135. The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks

So to our third Kinks album. As we had enjoyed the previous one, Arthur, so much, I had high hopes for this album. I know that it is regarded as their finest hour, and I'd heard it once or twice before, but I couldn't remember much about it.

The album was written over two years, with several tracks around during the Something Else recordings, and is not a concept album as such, but is a series of vignettes with Ray Davies writing of a better time for England, or at least a simpler time. This was primarily a personal response to the difficulty of becoming a star, with the pressures associated with the bright lights. Village Green is so steeped in nostalgia that it should only be listened to on a valve based amplifier. It has a sheen like an old-fashioned detergent or cereal commercial to it, and my streaming of the remastered, stereo version just appears insensitive. However, I'm not going to buy it on LP until I've decided that I like it, however revered it is.

The album opener, and title track, lists items that Davies remembers fondly from his youth such as strawberry jam and Donald Duck. Do you remember Walter is tangible with regret for what became of a childhood friend, and their dreams. Picture book is a vision of family memories from "a long, long time ago". Last of the Steam-powered trains is somewhere between honky-tonk and rock and roll, and with defiant lyrics referring to living in a museum, and being the last of the soot and scum brigade. Village Green is another peon to a more whimsical time, with American tourists photographing the simple village green. I would talk about more songs, but alas, I'm running out of synonyms for nostalgia. All of my friends were there is an interesting song with an intriguing look at public embarrassment - not a topic pop music often covers.

It is this albums relentless whimsy, and lack of bite, that left me feeling disappointed. After the intelligence and variety of Arthur, this album is just a bit monotonous. Whilst I'm sure that is sacrilegious for many who dote on this album, it just hasn't aged well to a modern listener, if I can put myself in that category. Chloe described it as twee, which I think is spot on. Whilst many songs are enjoyable, and it is an interesting theme to cover, it just isn't as good as I'd hoped that it would be.

Chloe's rating: 6
Chloe's favourite track: 3. Picture book
Olly's rating: 6
Olly's favourite track: 5. Last of the Steam Powered Trains

Next week's album is 482. Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees. Not sure what to expect, I doubt it will be nostalgic.