The only way to be disappointed by this album is to expect some medieval jousting action. In actuality, the Arthur of the title is an English everyman whose family moves to Australia. But lyrically, the album once again depicts the then-modern England as a bit of a bore, with "Brainwashed" exploring the mundane nature of suburban life, while "Mr. Churchill Says" and "Some Mother's Son" explore war. Musically, The Kinks' ambitions continue to grow, with "Australia" being a sweeping, sprawling multi-part epics and "Shangri-La" ambitiously building. Both are multi-layered suites, and they form the core of the album, thematically and sonically. The Kinks reached their peak at Something Else, but Arthur finds that the peak is actually a plateau; as of this album, they're still there.
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