The Kinks "Word of Mouth"

On episode 8 of Past Prime, Matty & Steve head to Muswell
Hill and share a pint as they gush over The Kinks' oft-maligned,
1984 album, "Word of Mouth." This album, a staple of used record
bins and thrift stores, marked the end of a relative hot streak
the Davies brothers had experienced at the end of the 70s and
beginning of the 80s. Its cover was ghastly, desperately
insisting this original British Invasion band was as modern as
Duran Duran. It had Rauchenberg-esque pink lips on it and yellow
swooshes — a pop art eyesore. “Word of Mouth” was described as
chasing trends and as containing production that sounded
"pinched" and "compressed," even by the 1980’s worst standards.
Its songs were been called “forgettable.” Well, we dissent! The
album did not have any musical problem, it had a marketing
problem.


Matty & Steve spend nearly an hour wistfully discussing
sibling rivalry, Dave Davies greatest song ("Living on a Thin
Line"), and The Kinks unique position as the greatest supporting
actors in Rock history. They draw a through line from this album
to the music of Husker Du and The Replacements before concluding
that, while "Word of Mouth" may not be an elite Kinks' album, it
is, in fact, a stellar collection of songs. It also, sadly,
marked the beginning of the end for the band's final, unexpected
third (fourth?) peak.


To read more about The Kinks "Word of Mouth," check out the full
essay at Past Prime.