), which makes it hard to figure out how to take other tracks ('Drivin'). For their part, the arrangements are floating along merrily, but they feel so far in the background that it's hard to focus on them long enough (over the singers) to gather a clear impression. Tracks like 'Mindless Child of Motherhood' and 'The Man He Weeps Tonight', give some of the clearest pictures of the groups' cohesion and power. It is a powerful and ironically complex and it's one that I'm definitely going to be coming back to again and again.
Pretty good - more raucous and less music hall than I expected. Brainwashed stood out.
All about war
Some nice classic Kinks
DNF
I think this is one I need to revisit; I don't think I was in the right mindset going in, and I might enjoy it more another day. But as it is, its some nice smart rock, I just didn't connect with it.
A different sound that I'm not used to from The Kinks. Elements of prog-rock and Brit-pop sound off here 3.5/5.
Ok album
What a weird, weird album
I thought I wasn't enjoying this album, but I found myself humming the tunes by the latter half. There's some humor and interesting song structures.
The Kinks have some great tunes, but I've never been a fan. Their music runs a fine line between solid rock and something Dr Demento might play.
I loved the Village Green Preservation Society, and Arthur has something of the same wistfulness, at least lyrically, but with less rose tinted glasses. if anything there is quite an anti-establishment, anti-war theme to the album. Victoria is a strong opener, Some Mother's Son is poignant and Drivin is quintessential Kinks whimsy (and sounds as if it may have been left over from Village Green; see also Young and Innocent Days). The Australian tourist board missed a trick if they didn't use Australia to promote the land of Oz, but otherwise an unremarkable track. Apart from that, the remaining tracks aren't - with the exception of Arthur - that much to write home about. Arthur has its moments, but not one of their best
Started off well, then got a bit boring.
Some decent songs on this
Eh. This probably horrible to write…but are The Kinks the lesser Beatles? I was kind of bored.
Another album I'm familiar with. Listened to it through again. I've never thought of Arthur as a true standout (compared to Lola, Village Green, even Muswell Hillbillies), so was surprised to see it on the list. However, upon reading a bit more about it, it is a much higher reviewed album (both nowadays and upon release) then I realized. Where I think it falls down is from a modern point of view; although there are great songs on this album, and good songs throughout it now, these songs are great because they prescribe to the formula so well used by Ray Davies and the Kinks. A formula is great because it allows you to extend your one idea hugely. Just that volume isn't all we look for in a band. That said, I'm a fan.
Beatles influence. 3.5
Victoria is fantastic but starting on a high means the rest of the album suffers somewhat.
Cute
Sometimes the goofy little guy energy that reminded me of parts of the white album worked and sometimes it didn't. Plastic man definitely didn't work, but there were a few songs that did.
3/5 nice but not enough
Very pleasant listen with some high points, but not going to change my overall view of the Kinks as the fourth-best British band of the sixties. Which is not a bad position to be in.
Bom.
Some half decent songs, but not the best by their own standards.
Listened to on 3/21/22 3/5 Favorite song: Victoria Some of those songs were great and the commentary on growing up in England was so fun but the album as a whole felt chaotic - could have been better or worse if the TV show was made
This is cool as a museum piece. Like looking at a fossil of rock and picking out elements in it that would be refined over and over. The songs themselves are fine but I'm pretty full of this kind of sound. the fact that its in mono is also a bummer. Shangri-La is a good track. This would be a fun concert.
Good album. I’d imagine the impact would be greater from an English perspective.
Pretty okay album. Songs seem more influential that historic. Nothing too memorable but some cool things done in the instrumentation and production.
The Kinks is a referent band. I didn't know this album but it's good.
Ну возможно альбом великий, но как по мне обычный в своём роде и времени. 7/10
Un rock "classico" quello di 'Victoria', la prima canzone dell'album. Mi ricordano i Beatles, ma meno spensierati. Un po' però più easy e rilassato.
Местами интересный альбом. Но для меня только местами.
Good enough.
Prima allemaal, maar weinig verheffends!
We zitten wel lekker in de Britse sixties. Bevalt me wel.
Beatles-ish at times. Pleasant.
My first Kinks album. It was fine but I was a bit underwhelmed, it didn't feel to have any classic songs on there.
Good album. I dunno if it's "great" but it's definitely super listenable. Reminds me musically of early The Beatles and Beach Boys. And they're all contemporaries, so this makes sense.
this album was pretty good, i just kind of played it in the background. it was nice to listen to but didn't stand out particularly.
Not my preference, but wasn't bad. Felt like I was listening to a soundtrack of a satirical tv show. Clever lyrics, a lot of reference to political setting at the time. Tbh didn't focus ll the way through , got distracted
классический роцк
Not my favorite Kinks album so far though I liked a lot of it (Victoria is a particularly strong start) and didn’t dislike any of it. The heavy leaning on the “whatever happened to good old Britain” angle gave a lot of the lyrics the character of a tract though.
Eigentlich ganz nett, geht gut ins ohr, auch ganz schöne instrumentalteile. Müssen sich halt immer den Vergleich mit den Beatles gefallen lassen, und der ist hart. Top Song: Shangrila
Victoria is by far my favorite Kinks song that I've heard thus far. The last Kinks album that came up left me wondering what the hell the big deal is with this band. I knew people loved them, but I just didn't get it, except for maybe 'Nothin in the world can stop me worryin bout that girl' or 'Waterloo Sunset," but this album sounds much more produced, cohesive, and interesting. There are touches of the Who, the Beatles, and just their own thing. 3.4/5, rounds down to a 3.
VICTORIA is a cool tune!
Really cool album and sound. Victoria is a great song
Has generic Beatles sound. It's ok but i'm not sure why it made this big list.
Det är en sån vibe asså så man råkar må bra, men för mycket körsång för min smak!
OK fick precis reda på att king kong inte är en del av originalskivan, dvs den bästa låten på albumet. hashtag besviken. Tycker det var ett bra album men har också svårt med tema-album så det drar ned det lite.
Very much of its time but nevertheless a pretty good commentary. Enjoyable but unlikely to get many visits.
Notbad
I mean, it’s “good”, but the sheer amount of incredible art and music being churned out in 1969 gives this a run for its money
Not bad. Not super unique either.
Victoria is a jam!
Decent album. It starts off good with Victoria. Their sound has a modern feel to it sometimes which shows their ability to influence. It felt like a pretty standard Brit rock album to me. 5.9/10
not to bad
Not bad not great, they emulated the Beatles a lot
I didn’t really love it or hate it I thought the first one was really cool some of them got really repetitive but none of them stuck out to me in a good or a bad way
Was exciting to learn it’s a concept album. Strong opening with Victoria. Another Brit-Rock album, maybe we’ll get lucky and won’t get a Brit-rock album for our next one.
I liked what I heard
Interesting and kinda weird. Solid 3 stars though
Solid, not a ton of standout tracks, but worth another listen
It was good good
The British Empire is still clinging on to what little power it has by way of this 1001 list. There's not much else in this world which would compel me to listen to a litany of crappy British albums. Fortunately, The Kinks have mostly escaped the 'crappy British' moniker, as The Kinks are one of the greatest and most influential groups in history. Certainly one of the best to come out of the UK. However, the fact that Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) has made this list is proof the British Empire is still influential and wields considerable weight making me listen to albums that we'd certainly do fine without.
Liked it. A little generic, but it did a lot of cool things as well.
Sounds like a spawn of its era. Nothing really particular about it, nothing really wrong either. Makes for relaxing background music. Some nice melodies, may listen again.
I think this album is super witty and fun. The production sorta sounds rough, but it's liveable. I wish this sound resonated with me more. I appreciate it for what it is, but It's not something that is for me I think. It was a decent listen, not mad at all that I had the experience. Might one day try it again and see if my tastes have changed. But currently, it's not my thing.
Good old rock music. Not the most amazing I have heard, but just solid good music. I don't really have much to say about it.
I don’t mind the kinks the album has one or two alright songs other than that the album for me is nothing special neither love nor hate 3/5
Kinda beatles sound, nice and entertaining
More like 2.5 stars
Sound that
A run of the mill 3 for me. Not terribly memorable and kind of a weird in-between sound of the decades.
eh
Thought it was OK. I prefer other stuff I've heard from The Kinks
It's so interesting to listen to The Kinks and The Beatles alongside each other.
OK Album - enjoyed some tracks rest were ok
Pop-Rock Garage Iniciático
Kinda fun. Was written as a soundtrack originally which makes sense, sounds like a little story
Moeilijke om te beoordelen. Staat wel overeind als conceptalbum als je de achtergrond wat leest. Maar geen enkel nummer is een uitgesproken goed lied.
Not a big fan of the era.
.
This is my first new one! Woohoo! Pretty fun album, I was missing a bit of the larger concepts but this was an enjoyable pop rock listen. I like this more than lots of Beatles and similar stuff from this era. This honestly goes!
Decent, but not better than Tommy.
Het is leuk maar niet uniek
Much British. Sounded a lot like the Beatles to me, Sgt Pepper and all. Okay