The Kinks

A big seller for the band, this one managed to bring stadium rockers and skinny-tie new wavers together harmoniously. The Kinks are still in Status Quo "lad rock" mode here, but the sparkling "Long Distance" is a classic Ray Davies' gem, as is "Come Dancing," one of the best hit singles of the 1980s.

For those like me who believe that the Kinks have been somewhat adrift in commercial
commotion since their late-Seventies resurgence, State of Confusion, their twenty-eighth
American album, is a strong reaffirmation of their best qualities. What makes cultists of
Kinks fans is leader Ray Davies' empathy for the lives real people lead, and his ability to
convey that understanding in a voice that is wise and compassionate and in musi... More >