[EMOTIONAL FLASHBACK!] Summer 2011 - The Kinks - The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (otherwise known as the greatest album ever made)

Some albums have a strong capacity for emotional connection. You won't notice the bond is forming as you listen in the past. It's only once you reach the future you hear the album as a little time capsule, one that encapsulates a feeling like no other medium can.

The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society is often described a Ray Davies capsule of a long gone English way of life, however to say this is to not fully appreciate it's resonance. The album is more like a box in which you can place your own version of the past. Tracks like "Do You Remember Walter", "Picture Book" and "People Take Pictures of Each Other" have a spaciousness in which the listener can store their own recollections and emotions. The album stores memory in a way that nothing else does. Playing it is like opening a picture book. Whilst the past seems intangible, it's as vivid as any print. It's in your head.

Village Green is rather like the key and the instructions to open up a memory. Go down the hall, take the second left and it's the third draw down. Yeah the one labelled "blissful memories". Davies even makes the comparison, the song "People Take Pictures of each Other" takes the whole purpose of the album and runs with it. Actual physical objects are proof, but not the feeling. For me, this album holds inside it the summer of 2011, and a lot that preceded it. Revisiting it is like looking into a personal picture book.

All of this talk barely scratches the surface of the album itself, and the differing interpretations. But that quickly gets boring. Life is a lot simpler when it's kept simple. We haven't even without discussing the fact that the album is a thoroughly enjoyable listen; one could easily get lost inside it. The middle of side two, containing some of the most interesting cuts on the album, provides the feeling that only a good book can match.

My copy of the vinyl is fittingly awesome. It's a gate-fold that features both the mono and stereo mix on disc one and two respectively. It's on translucent green splattered vinyl, that when held up to the sun, mimics an art of the sun shining through summer trees. It's quite something, and is limited to 1000 copies (mine is number 166). However, this does mean that it has now sold out, and so the used route is the way to go. As ever, condition is of the utmost priority given the nature of the pressing. A note as to whether digital masters were used, I have no idea. The sleeve states that contained is the original mono vinyl and the original stereo album, which suggests it's as close as you can get. It's sounds great to my ears. I'm fairly discerning.

Which is better, mono or stereo? I find the mono brings the best out of many of the tracks, in particular "Wicked Annabella" which packs far more punch. However, I often find myself playing the stereo edition, which is relatively softer and spacious. Given the quality of most stereo 1968 albums, it holds up well.

The original mono pressing will find you reaching far into your pockets (the depth of £300.00 to be precise). You'll probably find the stereo goes even higher. I find cheaper copies of this album in the UK are notoriously difficult to get hold of, but I would recommend avoiding paying £25.00 plus for a none limited/early press copy. Trawling eBay may be your best bet.

And there you have it. Have a great day.

"DUH DUH DUH DUH DUH DUH DUUUUUHHHH"

3 points for that. It's an little easier.