968 The Kinks - Give The People What They Want (1981)

 968 The Kinks - Give The People What They Want (1981)

Studio Album - Rock



About the Act:

The Kinks were an English Rock band from 1964-1996 and reformed in 2018. The main songwriter and front man of the band is Ray Davies, along with his brother Dave, have been the backbone of the band.  

In the early days they started out as hard rock, breaking into success with You really got me. They pioneered a gritty guitar sound which has been emulated in many ways by many bands since. A couple of years later, they moved away from the rocky, American sound. This somewhat coincided with a band from performing in America. This move was towards a more English sound, which incorporated elements of Folk and Music Hall, and featured witty observational songs of working class life. This approach lasted for several years and albums. In the early 70s they took another twist into a more theatrical sound for a few albums, at which point their popularity waned. Towards the end of the 70s they signed to a different label, and at the label's insistence went back to their hard rock roots. This brought them success and they became an arena rock band. A few year later they took another twist and became more poppy (typified by the single Come Dancing. Eventually, they split up.

They have been one of the most influential bands in English Pop and their legacy of working class London storytelling songs can be seen in bands like Madness, Blur and Punk bands.


About the Album:

So this is the nineteenth studio album by The Kinks. It was part of their Arena Rock period. It was commercially successful.


My History with this Album:

None


Review:

Well, it was a relief to get back to the Kinks after Kendrick Lamar. Incidentally this is the first act to get to a second album being reviewed. It sounds a little post-punk, and the music is ponderous and lacking in any interest to me. It feels almost like they are doing it sarcastically.  Also, the recording is quite echoey, like it was recorded in a garage. The lyrics are kind of stilted too, at times. Don't get me wrong, there is some stuff that it more typical Ray Davies biting observational stuff, but at significant times it is facile, repetitive and just, dull.  It's like somebody said "you need to be less clever, less intellectual, more obvious".

I was disappointed, to be honest.  Such a shame.


4.5/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7BhoCWOn9mXzn9Z63nYZ7Y

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHpFFSbmjxwi5s7pxyeSNxnaAaWyZTLv

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_the_People_What_They_Want_(The_Kinks_album)


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