Customer Reviews

Bug

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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I saw Dave in concert in May this year 2002. The Kinks were and are my favorite band, so this was the closest I have come as of yet to seeing them live. Not only was I NOT disappointed, Dave kicked some rear, bigtime! I had expected just old Kinks songs, but half the set was new stuff. So the next day (the songs were driving me crazy stuck in my head) I went out and got Bug. Long having heard every last Kinks song, this CD was like a breath of that old hometown air that you long to breathe in. No, I hardly even miss Ray or his songwriting while listening. I never thought I would say that, but 'ole Dave is even way more talented than I ever knew. Makes me wonder if it really was as much Ray or perhaps a Big Brother type konspiracy! Daves voice is remarkably similar to Ray's on this (so close on some that I had to look at the liner notes to see if it was Ray in a guest appearance!), as is the songwriting. The only things that are missing to me (ever so slightly) are the lower 'Ray' vocal harmony when Dave starts singing in the stratosphere and for the briefest of moments that old, cheap acoustic guitar sound of the Kinks' past. 'Rock You, Rock Me', 'Flowers in the Rain', 'Fortis Green', 'True Phenomenon' and 'De-Bug' are melodic masterpieces that will stay in your head for days. What am I saying???, the whole album does! To the rest of the Brit Invasion, yer all OLD! Dave Davies kicks yer arse once again!

This album is a stunning accomplishment, not only for a "'60s survivor" like Dave Davies (who prior to "BUG" hadn't recorded an album in 20 years!) but for anyone. Dave's guitar playing is as clean, sharp, and powerful as it has ever been, and the same goes for his vocals. His batch of songs for "BUG," loosely interconnected by the aliens/spirituality motif that runs through a lot of Dave's solo work, are some of the very best of his entire career, combining strong melodies and hard rock power. Dave continues to hit on some odd themes in his lyrics (government conspiracies, alien mind control, meditation, etc.), but his overall message of respect and peace comes through with a sincerity and honesty that is absolutely refreshing to hear. The production is also great-- real muscle in the guitars and drums, with tasteful keyboard flourishes and even some well-integrated electronic beats!

"BUG" is one of the most vivid and lively rock albums of the last several years. Dave Davies may not be a young man anymore, but his creative fire is still burning brightly and we'll hopefully hear more from him soon. Keep rocking Dave!

Best known as the guitarist in the Kinks, Dave Davies songwriting and solo recordings have never received the popular recognition of his older brother's compositions and their band's albums. But the sporadic schedule of his solo releases has often resulted in the venting of pent-up creativity (rather than rustiness or obsolescence), and that explosion of musicality is exactly what listeners will find on his new album.

Davies' first solo studio creation since 1983's "Chosen People" resounds with the sort of vitality found in his best work with the Kinks. His latest batch of rock 'n' roll songs are a distinct departure from the experimental efforts he's recorded in recent years (e.g., 1998's "Purusha and the Spiritual Planet"), and the studio production is more focussed and polished than the demos and "official bootlegs" he's recently made available.

The thirteen original tunes are sure to please Kinks fans, from the bluesy riffs and science-fiction theme of the title track to the autobiographical "Fortis Green." The latter, a concert staple for several years, has only now found release in a studio incarnation. Davies' guitar prowess is on display throughout, from the power chords of "Whose Foolin' Who," "It's Ain't Over, 'Till It's Done!" and "Why" to the hard-edged riffs of "The Lie!" Having coined these sounds in the '60s and '70s, it's clear that they form the base of Davies' musical language. His singing voice, perhaps a notch thinner than his brother's, is still very expressive, with a haunting familiarity.

The slower tunes include the quiet, piano-driven pieces "Flowers in the Rain," and power-ballad "Rock You, Rock Me." Experimental tracks range from the disco-beat "De-bug" (whose incessant rhythm is balanced by droning vocals and noisy bursts of drums and guitar) to the trip-hop "True Phenomenon" and "Life After Life (Transformation)." Given how effortlessly Davies recounts the Kinks rock 'n' roll glory, it's gratifying to hear him stretch out on newer sounds.

The album is themed around the science fiction conceit of music freeing the masses from alien mind-implants, but with a soft focus that leaves the songs to stand on their own. Unsurprising, given Davies' stated aversion to the heavy-handedness of the Kinks' 1970's concept albums. After a 20-year hiatus from composing and recording as a band leader, Davies latest shows his musical soul continuing to prosper.

I am a rabid Kinks and Dave Davies fan. I have every Kinks and previous Dave Davies album on vinyl and am working to replace them on CD. My favorite Dave Davies album is AFL1... don't have it in front of me, the number one that is no longer available followed by Glamour. Unfortunately, these are not available on CD. Bug is better than Chosen People but that's not saying much. I like it but I don't thinks it's his best effort. Displaced Persons is most reminiscent of what I like best about Dave... he can combine mellow interludes with blast off hard riffs and chords. This is a must for any Dave Davies fan and since much of his earlier stuff is only partially available in several collections (e.g. Unfinished Business) this fills in some blanks. Dave Davies and the Kinks are the most underrated musicians of our time. People have always treated them like a second class band ranking on a lower rung of the British Invasion ladder than the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, and so forth. I put the Kinks right in that mix and Dave Davies is as responsible for that sound as Ray. Hopefully, this is an indication of more activity in the future. If you like Dave's guitar stylings, you'll like this effort. I did.

Anyone who loves the Kinks will be aware that, despite his acknowledged reputation as a fuzzbox-fuelled hard rocker, Dave Davies was also responsible for some of the group's most reflective and sensitive songs. 'BUG' features both sides of his musical persona in spades, but what comes through for the first time is an up-beat sense of humour only previously displayed in live shows. Songs such as 'Why?!!' and the title track (greeted with polite puzzlement when premiered live here in London last year) show Dave venturing successfully into the lyrically playful territory more usually associated with his elder sibling (the name eludes me . . .). 'Fortis Green' is a touching exercise in the kind of whimsical nostalgia for which his old band are so beloved (this one at least received enthusiastic nods of approval at Dave's Camden gig), while 'De-Bug' and 'Life After Life (Transformation)' are catchy ambient/trance numbers that will be a pleasant surprise for anyone unfamiliar with Dave's Internet-only material.
'BUG' proves that while he was a hugely important part of the Kinks' sound, Dave Davies is a significant songwriter and performer in his own right. With solo material like this, perhaps we can wait a little longer for the next Kinks studio album after all . . .

The nine years since the last studio effort from The Kinks have been bridged by reissues and live efforts. Now, finally, Dave Davies presents a new studio album, BUG. This fifty-something Rock 'n' Roll Hall-of-Famer has lost nothing in the intervening years. In fact, he has never been better as a songwriter, singer, or (sacreligious as it sounds) a guitarist than he is on this excellent effort. The younger Davies is truly the keeper of The Kinks' legacy as he demonstrated on his superb 2000 live release ROCK BOTTOM. His new release, BUG, features equally scintillating rockers like "Whose Foolin' Who", "It Ain't Over, Till It's Done", "The Lie", and "Let Me Be" that match the power chord brilliance of his old band's legendary hits. Davies is no rock dinosaur. Witness the modern rockers "Displaced Person" and the title track or the techno numbers, "De-Bug" and "Life After Life." For lovers of Brit-Pop who look to The Kinks' quieter, more subtle, and less commercial gems--there's the quirky "Fortis Green" and the moving "Flowers in the Rain." Die-hard fans will be familiar with the former (as well as "True Phenomenon" and "Let Me Be") from one of his several internet-only releases on his meta media label. Rest assured, the songs have been transformed from their humble origins and sound fresh and exciting. This is the first great rock album of the twenty-first century. The past is gone, but Dave Davies still has a way to go.

I AM MIDDLE AGED, HAD OF COURSE HEARD OF THE KINKS, BUT NEVER DREAMED THE DEPTH AND SCOPE OF THEIR WORK. THEY HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN UNDERRATED AND UNDERPUBLICIZED ALL THESE YEARS. THE LAST TIME I HEARD ANYTHING OTHER THAN "LOLA" ON THE RADIO WAS "FATHER CHRISTMAS" IN DECEMBER. NEVER KNEW THEY WERE SO GOOD. JUST WHEN I THOUGHT RAY DAVIES WAS THE BEST SONGWRITER EVER, ALONG COMES LITTLE BROTHER DAVE WITH HIS OWN ALBUM THAT KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF. KEEP IT UP, DAVE!!! GOD SAVE THE KINKS.

Loved Bug! Listening to it again now as I type this. Fortis Green sounds like it belongs on the Village Green. Rock You Rock Me is classic! Dave seems to get better as he ages!

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Track Listings:
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1. Who's Foolin' Who 4:38
2. It Ain't Over, 'Till It's Done! 3:59
3. The Lie! 6:01
4. Let Me Be 3:37
5. Displaced Person 4:55
6. Rock You, Rock Me 6:53
7. Flowers In The Green 3:38
8. Fortis Green 5:46
9. Why?!! 4:36
10. The Phenomenon 4:56
11. Bug 5:14
12. De-Bug 3:59
13. Life After Life (Transformation) 8:45

Almost 20 years between albums, and Dave picks up right where he left off - with themes of spiritual change, extraterrestrial visitations, broken hearted love and government corruption. People weren't ready for these ideas being expressed in rock songs when he did them in 1983 on "Chosen People", and maybe they're still not ready, but the man has a lot of courage to go with his heart and share his vision of the world with us. "Who's Foolin' Who", "It Ain't Over Til It's Done" and "Let Me Be" all have the trademark Dave hard rock sound, while "The Lie" is somewhat softer. Dave's always been good at the rock 'n' roll screamers, but on this album I'm especially impressed at the tenderness in his voice on the quieter songs like "Flowers in the Rain", which almost brought me to tears the first couple times I played it. "Fortis Green" has that old Kinks "Dead End Street"/"Sunny Afternoon" sound (kind of like "Did Ya" from their 1992 e.p.). It really brings back the longing for those good old days - even if you weren't there. "Rock You, Rock Me' is a great power ballad, a song that will give you hope. "Why" is one of my favs because I'm the kind of person that is always asking questions. (I've been told I think too much on a few occasions!) If you think this CD is too retro sounding, wait till you hear the last two cuts. They're unlike anything Dave has done before. I hope we don't have to wait another 20 years before we get another CD of new songs from Dave. We need more of his spiritual rock and roll.