On January 5, 2004 Ray Davies was shot in New Orleans. One year later the city was underwater and literally reduced a years worth of insane mass media hysteria and endless blame. The divisive fears and treachery of this double ‘0’ era is reflected in part on Ray’s 2007 album, Working Man’s Cafe, the logical successor to 2005’s Other People’s Lives. Keeping his shooting in mind, who better than Ray Davies to shine a light on the ‘killing time’ years of the indifferent double oh’s. Thankfully, Ray’s new music is up to par and, while recorded in Nashville, it’s as fresh and cool as 1986’s Think Visual and there’s not a pedal steel in sight! Sure, Kinks fans miss Ray teamed with Kink brother Dave Davies, who’s still on the mend from his untimely illness. Keeping Dave’s rocking electric guitar presence up front (here featuring guitarist Pat Buchanon) Working Man’s Cafe perks with an abundance of good Kinks vibrations. www.newwestrecords.com

Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed by mwe3.com. Send to: MWE3.com CD Reviews Editor Robert Silverstein, P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249 E-mail: breakthru87@mwe3.com