The Kinks, Muswell Hillbillies (side A)

It's probably common to consider 1967-1968 as the height of the Kinks' career, with the height of songwriting, production, and arrangement of Something Else and Village Green. Muswell Hillbillies dates from 1971, and the highlights are still special. While the songwriting is inconsistent, a song like "Alcohol" reflects a new refinement of Ray Davies's picadilly/music-hall influences, and it also makes great use of the horn arrangements that turn up throughout the album. The performances and arrangements lack the attention that made the bands' classics special, and the production is a bit flat in comparison as well. The cover image and design tie nicely with the workingman portraits found in many lyrics.