Ray Davies - Our Country: Americana Act 2

Haven't seen a thread on this. Release date: June 29th

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Country-...words=ray+davies+our+country+americana+act+ii

I really enjoyed the first volume so this was an automatic purchase for me.

 

It has been discussed on the original Americana thread:

New Ray Davies Album 'Americana' Out April 21 2017

However I agree it prob needs it's own thread.

 

I enjoyed the first album, too. I will be checking this one out, too.

 

As much as I LOVED "Other People's Lives" and "Working Man's Cafe", I still have not warmed up to "Americana"
I may just sit this one out. Curious to hear some reviews from listeners.

 

i liked americana more than other people’s lives or working man’s cafe.
act 2 is an automatic purchase for me too

 

excited

 

I never took much to Americana but I preordered Americana 2 last week cuz I loved Workimg Mans Cafe, love the Kinks and want Ray to keep releasing info.

Here’s hoping 2 can get me retroactively into 1.

 

Looking forward to a listen.

 

Ray & The Jayhawks tackle a remake of "Oklahoma USA". It's hard to top the greatness of the original, though:

 

Act I was a fine album, I have high expectations for Act II.

 

Ray can hardly do any wrong in my book. Whatever missteps he had ( IMO) , they were few and far between and minor. Looking forward to this and the Bowie Welcome to the Blackout being released on the same day.

 

Anything from Ray is welcome at this point.

 

But enough about the Preservation series.

 

I see what you did there.

Honestly, I like both “Acts” of Preservation for what they are. Act 1 is more solid and focused, I’ll admit it.

@Dave Hoos you all in for Americana II, too, (tee hee, tutu) mate?

 

Americana I was as great as some of the major Kinks albums and easily his greatest solo work. Can't wait for the new one!

 

I certainly will be, my dear fellow! Sometime in the next month or two hopefully. When is it due out?

 

Less than 3 weeks: June 29th

 

The new Oklahoma USA just popped up on my Spotify. While I agree that it might not reach the greatness of the original, I really love this take version. The Jayhawks add an atmosphere that really kicks the song up a notch. I can't wait to hear this thing in whole.

It is mind blowing to me that Ray is on top of his game right now. It is hard to watch the videos they're posting where it seems like he may have ambulatory issues. I'll have to face facts that I may never get to see him perform.

 

Yeah it hasn't really grabbed me either I have to sort of remind myself to listen to it.
I listened to Paging Mr.Proust more last year.

 

Just placed my preorder for the CD with Amazon (Happy 74th Birthday, Ray!). Since Act I was released in hi-res, I was about to spring for the hi-res, until my (former) college's radio station gave me the CD. I emailed the station manager this morning, and he said he doesn't know if they'll get it. We shall see what happens...

I'm positive that @jmacvols will let us know in the HDTracks thread if this will get a hi-res release, but since I have the CD of Act I, I want to stay consistent (OCD here, folks).

In the meantime, Ray has a new interview out regarding the release:
interview with Ray

 

Haven't listened yet, but here's a radio show with Ray from this morning

BBC Radio London - Robert Elms, Ray Davies, Lorna Holder and a World Cup Fourfer

Ray goes on about 2:06 (after the Paul Simon song)

 

Most interesting tidbits:

Ray Davies: I'm trying to persuade the boys to get together again to make a record.
Robert Elms: Is it very different when you make a Kinks record, from a Ray Davies one?
RD: Yeah, there's more violence involved.
RE: You talking about your brother?
RD: The best football teams are the ones on the verge of cracking.

Muswell Kills is not a song that can be played on the radio.

Hyde Park from a recent Ray Davies tour is being prepped for a video release.

 

Ray certainly sounded a lot better during that interview than he did on those promo clips for the new album. I’m not holding my breath for a Kinks reunion.

 

Me either... and yet:

Q: Speaking of family, do you see yourself working with Dave at all again at any point?

A: You know, I spoke to him on the phone the other day. Actually spoke. There’s a couple of songs I wrote, nothing to do with “Americana,” I said “You know, you’ve got the right chops to do that.” So we’re talking about it.

Q: Wow! Does the idea of working with Dave excite you at all?

A: Yeah. It terrifies me and excites me. It’s always a challenge with Dave because he’s a great player and he’s so unpredictable. He’s still got the chops. So who knows? He inspires me to want to write.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/ent...album-our-country-americana-act-ii/715407002/

****FINGERS CROSSED****