Other People's Lives

by

Ray Davies

Edit

Ray Davies has been MIA for too long."Other People's Lives" is a terrific return to form. The glossy production surface compliments the songs-- here he does what he does best creating character studies in each song perfectly crafted with rich melodies. From the touch of sonic discord (pardon the pun) that opens "Things are Gonna Change" to the witty lyrics and a melody that would have fit at home on "Village Green" in "Is There Life After Breakfast?" Ray's in top form. The playing perfectly supports his witty observations in "Stand Up Comic" which acts as a perfect metaphor for his own career.

The CD booklet has great liner notes from Ray discussing the origin of the songs, how they came to be recorded, what he thinks of them now that they're finished. As usual the notes are clever, witty and feature his brand of self depreciating humor that fans love. While the material was written and recorded prior to his attack in New Orleans (he chasd a purse snatcher that had his girlfriend's stuff and was injured in a knife attack in the process) and Hurricane Katrina they sound like they capture that vibe.

His last album 1998's "The Storyteller" CD had some new material that was extremely good mixed in with vintage Kinks tunes as part of Ray's "audiobiography" tour for X-RAY. These songs were recorded in 2002 but weren't mixed until last year with finishing touches put on the album as well. At age 62 Ray has found his muse and that's good for us the listeners. Sure some people complain that Dave's biting guitar playing is missed (and it is on a few tracks)but it would also have felt out of place on some of these more intimate tracks. Besides, Dave's been busy making some fine music of his own with "Bug" and was recovering from his stroke last year.

Ray we missed you! Don't wait another 7 years to release the next album!

Before you write this off as a bad review for being only 2 stars, ask yourself this: If this deserves five stars what would you give Village Green Preservation Society? If it deserves four stars, what would you give Misfits? If it deserves even three stars, what would you give the Percy soundtrack? If I was to write a review on those three albums I would give each other them that star rating. Even Percy is questionably a four star rating because of songs like God's Children, The Way Love Used To Be, Dreams and Animals in the Zoo. The point being that those albums are leagues above Other People's Lives. For someone of Ray Davies standard I can only compare his music to what he has done before...

Ray Davies first album of new material in over ten years and very first official solo album is very disappointing and of all things bland! The enthusiasm, dynamic character, and brilliant wit are faded and tired; shadows of the past. Songs like Stand Up Comic, Next Door Neighbors, and The Tourist recall what he is capable of doing with keen observation, character build-up, and unique delivery; but the songs are not fleshed out very well; the performances at times have energy but more than not they fall flat.

Over all every song has something good in it- the problem is they just never reach the heights of greatness that he is capable of hitting. He just doesn't seem to be too motivated to find a new "muse" to follow; so he ends up writing tired melodies, puts modern production values.- It sounds relatively ordinary with brief moments of exceptions (Time to go back to Denmark Street).

The only song that's totally solid and has any real passion or character for me is Thanksgiving Day- with it's r&b horn charts (reminiscent of Muswell Hillbillies), his performance has plenty of confidence as he sings in a sly and relaxed voice and the chorus is warm and informal. I wish every song could have been as good as that- but really even Thanksgiving Day isn't up to par to something comparable like Celluloid Heroes or from more recent stuff, Storyteller.

It's unfortunate that one of the greatest and most influential song writers in the last 40 years has come out with this. As he says in Stand Up Comic "the comic says bullocks and the audience laughs and that's that!"