The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

This is the kind of album that makes you reconsider your entire relationship with music. I thought I knew what this genre could do, and then this came along and expanded the boundaries so far that everything before it sounds slightly incomplete in comparison. Bold statement, I know, but I stand by it. The production is absolutely jaw-dropping. There are textures here that I've never heard on any other record. But what really makes it work is that all that sonic experimentation is in service of genuine emotion. It never feels like showing off. Every choice, no matter how unconventional, feels emotionally motivated. That's mastery.

A very cohesive listen. The sequencing is particularly impressive.

A landmark release that deserves every bit of praise it gets.

Every generation has a handful of perfect albums. This is one of them.

One of those albums that people praise because it's 'different' and 'challenging' but different and challenging aren't inherently good. The few moments of genuine quality make the rest feel even more disappointing by comparison.