The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 19, 1979, Page Page 13, Image 13
Kinks: h
By Ward Borden
Qarrwcock Staff Writer
In first listening to The Kinks' new album
Low Budget, I found myself getting caught
up in the driving beat, consequently missing
most of the lyrics to the songs. I thought,
"This album is no big deal." Each time it is
played, however, it gets better and better.
Ray Da vies, songwriter/producer of The
Kinks, has created a fast-paced album with
two good sides.
Three recurring phenomena, identity
crises, drugs and depression, are the topics
for most of the songs on the album. Davies is
knowledgeable about all three. This
somewhat depressing theme if nothing new
for Davies and The Kinks, but it would seem
to be a drag for the listener. It isn't: the
production and musicianship on the album
is good, and Ray Da vies' lyrics are captivating,
if a bit odd.
While there Is little letup fro
side two has the characterl
Side one begins with a somewhat frantic
song called "Attitude." In this song, like
several others on the album, Da vies seems
to encourage one to shape up. It's a tight
song and vintage Kinks. "Catch Me Now I'm
Falling," the longest song on the album, is a
bona fide hit which progresses from a slow
beginning to a hot finish. The guitar work is
particularly tasty, and the saxophone adds a
nice touch. The song has characteristics of
some real rock classics.
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into a Beach Boys-type beat early. This
song, like the first song "Attitude," is welldone
but seems undistinguishable as a
result of the frantic pace. It seems that
Davies wanted to create an album with no
low points. It may result, however, in the
listener falling behind the album.
Following "Pressure," the song
"National Health" provides a welcome
change of pace. It isn't a slow song, but the
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Also, the lyrics convey to the listener ways
to release tension and avoid pressure.
Davies quips, "If it's good for your head, it's
good for your mind."
"Superman (Wish I Could Fly Like)" is
the vehicle for some of The Kinks' favorite
song topics, lack of masculinity and
depression. The song says that being a
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This is one of numerous instances when
'Davies' lyrics take a poke at traditional
societal norms. In an inoffensive way he
says that the societal norm does not relate to
actual societal conditions. Maybe society's
norms are out of step. It is a recurring
theme on the album and is characteristic of
The Kinks.
In spite of the fact that side one contains
two highly publicized soiuzs. I like side two
better. While there is little letup from the
rocking on side one, side two has the
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"Low Budget," the title song, is upbeat
and very listenable. It isn't a standout song,
but the lyrics are clever and Dave Davies
fills the gaps with good guitar fills. "In
Space" is another song that won't make the
top forty, but the lyrics and high-pitched
chorus lend it some character.
In "Little Bit of Emotion" Davies again
points up some of society's shortcomings,
but by singing rather than shouting. The
song, which is quiet and reflective, is the
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enough, the quiet contrast drives home
Da vies' points most effectively:
Look at the looney with the smile on
his face
He knows no shame, and he feels no
disgrace
He gotta look in his eye
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That makes him seem that he's from
outer space
Maybe that looney knows what it's all
about
He's got something to say but he can't
spit it out
He's uncoordinated so we shove him
out
The freauentlv olaved sono "A finllnn nf
Gas" follows and it is reminiscent of old
Grateful Dead releases. After two slow
songs The Kinks jump into "Miserie," a fast
rock and roll song with a beat that dates
back to Chuck Berry. The song is good, but
is unexplainably misses being really good.
Side two ends with "Motion Picture," a
moderately paced song which compares life
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to a moving picture. It seems that after
taking two sides to state his views, Davies
sums things up with this song.
"Low Budget' is a difficult album to rate.
Some of the songs are memorable, while
others are just okay. The difficulty arises in
the fact that even the misses are near
misses, and good guitar, drums and piano
playing prevail throughout. In sDite of the
fact that the lyrics get a bit depressing, the
beat picks things up.
What is comforting about the album is
that there are still a few bands around that
can still rock and make a statement at the
same time. Even if you disagree with the
statement, you can still take pleasure in its
presentation.
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