Search - Kinks :: Low Budget

Klassic Kinks!

Todd Bartholomew | Atlanta, GA USA | 01/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Kinks were enjoying a second wind once signing with Arista in the mid-1970s after some spotty recordings earlier in the decade. "Sleepwalker" (1977) and "Misfits" (1978) showed the band getting tighter and stronger and the material Ray Davies was writing was approaching some of his best, but nothing could prepare fans for "Low Budget". True to the title the Kinks were at their most stripped down, spontaneous and playful in years. With punk on the ascent Ray Davies figured if you can't join `em, beat `em and delivered some of his brashest songs in years. Ostensibly an album about the USA it's Ray at his observational best with songs focusing on relations both personal and global. The opening blast of "Attitude" really sets the stage as Dave cranks up his guitar and Ray lets rip with a stinging critique on a deserving fool with the wrong mindset. By the end things settle down and Ray is encouraging us all to "take off your headphones, see what's going on." "Catch Me Now I'm Falling" is a poignant plea from Captain America down on his knees that sadly is as poignant today as it was then. "Pressure" and "National Health" turns the perspective inwards towards dealing with pressure and exercise albeit with great chugging guitar and a can't-help-but-sing-along chorus on "Pressure" and an oddly loopy but catchy beat on "National Health". Next up is "Superman" which literally seems to divide Kinks fans into two camps; love it or see it as the Disco Sellout. Personally I love it and it's the song that hooked me into buying the LP back then and I love the hilarious lyric "I'd like to fly but I can't even swim". As far as rock-meets-disco it's certainly not "Miss You" by the Stones but I've certainly heard worse! "Low Budget" is probably one of the funniest numbers the Kinks did and totally skews the cheapskate chic that was in vogue then and now...another sing-along favorite. "In A Space" follows and I've never been sure whether it's about someone stoned/drunk and totally into introspection or literally about someone out in space, but it goes from calm to rock in almost no time and then back again. "Little Bit of Emotion" is practically just Ray singing with a guitar and lyrically so very direct and emotionally raw. "A Gallon of Gas" is a classic blues romp that conjures up gas lines and laughs about the dealers who can supply "high grade hash" but not a gallon of gas for any amount of cash. "Moving Pictures" is a bit of an odd note to close the record out on but typical for the Kinks...they like to leave on a high note and "Moving Pictures" reminds folks not to take things so seriously. The re-releases thankfully add the Extended Disco Remix of "Superman" sure to make one camp groan, but has been long unavailable unless (like me) you owned the 12" vinyl single. The "Gallon of Gas" and "Catch Me Now I'm Falling" extended edits are great to have too.Now some folks may say "Geez, it's a 25 year old record" but it doesn't sound as dated as much of the stuff from that era. It sounds even better on the Remastered Recording and better still on the SACD format. In fact listening to it on the SACD format it doesn't even sound like the same record...it's that much better! And more importantly "Low Budget" got the Kinks back on the map in the UK and the States opening the door to other great records. If you like this you'll love the live "One for the Road" recorded on the "Low Budget" tour. "Give the People What They Want" ups the ante substantially and brought the Kinks into the MTV era. If I had to pick a record representative of the Kinks VERY BEST it's a tie between "Low Budget" and "Give The People..." My suggestion? Start here!"

Sounds way better than the aluminum version!

06/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I compared this to the recently remastered regular CD and the CD layer had so much more detail on it! It was almost like they worked off better tapes or something. Well, I guess you should not expect anything less from those Original Master guys. I wish it didin't cost so much, but I must say I am totally pleased with the sonic improvement.I suppose this disc has a EVEN BETTER sounding layer of SACD on it, but I do not have a player to confirm. I just listened to the CD layer and it sounds great!"