Ray Davies - Other People's Lives
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Ray DaviesEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-02-21
Music Label: V2 North America
Soundtracks:
- Things Are Gonna Change
- After The Fall
- Next-Door Neighbour
- All She Wrote
- Creatures Of Little Faith
- Run Away From Time
- The Tourist
- Is There Life After Breakfast?
- The Getaway (Lonesome Train)
- Other People's Lives
- Stand Up Comic
- Over My Head
- Thanksgiving Day
Free Music Notes for Other People's Lives
Free Music Review: Great Album - Don't Miss it!
Hit: 5 Stars
Ray Davies first solo-album had been awaited for couple for some years before it finally was released in February 2006. Among the reason for its delay was the assault on Ray in New Orleans in 2005. Actually two albums have been released previously in Davies' name; the sound-track "Return to Waterloo" ( 1986 ) and his "Storyteller" ( partly live ) show from 1998.
But this is his first "real" solo album, and one of the big questions was if he could live up to the high standards of the many classic Kinks albums released during the last 40 years, without brother Dave's great guitar playing. The short answer to that question is, "Yes!".
On a some tracks a little Dave guitar would have been welcome; and also his characteristic high harmony vocals. But few only Kinks albums have such overall consistent songwriting as this new album. And Ray voice is apparently as strong as ever; I had the opportunity to see him perform here in Denmark last year, and it was a great show with Ray in top-form on all levels; in spite of having just recently recovered from complications concerning his New Orleans assault.
Two songs have already been released as singles in 2005 and they're both outstanding. "The Tourist" is a fine melodic song that has a quite heavy guitar break. "Thanksgiving Day" is "only" included as a hidden track, which is really quite strange, since it may very well be the strongest track of them all - the song shows that Ray's vocals and his songwriting are as good as ever.
The album starts off very effectively with the musically very strong track "The Morning After" - very much Kinks sounding ( Think Visual ).
Just as great is "After the Fall" - it's almost like you can hear Dave's voice in the "uuh" choir. Could have been a "Phobia" song.
"Next Door Neighbour" is more like a solo-track. Fine 40's style brass accompaniment by the Mike Cotton Sound - a little like "Quiet Life".
"All She Wrote" is new Kinks like energy. Great catchy chorus - a sure live-favourite. One of the very best tracks here.
The bluesy "Creatures of Little Faith" is more average ( in Davies standards ).
"Run Away From Time" brings back memories from the early 1980's; sounding a lot like a track from the "State of Confusion" sessions.
"Is There Life After Breakfast" brings memories even further back. Both musically and lyrically this could have been a "Muswell Hillbillies" song; with nice slide guitar-playing.
"The Getaway" may be a little diffuse, melodically, but it has a beautifully catchy guitar line - played by Ray himself.
The title-track is a catchy light melody - with fine additional female vocals.
"The Stand Up Comedian" is a humorous rap-blues thing.
The long, almost final ( don't forget "Thanksgiving Day" ) song "Over My Head" is another Kinks sounding track.
Davies has used a lot of different musicians on this which has been recorded over a period of about two years. Guitarist Steve Bolton plays on most tracks and he adds a lot of power to the album. Drummers Dylan Howe and Toby Baron together with bassist Dick Nolan are among other important backing musicians.
The first couple of times I listened to the album I had the feeling that the strongest material had been placed in the first half; but with "The Tourist", "Other People's Lives" and "Thanksgiving Day" this obviously cannot be the case. A highly recommendable album - and as extra bonus there is ( as always ) a lot of wit and humour in Davies' lyrics.
Other People's Lives Poster
Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing includes one bonus track. Universal. 2008.As the leader of one the most vital and volatile bands of the British Invasion, Ray Davies may also have been one of the genre's most underappreciated, often playing second fiddle to the likes of Lennon, McCartney, and Jagger, but never failing to reignite the flame on a now-legendary songwriting caldron. More than a decade since the Kinks' last release, Davies makes his virgin foray into solo artistry with 13 songs that reverberate with the wistfulness and introspection that have forever been his trademark. It doesn't take long to detect, as the guitar/bass crescendo and tomorrow-will-be-better lyrics make "Things Are Gonna Change (The Morning After)" a singalong halfway through its 4:21. And then the world once again is put under Davies's uncanny surveillance: his pal Mr. Brown in the country-singed "Next Door Neighbour," "The Tourist" hobnobbing in New Orleans (where Davies makes an American home), and eras of lost acquaintances in "All She Wrote," a Kinks-ish acoustic rocker. They are reminders of what we've missed--and hopefully what's yet to come--from a remarkable artist whose return is undoubtedly being celebrated from the streets of a restored Big Easy to the barstools of Muswell Hill. --Scott Holter
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