The Kinks — Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround Part One

There is, of course, one more Kinks album that I have just procured from Forever Changes, one that I embarrassingly didn’t own until last month. Given all that has gone on in that month, it’s a miracle I listened to it at all, but listen to it I have, and once again, I’m wondering why I felt safe just sticking to the hits with The Kinks, knowing I adored them, and didn’t venture into the concept albums. This album was practically free in the bins for decades, and now I’ve paid a nice premium for a pristine reissue.

And of course, it’s a very good album. However, I wasn’t wrong to think of it as a little less accessible than some of their later, ’70s work. “Lola” remains a huge groundbreaker for its subject, and although some of the terms would be dated now, its theme of simple acceptance is still hugely powerful. Most of the rest of the record is an indictment of the music business, not surprising given how it failed The Kinks. I don’t think this album catches me the way that “Village Green Preservation Society” does, but it’s my intent to keep it in rotation for a bit and see how it goes.