“ Till the End of the Day .” “ Come and confess your sins to Uncle Ray ,” invites Davies before Gosling ’ s Gospel organ launches “ Complicated Life .” Also present is the studio outtake “ History ,” in which a young man vainly seeks answers from the animated figures in a British museum . The box ’ s trove of treasures includes “ Ray Davies 1971 Home Movie ,” travel montage audio , an enamel badge , color photos , and Ray ’ s surprisingly revealing remixes of 11 songs drawn from both albums . The whimsical “ Have a Cuppa Tea ” is reinvented with attention drawn to instruments that were less prominent in the original ** Muswell mix . There ’ s new clarity and separation to “ Alcohol ,” with an alternate vocal and Dave ’ s gritty guitar drawn forward . “ Here Comes Yet Another Day ” is similarly rejuvenated with a wider stereo spectrum that highlights Mick Avory ’ s lively drumming .
A foldout map of north London marks 39 locations significant to the Kinks and the Davies family . A 52-page hardback book contains photos , news clippings , and an expansive new essay on the period featuring band member interviews . This 50thanniversary set allows a deep dive for reevaluation of these underrated Kinks klassics . ( thekinks . info )
– Jeff Elbel
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THE VERLAINES Live at the Windsor Castle , 1986
( Schoolkids )
Thanks to Schoolkids for bringing this underrated gem from the days of college rock and jangle-pop into the light . The Verlaines had been in action and developing for five years by the time of this concert recording in Auckland , New Zealand , with 1985 debut album Hallelujah All the Way Home and 1984 EP 10 O ’ Clock in the Afternoon to the band ’ s credit , along with scattered songs released on New Zealand indie label Flying Nun . Singer-songwriterguitarist Graeme Downes has said that the two-night stand in May 1986 was recorded in order to capture a live version of his firstever composition “ Slow Sad Love Song ” prior to recording it for the then-upcoming
Bird Dog album . The song begins as a somber bedridden lament over a friend ’ s suicide and coalesces into thrashing catharsis . It ’ s fortunate that the tape was rolling at Windsor Castle for both complete shows . The set previews seven of Bird Dog ’ s ten songs in revealing performances . The early version of “ Only Dream Left ” is rendered as a straightforward guitar-pop ramble , compared with the eventual album ’ s swinging piano-led waltz .
Songs like “ Take Good Care of It ” will appeal to fans from R . E . M . from Chronic Town through Reckoning , plus Let ’ s Active , Game Theory , early output by The Church , and other kindred spirits from the era . In addition to the then-fresh material , the set also includes a clutch of enduring favorites from Hallelujah All the Way Home . The furiously strummed “ Lying in State ” bemoans struggles with the opposite sex while escaping the confines of jangle-pop to land squarely in jangle-punk territory , with Downes ’ vocal suggesting influence upon Material Issue ’ s Jim Ellison . “ For the Love Of Ash Grey ” is a cartwheeling uptempo charmer with shades of mod heroics by the early Who and the Jam , tracing a winding path behind Downes ’ cascading chord progression and drummer Robbie Yeats ’ dynamic shifts . Bassist Jane Dodd propels the frenetic and appropriately incendiary “ Pyromaniac .” Downes ’ heady lyrical couplets during the crashing “ Icarus Missed ” suggest that the mythical figure wasn ’ t felled by flying too close to the sun but rather was shot from the ground . The set concludes with an eight-minute version of the contemplative but explosive pop epic and signature song “ The Ballad Of Harry Noryb .” “ My being splits ; one half walks out and sits in the audience and grins ,” sings Downes before ruminating upon a series of character flaws in need of mending . Live at Windsor Castle , 1986 exhibits some of the limitations and flaws of a 36-year-old soundboard recording , but the results are highly listenable with a strong “ you are there ” vibe .
It ’ s lucky to have such a portrait of Downes in his youth and a snapshot of the evolving Verlaines from the early days of a compelling arc . Schoolkids Records present the album as a 2xLP set on translucent skyblue vinyl to match the sleeve ’ s gig-poster artwork .
– Jeff Elbel
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