Ray Davies

The former member of the Kinks, and rock’n’roll hall of fame inductee, returns with his second solo record. This one offers a jarring glimpse of the U.S., the plight of the everyman and the search for something to hold onto in a land of hypocrisy. Recorded in Tennessee, Davies uses this Southern setting as inspiration for his thesis on the U.S. of A. Right from the opening cut, it’s clear Davies’ view is one filled with fury. "Vietnam Cowboys” is a poignant commentary on America’s exploitation of cheap labour overseas by an outsider looking in and the domestic damage it causes; it sets the tone for the dozen tracks to come. Later, in the folk rock "Working Man’s Café,” Davies longs for the simple pleasures and a place to meet away from the retailers who preach the culture of consumption. Working Man’s Café shows that Davies’ wry observations are still in fine form.