The Kinks - Something Else (Deluxe) (2010)

Face to Face was a remarkable record, but its follow-up, Something Else, expands its accomplishments, offering 13 classic British pop songs. As Ray Davies' songwriting becomes more refined, he becomes more nostalgic and sentimental, retreating from the psychedelic and mod posturings that had dominated the rock world. Indeed, Something Else sounds like nothing else from 1967. The Kinks never rock very hard on the album, preferring acoustic ballads, music hall numbers, and tempered R&B to full-out guitar attacks. Part of the album's power lies in its calm music, since it provides an elegant support for Davies' character portraits and vignettes. From the martial stomp of "David Watts" to the lovely, shimmering "Waterloo Sunset," there's not a weak song on the record, and several -- such as the allegorical "Two Sisters," the Noël Coward-esque "End of the Season," the rolling "Lazy Old Sun," and the wry "Situation Vacant" -- are stunners. And just as impressive is the emergence of Dave Davies as a songwriter. His Dylanesque "Death of a Clown" and bluesy rocker "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" hold their own against Ray's masterpieces, and help make Something Else the endlessly fascinating album that it is.

Tracklist:
1.01 - The Kinks - David Watts (2:29)
1.02 - The Kinks - Death of a Clown (3:02)
1.03 - The Kinks - Two Sisters (1:59)
1.04 - The Kinks - No Return (2:02)
1.05 - The Kinks - Harry Rag (2:16)
1.06 - The Kinks - Tin Soldier Man (2:49)
1.07 - The Kinks - Situation Vacant (3:15)
1.08 - The Kinks - Love Me Till the Sun Shines (3:17)
1.09 - The Kinks - Lazy Old Sun (2:48)
1.10 - The Kinks - Afternoon Tea (3:25)
1.11 - The Kinks - Funny Face (2:16)
1.12 - The Kinks - End of the Season (2:57)
1.13 - The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset (3:14)
1.14 - The Kinks - Act Nice and Gentle (2:38)
1.15 - The Kinks - Mr. Pleasant (2:58)
1.16 - The Kinks - Susannah's Still Alive (Mono Mix) (2:23)
1.17 - The Kinks - Autumn Almanac (3:04)
1.18 - The Kinks - Harry Rag (Mono Alternate Take) (2:13)
1.19 - The Kinks - David Watts (Mono Alternate Take) (2:32)
1.20 - The Kinks - Afternoon Tea (Canadian Mono Mix) (3:17)
1.21 - The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon (Live at Maida Vale Studios, 1967) (2:52)
1.22 - The Kinks - Autumn Almanac (Live At the BBC) (3:05)
1.23 - The Kinks - Mr. Pleasant (Live at Maida Vale Studios, 1967) (2:48)
1.24 - The Kinks - Susannah's Still Alive (Live at Maida Vale Studios, 1967) (2:14)
1.25 - The Kinks - David Watts (Live at Maida Vale Studios, 1967) (2:10)
1.26 - The Kinks - Love Me Till the Sun Shines (Live at The Playhouse Theatre, 1967) (2:19)
1.27 - The Kinks - Death of a Clown (Live At the BBC) (2:45)
1.28 - The Kinks - Good Luck Charm (BBC Live) (1:17)
1.29 - The Kinks - Harry Rag (Live At the BBC) (2:27)
1.30 - The Kinks - Little Women (Mono Backing Track) (2:13)
2.31 - The Kinks - David Watts (Stereo Mix) (2:41)
2.32 - The Kinks - Death of a Clown (Stereo Mix) (3:13)
2.33 - The Kinks - Two Sisters (Stereo Mix) (2:02)
2.34 - The Kinks - No Return (Stereo Mix) (2:00)
2.35 - The Kinks - Harry Rag (Stereo Mix) (2:15)
2.36 - The Kinks - Tin Soldier Man (Stereo Mix) (2:47)
2.37 - The Kinks - Situation Vacant (Stereo Mix) (3:15)
2.38 - The Kinks - Love Me Till the Sun Shines (Stereo Mix) (3:17)
2.39 - The Kinks - Lazy Old Sun (Stereo Mix) (2:46)
2.40 - The Kinks - Afternoon Tea (Stereo Mix) (3:25)
2.41 - The Kinks - Funny Face (Stereo Mix) (2:16)
2.42 - The Kinks - End of the Season (Stereo Mix) (2:58)
2.43 - The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset (Stereo Mix) (3:18)
2.44 - The Kinks - Susannah's Still Alive (2:21)
2.45 - The Kinks - Autumn Almanac (Stereo Mix) (3:14)
2.46 - The Kinks - Sand On My Shoes (Stereo Mix) (3:08)
2.47 - The Kinks - Afternoon Tea (Stereo Alternate Version) (3:41)
2.48 - The Kinks - Mr. Pleasant (Stereo Alternate Version) (3:15)
2.49 - The Kinks - Lazy Old Sun (Stereo Alternate Vocal Version) (3:13)
2.50 - The Kinks - Funny Face (Stereo Alternate Version) (2:40)
2.51 - The Kinks - Afternoon Tea (German Stereo Mix) (3:17)
2.52 - The Kinks - Tin Soldier Man (Stereo Alternate Backing Track) (3:06)