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365albums · 4 years

Text

artist: The Kinks

album: Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

year: 1969

personnel:

Mick Avory – drums, percussion

John Dalton – bass guitar, background vocals

Dave Davies – lead guitar, background vocals, co-lead and lead vocals

Ray Davies – lead and background vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards

Pete Quaife – bass guitar

thoughts:

-I was already pretty familiar with Victoria and Shangri-La (and obviously Plastic Man, but that’s a bonus song), but listening through the album and following the story + lyrics made me appreciate Shangri-La so so so much more

-A lot of the instrumentation sounds like the Beatles on Sgt Peppers and, to some extent, Abbey Road + The White Album. It’s mostly the guitar and the use of horns + strings. This sticks out most on “Yes Sir, No Sir”, “Some Mother’s Son”, “Australia” (the middle and end part sounds so much like something off of Abbey Road), and the piano --> guitar --> goofy part in “She’s Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina” sounds exactly like a Paul song from 1968 or 1969

-I think it does really well as a concept/story album. The lyrics tell the story clearly without taking away from the sound

-The Kinks are so so good at toeing the line between sentimental and sarcastic. I can’t think of another band that I like that does that so well- maybe a few Rolling Stones tracks, but Mick tends to overdo it compared to the Kinks. I’ve always loved that on their music but it shines through on this album, esp on tracks like “Arthur” and “Shangri-La”

-I personally really enjoyed this album- especially As An Album. But I think a big part of that enjoyment is due to the fact that I love the Kinks sound (instruments specifically) from this period and in general. There are a few songs on the album that aren’t super strong lyrically but they have a minute where the guitar and percussion are so fun to listen to so I can forgive them. And man!! maybe it’s because I’ve listened the Kinks for 7+ years but. the singing + harmonies are very comforting and familiar-sounding.

-Overall I’d say my favorite songs are Shangri-La (so so so good!! can’t overstate this), She’s Bought a House Like Princess Marina, Mr Churchill Says, Arthur, and Some Mother’s Son. But that might change in a month or two. Loved this album though!! Definitely increased my respect for the Kinks

#first listen through was august 11 #listened a few times on the 11th and 12th #listening a bit again as i post this on the 13th #i listened to the stereo version on spotify not the mon #*mono #the kinks #arthur or the decline and fall of the british empire

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