As the 1960s came to a close, the Kinks were in the midst of a creative period the likes of which few bands have enjoyed. Having reached new levels of sophistication with 1967's Something Else and Village Green Preservation Society the following year, Ray Davies' songwriting explored an entirely new depth with Arthur; perhaps the finest example of a concept LP in any era. Dissecting the various pressures of modern life through the eyes of its titular character, the album's topics ranged from the mundane (societal pressure, mortgage payments, fashion) to the overtly political (dead soldiers, wartime posturing), all delivered with Davies' biting wit and the Kinks newfound vigor for the straight-ahead rock n' roll upon which they'd built their name. Not only is Arthur one of the towering achievements of 1960s rock, but an album whose subject matter and musical brilliance remain as vital today as when they were recorded. Masterfully produced (just try to find the seams that hold together the various sections of "Shangri-La") and recorded with an emphasis on feel over perfection (listen for Dave Davies' yelps of excitement on the first track), the album contains some of the most brilliant songs the band recorded and all of the elements that make them so utterly unique. A treasure of an LP.
Showing posts with label Kinks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kinks. Show all posts
Tuesday
The Kinks
Arthur - 1969
As the 1960s came to a close, the Kinks were in the midst of a creative period the likes of which few bands have enjoyed. Having reached new levels of sophistication with 1967's Something Else and Village Green Preservation Society the following year, Ray Davies' songwriting explored an entirely new depth with Arthur; perhaps the finest example of a concept LP in any era. Dissecting the various pressures of modern life through the eyes of its titular character, the album's topics ranged from the mundane (societal pressure, mortgage payments, fashion) to the overtly political (dead soldiers, wartime posturing), all delivered with Davies' biting wit and the Kinks newfound vigor for the straight-ahead rock n' roll upon which they'd built their name. Not only is Arthur one of the towering achievements of 1960s rock, but an album whose subject matter and musical brilliance remain as vital today as when they were recorded. Masterfully produced (just try to find the seams that hold together the various sections of "Shangri-La") and recorded with an emphasis on feel over perfection (listen for Dave Davies' yelps of excitement on the first track), the album contains some of the most brilliant songs the band recorded and all of the elements that make them so utterly unique. A treasure of an LP.
As the 1960s came to a close, the Kinks were in the midst of a creative period the likes of which few bands have enjoyed. Having reached new levels of sophistication with 1967's Something Else and Village Green Preservation Society the following year, Ray Davies' songwriting explored an entirely new depth with Arthur; perhaps the finest example of a concept LP in any era. Dissecting the various pressures of modern life through the eyes of its titular character, the album's topics ranged from the mundane (societal pressure, mortgage payments, fashion) to the overtly political (dead soldiers, wartime posturing), all delivered with Davies' biting wit and the Kinks newfound vigor for the straight-ahead rock n' roll upon which they'd built their name. Not only is Arthur one of the towering achievements of 1960s rock, but an album whose subject matter and musical brilliance remain as vital today as when they were recorded. Masterfully produced (just try to find the seams that hold together the various sections of "Shangri-La") and recorded with an emphasis on feel over perfection (listen for Dave Davies' yelps of excitement on the first track), the album contains some of the most brilliant songs the band recorded and all of the elements that make them so utterly unique. A treasure of an LP.
The Kinks
Everybody's in Show-Biz - 1972
The first Kinks album on which Ray Davies dabbled in the eccentricities that began the band's spiral into vaudevillian camp, Everybody's in Show-Biz is also the last album to maintain the songwriting quality of their late '60s and early '70s LPs. Tales of domesticity and life on the road make up the majority of the first LP of this double set, and although it doesn't quite reach an Arthur... or Village Green... level in terms of a fully formed concept, the songs themselves are really tremendous. My favorites are numerous, but "Hot Potatoes" and "Here Comes Yet Another Day" are absolute classics. Having finally hit their stride as a touring act, the band devotes the second record to a compilation of live tracks - most of which are pulled from the previous year's Muswell Hillbillies album. Buoyed by a full horn section and John Gosling's keyboards, the tunes are executed incredibly well - at points even, more so than their studio counterparts - but Davies' performance as the front man fop steals the show. Sadly, "Lola" is represented here in spirit only, and includes only the crowd sing-along of the chorus. But in the end, its this combination of drunken weirdness and casual brilliance that makes the album so appealing. Not necessarily a great introduction to the Kinks, but once you’ve digested the hits, head here for dessert.
Wednesday
The Kinks
Muswell Hillbillies - 1971
With every other band of the early 70s time trying their hand at a "back to the roots" record, it's no surprise that the Kinks joined in the fun. The real surprise was that it ended up being one of their finest LPs. Kicking off with the tremendous "20th Century Man", it's evident that Muswell Hillbillies is a strong album, while "Acute Schizophrenia Paranoi Blues", "Holiday", "Alcohol" and "Oklahoma USA" were immediate concert favorites and continue to make appearances in Ray Davies' solo sets. While Village Green..., Arthur and Lola are undeniable classics, none of them come close to the consistency of Muswell Hillbillies. Just listen for yourself! Ray Davies at his songwriting peak and the Kinks in their boozy woozy prime. Cheers to that.
With every other band of the early 70s time trying their hand at a "back to the roots" record, it's no surprise that the Kinks joined in the fun. The real surprise was that it ended up being one of their finest LPs. Kicking off with the tremendous "20th Century Man", it's evident that Muswell Hillbillies is a strong album, while "Acute Schizophrenia Paranoi Blues", "Holiday", "Alcohol" and "Oklahoma USA" were immediate concert favorites and continue to make appearances in Ray Davies' solo sets. While Village Green..., Arthur and Lola are undeniable classics, none of them come close to the consistency of Muswell Hillbillies. Just listen for yourself! Ray Davies at his songwriting peak and the Kinks in their boozy woozy prime. Cheers to that.
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