Kinda Kinks, the Kinks

Continuing the alphabet of albums, K is for kinda good.

 
Kinda Kinks, the Kinks, 1965, :27

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

As with many albums of this era, there are different track listings for the UK and US releases. The extra tracks not on the original UK album like "Set Me Free" and "Who'll Be the Next in Line" are better than the stuff they left on. On the other hand the US version leaves off "Tired of Waiting For You," which is just nuts. The lesson here is, record companies never know anything and they should trust the artists to know their material. In any case, for the most part this is pleasant, if typical, garage-Britpop of the era, with only a few glimpses of Ray Davies' later sporadic genius. "I'm in love, and you shouldn't be sad, yeah yeah." That sort of thing. Three and a half stars? I guess I rounded down.  Maybe it could have gone the other way if this buzzy Britpop sound weren't so tired at this point in 2021.  Favorite tracks: "Tired of Waiting For You," "Don't Ever Change," "So Long."

Give the People What They Want, The Kinks

Give the People What They Want, The Kinks, 1981, :40

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Ray Davies' concept for this album was a stand against mass media's delight in feeding lowest common denominator.  As a whole, it's not their finest hour, but it's got some great pop moments, and Davies' arch sneer elevates the material.  Favorite tracks: "Destroyer," and "Better Things" is one of the best songs in the whole Kinks oeuvre.