Ray Davies - Working Mans Cafe (15 tracks) +Album Reviews

King of the Kinks

Jack | Doylestown, Pa. | 02/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is no need to go into great details here, suffice to say that Ray Davies has produced a classic album where every track is musically strong, has something to say about the world, and displays the artists' singular style with romance, a social conscience, and, of course, a sense of humor. If you loved the great Kinks' albums (Lola, Arthur, Village Green, Muswell Hillbillies) you will recognize the touches that Ray used then and re-explores on Workingman's Cafe. It's not a retread, it's an artist going in many musical directions, but never forgetting to be true to himelf. In this age of Attention Deficit Disorder and single tracks, one of the masters has asked us to listen for 45 minutes, if you chose to stay focused you'll enjoy the ride and be that much wiser for it. Ray's cd is a grand slam homer that is still in flight."

SHINING ON BRIGHTLY

J. Gambino | 02/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Few singer songwriters have the ability to truly look beyond their own perimeters. In contrast, Mr. Davies has the rare skill to consistently craft infectious, thoughtful and insightful songs about the human condition at large. While the mediocrity of mankind has not escaped him, the critical observations in his music are constructed within the context of compassion and humor. With age and wisdom, he may now view particular aspects of life with some resignation...but never bitterness.

"Working Man's Cafe" is a strong follow up to his superb, meticulous first true solo effort "Other Peoples Lives" released in 2006. I have been listening to the import version of WMC for a few months now but also purchased the U.S. release because it contains two additional excellent new songs as well as alternate versions of other tracks. The music on this collection feels quite visceral and spontaneous. It would be well suited for live performances. The sound is clearly 21st century, yet there are scattered shards within that make one reminiscent of the classic Kinks albums such as "Arthur" and "Something Else". This CD is smooth listening from start to finish and your favorites are likely to shift with time. Vocally Ray Davies is as strong as ever and much attention has been given to the sound quality and arrangements. The title cut along with: "Imaginary Man", Vietnam Cowboys and especially "In a Moment" get honorable mention but all the songs are memorable in their own way. Uninitiated listeners not familiar with this performer's body of work should find this collection very enjoyable even if they lack the proclivity to ruminate over the lyrics like some of us might.

I will always remember the Kinks with great appreciation and fondness even with the occasional uneveness of some of their albums. With this second impressive solo effort; Ray Davies has fortified his stature as a valued independent artist in his own right. I no longer lament for a Kinks reunion...but instead...only hope this performer maintains his zest for life and music so we can continue to be so royally entertained for many more years to come.

"

Ray davies is back

Mathieu B. Prevost | warwick, new york United States | 12/05/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"he's back and it couldn't happen fast enough for me. there is nothing tentative about this collection. ray has found his footing and everything here is confident and fun. working with ray kennedy in nashville (again) he has crafted a collection with strong songwriting and some truly fine playing. there's something for everyone here. i've always found it difficult to separate ray from his band but there's really no need to. this reminds me of a kinks record, only with a fatter production. great songwriting."

Enduring talent..

hal st soul | between London and Los Angeles | 06/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Getting shot by muggers in New Orleans unexpectedly drove Davies back to the studio.

It seems incredible that a songwriter as respected and acclaimed as Davies should only be releasing his second solo record in 2007.

That said, "Working Man's Café" is not likely to disappoint generations of Davies fans.

Lyrically speaking, all his trademark wry and sardonic observations on life are present. As one of rock music's most lauded social commentators Ray peppers the majority of these new songs with nicely-honed and bang up-to-date assessments of the world as he sees it today: a conflicted, contradictory and globalized shopping centre mired in double standards and creeping 'Americanisation'.

You only have to listen to "Waterloo Sunset" to realise that Ray Davies has always had a tendency to wrap his disillusionment in the flag of nostalgia. He hankers for the past on this new album too, but with a brusqueness which would have embarrassed his younger self - before finally dragging himself back towards something approaching contentment.

The album captures Davies's revulsion with Tony Blair's Britain, his relocation to New Orleans, and the reflections on mortality which followed his shooting in the Crescent City (after chasing a mugger). Some of the material is mined directly from his experience.

This could be judged as the grumpy old man of The Kinks indulging in some nostalgia-driven baby-boomer whingeing.

Instead, Davies, who remains an engaging and energetic performer at 64, pinpoints the concerns of the moment from the perspective of a man who has seen England and the world beyond it change almost beyond recognition... and as far as Ray is concerned, not for the better.

The sprawling "Morphine Song", with its boisterous horn section, describes the trauma of the emergency room. Other themes, such as the encroachment of corporate power, are more familiar. "Vietnam Cowboys" rails at globalisation, on "You're Asking Me" Ray sounds genuinely peeved and rocks out accordingly, but the signature whimsical and wistful touches in his voice and music means he never slips into the angry old rocker cliché.

Probably the most radio-friendly offering is the sweetly catchy "In A Moment" which veers towards a southern soul feel with bluesy guitar, organ and electric piano chugging blissfully in the background as Ray gets things of his chest and shows he's still got plenty of great hooks up his sleeve.

There are glimpses of personal demons on "Imaginary Man" as Ray searches for life's meaning.

The beautifully sung closer, "The Real World", isn't strictly autobiographical, but it does explore the wanderlust which took Davies to Louisiana, before concluding that travel doesn't necessarily cure a lost soul.

Best of all is the pensive title track, with an Estuary-accented Davies complaining about the creeping Americanisation of England, loans, equity relief, mortgages and internet cafes, before locating his identity in a working man's café. "In case you forgot who I am", he sings, "I'm a kid with a greasy spoon firmly held in my hand". The melancholy track will likely inspire nostalgia for old Kinks tunes.

Full of brisk, occasionally noisy rock, it's a great gust of an album that affirms Davies's enduring talent."

Very good, but not great

IJEFF | Milwaukee, WI USA | 05/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I decided to give this CD over 50 listens before writing my review. The good news is it never got boring over the course of 50 plus listens. The not so good news is I'm convinced (unlike many of the reviewers on this site) this is not quite as good as the previous Other People's Lives. That in itself is not a bad thing, but I do think there has been a tendancy to overrate this effort in comparision.

I miss the diversity of OPL. The songs on Working Man's Cafe at times seem underdeveloped and lyrically weak. This diminishes an otherwise beautiful song like One More Time. The lyrical subtlety of Davies seems to have been replaced by heavy handedness. On songs like Vietnam Cowboys it works brilliantly. This song demonstrates all the Davies strengths of memorable melody combined with social commentary that is both serious and humerous.

Some of the ballads are really strong on this CD highlighted by the closer, The Real World. Other songs such as In A Moment, Imaginary Man, Your Asking Me and Hymm For A New Age provide repeated listening pleasure. The "deluxe" version offers 2 worthwhile bonus tracks, Wrong Side of the Law and I, The Victim.

I would definitely recommend this CD, but still would choose Other People's Lives first if you had to make a choice. Its hard not to give the nod to a CD that contains one of Davies best songs ever, Over My Head. Overall production and musicianship is outstanding throughout Working Man's Cafe. Nonetheless, it would still be interesting to hear some of Davies' new songs in more of a Kinks context."

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