Reviews (page 11 of 12)
Just a pleasant listen
Meh. Kilka piosenek niezłych, ale znudził.
Pues rock rock (?), suave, que fluye. De los Kinks creo que sólo ubicaba el hitazo You Really Got Me (y a partir de una anécdota cagada de la prepa). Fuera de eso, nunca me he interesado por ellos. El álbum me entretuvo, sin embargo, creo que de repente tiene buenas letras, pero sobre todo lo chido está en la música. Es decir, como álbum según conceptual, se me hace equis. "Brainwashed" y "Plastic Man" fueron mis favs. 7.5/10
Victoria is a bop. Album so far has that Beatles/Turtles sound (60s and 70s sound). Background surrounding album is interesting (look up Arthur on Wikipedia). Lyrics definitely tell some kinda story of poor, down bad family in England looking to immigrate to somewhere with more opportunity.
Un bon album rock fin des annees 60. Le concept est bon j’ai aime les chaonsons . 3.75. 1er alBums jecoute de the kinks
Esta muy diluido, solo algunos buenos fragmentos aquí y allá.
War schon ganz gut
Goodish
I’m sure it was revolutionary for its time and there were some good songs but it probably wouldn’t crack my top 100.
Easy to listen to, pretty easy to visualize the story. Not something I’d listen to much.
Ok
Tiene varias buenas pero me enfadó.
Slow but kind of fun. The instrumentals were great and had a very rock feel with some great solos ("Australia ") and the lyrics, though sounding more pop-y(similar to the beatles), we're very more light hearted and humorous at times. A combo that seems to work well together.
Ok, some happy sounds, at least doesnt sound like heavy metal on bad quality
Öppnar starkt med Victoria, mkt bra, sen blir det mycket mer vanligt brittiskt 60-taligt, vilket är nice men känns framförallt som något man hört tidigare. Blir så orättvist när man är inbiten Beatles-fan och har svårt att tycka annat från samma tid i samma stil är lika bra. Samma lekfullhet som Beatles, men svårt att tycka det är lika bra musik. Men mysigt är det! hej hej
I like the narrative of the album the most. Lyrics and music are alright but the story and compostion of it is what makes it good.
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this aside from the jamming parts at the end of some songs. Will probably revisit. 3.5
3
Almost pop music. Calmer than I expected.
Solid Punk Album
Got it.
ok
Fav Song: Shangri-La
I’m not the biggest fan of British rock, this didn’t really click with me. The bass was pretty cool in some songs, and the vibe was kinda nice.
Very 60s sounding. Nothing bad, but nothing special either.
British social/political commentary. Some songs sound like Eels / prog rock / Beetles
6/10 FT: Shangri-la
Thank god the British Empire declined so I don't have to listen to this garbage.
So many excellent classics from the Kinks, unfortunately not on this album. Glad to see there are 3 more albums on this list. 2 stars
There are a number of songs by The Kinks that I thoroughly love and enjoy, but I've yet to find an album of theirs that really captures me. This album did change that for me. A few good songs, but overall the album fell pretty flat.
When I pressed play, what I heard did not sound like the Kinks to me. The vocals don't sound like the Ray Davies that I am used to. It wasn't until about halfway through the second song ("Yes Sir, No Sir") that it sounded like the Kinks to me. This is OK. None of the songs really grabbed me though. I liked "Nothing to Say" the most, I think. 2.5 stars.
Vrm pas fou malheureusement
And a half.
Album #109: Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) - The Kinks Genre (W): Rock Singles: Drivin’, Shangri-La, Victoria I have listened to this album once before. Thoughts?: The music is solid, but the lyrics are bland and undercooked. Overall a meh album. Favorite songs: Victoria, Yes Sir, No Sir, Drivin’, Brainwashed, She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
Meh
idgaf
Ein Konzeptalbum, das mehr Idee als Wirkung hat. Die Kinks erzählen groß, doch viele Songs plätschern eher brav dahin und verlieren sich im Thema statt in starken Melodien. Respekt für den Anspruch, aber emotional bleibt es erstaunlich flach.
I like the kinks but in small doses. One or two songs is a good amount!
It's fine for what it is, but really not my thing.
not touching or "classic". wouldn't recommend it to somebody
Please, decline and fall, already.
Eh not for me
I listened to it, but it just lacks...umph.
Aside from Victoria this album just feels. Another case of more important than good
Kõla poolest ei olnud see muusika üldse minule. Ma mõistan kuidas ta võib meeldida. Ta on selline pubis õllese peaga kaasa laulmise muusika. Suhteliselt lihtsad kohati kantrilikud meloodiad ja jutustav sarkastiliskriitiline lüürika. See on muusika briti töölisklassile. Ma kujutan ette, kuidas sellele võiks UKs pinda olla, aga kahjuks mulle ta ei ole. The Clash on ikka veidi rohkem minu asi.
Fine
okay album with some still relevant themes. favourite song: yes sir, no sir
Boring
This was fine. I quite liked the concept but I didn’t find it that riveting.
I like the concept but didn't particularly enjoy the execution here. Found it all a bit happy-clappy and lacked any edge. Maybe it is there below a surface-level listen.
No standouts
any of my australian friends will tell you that's probably not true fave track: brainwashed
Really nothing here to go back to
listened to half of it, was not the vibe / energy i wanted on that saturday.
I think I liked it more than it was good.
wish beatles/pink floyd
Liian vanhaa. Pink Floyd about samaa vuosikymmentä mutta joku maaginan muutos tapahtui tossa 70-luvun taipeessa. Meikän paappa salee soittaa repeatilla. Yks biisi jatkoon
I think the Geneva Conventions have something to say about recommending an album with "Drivin'" on it...
The album started very weak and it remembered me more of an amateur rock band with their repetitive structure, weak vocals and save fills/solos. With Brainwashed it started to build up a bit more, including more instrumental variety and Australia had a solid psychedelic rock ending that reminded me more of the Doors. Overall I'm very torn whether this album deserves a bit more, but I just didn't get into the vibe with it.
“Yes sir, no sir” reminds me of SOAD “Prison song.” Also Hendrix vibes. “Brainwashed” Beatles pop
No está mal
What was probably a bold, innovative concept album when it came out is now an irritating, overly twee textbook definition of britslop
Not terrible - songs are a little repetitive.
Unmemorable. A little repetitive. Kinda blah.
Au vu des notations de mes collègues, je vais revoir mes exigences vis-à-vis des albums. Et ça commence avec celui-ci. Je serai, à partir de maintenant, une main de fer dans un gant de fer, n'en déplaise aux Britanniques. 2 sur 5 pour Albion. On dirait une pâle copie des Beatles.
more old bullshit
Started off enjoying a trip down memory lane but it got a bit samey.
meh, I'm not feeling this today. Sorry. I don't get concept albums. 2 stars.
ok tier, 2.5+/5
I'm starting to wonder what people see in the Kinks. Was it innovative at the time? It sounds like mildly original but otherwise mid-level late-60s brit pop. Other people were doing this better.
mocna sredniawka
No conecte
Didn't get into this at all.
Bien, estuvo bueno. Era para una serie que luego se canceló. No sé si lo volvería a escuchar.
Based on my AM radio level knowledge of the Kinks I thought I really liked them. Sad to be so disappointed by hearing a couple albums.
Not something i would listen to but the artist did a good work Its calming(kinda boring)
osea esta ok, pero muy beatles y para eso escucho a los beatles no?
i don't know how something by a band called "the kinks" is this dreadfully boring. there's occasionally songs that work for me like "mr. churchill says" but then there's tracks like "princess marina" which are aggressively unpleasant to listen to. i mostly find ray davies' singing to be incredibly obnoxious with the only real saving grace being that i can appreciate a neatly told concept album because i was not feeling almost any of this. honestly i just don't know how you get me to dislike a harpsichord!? that should be illegal; i love that thing. very much not my jam.
It doesn't get me going. I like some of their other stuff more
Somehow you can just tell it's British like with the who album. Not anything special in my opinion.
mr churchill says este album es aburrido, no mi estilo solo tres canciones buenas siendo generosos
251/1089 and here we have the Victoria Plumbing theme tune lmao pretty on par with the other two kinks albums i’ve heard, though my faves here are better than the ones on those albums imo i think the kinks are the sort of band/artist who make music that i’d prefer to listen to the instrumental versions of instead of the regular vocal versions. because there are some pretty great instrumentals here but it gets muddled for me only one more kinks album on this list for me phew faves: shangri-la, mr churchill says 27/100
Not a fan of their voices
Likes: some good hooks; light-hearted poppy vibe Dislikes: front half is too sing-song; some of the hooks make me cringe; back half didn’t register much Overall, I know what the Kinks represent in rock history. But I don’t hear any of that on this record. Victoria is a good track though
I frequently confuse The Kinks for The Beatles. And this album, for me, is a very clear example of how these two bands can sound very similar. Both have a 60s rock sound that is still influenced here and there by rock and roll artists of the time. I think that I recognised "Victoria" more than any of the other tracks. But I wouldn't say that I was particularly familiar with that song. Even after a couple of listens, I dont feel like I have very strong feelings about this album at all. It is absolutely fine and if it was playing at a friend's house or in a pub. It wouldn't want to male me leave but it also wouldn't make me ask who was playing. I'd just assume that it was a Beatles album that Id never heard before. (2.000)
This was alright. It wasn't bad but I'm not a fan of the Kinks - I don't like his voice. Same issue as usual, if you push through your diaphragm it'll sound much better. Someone should have told him that I guess.
It was fine. I see how The Kinks are very influential but...
Just okay
Some tracks are better than others, but it's just not a sound or style that interests me at all...so far
pleasant
Was fine. Did nothing for me
Some Sgt Pepper influence going on here. I didn’t love this one. 2.5 stars?
A bit flat. Not my favorite by The Kinks. Concept albums are a crapshoot, though.
Buenas melodias. Temas tranquilos pero no lo volveria a escuchar.
Yeah. I think I don't get it. I'm also not British or a baby boomer; that might have something to do with it. 2 stars.
Victoria is a good start. These guys are like an even sillier Beatles. Drivin' is like a song the Beatles rejected for having silly lyrics. Australia is another silly ass song. The songs just get goofier and goofier, Exhibit A: She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina. Nothing to Say is the best song since the lead track. Arthur is good too. I wonder if the Arthur is also a reference to royalty?
This album was haphazard at best. At that time, NO ONE escaped the Beatles and neither did these guys. It seems as if they were trying to put their own spin on melodies they couldn't get out of their heads and it rarely worked.
It's like the Beatles but more British and less talented
Lots of Beatles vibes. Wasn't really my favorite
Nah. Just don’t get the Kinks
Not really my style.
Beatles after too many drugs? Maybe it’s unfair to rate this so many years later after so much has come after, but I liked only one song on this I think.
Highlights: Victoria, Drivin', She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina, Young and Innocent Days Not a lot went through my head while listening to this record. Highlights were based on brainless consumption (and they kinda sounded like Beatles tracks). Didn't have the time and the record didn't mause me too much, very monotonous.
Another Beatles clone. Yay for this list.
not bad but just meh
I understand why people like this album. The album gives me beatles vibes, but the album is not my cup of tea
Sounds a lot like the Beatles in a way that I wasn't expecting. Didn't do much for me. I can't even really remember any of what I listened to.
Maybe this caught me on the wrong day, because I like the Kinks, but this struck me as meandering and campy—and it makes total sense that it was intended to soundtrack an aborted TV project. The songs feel written for specific scenes or story beats, so it's cohesive in one sense...but still kind of irritating and overlong (at only 48 minutes). I'll save "Victoria" to a playlist and skip the rest. Maybe I'll come back to this another time and see if it hits better.
Fine - one or two decent tracks but nothing that memorable
In the immortal words of John Danielle quoting someone else: "Good luck to all bands."
I thought this was utter shite on my first listen - the sort of drivel perpetuated by individuals with their heads permanently wedged up their own arses. Second listen was a bit better, where some of the humourous, distinctly British quips and playful guitar licks on here were able to come to the surface, but the vocals are difficult to stomach for appreciable portions of this album, and some numbers did still feel quite self-indulgent and aimless.
Kinks, yes. This album… no.
This album was alright, just didn't really do it for me. Clearly a Beatles contemporary, but didn't have the same hooks for me. Got some The Who vibes from it as well, which also isn't much of a surprise. It was fine, but it didn't stand out to me.
IDK, nothing really grabbed me, although I didn't find it outright bad.
#12/1001🇬🇧 Doing this project might be the thing that really gets me into the Kinks, but probably not this album. Its well crafted, but the whole concept album thing annoys me a bit and i can never really get into them. I see this as a snapshot of Britain in the 60s still coming out of the shadow of WWII and the daily personal struggles of normal people living alongside commercial regeneration and pop culture. Best tracks: Victoria, Mr Churchill Says, Arthur. 1 point deducted for the Kazoo in She's Bought a Hat...
Not as good as their other stuff.
Repetitive
Repetitive
Nothing special.
I really like The Kinks. I had a box set my Dad got me that was one of the first albums I owned. This isn't one of my favourites though.
2/5 While I didn’t find much of the sound of the album to be interesting to me, coupled with poorly aged sound quality, I can’t help but feel that this album deserves to be analyzed more in regards to the time it was released in, to better understand the background and climate these lyrics are meant to reflect. It feels, from start to finish, like a very political album.
pov I’m at a farmers market trying to get aesthetic pictures and theres a band playing music
not great
Not my favorite
It’s an album lacking in confidence. A lot of nice moments buried under way too much fluff.
Classic rock-ish. Nothing of particular interest on this album. Why is THIS Kinks album on the list? Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a
great moments, just not my thing
cool but not that cool
Not as enjoyable as the last kinks album. Each song sounded more samey and none stood out to me.
okay
So I thought I was a much bigger kinks fan but this album totally changed my opinion. I don’t hate the kinks, but I don’t I like them as much as I once did. For starters, I think the most memorable track off this album is Victoria however I’m not sure how positively I remember it, it was actually kinda grating. I will say the two songs that saved this dry album was the tracks Nothing to say (I adored this song, reminded me that I DO like them) and the most endearing song on the album AUSTRALIA!!!!!!! Yah at the end of the day this album was sort of a bummer, I was maybe too excited for this album cause I really thought I’d like it more, but there were still some gems in there.
Never made it in US which is put down to no touring after drugs bust. But this is a disappointingly flat album exposing limitations rather than strengths. Hopefully something better but if not better to listen to their brilliant singles.
I’ve never heard any of this!! It’s so fun. Slower songs less for me. That seems lazy but I think 60s slow psychedelic pop is not for me.
Sounds a bit like warmed over Sgt Peppers. Not really doing it for me.
I only really know the biggest Kinks hits and the songs Wes Anderson used in his various films, so I was looking forward to taking in an entire album and wanted to like it. I did not love it. My big takeaway is that I was way too harsh in giving only three stars to those early Beatles records. Everything felt half baked and detached. This is part of a lineage of music that I cherish, so I want to stay with it, but initially this is not something I’d return to.
not bad
I didn’t really like this one. Not like the kinks songs I was already familiar with.
It was fine, not my vibe.
I don’t think I will ever enjoy The Kinks.. how many of these are on here?!
I once saw Ray Davies having tea at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill. I really like quite a few Kinks songs and was intrigued by the album but, unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy it as a whole and there weren’t any standout songs. The late 60s/early 70s obsession with concept albums strikes again…
It's fine
Whenever I think of the kinks I think I know the type of music they make. And then every time I'm surprised.
This is absolutely unfair because there are similar albums that I would rate much higher. My usual approach would be to say "this seems like a good version of a thing I'm just not into" and score it higher but I'm giving in to subjective enjoyment. I didn't have a good time listening to it.
it's not bad but it's not very good either
Was expecting more. Shows that not much has changed since the 60's
Good just not a huge fan of the kinks. It’s like the Temu version of the Beatles
i think there were two songs i knew on this thing? or maybe just one but i remembered trying to listen to this a few days ago and australia got stuck in my head. either way i liked it but felt it was just two songs too long (or that two stinkers really messed it up) so... 2/5 probably? maybe 3 if i was in a better mood. sorry kinks, the
Sounded good but ultimately not for me 2
Cool concept album and like the Kinks sound but this one didn't hit for me at first listen. Sounded like Paul McCartney doing a Grateful Dead album. Nothing sounded bad, but nothing caught my attention. Misses out on the Kinks bangers but a productive album.
Was expecting more if that makes sense. Decent enough just wanted more
Nothing catchy but a couple of good songs
Good not great, didn’t feel like it had enough to stand out amongst other rock albums from that time for me. My first time really listening to The Kinks, will probably have to revisit this to fully appreciate and understand the labum
Anti War Propaganda Eu tenho a impressão que The Kinks é um grupo bastante subestimado. As letras alternam entre reflexão e ironia, frequentemente dialogando com temas bélicos, nostalgia e frustração cotidiana. "Victoria" soa quase como uma versão “limpa” de Honky Tonk Women — ou talvez o contrário. "Yes Sir, No Sir" satiriza as instituições militares; a bateria na introdução já evoca o tom autoritário e marcial do tema. Lembra um pouco Admiral Halsey, do Paul McCartney. "Some Mother’s Son" mantém o foco na guerra, trazendo a dor íntima das mães que lamentam a perda dos filhos. "Australia" traz um clima repetitivo e animado, quase hipnótico — um “yeah, yeah, yeah” em forma de música. "Shangri-La" é um dos momentos mais bonitos do álbum, com vocais típicos de Ray Davies e uma progressão harmoniosa e envolvente. "Mr. Churchill Says" chama atenção com um solo marcante no final. "She Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina" começa meio arrastada, mas termina com cara de trilha de programa de comédia, criando um contraste divertido. "Nothing to Say" ganha força nos metais bem trabalhados do último quarto da faixa. "Arthur" encerra o álbum – mais um “Nowhere man”, contando a história de um cara desafortunado que vê as oportunidades passando na frente dele sem nunca conseguir agarrá-las. Um álbum bland, água de salsicha, o menos marcante da lista até agora, não deu muita vontade de voltar a ouvir.
um álbum ok. as vezes meio monótono, as vezes meio good vibes, não excessivamente nenhum deles. victoria é bala
I really liked the few tracks on this one that I liked and kinda wanted the rest to be over, even found a few of them grating. 4/10 Favorite tracks- “Victoria” “Nothing to Say”
There are like 1001 albums exactly like this
Early Kinks was some weird ass hippy shit. Victoria, which starts the album cops a Beatles riff and the album proceeds at a Beatlesque pace. I’m sure at the time this came out the Sgt. Pepper influence would have been obvious but apparently not because America was starved for more British rock n roll. Among the approximately 2000 concerts I’ve attended only Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were more dull than this lot. Live they apparently called it you were hoping for a fight to break out on stage to add a little energy to proceeding. Ray and Dave Davies famously embattled brothers, at this point in their career have not quite discovered the Kink’s sound of You Really Got Me and are experimenting with musicianship. 7 albums into a career and stuck in this muck of a concept record. Some Mother’s Son is just whiny. The single “Drivin” is middlin’ and rather dull. Brainwashed fares better and might actually be the best song in the record. The Kinks guitar sound and three chord rock with a Hendrix like chorus keep the album from being a rather miserable rock opera. Apparently the Who’s Tommy was released in the same period and American reviewers of the time liked this record better than Tommy. Time has relegated this album to the ash heap of history as it is rather a tedious experience 55 years after it was released. Australia has a pretty decent vocal and had they kept it tight might have been a great sing. Bunch iof noodling that is distracting and somewhat overindulgent.
Surprisingly more tame than I expected. I little beatle-y but also a little Ian Dury like without the colorful lyrics. Not great.
Quirky lyrics, some songs fairly repetitive, not my kind of music but can appreciate it for what it is.
Beat, 1969 -> 2
I joked on an earlier review that The Kinks always make Top 100 albums list but there never seems to be a consensus on which album should make it. This was fine. It was before my time but I’d be curious to hear how fans considered them in an era that The Beatles seemed to control.
Didn't particularly enjoy this. 'Victoria' is a fun track, but I'm starting to figure out I'm not really a fan of The Kinks.
2.0 This album didn't excite me. From the guys that broke the radio with You Really Got Me in 1964 it's a disappointing album. Note - I'm really not into concept albums or rock opera - if you like either or both. . . this may be your album.
Didn't really finish, just meh. I don't really like the style all that much. It's not bad, I just don't think I'd listen very much.
Not a fan
Opener, Victoria is a solid tune. Outside of that, another album that will soon be forgotten. Nothing adverse, just something that sound just like every other late 60's band. I couldn't tell when the album ended and the genre kicked in on Spotify. 2
British droning and screeching
No entiendo a los Kinks. Por algún motivo extraño, no aprecio su mérito y sus canciones me parecen todas iguales. No tienen una gran voz ni son grandes instrumentistas. Pero podría ser así y que me encantasen. No sé, intento buscar el motivo, pero no me gustan.
idk i wasn't really paying attention. nothing crazy and nothing bad. 5/10
Hear so many they're blending into one.
Good LORD they want to sound like the Beatles, don't they. Thankfully they got more independent later on. This album annoyed me.
I do like a lot of Kinks songs but this album is pretty dull. I'm going to rate albums lower going forward. If it does nothing for me but isn't excruciating to listen to I'll be giving a 2. This is getting a 2 for that reason. Stand out song - Victoria
sounds like a slightly better evolution on the beatles. nothing for me, i fear.
Maybe I just didn't understand the album concept, but I didn't exactly find charm in the strange lyrics. I'm not going to say the album was bad because it wasn't. It was just as decent as many other British rock albums on here, but it dragged on for longer than I would've liked. It was a bit bland.
I like it. It's good and fun. However, not grabbing the same way the others have. Ya, just don't love it.
Me no like
I didn’t hate it. Few bops
This was whatever and even annoying at times
Gets repetitive
Strong opener, but it fell apart and I lost interest quickly after that. Too ambitious and proggy. 90 % of the songs should be two or three minutes shorter. Best songs: Victoria, Brainwashed and Nothing to Say
Trash
47/1001 The Kinks - Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ I think this album reinstates my belief that The Kinks are a singles band. Yes this is a concept album, but it needs to the tunes to carry the concept, which this simply doesn't. You have the one good song in Victoria at the start and then a couple of glimmers here and there, but nothing to interest otherwise.
I’ve never listened to an album by The Kinks, and I’m not sure this was the best first one to listen to as it was a little light on recognisable hits. I enjoyed the lyricism (especially in Mr Churchill Says) and the feel of the album (especially in Shanghai-La), but I just wanted something which was a bit more memorable.
- another good road trippin album - “Victoria” is a good opening song 🙂↕️ - I liked the vibe change of “yes sir, no sir” - very monotone, nothing stood out or was too special - i like it but it’s “meh.” it feels like im trying too hard to find something memorable about it (other than Victoria and australia, i loved those two songs)
2. rocky as any other well i am not enjoying but its not bad...
Lyttede ikke så meget
Victoria: ⭐⭐⭐ Shangri-La: ⭐⭐⭐ Everything else: 🫠 and a stupid hat.
Ew, 60s music
Victoria is pretty good. The next four are fairly dull - great last chord on Brainwashed though. Australia is pretty good - quite a Julian Casablancas sound. Mr. Churchill Says - not great but interesting having the air raid siren in it. She's Bought a Hat is okay? Not their nonsense-best. Young and Innocent Days is the best so far. Final two aren't great - just all in all not a P A T C H on the Village Green Preservation Society!
Wasn't a fan
Meh. Never really liked the Kinks sound.
Sounds very similar to many other albums from this time with no real stand out tracks.
The singing seemed out of tune on a couple songs. Some nice little riffs but overall not great
Just ok. I am a fan of the kinks. But this was just ok
Not bad really— I’m just finding I don’t really like the Kinks (other than Lola). Take Australia, it starts out like a perfectly competent 60s rock song and then devolves into meaningless nonsense. And then the rest of the songs that are on wacky old instruments (kazoos, harpsichords and ragtime pianos)? Not for me
Ehhh
- Literally one of the worst vocalists I have ever heard. - Lyrically dull and uninteresting. "Soldiers die at war. Have you ever thought about that?" - shite
Not fun or interesting
This was ok, but I'm just so bored of old records
It was okay, a change of sound for the band, and a few standouts.
not a fan. 2/5
Ok, very Kinks witty but not my favourite of theirs.
Meh
Arthur is not aging well at 55 years old. Wearing a rumbled out of style shirt, two stones overweight, and with a heart condition he sits in his rocker at Shangri-La complaining about how the war took his friends, the poor state of the economy, and his mundane job. This harsh critique of the British lifestyle by Ray is certainly 1001 List worthy, it’s just not an enjoyable listen. (2.2*s) They get better and we’ll be hearing more from The Kinks.
Another from The Kinks, really? There's maybe 2-3 good songs on this whole album, it doesn't deserve to be in the list. The more I hear from them, the less I like. Too hokey and carnival sounding. I did not enjoy. 1.85.
Too much Kinks here list and probably we ain't done I'm afraid. Arthur is the best of the albums so far but still meh. Again, I get a knock-off Beatles album feel here. I may be wrong but with the Davies bros debuting about a year after the fab 4, it's like they were taking notes or maybe they were all on their own and had same idea. "Victoria" was recognizable and "Shangri-La" takes top track spot. Will have to play it at the openmindz next gathering. Starting to feel like these guys should be The Stinks really. Please just send me their debut and be done...2.05 stars.
It's hard not to feel like The Kinks are over-represented on this list at this point. This is already the 3rd entry and I hate to say it but I fear we could be in for another. I don't mean to discount the talent of The Kinks but we've already been exposed to what it is they offer. While that has its place in music history, I don't personally feel like they deserve to be placed at the top of any legacy lists. For what it's worth I think Arthur was probably the best album of the bunch thus far. Even with that I'm not even sure it belongs on this list. It's a coherent concept album with the typical Kinks flair. There's some variation in style with some of their light humor mixed in. For my money I'd probably leave Arthur on the list and remove the prior 2 albums. Overall as I get further exposed to The Kinks it makes me only want to stick to the hits and avoid the rest of their collection. I will likely adjust my scores to prior Kinks reviews. 2.39 stars
I guess I would maybe say unremarkable...? Not unlistenable, but pretty unmemorable.
Better than I thought it would be. Still not my style. Pretty raw, which is fine.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Some tracks are quite good, while others don't really fit, resulting in an overall mediocre experience. Production/mixdown is horrible.
Never heard of them before, and honestly wouldn't care if I never heard them again. Victoria and Yes Sir, No Sir are good songs but dragged down by the rest of the album that's mediocre at best and downright migraine-inducing at worst.
I’ve always loved the Kinks. Part of the 60s British Invasion. They have some great hits. Unfortunately, none on this album. I can see the timing of this album was during the Vietnam war, so the subject of several of the songs makes sense. Just didn’t strike a chord with me.
I feel like this would go hard for people who like the Beatles.
What the fuck are you doing here? This album was noisy and boisterous, and not always in a good way. It was ok, but The Kinks are treated on this list like the Beatles. Come on. I don't care if I ever hear The Kinks again.
Not a fan.
Not great. Where’s all the good tunes Kinks??
This one not as good as the other, not sure what happened.
Drivin' is horrendous every time it hits the chorus. I wanted that to end as quickly as possible. Music just doesn't click with me, found getting through this album a slog. 2/5.
Viktig historie. Ikke helt min kopp te. Litt mye fjas innimellom.
Second Kinks album in 3 days. Sgt Pepper’s vibe.
The Kinks are a band I've heard a lot before. Not many songs from this album though and I kind of get why after today. While their sound is similar to their more famous songs there is something missing for me with this album. Nothing bad about it, just something missing for it to be really good.
19th C vibes ,height of the empire vibes. Farce probably better in the 60s. Shangri-la was good though
I'm not enough of a Kinks fan to willfully endure this album and enjoy it. There were a few decent songs but the vast majority had me fast forwarding to the next song before the song that was playing was over. 2.5/5
I guess without the twee, poignant backdrop of a Wes Anderson movie, I just don't really like the Kinks.
I have no interest in the vocals, a detriment to my enjoyment. The instrumentals were okay. 1.5 rounded to 2
Tore-ee-uh!
not my style
1. These songs sound created for the purpose of delivering the lyrics. Songs created to serve as a vehicle for a narrative or lyrical theme, as opposed to those created first and foremost for their MUSICAL power and communication, frustrate me: Dylan, Carole King, Musicals, Opera. These songs almost always lack coherence and emotional integrity. They sound calculated and disjointed. I am drawn to music - harmony, melody, rhythm, instrumentation, performance. As a result, even when I TRY, I can't focus on lyrics until I am so familiar with the harmonic and song structures, arrangements, and performances that my mind can start to wander onto things it finds less magnetic. When the music is an afterthought, it is apparent, I grow frustrated, and I never process the lyrics. I literally just don't care; not because I'm willfully ignorant, but because my interests lie elsewhere. 2. It's a shame because Ray Davies is a masterful songwriter when he wants to be. This album is filled with great musical ideas. But, with the possible exception of Victoria, they are never developed. They sound tossed out to fit a lyrical phrase, haphazardly vis-a-vis all of the other musical ideas, and are left unexplored. 3. These lyrics are not very impressive. The concept is interesting and impressive. But Ray so often comes across as a person desperate to show off his wit. The problem is, I don't find him nearly as clever as he finds himself. 4. The end result is an album that presents like a mediocre novelty record in the spirit of, say, Monty Python. And quite frankly, Monty Python records are more enjoyable because those blokes were that clever.
Starts off normalish on the first track then the second track kind of takes off. A little silly for my liking, even though it has an interesting cinematic concept. My problem is with the execution, not necessarily the idea in the first place. Of course Kinks fans would love this. I enjoy some of their singles, but this album doesn't do it for me. Australia and Shangri-La are both pretty good tracks for example. In general the second half is better than the first half. Well, at least until Princess Marina... ughh.
Meh...
2/5
Ei mitään kiinnostavaa sisältöä tällä lätyllä.
Ugh. Started out 3* but then got weird
Besides Victoria, nothing else was interesting
Not bad but a bit boring honestly, mad respect
I usually like the kinks, but this was not it..
Jetzt hani scho gmeint mer loset The Fetish, aber es sind ja zum glück nur The Kinks. The Kinks - DIE Indie Band vode 60er, 70er jahr. fast scho uf Beatles-Niveau wenn mer so wott. Aber irgendwie flashed die mich mit ihrne kinky tricklis ned so fest. Qualitativ und mit em Wüsse, dass das eini vo dene Bands gsi isch wo so viel anderi Bands inspiriert, prägt und ufgeilt het, müssti ihne fast drü sexy peitsche hieb geh. Aber wenni uf de hottness-Faktor mun lose woni wärend dem Album verspührt han, muni wider chli Härter (hehe) bewerte. Darum gits nur zwei Füess is Gsicht. Aber uf e hotti Art und defür en Linke und en Rechte.
Some mother’s son - wow. This album must have been on the mood board for the early seasons of Black Mirror. Or maybe it’s the accents.
Ois kolmonen mut -1 ku saanut kuulla ihan tarpeeksi monta kinksiä
Nope. Don't like this.
eh british
Australia is not at all accurate, and much like a flight to Australia, too long.
Suena mucho a The Beatles y no a the kinks
Mostly tripe
I have decided the kinks are slightly annoying and most of their sing as haven't aged well. This one is just too apple and pears for me.
Mostly notable as an early Kinks album, but no standout songs
2 yndlingssange Australia Mr. Churchill says Jeg tror genren er en form for klassisk rock med sådan noget tadala ekstravagant sang. Stor fokus på lyrics, som er et produkt af dens tid og man derfor virkelig først værdsætter det derigennem. Tror det har inspireret en del kunstnere ind i 80’erne. Ikke min smag. Ligger på en høj 2’er
Never would have listened to this otherwise. Not a huge fan of the music but like the concept of the album.
Very British 60’s rock album
Mostly nice bouncy very British folk pop. Some dated songs that are still okay
Decent classic rock album with some neat ideas.
I found this weirdly bland. I get that there is a narrative arc but when the arc is prioritised over the actual tunes then im not keen
not my cup of tea ☕️
Not really digging it
Background music for making supper. Nothing to report.
This was boring. I'm sure I've heard good Kinks songs before but I guess they are from a different album.
Nothing memorable.
Kinda mid. Has glimpses of greatness and bits and pieces of better artists. Fav Track: Yes Sir, No Sir
The Kinks, it turns out, have many great songs. Unfortunately, none are on this album.
Some albums are timeless but this really hasn't aged well. It comes off as a selection of show tunes. A "rock opera", supposedly. 2/5.
It took me a long time to get through this album. It was ok. The first songs were good, the rest of it seemed to be more of the same type of music. Overall, not a bad experience, but not a great one either.
this was a pretty ok listen. however, several tracks really had a Sgt. Pepper's Beatles vibe (not my fav Beatles album)
no my style
Better than the other Kinks album, but pretty unmemorable.
Not their best album outside of about 2 songs
it was alright. liked australia and victoria but not really anything else.
2 Stars (5/15)
I was a bit disappointed by this album. Maybe I wasn't in the mood to listen to "Arthur". That happens to me occasionally. One good thing is that the Kinks weren't trying to imitate the Beatles. This must be the third concept album from 1969 I didn't like. 2 stars for "Arthur".
So late ‘60s, psychedelic Beatles ripoff with a heavy interest in Paul, All Over The Place So Let’s Call It A Concept Album™️, it hurts. I was so excited when I first heard The Kinks, but this list has really proven that they were just a lesser copycat band who chased trends and rarely did them well. Sure, they can play, and sometimes they stumble into something amazing, but most of the time, it’s derivative. Arthur especially is just overblown and insufferable ‘60s pop; a big idea with very little depth in practice. A huge step down from Village Green, and a huge let down for me, personally.
Pretty boring. I've always thought the Kinks were pretty dull for a 60's band but I was hoping this one would be different? Nope.
I dont lrelly like it because i dont like old music because most music are sad songs and I dont like it 1 star. Like the beat little beat but dosentgive me hype.
This album is different than the other ones we have listened to, its calmer, the instrumentals are a bit more quieter. I think its a good song. He has a good voice but the song "Victoria" sounds like it would be in the background during a montage of a character traveling in a movie. I think it has good songs but i personally wouldn't listen to this other than today. I would recommend this album because it has a good singer and good instrumental but its a tad to slow for me.
Ages well. Great concept album I've never heard but it has strong songwriting and typical Kinks playing. Pity about 'Australia' being so long, half the time would have been fine. Will listen again.
joa, ist auch schon ein paar Tage her;
I mean it’s fine tbh. But I feel like it would change if I listened to it more
What value was this album?
Groupe connu de nom, grâce aux reprises de ses morceaux, mais aucun morceau connu dans cet album. Rock pas assez énervé à mon gout, en plus je ne suis pas trop intéressé par les arrangements de cordes ou de vent qui me gâchent l'expérience. =>2/5
This album wasn't bad, there just wasn't really anything remarkable about this album
The mix on this is tilting, why is everything exactly the same volume
I really should probably give this another listen because it was fine but unremarkable but the fact that I won’t feel like it means 2
This album mostly sounded like knockoff of the Beatles. Not bad, just similar
non mi piace los tile
I like some stuff by The Kinks, but this album is kind of annoying, tbh. Especially "Drivin'"... it's grating. Not to mention, half the songs sound exactly the same. Not for me.
This poor album. They’re great. Love a lot of their stuff. Impossible to think the doesn’t sound like counterfeit Beatles meets Velvet Underground. Don’t hate it but I just….
Surprised by how much I disliked this album. They basically like the Beatles but crappy. Favorite song was Arthur.
worse than generic
é rock antigão. Não é ruim não, agradável demais. Mas nada marcante, bem parecidas as músicas entre si. Não ouviria de novo, mas a banda é legal.
This is my third Kinks album, and none of them have managed to be interesting
this was very beer cans and cork hat - not my style but wasn’t bad
booooorrrrrinnnnggg 2/5
Son: "Mom! Can we get a Beatles record?" Mom: "We have a Beatles record at home." *hands this record* Is it commonly known that the Kinks are ripping off the Beatles? Because this record has so many similarities of the Beatles but slightly different. Different as in, not as good. Honestly, I just don't want to hear this. It's not terrible. But it's inferior.
A couple of ok tracks and a lot of plinky-plonk nonsense. Not their finest hour.
Very uninteresting British invasion crap.
This starts with the rallying call of Victoria, and then goes downhill with each track that follows. It's a time piece, stirring up nostalgia for a land that no longer exists. I struggled to follow the story. The Kinks were far better as a singles band than concept album bollocks.
This album is fine. I thought I liked The Kinks, but I really don't think this is anything that special. I understand the concept behind this album, but it doesn't do much for me. Best Songs: Some Mother's Son, Shangri-La, Worst Songs: Yes Sir No Sir, Australia, Young and Innocent Days
I don't think the album has lived up to the 50+ years of hype. I kept waiting for a mind-blowing moment that never happened.
I'm sure this is a perfectly fine album, but I'm just not feeling it.
I can see their influence and enjoy some songs but overall just felt rudimentary and flat. Doesnt help that i always mix them up with The Clash and that’s who’s sound I was expecting
It's ok. Good concept album, but not really my thing.
I was introduced The Kinks in the early 1970’s, Lola. Like my all time favorite Pink Floyd (introduced with DSOTM) I like the later material so much more than the early stuff. I’ll pass on this album.