Bug

Dave Davies

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 7, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B0000657ZV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #132,424 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
If Dave Davies did nothing more than create the slash-and-burn power chords of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" he'd earn a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As it is, the younger Davies brother has accomplished much more. His first studio album in over 20 years finds Ray's frequently overshadowed sibling reviving that rather charming '70s device, the concept album--the plot here revolving around extraterrestrial visitation and brain implantation. Davies brings the idea of benign aliens a little closer in a collection that recalls some of the best trends of the '60s and '70s. He uses a rock template that harkens back to post-Tommy Who ("The Lie"), Mott the Hoople ("Whose Fooling Who"), and Deep Purple ("It Ain't over 'Till It's Done"), sounding rather anachronistic as a result. The songs are engaging and show Davies to be a writer of considerable skill and wit, but they're somewhat stuck in the way-back machine. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dave the Rave returns in force, September 29, 2005

By	W. M. Davidson (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No second fiddle!, May 20, 2002

By	"ilc1999" (Flint, MI United States) - See all my reviews

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!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful solo album from Kinks guitarist, May 10, 2002

By	hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

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.