Arthur (or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

When this started I wasn’t super into it. I like some stuff by the kinks, but the first few songs on here are not their best work. Then Australia happened and Shangri-La folllowed. Those two songs are worth listening to the rest of the album. After that the rest of the album is really good, but those two songs in the middle are the focal point of the album for me.

This seems like the album The Divine Comedy wre trying to make but failed. This was a lot better than their attempt.

Some interesting sounds in this one. I can’t quite work out if it’s any good or not but there’s some of it I liked and it certainly raised a smile in places which marks it up in my book.

Excellent album. Love it.

I don’t usually think of the Kinks and the Beatles in the same category. Maybe I haven’t ever paid attention, or maybe in 1969 everybody tried to sound like the Beatles.
In any case, this was okay. But I didn’t love it. I even went back to focus on the lyrics and the social commentary, but, meh. I’m not British and not an Anglophile, don’t drool over Monty Python etc, so it’s just not my jam. This is the first Kinks album I’ve gotten in this project. I hear there are FOUR. Seems excessive. Hoping some of the others are more interesting, and justify their inclusion.

Fun album, better than the one of theirs I've rated previously

It's a harsh 3 I enjoyed this one but not on the same level as the 4s

Ik lees dat dit voor geen meter verkocht. 2 jaar later probeerden ze een derde single van het album. En ja! dat scoorde. Welgeteld nr 62 gehaald in de VS. En dat is wel het niveau van dit album. Het beste nummer heeft op het moment van uitkomen ongeveer 60 betere nummers voor zich te laten gaan. Het is simpelweg niet goed. Ze hebben wat Beatles-achtige klanken met minder creativiteit en ontzettend storende matige zang. Schande voor de lijst.

I love The Kinks, perhaps especially their weird stuff, and it doesn't get much odder than a concept soundtrack to a TV play (that didn't get made) in which hardly anything exciting was to happen. Ray and Dave spun gold out of the idea though, and made a lovely collection of songs which also work really well together

Concept Albums are my favourite concept!

Honestly this era of the Kinks is a slam dunk. While the Beatles and the Stones put out great records in 1969 - here comes Ray Davies with weird concept albums that are just amazing and ahead of their time. For my money Victoria is one of the best first tracks.

wow was definitely not expecting this from the 'you really got me' guys.

it started strong with Victoria and then fell a bit, but at Brainwashed I was so into it and the rest was a great ride!
surprised by the quality of this album vs the number of streams on spotify (yea its from 69 but come on, its better than Revolver IMO, though I think I was a bit of a hater giving it a 4)

amazing and underrated album.

I should really listen to the Kinks more. Every time I listen to them I am positively surprised. This album is really great too, great album that rocks surprisingly hard. Shangri-La is my favorite here.

This is a fun little album, with many quirky moments that shine spectacularly as unique to what everyone else in the rock scene (that The Kinks helped create) was doing, while surprisingly returning to their rock roots more than some of their most recent records at the time with tracks like Brainwashed or the drawn out outro of Australia. A lot of it works with me, such as the vocal inflections of the Davies brothers and their charming styles, or the sudden speed-up/slow-down found throughout the record. It allows for an album with plenty of memorable moments. I do think the album leans a bit too hard into the rock aspects at times, and I, personally, do not like the Kinks for their rock tunes, but the quirky pop tunes such as Drivin' feel like they'd fit right in on their prior album. It's hard to say too much about an album that I see as just unmistakeably "good," but this album will be a pleasure of any fan of the British Invasion, which is funny considering the concept of the album. Could see myself having far more to praise on a future re-listen. Just one more quick tangent; why does Australia, the song, deliver some of the best melodies and harmonies on the entire album, only to sour it with four minutes of random fiddling and rifling? It hurts my soul.

That was some very fun 60's pop. I don't think there was a dud in the bunch and few we quite infectious. I would definitely throw this record on again.

Very Kinsky, very good. I had never listened to this one before and I think I might have loved it.

The album reminds me of the very early Beatles. Sometimes a bit more psychedelic. I enjoyed listening to it. But I won't be doing it again any time soon.
3/5

I need to listen to more Kinks! Enjoyable from start to finish. Great songsmanship and composition. 4/5

The Kinks ushering a new political era! Dying in a war for no reason, income inequality, misplaced patriotism (is that what it's called in Great Britain?), wartime propaganda, questioning authority, parodying the advertising of Australia! This one's got it all! It's all good, The Kinks rule, and the British Empire is officially dead! huzzah

There seems to be an excessive number of Kinks albums on this list. Maybe it just seems that way to me because like every third album or more is 60s/70s pop? This record is another fine example of late 60s Brit pop that I could definitely have gone my life without hearing and not been worse off. I mean there are a couple good songs on here but nothing life changing. 2/5

I absolutely love Victoria it’s a fantastic opener and one of The Kinks’ great anthems. It bursts out of the speakers with energy and irony, setting the tone perfectly for what follows.

What really stands out across this album is the songwriting. Ray Davies delivers sharp, thoughtful lyrics that feel bold and socially aware for the time. The album tackles themes of class, empire, and the changing face of Britain with intelligence and bite, yet never loses its melodic charm. There’s real depth here beneath the hooks.

It may lack the immediate, top-drawer pop singles that define some other Kinks records, but in many ways this makes it more cohesive and powerful. As a concept album, it feels ambitious and emotionally resonant — a reflection on identity and decline wrapped in distinctly British storytelling.

Favourite track: Victoria — energetic, clever, and endlessly replayable.

Least favourite track: Australia — it never quite grabs me in the same way and feels a little overextended.

Album artwork: Amazing. Bold and colourful, it perfectly complements the grand, reflective themes of the record.

Ok, Guitar grooves that remind me of my favorite Beatles period. Has some good moments, but the off-key vocals don't quite work for me.
Highlights: she's bought a hat, shangrila, australia