Ray Davies's Strongest Concept Album (July 24, 2010)

This is arguably the Kink's greatest album. It was released to poor sales because The Beatles' superior White Album and Jimi Hendrix's superior Electric Ladyland were released on the same day. It's a shame because this had the songs and concept to be a great album. This is also due to the subject of the songs.They were looking at the small pleasures of life and the way things used to be. It wasn't very appealing to listeners at the time. However, over time it was sort of gotten the audience it derserved. It starts out with the best track, "The Village Green Preservation Society". Next is one of Ray Davies's best written songs, "Do You Remember Walter". Then there's the incredbly catchy "Picture Book" which became famous a few years back on an HP printer ad. Then are a few skipable songs like "Big Sky" and "Sitting By The River". But, no tracks on this album are unlistenable. They all have something to enjoy. Overall this is Ray Davies's strongest concept for an album. It was long before albums The Kink's would release in the mid-70s that would make a joke of concept albums. The idea is great. Writing songs about the lost pleasures of life as the world progressed. With well written songs and beautiful acoustic guitars, this is a terrific album. Hopefully, it will continue to get more famous over time.

excellent album (April 9, 2010)

WOW! The Village Green Preservation Society is a *magnificent* album. Not only is the entire album extremely melodic from beginning to end, the songwriting is amazingly diverse as well, putting this album in the same category as the Beatles White Album and the Pretty Things S.F. Sorrow.

This is definitely a fantastic album. I just don't know where I'd place it in my list of favorite Kinks album. I'm seriously thinking somewhere in the top three.

I love the psychedelic pop of "Do You Remember Walter?" and "Phenominal Cat". It's hard to put into words just how extremely melodic these two songs are.

My favorite song is definitely "Johnny Thunder" (well, maybe not DEFINITELY, hehe) because it's the most energetic and melodic song I've ever heard... okay that's an exaggeration too, haha. It's just another really spectacular Kinks song among a HUGE list of really spectacular songs courtesy of Ray Davies and the boys. It, like the rest of the album, shows a band at the very top of their game.

The only song I can't quite get into is "Picture Book". Perhaps that one commercial on TV from a few years ago ruined it for me (remember, that commercial was played THOUSANDS of times in a very short amount of time, ugh!!).

I like how the band turns into a really satanic bunch of songwriters for a few minutes when "Wicked Annabella" comes on. I never knew the Kinks could sound so evil!

"Starstruck" is another highly memorable tune. "Village Green" reminds me of the Mama's and Papa's, which is a good comparison trust me. They are a genius group of songwriters much like the Kinks are.

The Kinks should be remembered, and Village Green Preservation Society perfectly shows us why- this is melodic brilliance from beginning to end.

Delightfully British!:) (February 17, 2010)

This album was a pleasant surprise for me. I had bought Something Else by the Kinks first, and liked it, but wasnt going crazy about it. This album was addictive. Every song on it is great and catchy. Animal Farm is a wonderful song and probely my favorite on the album. The whole album is whimsical and delightful!

Everytime I finish it, I cant wait to start it again.

Wrong track listing (December 4, 2009)

I just wanted to mention, if it's helpful, that as of Dec 4 2009, Amazon has the wrong track listing posted for this release. Here is the correct track listing:

1. The Village Green Preservation Society
2. Do You Remember Walter?
3. Picture Book
4. Johnny Thunder
5. Last of the Steam Powered Trains
6. Big Sky
7. Sitting by the Riverside
8. Animal Farm
9. Village Green
10. Starstruck
11. Phenomenal Cat
12. All of My Friends Were There
13. Wicked Annabella
14. Monica
15. People Take Pictures of Each Other

And for the record, I love this record.

Classic (November 25, 2009)

Something Else by the Kinks was Ray Davies showing the full range of his abilities, this album shows his mastery at focusing on one concept.

Village Green Preservation Society is about the the English contryside. There is Ray, wanting to save draft beer and vaudville, but he is also disillusioned with his old mate, Walter. The cast also includes a bad little girl, Monica, and a whitch--or at least people thought--Anabella.

This album could be about any small town back in 1968, especially in England, where post war reconstruction and modernazation were reletively new. Everything was local, especially outside London.

The music is diverse, and the concept is never sentimental or quaint, although it could have become so in hands of a lesser composer. "Perserving the old ways from being abused, protecting the new ways, for me and for you."


These were the days of LSD, Hippies, Hendrix at the Maurqee. But some parts of the backcountry did not have indoor toilets yet. This album embraces both.

The concept is unique and risky for an era of revolution and electric hippie blues. It is also beautiful and brillant.