THIS WEEK’S CD RELEASES

Americana Ray Davies (Sony) HHHHH

Ray Davies recounts the 50-plus years of his interactions with America on his first solo album in 10 years. The former Kinks frontman’s choice of backing band, the excellent Jayhawks, give him a diverse choice of palettes on which to sketch. Consequently, the 72-year-old sounds as good as he has done in decades. On Message From The Road, The Man Upstairs and The Deal, he compares his youthful dreams of America to his actual experiences. Lyrically on form and musically vital, this ticks all the right boxes.

LA Divine Cold War Kids (Capitol) HHHHH

Cold War Kids’ career has included some very decent singles, including Hang Me Up To Dry and 2015’s First, but perhaps the reason why they have not been able to sustain quality and momentum is due to a propensity to change personnel. The February release of the catchy Love Is Mystical seemed to bode well for their sixth album, but it was a false dawn. The Californian band bluster passionately, but unfortunately this is clichéd and musically stale. Mostly, they sound like a latter-day piano-driven INXS with added Reef and Bush.

Death Song The Black Angels (Partisan Records) HHHHH

Texan psychedelic rockers The Black Angels have dialled up the guitars and dug deep into the doom on this, their fifth studio album. Currency and I’d Kill For Her get heavy quickly, setting the tone, while Grab As Much As You Can sounds like solo Syd Barrett jamming with The Doors. Written during the US election cycle, this at-times resigned yowl from the underground suggests artists are actually invigorated by the current incumbent at the White House; we can be thankful for that, if nothing else.