The Kinks
The Kink Kontroversy

THE REVIEW

"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.