The leader of The Kinks first collaborated with the Crouch End Festival Chorus for the BBC Electric Proms. No doubt a good time was had by all. Committing the results to disc is more problematic. True, The Kinks’ hits have melodies that are (almost) indestructible, but Davies’ lyrical miniatures are quite unsuited to the rock opera treatment. “Celluloid Heroes” is bearable, but by making “Days” sound like a dreary hymn and adding a funereal backing to “You Really Got Me”, the singer is guilty of self-abuse, if not sacrilege. ALASTAIR McKAY For more album reviews, click here for the UNCUT music archive
The leader of The Kinks first collaborated with the Crouch End Festival Chorus for the BBC Electric Proms. No doubt a good time was had by all. Committing the results to disc is more problematic.
True, The Kinks’ hits have melodies that are (almost) indestructible, but Davies’ lyrical miniatures are quite unsuited to the rock opera treatment.
“Celluloid Heroes” is bearable, but by making “Days” sound like a dreary hymn and adding a funereal backing to “You Really Got Me”, the singer is guilty of self-abuse, if not sacrilege.
ALASTAIR McKAY
For more album reviews, click here for the UNCUT music archive
