Review Summary: One of the best albums in years.
“Other Peoples Lives” Ray Davies.
It’s hard to believe that this is Ray Davies’ (of Kinks fame) first solo album. But it has been well worth the wait. The Kinks have been one of my favorite bands throughout the years. I have especially appreciated Ray Davies’ contribution, whose song writing combines social commentary with a good dose of humor over a four decade career with the Kinks. The music in these classic tunes runs the gamut from hard rock to delicate acoustic gems. Since the Kinks last recording in the 90's I have been keeping my ears to the ground waiting for another installment, thinking that their careers are probably over.
Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Ray Davies released his first solo recording “Other Peoples Lives” and even more pleased to listen to the results. Ray, of British origin, took up residence in New Orleans for a period early in the 21'st century. Based on his experiences living in the states, he poignantly describes his experiences in America with a couple of gems. One entitled “The Tourist” speaks of the dichotomy between well off tourists and the poor residents of New Orleans. In “Thanksgiving Day” he captures the joy of this traditional American holiday. As usual Ray sheds some light in an accessible way on issues from everyday life through songs such as “Next Door Neighbor”, “All she Wrote” and “Creatures of Little Faith”. These songs speak of love and life and neighborly relations. His tongue in cheek tune “Stand up Comic” brings a smile to the face. An introspective side of Ray shows through in the songs “Things are Gonna Change” “Run Away from Time” and give insight into his state of mind in a way we can relate to. “Life After Breakfast” surprisingly brightens an otherwise downer experience. In the Title track “Other people’s Lives”, the media gets a well deserved blasting.
Musically what makes this CD special is its mix of a wide variety of influences and styles, from the flamenco tinged “Other Peoples Lives” to the reggae elements of “Over my Head”. Throughout the recording, there is an interesting mix of tasty acoustic guitar licks and occasional electric raves. These elements are cleverly mixed through style changes introduced in intros and refrains making the songs an adventure. The refrains are catchy in terms of both lyrics and melodies as evidenced by the “Tourist’ where loud electric licks are introduced in the refrain.
Overall I rate this album as one of the best produced in years, making it a must listen for both its thought provoking lyrics and its catchy music. These tunes range from rock anthems to melodic acoustic. The CD is packed with good tunes without a runt in the lot. To top it all off, the information found in the CD booklet includes insights from Ray himself along with complete listings of lyrics and credits. These attributes make the commercial package a worthwhile investment.
