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Sequels are not Ray Davies' forte. Back in the 1970s, when he was in the thick of his theatrical aspirations, he expanded upon The Village Green Preservation Society with the muddled rock opera Preservation, whose downfall was a labored second act. Americana, the song cycle adaptation of Davies' memoir of the same name, suffers the same pitfalls as its Preservation predecessor, with the singer/songwriter larding up Our Country with recitations, characters, allusions, and repetitions. All this extra stuff means Our Country plays very differently than its 2017 cousin Americana, even though it contains the same supporting cast -- namely, the Jayhawks as a supporting band and Guy Massey and John Jackson as co-producers. Davies retains a casual chemistry with the Jayhawks, who help give this lengthy collection a handsome sheen. They move with a lazy, loping gait and can also crank up the energy when needed, as they do with the closing "Muswell Kills," one of several explicit callbacks to the Kinks' 1971 classic Muswell Hillbillies (the record's "Oklahoma USA" is also revived). So, Our Country: Americana, Act 2 carries an attractive, burnished sound, which is what makes Davies' lengthy digressions all the more maddening. Shoehorning text and theme from his book into the songs, the record frequently stumbles upon its own literary ambitions, along with clunky songs written in character. Davies still possesses a sharp eye and sly sense of humor, so Our Country has its moments, but they're moments, not songs, and they're overwhelmed by his clumsy dramatic pretensions, which are undone by his reluctance to tie his theatricality into an actual narrative.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - David Temple, Chorus Master - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - HARVEY BROUGH, Vocal Arranger - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - The Crouch End Festival Chorus, Choir
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - John Dalgleish, Speaker
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Ian Jennings, Bass - Paul White, Drums - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Ben Waters, Piano
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Ben Waters, Piano
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Tom Lark, Trombone - Ife Ogunjobi, Trumpet - Tom Waters, Alto Saxophone - Adam Davy, Tenor Saxophone
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Tom Lark, Trombone - Ife Ogunjobi, Trumpet - Tom Waters, Alto Saxophone - Adam Davy, Tenor Saxophone
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Gary Louris, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal - Guy Massey, Co-Producer - Marc Perlman, Bass, Background Vocal - Tim O'Reagan, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocal - Karen Grotberg, Keyboards, Piano, Background Vocal, Vocal - Ray Davies, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Speaker, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Background Vocal, Vocal - JOHN JACKSON, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Co-Producer, Violin, Background Vocal - Bill Shanley, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Background Vocal
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
Album review
Sequels are not Ray Davies' forte. Back in the 1970s, when he was in the thick of his theatrical aspirations, he expanded upon The Village Green Preservation Society with the muddled rock opera Preservation, whose downfall was a labored second act. Americana, the song cycle adaptation of Davies' memoir of the same name, suffers the same pitfalls as its Preservation predecessor, with the singer/songwriter larding up Our Country with recitations, characters, allusions, and repetitions. All this extra stuff means Our Country plays very differently than its 2017 cousin Americana, even though it contains the same supporting cast -- namely, the Jayhawks as a supporting band and Guy Massey and John Jackson as co-producers. Davies retains a casual chemistry with the Jayhawks, who help give this lengthy collection a handsome sheen. They move with a lazy, loping gait and can also crank up the energy when needed, as they do with the closing "Muswell Kills," one of several explicit callbacks to the Kinks' 1971 classic Muswell Hillbillies (the record's "Oklahoma USA" is also revived). So, Our Country: Americana, Act 2 carries an attractive, burnished sound, which is what makes Davies' lengthy digressions all the more maddening. Shoehorning text and theme from his book into the songs, the record frequently stumbles upon its own literary ambitions, along with clunky songs written in character. Davies still possesses a sharp eye and sly sense of humor, so Our Country has its moments, but they're moments, not songs, and they're overwhelmed by his clumsy dramatic pretensions, which are undone by his reluctance to tie his theatricality into an actual narrative.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 19 track(s)
- Total length: 01:01:04
- Main artists: Ray Davies
- Composer: Ray Davies
- Label: Legacy Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
(P) 2018 Ray Davies (Entertainments) Limited
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