Rating: ?:
In
celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Kinks’ first record, all 15
albums have been remastered on hybrid SACDs. This disc may not be the
weirdest of them all, but it sure is a start in that direction. This
record takes Davies’ storytelling to new levels and comes off as a rock
opera ala The Who, but stranger. The record examines the pitfalls of
stardom and the role of the concept of celebrity in the life of a
commoner. The whole process was a difficult one for the band as the
project seemed to be more of a solo effort by Ray Davies. At times the
record is a musical comedy and at others it sounds like the soundtrack
for This Is Spinal Tap. Either the playful meanderings grow on you or
you can’t stand them—my co-worker made me take the disc out after the
2nd or 3rd track. After a few listens, you realize there is much more
to be gleamed from the record, but it is still an effort on the
listener’s part.
This disc is good sounding, but
not great. Imaging is marginal on some songs–there is a big blob of
sound in the center and not much more. The extras are nice for those
who just can’t get enough of the music. They are well recorded and
offer slightly different takes on the studio versions. If you are
feeling adventurous, then check this one out. Songs included are:
Everybody’s A Star (Starmaker); Ordinary People; Rush Hour Blues; Nine
To Five; When Work Is Over; Have Another Drink; Underneath The Neon
Sign; Holiday Romance; You Make It All Worthwhile; Ducks On The Wall;
(A) Face In The Crowd; You Can’t Stop The Music. Bonus tracks:
Everybody’s A Star (Starmaker) (Mono Mix); Ordinary People (Live); You
Make It All Worthwhile (Live); Underneath The Neon Sign (Live).
