The one hundred sixty-seventh album: #167 The Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
There's an odd anti-authoritarian bent through the songs of the Kinks. Where previously we saw them somewhat celebrate/mock village life, this album feels like a commentary on society - the subtitle is quite accurate in how the album feels.There's an underlying story in here, but feels like a strong commentary on the decline of the Britsh empire going on at the time, unavoidable trends that were happening and how people deal with it. It's not a criticism on them, but it feels like it's unavoidable while they try to live their life in a way that makes them comfortable (which includes some denial).
Although some of the songs have a Dylan influence, the music is closer to rock music, sounding more up beat and bigger. Some songs use a lot of sound effects, while the guitar melodies feel more evocative. In the end there's a good, happy feeling from it - sometimes masking, I suppose, the real problems, but it makes for a more pleasant casual listne. It's never too dark, but that's not the tone I'd expect from the Kinks anyway. Instead, it's fine and fun, serving the lyrics well without making it feel too serious.