So mystifying (Kinks) (LP 4390 - 4395)

Kinks  Kinks (Vinyl, Sanctuary Records, 1964) ***  

The Kinks  20 Golden Greats (Vinyl, Pye Records, 1978) *****  

The Kinks  Face To Face (Vinyl, Sanctuary Records, 1966) ****  

The Kinks  Something Else by The Kinks (CD, Sanctuary Records, 1967) *****  

The Kinks  The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (CD, Sanctuary Records, 1968) *****  

The Kinks  Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (CD, Sanctuary Records, 1969) *****  

Genre: Pop, rock

Places I remember: JB Hi Fi, Marbecks Records, Fives, HMV, Fopp

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Waterloo Sunset

Gear costume: Sunny Afternoon (Face to Face)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: I am not a Kinks Kompletist but I do have a fair smattering of their albums, so I'll divide my collection into decades. First up - the sixties output.

The Kinks started out in the mid-sixties by calling themselves Kinks and morphed into The Kinks after a few albums. Their first album in 1964 is just called Kinks. 

As with The Hollies, The Beatles and others, The Kinks suffered from a multitude of album variables in different markets (different song selections, album titles, mono and stereo versions) and Pye, their original record company, made a plethora of compilations along the way.

The debut I have is a re-release with the UK track listing - as nature intended. It's often a high energy, punkish rush of adrenaline with Ray Davies sounding extremely feral at times. The production isn't great though and the R&B covers present an atypical picture of the band we came to know and love.

You Really Got Me is the clear standout and breakthrough moment for the band, but the rest of the album isn't very consistent. 

As AllMusic says: The rave-up treatments of the R&B standards "Got Love If You Want It" and "Cadillac" were good, and the simple "Stop Your Sobbing" would eventually be covered by the Pretenders, but overall this is really patchy.

I don't have any other early albums by the band (made up of Ray, his younger brother Dave on lead guitar, Pete Quaife on bass and Mick Avory on drums) but the snazzy compilation 20 Golden Greats fills in most of the gaps.

It starts with You Really Got Me and ends with Apeman from 1971. The journey through the other 18 A-side singles from 1964 to 1971 shows their prowess as a terrific hit machine. A few of Dave's solo singles add some spice.

Face to Face from 1966 is my next studio album. It was their fourth effort, and notable for a shift away from R&B to introduce a more music hall sound with Ray Davies kicking off his interest in observational/ satiric songs that are centred on English culture and the English social class structure (including 'toffs' in Ray's language). 

Sunny Afternoon and Dandy were the successful singles lifted from the album. The former is a Kinks Klassic! The rest of the album was of a consistently high standard in both songs and musicianship. The band were having fun, and it shows!

Something Else by The Kinks is a work of genius in the year of Sgt Pepper. Clearly it was a peak year for British pop/rock. Something Else contains 13 superb songs - not a middling effort among them. The confidence was running high as the band (led by Ray's songwriting) performed a variety of genres with ease - from acoustic ballads, music hall numbers, R&B, to wig-out guitar numbers. 

There are many highlights but David Watts, Dave's Death of a Clown, Harry Rag, Afternoon Tea, and capping it all off - Waterloo Sunset - all deserve special mentions.

The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society extended the forensic look at English society with a whole nostalgic album considering all of its quaint nooks and crannies. 

The title track is another classic. It sets out the stall, and the rest of the album delivers with musical inventiveness that sets The Kinks apart from every other band.

Their final album of the sixties was Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire). It was another freakily brilliant album - making three five-star albums in a row (I may have been a bit skimpy with Face to Face actually).

Arthur saw the introduction of new member John Dalton, who replaced Pete Quaife. The album has a concept in that its songs tell the story of Arthur - a Londoner, who decides to move to Australia during the aftermath of World War II. 

It starts with the best song ever about Queen Victoria (Victoria), an absolute stunner, and proceeds to detail the story via some superb songs. Mr. Churchill Says, for example, is an excellent example of Ray's genius. It seems casual and easy to do but this song came from his brain and vision. I'm left with the impression that I could tell him a random phrase and within seconds he'd dash off a song that was fun and clever in equal parts.

Again, each of the musicians is in perfect sync with Ray's concepts and stories via his lyrics.

Where do they all belong? A brilliant sixties - could they sustain that quality control into the seventies?

On top (The Killers) (LP 4389)

The Killers  Hot Fuss (CD, Island Records, 2004) ****  

Genre: Alt rock 

Places I remember: The Warehouse

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Somebody Told Me

Gear costume: Mr. Brightside

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: One of my daughters was a fan of this band and so I heard the first two albums a lot around the house when she was living at home. 

I bought a copy of their first album because the songs were crunchy, witty, and catchy. There were four singles taken from the album, so I heard these on the radio as well: Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I've Done and Smile Like You Mean It.

The first half of this album is loaded with those familiar hits, while the second half isn't quite as effective to my ears. Brandon Flowers' vocals are worthy of note - they are consistently interesting throughout this pop smart album.

Where do they all belong? A great artifact from the early 2000s.

Treat yo mama (The John Butler Trio) (LP 4387 - 4388)

The John Butler Trio  Sunrise Over Sea (CD, Jarrah/MGM Records, 2004) ****  

The John Butler Trio  Grand National (CD, Jarrah/Atlantic Records, 2007) *** 

Genre: Blues, rock

Places I remember: Hope family collection

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Treat Yo Mama (Sunrise Over Sea)

Gear costume: There'll Come A Time (Sunrise Over Sea)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: I am a big fan of blues rock and guitarist/ vocalist John Butler is an excellent exponent of the art, just like Tony McPhee in Groundhogs or Billy Thorpe of Aztecs.

Sunrise Over Sea was the band's third album, released in 2004. It's a superb collection of varied songs showcasing JB's bluesy riffs and innovative melodies. Top stuff from this Aussie battler! 

Grand National was its follow up three years later. It's a much poppier effort - good too, but not as good as Sunrise. John sounds like he's auditioning for The Red Hot Chili Peppers at times. While it's a toe-tapping experience with the guitaring remaining a strong feature, the music overall isn't as innovative as on Sunrise.

Where do they all belong? Two fab Aussie rock albums. Keen to get more if I find others.

The sound of the crowd (The Human League) (LP 4386)

The Human League  Dare   (Vinyl, Virgin Records, 1981) ****  

Genre: Synth pop 

Places I remember: Jacky's record collection

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: The Things That Dreams Are made Of

Gear costume: Don't You Want Me, Seconds

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: I can remember three records Jacky had when I met her in 1983: The War of the Worlds, a Duran Duran album and The Human League's Dare.

It was hard to avoid The Human League in the early eighties. Their singles were all over the radio: The Sound of the Crowd; Love Action; Open Your Heart; and the megahit - Don't You Want Me. 

Those radio friendly, catchy pop hits weren't really me, as such, but they were (and remain) extremely catchy, commercial pop songs.

The AllMusic critic makes a good point: The self-conscious detachment enhances the postmodern sense of emotional isolation, obsession with form over content, and love of modernity for its own sake. That's why Dare! struck a chord with listeners who didn't like synth pop or the new romantics in 1981, and why it still sounds startlingly original decades after its original release -- the technology may have dated, synths and drum machines may have become more advanced, but few have manipulated technology in such an emotionally effective way.

Where do they all belong? Dare remains the only album in my collection by The Human League. Jacky and I are still married btw.

Love in a car (The House of Love) (LP 4377 - 4385)

The House of Love  The House of Love (CD, Creation Records, 1988) ****  

The House of Love  The House of Love (CD, Fontana Records, 1990) **** 

The House of Love  The House of Love (CD, Fontana Records, 1990) ***  

The House of Love  The German Album (CD, Renascent Records, 2007) ****  

The House of Love  The John Peel Sessions 1988:1989 (CD, BBC Records, 2001) ****  

The House of Love  The House of Love (CD, Fontana Records, 1992) *****   

The House of Love  Audience with the Mind (CD, Fontana Records, 1993) ** 

The House of Love  She Paints Words In Red (CD, Cherry Red Records, 2013) **** 

The House of Love  A State of Grace (CD, Cherry Red Records, 2022) *** 

Genre: Pop-rock, indie rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, Fopp, HMV

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: You Don't Understand

Gear costume: Christine, Shine On, Beatles and the Stones, Crush Me

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: The House of Love is an indie rock band from London that I love. They were formed in 1986 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Guy Chadwick and co-founder and lead guitarist Terry Bickers. The other members on their debut album were Chris Groothuizen - bass guitar and Pete Evans - drums.

I have no idea why, but their albums are invariably just called The House of Love, which makes their discography a tad tricky to say the least. 

The debut is great. It kicks off with Christine and the band sound is tight and focused throughout. The highlights are Guy's vocals and Terry's guitars.

Second album, the one with the butterfly on the cover, had a bit of a tortured birth - taking around 2 years to record. Nevertheless, it is another excellent set of songs. The highlights for me are Beatles and the Stones, Never, Shine On (a rerecording of their debut single), and I Don't Know Why I Love You. Sadly, Terry Bickers quit the band after this one due to all sorts of conflicts, real and imagined.

A compilation, also called The House of Love (a.k.a. The Spy in the House of Love because of the cover) came out before their third proper album.

It's made up of various B-sides and other unreleased studio tracks from the period after album 2 and before album 3 (a.k.a. Babe Rainbow). The band were in a rich vein of form as most of these songs sound as wonderful as anything on the first two albums. At the time they were rejected and it's hard to understand why when I play this album.

Creation also released a compilation of singles and B-sides called The German Album. My copy is a 2007 reissue from Renascent of the 1987 Rough Trade Germany/Creation Records release, with added tracks and different track order.

Like similar albums by The Smiths (Hatful of Hollow) and Oasis (The Masterplan) - it's a terrific collection creating an alternative House of Love mosaic.

The John Peel Sessions 1988: 1989 is yet another compilation which also presents an alternative view of the band. Like The German Album it is an excellent entry point for the band as it has great songs from their prime years. The stripped back versions of some songs like Beatles and the Stones and Christine are superb!

Simon Walker replaced Terry for the third album - also called The House of Love (but known as Babe Rainbow because of the cover). This would be his only album with The House of Love. He'd be replaced by Simon Mawby.

This is the first album I owned and as such it has a special place in my affections - hence the extra star. You Don't Understand is a mighty lead off song and the rest of the album doesn't let up the quality control. This made three stunning albums in a row!

Audience with the Mind was their fourth studio album. Finally, it had a distinguishing title! Simon Mawby had departed by this time and so Guy Chadwick performed most of the guitar parts. It shows too. The songs aren't memorable, his vocals are pretty lackadaisical and the lyrics are off! 

Not surprising then, that the band would split up after its release, until 2005 when they reunited. I don't have their first album as a new House of Love band with Terry Bickers back in the band - that was Day's Run Away in 2005.

She Paints in Red (2013) was my next album by The House of Love - their sixth studio album. It's again with Terry Bickers providing his wonderful guitar and Pete Evans still on drums. Matt Jury was the latest bassist. As they've aged, the sound has become much more mellow, which is great.

AllMusic summed up the album well: House of Love are comfortable in their skin without being complacent, sounding happy, even grateful, to be writing and playing again, winding up with a record that stands alongside their '80s and '90s work quite nicely.

The final album on my list is A State of Grace, released in 2022. Only Guy Chadwick appears from the original band. The back end of the album is more like She Paints in Red, while the first half is noisy and bleak. Weird. 

Guy's lyrics are back to Audience with the Mind level cringey at times as well, but a least he's still out there, doing it, I guess. This is an album I probably wouldn't have bought if I'd heard it first. But, then again, it could have been as good as She Paints in Red, so it was worth the effort.

Where do they all belong? I'm not a completist but I'd be keen to find their first reunion album - Day's Run Away. It has Terry Bickers on it so it could be good.

My silver lining (First Aid Kit) (LP 4376)

First Aid Kit  Stay Gold (Vinyl, Columbia Records, 2014) ****  

Genre: Indie folk, Americana 

Places I remember: JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Cedar Lane. My Silver Lining

Gear costume: The Bell

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: This is my second First Aid Kit album (their third). I was first hooked by Palomino in 2024.

Stay Gold was released in 2014, but it sounds very similar to Palomino, and is as good as that album, in my opinion. The sisters have that sibling thing where their voices gel superbly. The music is often genre blending - part country, part folk - hence the Americana tag.

There are plenty of great songs on Stay Gold. With a few more listens (I've just bought it), I'm picking it will get up to classic five-star status.

Where do they all belong? Two excellent First Aid Kit albums squared away!

Star (The Hollies) (LP 4373 - 4375)

The Hollies  Hollies Live Hits (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1977) ****  

The Hollies  The Hollies Live at the BBC (CD, BBC Records, 2018) ****  

The Hollies  Live in London (Vinyl, Immortal Records, 2013) ***  

Genre: Pop 

Places I remember: Slow Boat Records, JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Bus Stop (Live Hits)

Gear costume: 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) (Live Hits)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: Hollies Live Hits was made up of songs performed at some New Zealand shows in January 1976. My fellow Kiwis (and I) have always had a soft spot for The Hollies!

It's a terrific set, with The Hollies choosing some brilliant songs from throughout their career - they have a truly amazing catalogue of hits to draw from. The Nu Zild crowd could be a tad more enthusiastic but that's us to a tee in the seventies.

Live at the BBC is a terrific set of early, sixties, appearances on the Beeb Beeb Ceeb. The young Hollies tear into some great rock numbers like She Said Yeah with gusto!

The Hollies Live in London is from the late sixties, after Nash had left. The Dylan covers come across well but the song selection is patchy. It's 1969 so A Taste of Honey and Stewball are odd choices.

The guys are dressed in matching suits and ties. Again - guys - it's 1969!

Where do they all belong? A great way to finish. The Hollies could deliver live!