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Working Man's Cafe
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 15 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: New West
Release Date: 19 February 2008
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock
Summary
The sophomore solo album for The Kinks' lead singer was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.
Also By This Artist: Other People's Lives
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Los Angeles Times
Overall, the album's humor level is a little lower than usual for Davies, but the reflective songs are among his most intimate and touching.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
The mouthful from ''One More Time'' and other clunky social commentary can't mask a cache of Kinks-worthy melodies, including the aforementioned track, the gorgeous ''The Real World,'' and ''You're Asking Me,'' which could almost be a lost tune from the late '60s.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Café draws Davies out just enough to refresh and reinforce his legend.
Read Full Review >Uncut
There are times when the playing of the session band is slick to the point of blandness, and the production (by Davies and Ray Kennedy) is crisply tasteful when the songs cry out for dissonance.... But when it works, it works.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
The songs have more bite than those on "Other People's Lives," as do the performances, which makes Working Man's Café more immediate than its predecessor, yet it benefits from repeated plays as well, as those subsequent spins reveal that these 12 songs are as finally honed as those on "Other People's Lives."
Read Full Review >Mojo
Not every number here reaches its perfection, but 'twas ever thus with the works of Raymond Douglas Davies; warts and all, and even the warts are interesting. [Dec 2007, p.109]
Amazon.com
Working Man's Cafe feels like exactly the album a 60-something rocker would craft--assured and direct yet searching and restless, a glimpse into the head of a man who's comfortable in his skin but still wonders how he fits into a world that seems to be turning faster and stranger as the years pass by.
Read Full Review >NOW Magazine
Despite the somewhat pessimistic prognosis, Davies is a sharp enough tunesmith to keep his darkly droll song cycle upbeat and rockin’ throughout.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Singer and song shine through clearly on Working Man’s Café, another great album from Ray Davies, who had already given us so much to love.
Read Full Review >Village Voice
It could have come across as professional formalism enhancing a half-assed satirist's latest free-market nightmare, but Working Man's Café adds lyricism to the reportage and makes itself useful enough.
Read Full Review >Hartford Courant
If the lyrics occasionally seem first-draft rough, the melodies are sharper than on 2005's "Other People's Lives," and the varied musical settings--such as the rockabilly of opener 'Vietnam Cowboys' or the spooky New Orleans blues of 'The Voodoo Walk'--throw into sharper relief the classic Kinksian pop of songs like 'You're Asking Me' and the title track, which show Davies alternately snarling and sighing at the world as winningly as ever.
Read Full Review >Paste Magazine
Producer Ray Kennedy delivers the tough, guitar/keyboard/ bass/drum sound you’d expect, with no gratuitous nods toward alt.country.... Welcome back, old friend.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
There's enough flickers of former greatness within to be glad he's stil there. [Dec 2007, p.120]
Rolling Stone
Davies’ tune sense is still relatively intact, and he turns out loose melodies amid nimble bar-band grooves. Unfortunately, Davies’ feistiness fades at times, and he lapses into blandness.
Read Full Review >musicOMH.com
Some of the songs are a little dull and a few of the lyrics can be a little embarrassing, but the better tracks make up for them.
Read Full Review >Blender
This album about the seamy, scary side of Bushland, conceived after Davies was shot in New Orleans in 2004, is a mixed bag of pointed personal reflection (Good Ray) and facile social critique (Bad Ray).
Read Full Review >Under The Radar
Musically, Davies is on track, with strong arrangements and a capable band, but vocally he often reaches too far and ends up detracting from the song. [Spring 2008, p.82]
Austin Chronicle
Davies' trademark softer delivery saves 'Imaginary Man,' but convincing vocalizations remain a major problem at the Café. Two steps forward, one step back.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Ignacio D. gave it a10:
A very compassionate, complex and interesting albums from the greatest songwriter in rock.
Ray L. gave it a10:
What other singer/songwriter can produce such original material after a 40-year plus career. Each your collective hearts out, Rolling Stones.
Steve L. gave it an8:
Title track, You're Asking Me and Real World make for some shining standout moments.
Ken M. gave it a9:
A very strong effort from Ray. A notch above Other Peoples Lives, which I thought was quite good. I'm happy that old Ray still has his chops. Favorite cuts include Imaginary Man, No One Listen, In a Moment, and Voodoo Walk.
Phil G. gave it an8:
Solid Ray Davies offering, but as always, would have been better if Dave Davies played on it.
Harry R. gave it an8:
There's one track on this album that's as good as anything Ray has ever done. "You're Asking Me" snarls like early Kinks songs, has a chorus every bit as catchy as "David Watts", and lyrically is one of the strongest tracks on WORKING MAN'S CAFE. It's probably no surprise that it's one of the few songs on this album that sounds as if it could have been written for The Kinks. Ray has said in several interviews that he's not really comfortable as a solo artist...he misses The Kinks, or at least being in a band. Coming less than two years after his first proper solo release, OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES, this is a much better album, but why? For one, the songs are a bit more introspective, and even when Ray is being bitter, you must remember, he was bitter in 1965. "I'm On An Island"..."I'm Not Like Everybody Else" weren't exactly the sentiments of a man at peace with the world around him. What carries these songs is the conviction with which Ray sings them. "Peace In Our Time" features some of his best vocals ever, even if they lyrics border on cliche. While OPL felt quite labored and over-produced, WMC has a much fresher feel. "Morphine Song" has a fantastic horn arrangement, "Imaginary Man" is Ray at his best as an outsider looking in, and "No One Listen" simmers with rage "at the age of computers and communication". While OPH had a couple of clunkers, there is nary a song on WMC that is downright embarrassing. While Ray has made references to a potential Kinks reunion, I'm not holding my breath, especially since Dave is still not exactly fit for touring as he continues to recuperate from a stroke a couple of years ago. This is a strong album, and I'm thrilled to see Ray is still making new music. Here's hoping he gains confidence as a solo artist, and finds a good group of touring musicians that have the muscle and swagger he needs.
Dean A. gave it a10:
Ray's best material in years. He combines the 'classic Ray melodies' and ocassional lyrical revisits such as 'the world keeps going round' with solid rock riffs- 'Hymm For A New Age' and 'Peace In Our Time' His humor, observations and sarcasim are welcome-'Morphine Song' It's a pleasure to still have Ray Davies producing great music. He is one of a kind. We need a North America tour!!
