King Arthur For President!

Overall Album Score: 9.7 out of 10

I also have a rich history with this Kinks album. The middle of May 2002 immediately pops in my mind whenever I put it on! I downloaded it from Audiogalaxy, burned it to a CD and thought it was the coolest freaking thing I've ever listened to. Never mind that it is '60s music; I've always been an anti-hipster. I gave much less of a darn about current music back then than I do now --- in my mind, the '60s was a lot cooler than any other decade. I still hold that to be true in many regards! Plus, it was finally wonderful to run across something that sounded much cooler than The Beatles. (By the way, I bought this album a month after I pirated it, so the RIAA can screw themselves. ... Oh, um, too late.)

Arthur: Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire is undoubtedly one of the great Kinks albums and one of the finest albums from 1969. It's funny to note that this was originally meant as a soundtrack to a failed television special! Well, I find this to be a difficult album to review, because it's essentially perfect. Many of my reviews concentrate on explaining why an album is less-than-perfect, but here's an album I can do nothing but praise completely!

And where better to start my assessment of this album than the beginning? They open the album with "Victoria," which constitutes the perfect Kinks tune to sing along with at the top of your lungs. Believe me, I have plenty of experience with that! I also like the way they choose to end the album... Actually, it's more of a two-fer ending with their special brand of country-rock, "Nothing to Say" and "Arthur." As an American, I find it fresh to hear what the Brits can do with the genre ... because, well, they don't make it sound so dang American!

Of course, "Shangri-La" is the real masterpiece from the album although that obviously comes with stiff competition. It's kind of similar to the Beach Boys' ultimate statement in pop "Good Vibrations." "Shangri-La" is a beautiful mini-pop suite ... and if you didn't need proof of it before, this proves why this guy is so heavily revered as a songwriter. Also other and lesser mini-suites like "Yes Sir, No Sir" and "Australia" can be considered another feather in that hat.

The lyrical matter is rich and diverse, and Arthur counts as an album that I paid more attention to the lyrics than I usually do. They touch upon war and social matters to some high degree of resonance. When people tell you how much they like the Kinks' lyrical goals, they're probably talking about this album more than any other --- because they are incredibly rich and moving sometimes. As a reviewer, I almost exclusively dwell on the music and not so much the lyrics, but these ones will force any listener to sit up and take notice.

And so, Arthur is one of the finest albums ever made... You should probably own it if you don't already.

Overall Album Score: 9.7 out of 10 (Absolutely one of the greatest albums ever...)

Average Song Score: 9.5 (Who can ever dare deny that these aren't some of the finest written songs in the history of all mankind? If you're thinking about doing that, I might have to beat you up!)

Album Tilt: 9.5 (Remarkably solid, from beginning to finish.)

Artist Rating: 10 (It's even more daring than their previous work, but I sort of already gave than album an artistic '10.' Well, long live the Kinks at any rate...)

Track Reviews

Victoria 10/10

I've listened to this album so much that I don't even have to listen to these tracks as I'm writing the reviews! Oh well, I guess I had better, anyway. This song is a relatively heavy rocker, which is nice to hear since this band invented hard rock. Still, it seems wimpy considering Led Zeppelin already released their first album! The melody is utterly catchy, and so is that excellent riff. The instrumentation is utterly crisp and clean, and they effortlessly incorporate other elements such as a horn section and some excited screaming (thanks, Dave). I have many fond memories singing this song at the top of my lungs while trying to drive on a hot summer through heavy traffic...

Yes Sir, No Sir 9.5/10

Less significant it seems, but the song still manages to be quite excellent. The first part is a mid-tempoed track with some heavy drums and excellent guitar licks strewn throughout. They suddenly jump to more of a music hall song --- giving it a bit of the Kinks' signature! Because, you know, it wouldn't be The Kinks if it didn't sound thoroughly British. Well, the melodies are utterly catchy, so it has my wholehearted support!

Some Mother's Son 9/10

This is a slower and more dreary song, but the wickedly catchy melody is what makes it especially great. This is also fairly unique ... yeah, these guys were true originals! I also like the orchestration --- it seems a little choppy at first, but I also can't think how they would have done this any better!

Drivin' 8.5/10

This was never my favorite song from the album, but I also have to appreciate how well-done it was. Like the previous track, it's quite unusual, and it does have an effective melody. It's not that catchy and it's rather dreary, but it does have a funny, drunken chorus. This isn't one of the best moments of the album, but that's ... like ... pointing out the worst Seinfeld episode.

Brainwashed 9.5/10

This has always been one of my favs. This is an actual rock song for once with real guitar riffs, wailing rock 'n' roll performances and ... um ... even some Blood, Sweat and Tears horn sections. This is extremely enjoyable!! My only complaint is that it's not long enough...

Australia 9.5/10

Another one of my early favorites. They're pointing to the Beach Boys here while still giving it that distinct Kinks flavor that has all the girls going wild... The melody is wonderful, as usual! I especially like how this song develops ... this thing goes through so many different discourses that it's a blast! There are parts sounding like regular pop rock, ballads, novelty-rock and there's even a rock jam at the end. (OK, the rock jam is a little too long albeit fun, but that's not damning enough for it to destroy its credibility.) So, let's give "Australia" some love...

Shangri-La 10/10

The Kinks have been responsible for plenty of utterly gorgeous songs, and this is another one of them. The melody is among the finest that Ray Davies was ever responsible for (and another reason he's considered one of the 20th Century's greatest songwriters if he didn't already convince people of that). This song is pure greatness! The orchestration is also excellent --- it starts out as a heartfelt ballad of sorts with simply an acoustic guitar and a few other instruments subtly brought in. The melody here is just heart melting. He gracefully brings in a more thundering chorus, and eventually to a more rock 'n' roll oriented section at the end. I'd like to go out and say that this is one of the best songs ever written.

Mr. Churchill Says 9.5/10

Dang!! They never let up, do they? This is rather like the previous song except not as well written! Well, it's still great. It starts out as a slower, ballad-type song. But it picks up steam and ends as more pop-rock oriented. They bridge these two sections with an air-raid warning sound effect, which serves its purpose both musically and lyrically... Well, I certainly have no problem with that!

She Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina 9/10

Back to that wonderful old music hall stuff. It starts out as an old-timey ballad with some piano and clavinet. Very slowly a drum beat begins to play... The final half consists of a more upbeat, novelty Vaudevillian song that comes fully intact with bike horns and kazoos. Yeah, they were having fun.

Young and Innocent Days 9.5/10

Here is a pretty ballad with not only an utterly heart melting melody but perfect instrumentation. I'll tell ya, I never get tired of hearing that clavinet... This song also has perfect development. It starts out slowly but picks up momentum toward the end, and they gracefully end it with a charming coda from an acoustic guitar. Sweetness.

Nothing to Say 9.5/10

This and the following song point to the Americana/country flavoring that obviously was interesting these guys enough to embark on the genres full-time with the release of Muswell Hillbillies two years afterwards. This is tremendously upbeat and enjoyable... and has a much more epic feel than the following song. The chorus is utterly splendid, and I like the slide guitar!

Arthur 10/10

Less epic than the previous track, but this one's much more memorable in my opinion. The melody is utterly infectious, and the upbeat instrumentation keeps the experience snappy. Again, this is a country-esque song, and it proves these guys had as much of a knack for that genre as they did for anything!

Helllllllo. Do you have anything to say about Arthur? Or the fall and decline of the British Empire? Or perhaps you would like to say something about the Terminator? Write me here!

systemofatim@earthlink.net (FLUX) received Jan. 27, 2005

THANK GOD MR. RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES SISTER WAS MOVING TO AUSTRAILIA! JUST AS SGT. PEPPER AND REVOLVER WERE THE BEATLES BEST(ESPECIALLY PAUL'S SONGS),AND BEGGAR'S BANQUET WAS THE STONES BEST-THIS ALBUM IS ANIMATED GENIUS!!! I'VE OWNED THREE VINYL COPIES(ONE WITH ORIG. QUEEN VICKIE INSERT) AND TWO CD COPIES. MONTH AFTER MONTH FOR 35 YRS MY ENJOYMENT OF THIS ALBUM HAS NEVER DIMINISHED.

eusse26@latinmail.com (sebastian mora) received Jan. 1, 2006

i like the kinks,they are great. but paul mccartney´s ram and band on the run are better than any of their albums.the kinks a more valuable artist than paul, i dont think so.

dzpenner@hotmail.com (daniel) received June 10, 2007

i absolutely love this album, and find it to be virtually perfect as well, but if i only have one complain its that i can't listen to 'Nothing To Say' without being annoyed by the fact that its two main melodies are ripped directly from 'Yes Sir, No Sir' and the middle section of 'Victoria'. Just a nitpick anyway, this album fucking rules.