Zack: The Kinks are at their coolest when they’re singing about hooking up with trannies. Unfortunately, that is not this album. Face to Face marks a real exploration by the chief songwriter, Ray Davies. As random as it is, my dad loves Ray Davies. He has a bunch of Kinks albums as well as a lot of Ray’s solo works, and has seen him perform solo. As you can probably guess, I’ve been exposed to The Kinks from the time I was little. To me, they’ve always seemed like a halfway point between The Beatles and The Who. Their music is socially conscious like The Who, but it isn’t as rebellious and is delivered in a way that is more akin to the pop stylings of The Beatles’ earlier works. Overall, this formula makes for an enjoyable listen, but the album is in no way overwhelming.
Favorite Tracks: Sunny Afternoon; Rosie Won’t You Please Come Home; Fancy
Emily: On its own, this album is nothing special. But as a part of the total Kinks discography, it is a transformative piece for the band. It was the first for which Ray Davies wrote all of the music, and the first where they shied away from the classic rock-and-roll that made them famous. It's a good first step. The songs are consistent and cohesive, but none really stand out with a huge "wow" factor. Davies' songwriting is clever, sarcastic, and socially relevant, which is what really sets the Kinks apart and makes this album worth a listen.
Favorite Tracks: Sunny Afternoon; I'll Remember; Rosie Won't You Please Come Home
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