Search - Kinks :: Something Else By the Kinks

The stereo version remastered

Terestai | Littleton, Colorado USA | 06/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This UK mini-LP CD is not only a faithful reproduction of the Japanese version of the album, but it's in full, glorious stereo. Anyone familiar with the Castle remasters will know that they made a huge mistake by releasing this Kinks klassic in mono. This CD, done in conjunction with Sanctuary, is the remastered album in stereo... the way it always should have been.This CD stands heads and shoulders over the Castle remaster for several reasons. First of all, it's in stereo. Second, "Love Me Till The Sun Shines" once again starts with a thunderous, pounding rhythm capable of blowing out your speakers. Third, the first two notes of "Tin Soldier Man" have been restored. Oh... and this CD is in remastered stereo.The only place where this release falters is in the song "Situation Vacant". On the original it faded out, faded back in, then faded out to the end of the song. On this CD, it fades out, and then ends. No reprise. No nuthin'. This makes the track about 40 seconds shorter than on any other CD that's been released. But hey... it's in stereo!If you love The Kinks, you need this CD. Did I mention it's remastered? In stereo?"

Treading water between masterpieces

W. M. Davidson | St. Louis, MO | 07/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great-sounding stereo remaster. It makes the American "Something Else" release sound like a subpar cassette bootleg. There are no bonus tracks, but from what I've read of the horrendous sound quality and inept edits on the Castle remaster, I'm glad I bought this version instead. (If you do the same, be sure to pick up "The Singles Collection" as well for a pristine version of "Autumn Almanac," one of Ray Davies' all-time best songs.)



As for the album itself? "Something Else by the Kinks" always struck me as a somewhat rote Kinks release, especially sandwiched in between the untouchable masterpieces "Face to Face" and "The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society." "Death of a Clown" doesn't live up to the hype, and Dave Davies' other two contributions are solid but nothing truly special. The psychedelic experiments "Lazy Old Sun" and "End of the Season" don't connect. A lot of the other material is quite good, and really captures the slice-of-life-in-the-Big-Black-Smoke vibe that makes the Kinks' music from this era so appealing. Even the good stuff, though, is haunted by a Kinks-by-numbers feeling, as if these songs are merely leftovers from "Face to Face," musically similar but lacking that extra spark.



I didn't mention "Waterloo Sunset," which many Kinks fans regard as their peak, because to me the song just doesn't justify its reputation. It's a good song, maybe a great one, but not an amazing one, and certainly not in Ray Davies' top tier of compositions. On this album alone, "David Watts" and "Two Sisters" best it handily.



"Something Else" was a stopgap release, and it sounds like Ray was saving his very best ideas for later (which he in fact was-- the Village Green concept was germinated during the "SEBTK" sessions). Kinks fans should definitely pick this up but newcomers should not start here-- the preceding and following albums shine a lot brighter."