Ray Davies - See My Friends

Had a bored label manager decided to compile a bunch of Kinks covers the resulting album would have been bereft of sincerity and cohesion. However, since ‘See My Friends’ was a labour of love for head Kink Ray Davies, it feels like a personal journey through the past on his part, and a genuine tribute from those who’ve contributed.

Springsteen is on fine form on ‘Better Things’; ‘Days’ could have been made for Mumford And Sons; Alex Chilton is the beating heart of ‘’Til The End Of The Day’. But where Metallica’s ‘You Really Got Me’ is essentially a novelty, and Amy Macdonald’s turn is destined for a Jools Holland cameo, you’ll find yourself reaching instead for the originals.

6/10

Words by CC Baxter