CUSTOM: The Village Green Preservation Society

The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

I've always felt that VGPS was a concept album that was never really indulged in due to Davies' unsureness about the ambitiousness of the project. There were also a lot of really good outtakes that fit the themes of the album perfectly that finally saw the light of day with the 3-CD release VGPS. So, I decided to turn this simple record into a sprawling double album that fleshes out the Village Green much more effectively. The first half (or, really, 3/4s) details life in the Village Green of the past, with characters like Johnny Thunder, Monica, Polly, Wonderboy, and the misanthropes in "Sitting by the Riverside" and "Misty Water", among others. We end with Big Sky, which looks to the future for better days. The last part of the album focuses on the present disillusionment with life, and the nostalgia for days gone by, with songs like "Do You Remember Walter?", "Where Did my Spring Go?", "Days", and, of course, ending with "Village Green". I never understood why the album wasn't originally bookended by the two Village Green songs, but I think it flows much better. While the album is much longer, just over an hour, in my opinion all the music is well worth it, and I found myself listening to all the tracks anyway, but in the disorganized fashion of album/bonus tracks. All of the tracks segue into each other as well. 

"Village Green" fuses the orchestral overdubs instrumental with the alternate sans-orchestra take, as well as the released version, creating a far stronger sound, fuller vocals, and just a bit of phasing which I feel fits well. There is also a reprise of "VGPS" at the end just before the album ends, creating a cyclical feel.

Comments appreciated, enjoy!

Pictures of things as they used to be

CUSTOM: America

America

The Beach Boys

America is actually an amalgam of recordings made by The Beach Boys from 1970-1974. I noticed many of the songs they made during this prolific and impressive period had a strong thematic connection. This was not the first time The Beach Boys had recorded songs with an American theme, but it was the first time we see a different picture of America: gone is the surfing and the girls on the beach, here we see a heavy, forlorn look at the country, as the band reexamines the concept of America with new experiences since the early sixties. 

This albums uses many tracks from Holland, but also uses outtakes and a track from Surf's Up. Sound effects have been added and crossfades to create a true progressive feel. I'm very proud of how this turned out, sort of a look into what a truly progressive and conceptual album would have looked like from the band.

"Sail on Sailor" opens with the intro from "Fourth of July", the album's closer, creating a cyclical feeling. On this album, "Sail on Sailor" tells the story of the earliest explorers, who would travel farther than any one ever had to conquer and establish new lands. This segues into...
"Trader", a song that really is about imperialism, tells of the early settlers and their conquest of the native populations. 

"Big Sur" shows us a lighter side of America's birth, as the settlers come to know and enjoy the land. Here the bootleg version is used, as I like it much better than the released version.

"Beaks of Eagles/California" finish off the California Cycle found on Holland. 

"Barnyard Blues" is an unreleased Dennis track, that tells of the beginnings of a disenchantment and disrespect for the land, as the simple farmers wish to leave and create cities and industry. 

"Steamboat" represents the arrival of industry, and the accelerated spread of the population across the continent. The song is slow and heavy, which represents both the boat and the increased burden of technology on the land.

"Out in The Country" is an unreleased Al Jardine track, showing the remorse felt at having left the simple life, and a desire to return to it.

"Lookin' at Tomorrow" represents the Great Depression, and the death of the American dream to many people. And where desperation is, war is never far off...

"Battle Hymn of the Republic is an unreleased idea of Brian's. A lot of people hate this track and while I agree it's not exactly Surf's Up, it fits incredibly well in the story and the almost silliness the song is treated with seems to fit the idea of war many people have. 

"Carry Me Home" is another unreleased Dennis song, and shows a soldier on the battlefield, having been gravely wounded. The long, complicated, and often sad history of America ends here.

"Fourth of July" is yet another unreleased Dennis song, and acts as an epilogue of sorts to close the album. A heavy examination of our country, where it is, and where it is going seems a fitting closer, ending with the same water sound effects that we hear before "Sail on Sailor". The album comes off as a bit of a downer, but the story is a powerful one and the music, though at times sad, is wonderful.

Enjoy, comments appreciated!

Often Frightened, Unenlightened