1981 US Original Monarch Pressing With Custom Inner Sleeve. Released in August 1981, "Give The People What They Want" is the nineteenth studio album by the Kinks, marking a period where the band leaned into a harder-edged rock sound that reflected the growing influence of punk and new wave. The album was developed during an era of social and political turbulence in the UK and the US, which is echoed in the biting cynicism and social commentary of Ray Davies’s lyrics. Tracks like "Destroyer" and "Better Things" showcase this shift, with "Destroyer" becoming a notable rock radio hit and revisiting themes and motifs from previous Kinks songs, particularly referencing "Lola." The album's production emphasizes a sharper, more aggressive tone compared to their earlier, more melodic work, aligning the band with the changing musical landscape of the early 1980s.