The Kinks

About

Though it was a part of the 1960s British Invasion that brought groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones into the international limelight, The Kinks remains one of the period's more underrated acts. The core of the band revolved around brothers Ray and Dave Davies, a songwriting partnership that at times during the group's 32-year existence would rival Lennon/McCartney and other greats of the era. Early singles such as "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" captured the band's crunchy garage rock style, which was often built around simple three-chord progressions. Over the years, The Kinks' sound would evolve to encompass R&B, folk and pop, resulting in a number of beloved albums that remain highly-influential and respected. One thing that set the group apart from the rest of the British Invasion pack was its attention to biting social satire and humor. Tracks such as "Lola" and "Apeman" played with social norms and expectations, making listeners think a bit while still enjoying the Davies brothers' knack for penning extremely catchy and memorable rock songs.