Muswell Hillbillies
by The Kinks

I generall agree with y'all commenters, except daftpunter's assertion that Sgt. Pepper is "tripe". That just seems excessively revisionist. Sgt. Pepper is a remarkable work of art, though it's hard to listen to it with "fresh ears." But yeah this is one of the most underrated albums I've ever encountered. I used to think Village Green was their best, but now comparing these two, Muswell Hillbillies seems much better to me. Village Green is sort of uneven, unfocused compared to this, which is understandable given Ray's difficulty putting it together. Muswell just feels like each (excellent) song leads so naturally into the next. This album is packed with Ray's freshest, most irresistable melodies. And of course the lyrical content, never a weak spot for him, is better than ever. This is a much darker record than Village Green, not so much idyllic escape as pessimistic realism. People in grey are taking away paranoid schizophrenics (who isn't crazy in a world like this?), but Ray wishes he could just have a cuppa tea in somewhere like Oklahoma, USA. Of course, even "Have a Cuppa Tea" lampoons British culture. At least this review gets it:
http://drownedinsound.com/releases/17882/reviews/4146960

Ray is at the top of his game here. Much like Arthur the album holds a number of buried gems since the Kinks still weren't touring the states at this time. The last of the great Klassik Kinks era, but easily one of their top with the already mentioned Arthur, Face to Face and Something Else. What's truly amazing is that while tripe like Sgt Peppers gets classic, almost mythic, status a much stronger album goes almost unnoticed. Three 100 star ratings out of 92 (as of this writing)? Criminal. God save the Kinks!

I just don't think this style of music fits the Kinks for me. The music feels a bit nullified and like there isn't much passion driving it through to us. Furthermore, it can be quite simplistic at times and I wouldn't really say it is an extremely experimental album. To me the Kinks do Americana doesn't really work and the only time the album is quite effective is where they integrate a bit more rock into the sound. They also integrate a bit of the classic Kinks sound and that makes songs like Have A Cuppa Tea stand out as one of the strongest. Instrumentally, the guitars are good in places but on the whole there isn't loads of standout performances from most of the ensemble. Overall, I was quite let down by this album but I have only listened to it a few times so maybe on a later relisten I might change my opinion.

This album deserves to belong to the holy Kinks canon.

The Kinks go all Americana on us. Maxwell hillbillies, is a good record, but like The Stones around the same time, The Kinks have shred their British influences and are now more focused on country and blues. Some good songs, but nothing as special as their classic songs. Still, enjoyable enough.