Kinks frontman Ray Davies blueprinted kitchen-sink songwriting, detailing average English lives instead of escapist fantasies. On his first proper solo album, Davies goes to America and puts a Brit's eye on Yanks struggling to get by. Davies' years in New Orleans inspired these portraits of people on the edge, Cockneys far from home, and dreams not yet forgotten. Davies shames the Stones' recent by-the-numbers releases.