The Kinks - Face to Face

Arguably the first classic by The Kinks, it opens with a bang. "Party Line" is a nervy little rocker with gentle harmonies and an incessant hook. Many of the songs, from "Sunny Afternoon" to "Dandy" burrow their way into your brain - and I mean that in a friendly way. They're sharply written songs, with well-crafted production. Some of the observational songwriting Ray Davies would explore in the future of the group surface here in the form of songs like "Session Man" and "House in the Country." The Kinks have a jovial sense of melody that is hard to resist, even in the mean-spirited bonus track (on the CD) "Mr. Reporter." More than anything, the album is as gorgeous to listen to as anything to come out of the 60s.