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The Kinks - Preservation: Act 1 Audio CD

A fair review of the The Kinks "Preservation: Act 1" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Kinks reviews here, or go back to the The Kinks tabs.

The Kinks Band: The Kinks
Title: Preservation: Act 1
Rating:
Release Date: 2004-09-21
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Preservation (Single) [Alternate Mix][*][Version] 2: Morning Song 3: Daylight 4: Sweet Lady Genevieve 5: There's a Change in the Weather 6: Where Are They Now? 7: One of the Survivors 8: Cricket 9: Money & Corruption/I Am Your Man 10: Here Comes Flash 11: Sitting in the Midday Sun 12: Demolition 13: One of the Survivors [Single Edit][*]

Preservation: Act I
the Power Man", but come on. It may not be "Lola vs. . . It's Preservation: Act. I, for God's sake! I don't make a habit of replacing all of my LP's with CD's, but my copy of Preservation was a lousy pressing. When I saw that this CD was remastered, I had to have a listen. I wasn't disappointed. It will make you smile!.


Classic.
My best guess is that, at least in the most traditional sense, it "rocks" slightly less than many of their other works. I don't think I'll ever understand why so many Kinks fans seem to dislike this album so. Overall the music seems even more introspective, nostalgia-soaked and understated than Ray Davies is typically known for, which is saying quite a bit. I might even go as far as to say that there may be some sort of spiritual quality contained herein as well.

Aside from this, it is my opinion that "Preservation: Act 1" quite frankly features some of the most heartfelt playing and songwriting of The Kinks' career. The ingenious musical arrangements and interplay that they had developed over the previous years is still in full swing here, and such inspiring songs as "Daylight," "Sweet Lady Genevieve," and "Where Are They Now?" will have you singing along in just a few listens.

Bear in mind that, as other reviews have stated, this is more than just a run-of-the-mill "rock and roll" record. Be prepared to REALLY LISTEN to the music and allow yourself to be carried off by it, rather than just put it on in the background. My guess is that Kinks fans who enjoy a greater variety of music than simply rock - specifically "classical" and prog - will be more receptive to this album's charms.

Happy listening.


And I will make promises I can't keep...
Most seem to criticize the vagueness of the concept that Ray Davies was trying to produce with the first part of this epic but I think enough of the songs are good enough to stand apart. For me, but maybe not for many critics or even fans of the Kinks, `Preservation Act 1' was a comeback of sorts from what I felt was a rather banal offering in `Everybody's in Showbiz'. "Sweet Lady Genevieve" has been called a minor classic and I think it definitely represents some of the best of the mellower vein of Ray's songwriting. "One of the Survivors" is probably the most memorable track from this late 1973 as it contains much of the traits of an archetypical Kinks rocker. I really would get all hung up on any story, if you like the Kinks, you've been here before as many of their classic albums were loosely conceptual including `Village Green' of which the Preservation project was supposed to be an extension. Also considering the anguish Ray Davies seemed to be going through in his personal life then it makes `Act 1' all the more remarkable. "Demolition" which closes the record also contains the central musical motif of the project that would later see it climatic finish at the end of `Act 2'. "Sitting in the Midday Sun" has been called redundant by some as a return to the well of the same subject matter as "Sunny Afternoon" but without the melancholy and again I have to disagree here as it may seem familiar but it still is an enjoyable musical piece in its own right. Not all of `Act 1' is great and it does deserve some of the negative reviews but if you love the music of Ray Davies, then you will ignore the warts and enjoy the LP for what it is, a band still flexing its creative juices in what many so called experts consider their fallow period.


Kinks
Someone recommended it to me. It was interesting to listen to. It's not quite my taste.


utterly forgettable rubbish
The Kinks are undeniably geniuses and rightly deserve their places in the US & UK Halls of Fame and have recorded many of my favorite albums and songs ever. One of the worst albums of all time by one of the best artists of all time. This ain't it. Absolute utter crap. I've tried listening to it every few years and I plain can't stand it. If I even make it to the end of it, I wonder what I just heard and can't remember a single song from it. Take the money you're going to spend for it and give it to charity or something.


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