"Other People's Lives" by Ray Davies; V2

The leader of The Kinks, one of the British Invasion's most creative and crucial forces, has finally recorded his first proper solo album. Though nothing here matches the kick of "You Really Got Me" or the twist of "Lola," it's a solid collection of burly melodies and sharply written lyrics that bear Ray Davies' signature wit and sting, particularly in "Stand Up Comic."

There's little of The Kinks' urgency, but the 61-year-old well-respected man of '60s rock isn't nodding off during these mellow, bluesy tunes, and neither will the listener.

From the glum "Thanksgiving Day" and "After the Fall" to acoustic rocker "All She Wrote" and country-flavored "Next Door Neighbour," Davies has crafted a moving and soulful batch of laments and yarns.