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Overall Album Score: 8.7 out of 10

Finally, the good ole Kinks turn in something entirely timeless! They make a huge leap from Kinks Kontroversy in terms of quality, and they create this utterly splendid and artistic work. It was originally meant to be a full-blown concept album, but the record company didn't like that very much, so they forced Ray to scale it down and release it as a normal pop album. That's quite a shame, because this would have easily beat out Sgt. Pepper's by a year.

But anyway, this is a great album, and one that every classic rock fan should own. It's a bit of a flawed classic, though --- while much of this material is undoubtedly brilliant, some tracks are clearly better than others. Fortunately, these were included as a big lump on this album! "Fancy" is a weird attempt at mysticism, and --- well --- it's pretty clear that Ray wasn't into that kind of thing. "Little Miss Queen of Darkness" is a strange track that starts out to be some tropicana, but they insert a bit of strange disoriented drum solos. It's weird and you get the feeling they weren't sure what to do instead of being genuinely experimental. And then there's bit of a usual rocker and uninspired rocker "You're Lookin' Fine."

The highlights are what makes this album great, though. "Party Line" is a great, straight-ahead rocker that'll put you right in the mood for the album. Naturally, the style is fashioned in a similar vein as a Beatles rocker, but there's something distinctly Kinksian about it. This is followed up by the gorgeous ballad "Rosey Won't You Please Come Home" that even features some interesting instrumentation --- a clavinet, anyone? They save "Sunny Afternoon" for near the end, which is a hugely enjoyable track and easily among the catchiest of the Kinks discography (and that's saying something).

This album not only marks the Kinks at the beginning of their peak years (from 1966-1972), but it also marks the beginning of Brit-pop. Where would the '90s have been without the Kinks? Pulp, Blur and Oasis wouldn't have had any idea what to do! This is also effectively where Ray Davies seizes his control over Kinks. He comes up with all the wild ideas even though his brother Dave probably still wanted to rock out. Well, despite all that this album wasn't exactly a commercial success --- really, apart from a few singles, very little the Kinks ever did were commercial successes. It's unfortunate but true --- at least the lack of severe popularity allowed them to concentrate on making great albums ... and that's just what they're gonna do.

There are so many excellent tracks in here that any rock fan who does not possess this album is seriously missing out. At the same time, this is still rather far removed from their peak. ...Excited, yet?

Overall Album Score: 8.7 out of 10 (This is an entertaining album! The songs are pleasant and enjoyable, and everything is peaceful with the universe...)

Average Song Score: 8.6 (Such a wonderful album of songs... More greatness than non-greatness if you ask me.)

Album Tilt: 8.5 (It drags a bit toward the end, but that's no concern.)

Artist Tilt: 9.0 (Ray Davies wants to be an artist above all things. It's pretty creative as it stands, but he wanted this to be even more unusual. Well, let's give it its due.)

Track Reviews

Party Line 9.5/10

Telephone! ... And an old-school one at that. Oh wait, it's just a Kinks song. "Party Line" is an upbeat and poppy track. It seems Beatles-esque, but there's something distinctly Kinksian about it. Yes, my friends. 1966 was the beginning of the Era of Kinks. They dance to the beat of their own music. This is a lovely, upbeat song and an excellent one to start the album. The melody is catchy and the instrumentation is solid (just the usual rock band combo), and absolutely splendid.

Rosie Won't You Please Come Home 10/10

This is a real classic. It's an extremely tuneful, mid-tempoed rocker that not employs the usual rock 'n' roll instruments, but also a clavinet (sort of a new thing in 1966). Naturally, the important thing is that the track is catchy, and it's infectious.

Dandy 9/10

And here is an upbeat pop rocker, and it's another enormously tuneful track. The melody isn't quite as infectious as the previous tracks although you have to enjoy Ray's fantastic chord progressions. They're quite rich!

Too Much on My Mind 8/10

This is a ballad that even more predominantly features the clavinet (or some such olde keyboard instrument)! The melody is fantastic although it wasn't enough to be truly engaging. This is a nice song to sit back and soak up, and that's just what I'm gonna do.

Session Man 9.5/10

A huge clavinet frenzy begins "Session Man" --- you'd wonder what the poor record producer thought of it. After that a bit of a heavier pop rocker pipes up, and Ray sings about a musician! The melody is wonderful and entirely catchy. I love his chord progressions! (Yeah, he was thinking quite deeply about them, because he uses that term in the lyrics.) Brilliance.

Rainy Day in June 9.5/10

A thunder sound effect begins "Rainy Day in June." What ensues is one of the more interesting tracks of the album although it's not my favorite. The instrumentation consists of an ominously strummed acoustic guitar and a pounding drum (that sounds like it's playing a death march or something). I like the melody! The section when Ray almost turns this into a gospel song (and he sings "Everybody felt the rain") is the best part!!

A House in the Country 9/10

Here is a good upbeat rocker--- He takes a bit from the old school Chuck Berry ways from their early days, but this has a distinct Kinks sound. Ray has such a personality that he's able to project out ... excellent. This is why the Kinks are so awesome.

Holiday in Wakiki 8/10

Some watery sound effects begin "Holiday in Wakiki" and then another upbeat pop rocker pipes up. This one doesn't seem that great to me --- the instrumentation is a bit murkier, and the melody it's too infectious. I like the attempt to bring some Hawaiian ideas to the pop rock although it was too little and not enough...

Most Exclusive Residence For Sale 8/10

Nobody can claim these melodies aren't good! Although, "Most Exclusive Residence For Sale" isn't the best one on the album. I feel so spoiled in respect to just having come off listening to Kinks Kontroversy, because I'm quite spoiled now! I like this track, but it's not the best of the album. Hah!

Fancy 7/10

What's next is the acoustic "Fancy" in which Ray seems to go mystical. It's a nice enough idea although the execution was a little dull. Just because the Beatles were doing it doesn't mean that you have to! Well, it's listenable at least. The melody is OK, but it's the album's least catchy tune. Such a high standard we must put them!

Little Miss Queen of Darkness 7/10

Here is a little bit of tropicana music. It's not too bad, although Ray certainly comes off better when he's doing his proto-Brit-pop thing. It's nice for him to write in different styles of music, but it doesn't come off so unique and personal. The drum solo in the middle gives me the impression that they weren't enormously sure about this thing themselves...

You're Lookin' Fine 7.5/10

It begins with a Peter Gunn riff --- it's a nice riff but it's a pretty famous one, so I don't think anyone would think that he originated it. Oh well... They use it nicely enough, and Dave treats us to his vocals here.

Sunny Afternoon 10/10

Yay!!! The album was sagging a bit there, but they pick it back up righteously with "Sunny Afternoon." This mid-tempoed ballad not only has a catchy melody, but it has a wholly unique instrumentation. There's a little splash of Americana influence --- instrumentation even consists of some accordion and ragtime piano in addition to the usual rock combo. This is the signature Kinks style in all its glory --- right here.

I'll Remember 8/10

This is more of a rocker and sort of a weak track to end the album with, frankly. Nonetheless, it's entertaining and tuneful, and I like the riff. This is another track that seems like the production was a tad murky, but not enough to ruin the experience at all.

Bonus tracks:

(Warning: These track reviews were written in 2003 and the rest of the review was written in 2007. For some reason, I don't have the version of the album with bonus tracks anymore! Also, these scores are not tallied in the score.)

I'm Not Like Everybody Else 9/10

Dave sings lead vocals on this one ... and it's as good or better as practically anything on the album! I'm thinking ... it would fit well with the concept, so why wasn't it included in favor of some of those early-60's throwbacks? (It must have been a British single!) The melody is very good and the song was well executed.

Dead End Street 9.5/10

Wow! This one really rivals the best songs on the actual album! And, again, it fits perfectly well with the concept! Yet, it wasn't included. Man! Screw that! But it's good that they added it as a bonus.

Big Black Smoke 9/10

There are some "bells" sound effects on this one. Yet, another track that would have fit perfectly with the concept and greatly benefited the actual album ... I guess that's why I'm including these bonus tracks in the running. The end is perhaps too flooded, but it was a good song!

Mister Pleasant 10/10

More utterly worthy bonus tracks! This one even beats "Rosie" in its pure and utter catchiness. (Though, it doesn't have that appealing "frustrated" quality that I found so endearing.) It's fully equipped with impressive key changes and very good, sort of Ragtime-esque, instrumentals. If I were to include bonus tracks, this would be my favorite track of the album. They should have released the album with this song on it, too. Definitely.

This is Where I Belong 8/10

Ah... here's one that I don't care if they included in the original LP or not. It kind of drones on with nothing particularly interesting to utter. But I can't see any reason to give it anything less than an 8. It was well performed, and I do recognize a good melody.

Mr. Reporter 8.5/10

Again, this track would have been a welcome addition to the album! What's wrong with everybody? Why can't singles be in albums? Hmmm...? The Americans did it! It's one of the few things they ever did right! (Oh shut up... I'm an American and I can say anything I like about it.) I suspect that this was a B-side because it's not awe-inducingly impressive.

Little Women 9/10

Oh man ... that has got to be the most boring movie/book on the face of this PLANET. Screw you, Ms. Alcott! This is a dated instrumental. It's perfectly pleasant ... but who wants to listen to dated instrumentals with a lot of floots? Oh ... I like instrumentals, so I give it a nine.

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