Disco de The Kinks: “Sleepwalker [Remaster]”

Sleepwalker was the Kinks' first album for the Arista label. When released in 1977 it was also the first Kinks album for several years that did not have a strict concept. This was quite refreshing and probsably also a bit of a relief for the band.

At any rate it's a very inspired album and along with "State of Confusion" the strongest and most consistent Arista album. Davies' songwriting is varied and at his very best. Dave Davies? guitar-playing is terrific and it gives edge to the music. It's hard to bring out any specific tracks, because all are great. Personal favourites were always the classic Kinks-type of songs like "Full Moon" and "Stormy Sky", but Dave great guitar on "Mr Big Man" makes the song another favourite. A little Steve Miller inspiration on the title track??

Moreover the added bonus-tracks are also fine. Two decent B-sides "Artificial Light" ( sounds like a "Misfits" song ) and "Prince of the Punks" are fine for fans/completists, but the two outtakes are really great additions. "The Poseur" was originally thought to be the title-track, but it was eventually dropped with the change of the album title. Even more strange is it that they decided to leave out the outstanding "On the Outside", which would have been another highlight on the original album. Now it finally gets it's deserved release - classical Kinks!!

A milestone in Kinks History!

A great Kinks album- lush production, the Kinks enter the modern era. Some of Ray's best songs here- little known gems like "Mr. Big Man", "Juke Box Music", "Full Moon", and they all flow together well. I am a Kinks fanatic, so I had to balance the first reviewer- this really is a comeback album from "Schoolboys". SACD, plus rarities- awesome sound.

One of the bests Kinks' albums.

At the level of the 60's classics.

The best level of Dave in guitars and Ray singing.

I recall getting Muswell Hillbillies back in 2000 on the re-issue and that started me all over again falling for Ray, Dave and the rest of the various Kinksmen. I pretty much owned all of their great LP's in mid/late 70's, but once punk exploded at that time, lost interest in 'classic' rock bands and even a disdain, and sold a bunch of them whilst in college. But c'mon, the Kinks 'classic' rock, don't think so. How many bands did they influence, great bands of today, such as Spoon, Sloan, The Apples in Stereo, The Rakes, etc.. and of yesteryear, The Jam, The Clash, The Damned, all heavily influenced.....so lets go back to the source, Sleepwalker - re-issued in SACD format sounds spectacular 22 years later. Along with Misfits & Low Budget, a pure triumvirate of great rock music - throw in Schoolboys (heavily underated) and you have a string of albums that certainly rivals their mid to late 60's heyday. 'Arthur' still my fave, however. Sleepwalker has a batch of catchy numbers, sans the bloated 'brother' great drumwork, superior sprightly guitar playing and as one reviewer properly pegged quite derivative of earlier works, but derivation is a good thing, no? Keep giving more of good thing. Too much of todays music is non-directional and ambient, i.e highly annoying, check Radiohead. I have 'give the people' on its way to me and that will hopefully complete my Kinks resurgance. All of their 'concept' albums and Sleepwalker is one are worthy and feature timeless rock music. This one deals primarily, you guess it, Sleeplessness and nightime happenings, the bonus tracks are great as well.

Ray was a fantastic lyricist and has been given his due by some of todays marquee bands.

God Save the Kinks.