Review by Richie Unterberger

The Kinks' second album, Kinda Kinks (which, like their debut, now has a running order and track selection restored to the original British version), found the band relying more on original material, but had similarly threadbare production and songwriting for the most part. This sounded like a rush job in both composition and performance, largely devoted to unexceptional, even generic, British Invasion pop/rock. Aside from the great hit "Tired of Waiting for You" and its driving B-side "Come On Now," in fact, nothing here stood out, with the exception of the lovely ballad "Something Better Beginning." [On the CD reissue, however, a fine clutch of bonus tracks help save the day. "Set Me Free" is a great cut with a minor melody reminiscent of the Zombies; "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy" is a peppy if unremarkable single; "See My Friends" is a super-cool excursion into Indian-influenced folk-rock, also showing Ray Davies start to flower into a lyricist of touching vulnerability and ambiguity; and "Well Respected Man" was his first blow of savage social satire. There's also a previously unissued, piano-dominated ballad, "I Go to Sleep," although this has been recorded by several artists, including the Pretenders.]

Tracklist

1.: Beautiful Delilah
2.: So Mystifying
3.: Just Can't Go to Sleep
4.: Long Tall Shorty
5.: I Took My Baby Home
6.: I'm a Lover Not a Fighter
7.: You Really Got Me
8.: Cadillac
9.: Bald Headed Woman
10.: Revenge
11.: Too Much Monkey Business
12.: I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain
13.: Stop Your Sobbing
14.: Got Love if You Want It
15.: Look for Me Baby
16.: Got My Feet on the Ground
17.: Nothin' in the World Can Stop Me...
18.: Naggin' Woman
19.: Wonder Where My Baby is Tonight
20.: Tired of Waiting for You
21.: Dancing in the Street
22.: Don't Ever Change
23.: Come on Now
24.: So Long
25.: You Shouldn't Be Sad
26.: Something Better Beginning


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