Customer Reviews

Schoolboys in Disgrace

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After three muddled messes of questionable ideas and unrealized ambition, the Kinks finally delivered a solid rock theatre piece with "Schoolboys in Disgrace."

Ray's material is tight, and the band sounds rejuvenated as they rip through one great song after another, effortlessly moving from hard rock to '50s homages to prog-influenced epics. Dave Davies steals the show with awesome guitar work on "Headmaster" and "No More Looking Back."

Instead of telling a linear story, Ray focuses on individual feelings and situations that are thematically linked but also stand on their own. The result is more like the classic "Arthur" album, and a huge improvement over "Preservation" and "Soap Opera," where the songs were so stuffed with plot they had no room to breathe.

"Schoolboys" is one of the Kinks' best albums and a beacon of creativity and excellence among their spotty '70s work. If you're curious about the Kinks' fascinating but often frustrating rock theatre period, start here!

Ray's wit was dripping out of the CD case when I cracked this open. This was their final concept album and it has their best hooks since "You've Really Got Me". This album is so underrated...any song here could have been a hit but sadly not one was. I would call this album `the lighter side of Pink Floyd's The Wall'. It rocks, it's brilliant, it's fun and you can dance to it.

This cd is simply one of the best works THE KINKS ever did, not in production terms but in songs and concept. All songs have some special apeal. Some rock very hard and others simply capture a special feeling or situation. "NO MORE LOOKING BACK" is one of the band s' best song ever; is very sad this song never got the radio airplay or even the band attention it deserved. I still wait for a good rock band to cover it (maybe OASIS?).

Ray Davies and the Kinks can always be counted on to create uniquely interesting and enjoyable music. Each song on this album is a mini-masterwork and it all adds up to one of their finest releases. The concept of their school days in England provides plenty of fodder for Ray's trademark wit and Dave Davies absolutely kills it on the guitar! Listen to his playing on "I'm in Disgrace", "Headmaster", "The Hard Way" and "No More Looking Back" to get a primer in tasty rock guitar riffs and tone. This album was criminally underrated on it's release and I was thrilled to replace my vinyl with this remaster which also contains excellent liner notes. Highly recommended!

What can you say about Schoolboys in Discrace? A timeless classic for a timeless band. If you owned in on vinyl, you owe it to yourself to update and keep it in your collection.

I love the Kinks but if yer looking for something like "Something Else" or "Face to Face" you'll be disappointed...