The Kinks' American debut found them under the spell of the same bluesy American rock & roll that fueled both the Merseybeat bands and their grittier counterparts (most notably
the Rolling Stones). Even with a pair of tried-and-true
Chuck Berry numbers,
Ray Davies' title song and a handful of other notables announced the emergence of a confident and original voice. His "Stop Your Sobbing" is a true gem. "Just Can't Go to Sleep" and "I Took My Baby Home" find
Davies crafting top-flight
Beatlesque pop. The band itself is a tough little rhythm machine, with guitarist
Dave Davies' fist-sized chords churning away in tandem with the drums and bass. Though
Ray Davies went on to find a broader base as a songwriter, the Kinks' first several albums are still as startling and convincing as they were decades ago.