Anyone who has been living in Northern California for the past couple of months knows that it has rained, and rained, and rained. I don’t generally enjoy exchanging pleasantries about the weather, but I found myself doing just that recently, but less as a conversation starter and more of a plea to the gods: When will the rain stop? It has been that bad.
We’ve had a nice rain-free couple of days now and I’m certain that the clouds first broke the moment I dusted off The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society (or Village Green Preservation Society for short). The album is that good — when you’re listening to it, it makes you feel like it literally can’t rain. This is an album that defies meteorology.
I’m not going to ruin the pop majesty of the album by weighing it down with rock-critic-speak or dissecting its influences, or what the bands that followed them owe the Kinks (though this album is a must-have for any music geek who enjoys such topics). Village Green Preservation Society is too viscerally enjoyable for that. Instead, if the weather is good, I suggest that you pack a picnic basket and a copy of the album, pick up some good friends, head out into the country, and sing songs like “Animal Farm” and “Picture Book” along with your companions. You might not know the words when you first pile into the car and press “play,” but you will know them by the time you lay out your picnic blanket — I promise.
Update, 04/15/06: Apparently, saying that the Kinks’ record “defies meteorology” in its wonderful sunny-ness has gotten this post into at least one meteorology news feed (as discovered on this page):
Welcome, meteorologists!
Chad Dickerson's blog 
Great recommendation. I had been listening to the title track for awhile, but had never heard the whole album before I bought it today. I probably never would’ve bought the album otherwise, so thanks!
I have this album and I have to say that along with The Kinks Muswell Hillbillies it is one of my favourites of all time! Well done for recommending it in your blog. By the way, I live in England so you can’t tell me about rain! If anyone needs some sunshine in their lives it’s us Brits!