The Kinks take on America by imitating Americana - sort of. They still sound like The Kinks, but with more piano and twangy guitars. It's an itneresting change, and it's effective in spurts. Opener "20th Century Man" is one of their best songs, and it sets the tone for Ray Davies' latest slant on alienation. "Uncle Son" is an effective blues ballad, and "Alcohol" sloshes and sways like a drunken song should. The country-rock makeover fits The Kinks, though, making them a looser band than in their orchestrated pop days. While those days ultimately resulted in better music, Muskwell Hillbillies is still one of their best albums.
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