(I Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman –

Little Bit of Emotion –

Wasn’t sure what to pick this week, so I just went with a personal favorite ^^

Low Budget (1979) by The Kinks. While not my favorite Kinks album (Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One easily steals that award), Low Budget is still an album I’m fairly fond of.

In my opinion, one of the sadly forgotten faces of the “British Invasion.” Sure, of course people remember the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, that one song by the Animals, and maybe Herman’s Hermits (a band that I deeply regret not having on here yet…), but The Kinks tend to be forgotten. Most people might recognize their hit single “You Really Got Me” or maybe “Lola” (or a handful of others if you’re a Wes Anderson fan), but ultimately they didn’t have a large amount of chart toppers, neither here in the US or in their home country of the UK.

Despite their lack of chart success, their wide variety of music and pioneering of new sounds had a very broad range of influence in the industry. This is due in part because of the multiple music genres they dabbled in and a lengthy career from ’64 to ’96. From initially helping to define the Psychedelic genre for bands like The Doors and Jefferson Airplane, to paving the way for Hard Rock like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, to inspiring the raw sound of Punk bands like The Clash and Ramones, to even distant Garage Rock like The Vines. In all ways, a truly impressive – if occasionally forgotten – band.

Low Budget, their largest success in the States, was a slight change of pace for the band. Most of their 70s albums were concept albums that focused on themes of nostalgia and other, often complex, ideas that were deemed “too abstract” by critics. While I would argue that Low Budget is still very much a concept album in its construction and arrangement of songs, there is a change of themes to reflect the contemporary economic issues of the UK at the end of the 70s. There is also a musical shift to that more reminiscent of Arena Rock (similar to Queen), but this album also features some songs that shift into Country, Hard Rock, Disco, and even some content boarding on soft-Punk.

While this album pales in comparison to The Clash’s landmark double-LP album London Calling, which also came out the same year, the two albums themes of social poverty and injustice strike a similar cord and the two definitely overlap musically. If you’re a fan of London Calling odds are there’s at least something for you on Low Budget, and if you haven’t heard London Calling before…well I can’t force you to, but you get the idea… (I’d post it here, but that vinyl is so hard to come by… >.<) Oh yeah, songs. I kinda wandered on this week's entry. "(I Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" features a traditional disco beat, a catchy chorus, and dreary depressing verses. What a combo! But seriously, it centers around dissatisfaction in one's shortcomings and flaws. Disappointed in his self and surrounded by sorrows the singer wishes he could only be more like Superman. "Little Bit of Emotion," on the other hand, discusses how people refuse to show others their true self and emotions in the fear of being rejected, but argues that somehow we must find a way to reach out. Two songs that really speak to me on a personal level. I hope that despite their dreariness they bring some hope to your week.