The Wake

The Kinks - Something Else By the Kinks

Raymond Douglas Davies is a clever man. As the chief and nearly unchaperoned hit maker for the prolific UK outfit the Kinks, Davies has dabbled in some of the most catchy, interesting and clever rock and roll in the genre’s six decades. Continuing the trend of gentle guitar tones and lyrical satire found on previous Kinks work, Sir Raymond compiled the bulk of the Kinks’ 1967 masterpiece Something Else by the Kinks.

Opening with one of the album’s gems, the up-tempo rocker titled “David Watts,” Davies immediately reveals his sneaky brilliance. Obscured by a boogie-woogie piano and a creeping snare tempo lurks the satirized envy of a high school poster boy. The track is so lovable that listeners immediately apply their own thirsts for high school jocks onto the story’s protagonist.

Although in the mid-60’s The Kinks were making music similar to other British bands like The Who, Something Else demonstrated the splintering of Davies’ song writing style to that of Pete Townshend. Where Townshend and company may bite their tongues while singing harmonies over Roger Daltrey’s proclamation that “they couldn’t prevent Jack from feeling happy,” Davies’ tongue nearly protrudes from his left cheek. On Something Else, Davies manages to paraphrase middle-class abandon, critique the hospitality of the diminishing British Empire, and satirically stab at the treachery of the protestant work ethic, all while presenting a delivery similar to that of the archetypal balding next-door neighbor. Such an effective and misleading common-man disguise had not been successfully reproduced until George W. ran for president as the guy everyone wanted to “drink a beer” with.

The album is a platform for Davies to rip through both his hatreds and lusts in a tone that is both consistently vacant and cheerful. As a result, the song production on the album is both cheery and incredibly endearing. Although the repercussions of such an emotional juxtaposition could be drastic, the album never becomes despondent or stale. Something Else is so gloriously caked in hooks and “la-la-la’s” that the charming wit of Davies is pinned to an increasingly growing wall of honor. Meaning: The Kinks have performed spectacular things on this album. Which spectacular things listeners derive depends on what they are looking for.

Lastly, the album’s closer, the hauntingly beautiful ‘Waterloo Sunset’, is a true beacon in rock and roll history. I have yet to find a better three-minute pop song – either in Davies catalogue or elsewhere.

Listen if you like: The Rolling Stones, The Who, Blur and The Jam.

Tune in to Radio K’s Last Year’s Model on Monday March 24th and 31st at 8pm to hear the consistent babble of hosts Phil and Jordan and listen to all the wonders of Something Else by the Kinks.

The Kinks - No Return