Ray Davies - "Other People's Lives"

[TV Forces]

Yesterday saw the release of Ray Davies "Other People's Lives."  At over 61 minutes, it's quite a generous offering from this 62-year-old member of the British Invasion.  I think it's great that guys like him, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, the Rolling Stones, Dave Gilmour, etc.. still are putting out strong artistic statements this late in their careers.  I'm wondering what those of you who have heard it have to say.  Here is allmusic.com's review.  They give it four out of five stars:

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Most artists don't wait until they're nearly 62 to deliver their first official solo album, but Ray Davies has never been predictable. As a matter of fact, Davies is the quintessential rock contrarian, doggedly following his path, sometimes to the detriment of his own art or career. This obstinate nature extends to the very sound of his solo debut Other People's Lives, a shiny, simmered-in-the-studio album where each song creeps on just a little longer than necessary. This 2006 effort sounds roughly 16 years out of time — sonically, it could comfortably function as the follow-up to 1989's UK Jive — and its slickness may keep some listeners at a distance, particularly if they're craving a stripped-down, back-to-basics comeback along the lines of Dylan's Love and Theft or the Stones' A Bigger Bang. But such a bare-bones effort isn't in Davies's nature — ever since the early '70s, he's kept things clean and glistening on the surface while being prickly underneath. This may not suit the tastes of fans pining for a return to Village Green, but behind that smooth production are a set of songs that reveal that Davies has returned to form as a rich, idiosyncratic pop songwriter.

As he states in his wonderful liner notes — where he details the recording circumstances for each cut, plus the album at large — Other People's Lives is no concept album, but there are themes that hold it together. Davies tackles mortality and, one of his favorite themes, domesticity, head-on here, and his wit and wry critical eye remain intact. As an album, Other People's Lives may occasionally lag in momentum, but song for song, this is his strongest set of material since Low Budget, but a better comparison may be Misfits. Like that 1978 gem, this record doesn't rock hard and has a distinct writerly bent, as Davies presents a collection of narratives and character sketches that play like short stories. If there's a sense of creeping mortality here, there's also little fear (and there's no rumination over his shooting in New Orleans, either, since all the material was written before that incident). There's humor, irony, earned sentimentality and knowing, careful observations, all wrapped up in meticulously crafted words and music. There are hints of the Kinks — "Is There Life After Breakfast?" lopes along like an outtake from Everybody's in Show-Biz, the absurd "Stand Up Comic" recalls the vaudevillian hard rock of the late '70s — but there's nothing written as a conscious emulation of his past; instead, he's returning to his strengths and finding new wrinkles within his signature style. And if there are no flat-out knockouts here, there's not a bad song here, either, and each tune seems stronger with repeated plays. Most of all, Ray Davies sounds engaged as a writer and musician in a way that he hasn't in years, and that doesn't just make for a strong comeback, but it makes listeners realize what they've all missed since he's been away for 13 years (or perhaps longer, given the disconnect on latter-day Kinks records). Here's hoping that Other People's Lives kicks off a latter-day renaissance for the singer/songwriter, since it's proof that while many try to emulate him, there's no substitute for the crankiest, funniest songwriter in pop.

[Joel5001]

I'll be buying this today.  I'll post my thoughts after giving it a few spins.

[Mitchell]

Cool.

[Old Rake]

But -- is it as good as the Arctic Monkeys? (snicker)

[psychedelia]

I am way too tired to go on with a track to track analysis, but this album is really great!
I was lucky and got it early, and it still grows on me. It really shows that Ray still got it, and that the Kink inside of him is still alive!

Stian

[b.dfzo]

What is with the hype over the Arctic Monkeys?  It's almost like guaranteeing a MAJOR sophomore slump (read: The Strokes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Interpol, etc.)

[Jonas]

I actually dug The Strokes' sophmore effort...more than their first album. Same with Interpol...

Im not a big fan of either band, but for some reason their 2nd album made more sense to me.  3D)

[psychedelia]

I think the first album of the Strokes were alright, but they phased Casablancas vocals way to much thrugh out the album.

[Jonas]

Yeah, youre absolutely right...I think it has something to do with the fact that he's not a great singer.

I enjoyed the albums for a small period of time. I dont think I can listen through them again...

[psychedelia]

amosario, ditto!
I mean it's cool and all for the first couple of songs, then it becomes boring, and yeah you start wonderingif he actually can sing or not!

Stian

[mark goddard]

I bought this cd  the day after i saw Ray in Boston last week , and it's still in the cd player !!!! great record , it's a real grower
fave tracks are
Over my head
the Tourist
Other peoples lives
creatures of little faith

i'm telling ya  the cd is so good my fave 's off the record change every 3 days. this may be better than Macca's chaos and creation. His songwriting makes him seem like a REAL person !!...not a superstar making an album.
anyone else get this yet

[donald]

I heard an interview with Mr. Davies...he insists it is pronounced like Davis on ly with a z (da'viz) on public radio the other day.  Just listening to him talk makes me want to hear the new record.

I don't have enough kinks records. A couple of early and a couple of later seventies (misfits etc) Problem is they were quite prolific and idiosyncratic and I wouldn't know where to start catching up at this point. 

What are five essential albums or compilations?

[donald]

I heard an interview with Mr. Davies...he insists it is pronounced like Davis on ly with a z (da'viz) on public radio the other day.  Just listening to him talk makes me want to hear the new record.

I don't have enough kinks records. A couple of early and a couple of later seventies (misfits etc) Problem is they were quite prolific and idiosyncratic and I wouldn't know where to start catching up at this point.  

What are five essential albums or compilations?

[Mitchell]

They had a great run of albums:

The Kinks Kontroversy
Face To Face
Something Else By the Kinks
The Kinks are The Village Green Preservation Society
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Lola vs. the Powerman & the Money-Go-Round, Pt. 1
Muswell Hillbillies

Those are all worth checking out. I recommend Something Else or Village Green to start with. They also had a lot of early hits that you can find on a greatest hits CD. I have the Rhino one that goes up to Sunny Afternoon (which is on Face to Face). Now, as for sound quality, I can't really compare, but a lot of people here have opinions on which releases sound better.

[mark goddard]

For starters i would get the Village green 3 disc set , lately i have been playing disc 2 which is Mono and sounds fantastic.
also the third disc has a lot of songs from the same period that were considered at one point for the project. The Liner notes
are also very informative . a MUST BUY !!!

[mark goddard]

I heard an interview with Mr. Davies...he insists it is pronounced like Davis on ly with a z (da'viz) on public radio the other day.  Just listening to him talk makes me want to hear the new record.

I don't have enough kinks records. A couple of early and a couple of later seventies (misfits etc) Problem is they were quite prolific and idiosyncratic and I wouldn't know where to start catching up at this point.  

What are five essential albums or compilations?

Funny that you mention this , because on the BBC recordings the announcer introduces Dave as Dave Davis .

[donald]

Bought OPL and Kronikles this weekend.  Still getting to know the new and some of the old.

Davies personality, approach to songwriting and sense of humor is  unique in music for sure.