I won’t necessarily trash this DVD, but I will say that, while it has its strong points, being true to its title is not one of them. There is no grand story of the Kinks told here. Indeed, there is really no story at all. It would be kind of like calling a photo album a story book. There are some interesting clips, but even those are assembled in a way that seems haphazard. There’s no real rhyme or reason to it. Or perhaps the director had a pattern in his head, but it’s so abstract that it’s hard for the rest of us to follow. It’s a shame because, while many documentaries lack official access, and therefore don’t include the music or real interviews with the band members, this one overcame those obstacles. What it lacks is a sense of organization and a real “story”. For the sake of all the cool footage, this is worth having. If you buy it to really understand The Kinks, though, you will walk away disappointed.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2010  Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.