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Rating:
"Kontroversy" by the Kinks (1965) seems to have gone somewhat unnoticed when compared to albums by contemporary great bands, such as the much-acclaimed Beatles & Rolling Stones, the incendiary Who, and others. And it's a shame because Ray Davies is a songwriter of great merit, and along with his brother Dave's guitar, they've given us some of the highest moments in the history of British pop. The influence exerted by the group in the years to come is enormous, practically fundamental for the development of modern Britpop, and precursors of genres like Garage or Hard Rock. Known mostly thanks to the seminal riff of "You Really Got Me", the Kinks have gone even further, releasing throughout their career several examples of undisputed compositional talent, with an energetic and peculiar sound, that today serve as a true "beacon" for many bands.
"The Kink Kontroversy" is to be counted among their best works, along with albums like "Face to Face," "Arthur," or even "The Village Green Preservation Society," which - though representative of the band's vast musical culture, as well as a masterpiece of Davies the lyricist - is not among my favorite episodes. The introduction, "Milk Cow Blues", is a cover of Sleepy John Estes that immediately sets the record straight, a dirty and driving blues that kicks off a series of well-structured tracks, with abrasive riffs and tight rhythms, narrated by the captivating voice of Ray Davies with melodies that, although they may seem banal at a casual listen, are anything but. There are no bubblegum choruses in the Kinks' songs; their harmonies leave a mark and are memorable, as per the best pop's manual.
It's not a case of dissecting the album track by track; I feel compelled to recommend an immediate listen because each song is part of a pleasant and homogeneous discourse, to be discovered listen after listen. Tracks like "When I See That Girl of Mine", "Till the End of the Day", or "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" sound spirited despite the over forty years of aging. In short, what else to say? Enjoy listening.
And don't stop at the Beatles.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Milk Cow Blues (03:43)
Well I've tried everything to get along with you
But I'm gonna tell ya what I'm gonna do
I'm sick of all your crying, gonna leave you alone
If you don't believe I'm going
You pack all my things, I'm gone
I'm gonna leave
Gonna leave you lovin' baby for some day
Well if you don't believe I'm going
Watch me leaving you this way
Won't you please, well that sun looks good going down
Won't you please, well that sun looks good going down
But don't that ol' moon look lonesome when your baby's not around
Won't you please, don't that sun look good going down
Won't you please, don't that sun look good going down
But don't that ol' moon look lonesome when your baby's not around
08 I'm on an Island (02:15)
I'm on an island
And I've got no where to swim
Oh what a mood I am in
I'm on an island
I'm on an island
Since my girl left me behind
She said that I'm not her kind
I'm on an island
But there is no where else on earth I'd rather be
Then if my long, lost little girl was here with me
I'm on an island
And I've got no where to run
Because I'm the only one
Who's on the island
But there is no where else on earth I'd rather be
Then if my long, lost little girl was here with me
I'm on an island
And I've got no where to run
Because I'm the only one
Who's on this island
I'm on an island
I'm on an island
09 Where Have All the Good Times Gone (02:51)
Well, lived my life and never stopped to worry 'bout a thing
Opened up and shouted out and never tried to sing
Wondering if I'd done wrong
Will this depression last for long?
Won't you tell me
Where have all the good times gone?
Where have all the good times gone?
Well, once we had an easy ride and always felt the same
Time was on our side and I had everything to gain
Let it be like yesterday
Please let me have happy days
Won't you tell me
Where have all the good times gone?
Where have all the good times gone?
Ma and Pa look back at all the things they used to do
Didn't have no money and they always told the truth
Daddy didn't have no toys
And mummy didn't need no boys
Won't you tell me
Where have all the good times gone?
Where have all the good times gone?
Well, yesterday was such an easy game for you to play
But let's face it things are so much easier today
Guess you need some bringing down
And get your feet back on the ground
Won't you tell me
Where have all the good times gone?
Where have all the good times gone?
Where have all the good times gone?
10 It's Too Late (02:31)
It's too late now for you to say your sorry
It's too late now for you to make amends
You're gonna pay for all the lies you told me
Well don't apologize 'cause it's too late
It's too late
Much too late
You said those words
You said them much too late
It's too late
Much too late
You said those words
You said them much too late
It's too late now for you to sympathize, dear
The wheel of time is grinding against your dreams
I really wouldn't want to cause no pain now
You said those words, you said them much too late
It's too late
Much too late
You said those words
You said them much too late
11 What's in Store for Me (02:04)
I wanna know what is to be
To see what life's cut out for me
I'm waiting for my fate
'Cause I know I've done wrong
I wanna know just what's in store for me
I wish I had a crystal ball
To see my rise and see my fall
I've done a lot of right,
But also done some wrong
I wanna know just what's in store for me
And so I'll wait a while
And wait a little longer
I'll just have to wait and see
I think a lot but I'll stop trying
I'll just get old before my time
I'll live the life I've got
But I don't sleep at night
I wanna know just what's in store for me
I'll live the life I've got
But I don't sleep at night
I wanna know just what's in store for me
I wanna know just what's in store for me
12 You Can't Win (02:40)
You'll try and you'll try again
But you know you can't win
You'll try and you'll try again
But you know you can't win
What more can I say now?
What more can I do?
No need to feel sad now
'cause times are pretty thin
And you can't win
You can't win
You can't win
Try and do what you can
But you know you can't win
You say you don't understand
But you know you can't win
What more can you say now?
What more can you do?
No need to feel sad now
'cause times are pretty thin
And you can't win
You can't win
You can't win
What more can I say now?
What more can I do?
No need to feel sad now
'cause times are pretty thin
You can't win
You can't win
You can't win
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