The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL TRACK OF THE WEEK: GARY NUMAN – “SAINTS AND LIARS”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: ATOMIC BRONCO – “CRUEL”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SLOTHRUST ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘PARALLEL TIMELINE’ DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 10 | NEW SINGLE + VIDEO “STRANGE ASTROLOGY” OUT NOW ON DANGERBIRD RECORDS
SPILL NEWS: MATT BERRY SHARES NEW TRACK “SUMMER SUN” | NEW ALBUM ‘THE BLUE ELEPHANT’ DUE OUT MAY 14 ON ACID JAZZ RECORDS
SPILL NEWS: BILLY F. GIBBONS ON A “DESERT HIGH” FROM FORTHCOMING ‘HARDWARE’ ALBUM VIA CONCORD
SPILL NEW MUSIC: THE TREWS SHARE BRAND NEW PANDEMIC ANTHEM “I WANNA PLAY” VIA CADENCE MUSIC GROUP
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III IMAGINED
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRETA VAN FLEET – THE BATTLE AT GARDEN’S GATE
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ORIGINAL MUCHMUSIC VJ + PLATINUM SINGER/SONGWRITER CHRISTOPHER WARD RELEASES “BLACK VELVET” FROM ‘SAME RIVER TWICE’ ALBUM
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ISLANDS SHARE NEW SINGLE “SET THE FAIRLIGHT” VIA ROYAL MOUNTAIN RECORDS | NEW ALBUM ‘ISLOMANIA’ OUT JUNE 11
SPILL NEW MUSIC: JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM “LOCAL VALLEY” VIA MUTE RECORDS | LISTEN TO “VISIONS” TODAY
SPILL NEWS: THE BLACK KEYS CELEBRATE MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES WITH NEW ALBUM ‘DELTA KREAM’ ON MAY 14 + NEW SINGLE “CRAWLING KINGSNAKE”
SPILL FEATURE: THE DOORS – L.A. WOMAN: 50 YEARS LATER
SPILL FEATURE: BURN – A CONVERSATION WITH JULES MAXWELL OF DEAD CAN DANCE
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: PENTRAL – “AIMING FOR THE SUN”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: BETTY MOON – “MY ONLY ONE”
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
2
1605
previous article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AYE NAKO - SILVER HAZE
next article
SPILL NEWS: PEARL JAM’S RAUCOUS, LARGER-THAN-LIFE INTERPRETATION OF BRANDI CARLILE’S “AGAIN TODAY” UNVEILED

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVE DAVIES & RUSS DAVIES – OPEN ROAD

Dave Davies & Russ Davies

Dave Davies & Russ Davies
Open Road
Sony Music

The Kinks called it a day in 1994, following the release of their much overlooked, but brilliant, album To The Bone. Who would have predicted that Dave Davies, co-founder and the revolutionary guitarist for the band, would be the more prolific of the two. Ray Davies (older brother and co-founder) was known as the main writer. I think all bets were on Ray to produce more solo albums. However, sInce the split, Ray has released four studio albums (his fifth is due later this month), while Dave has released 12 studio albums (plus three while with the Kinks). Through his website he has also issued a number of live albums. This release, his third is with his son, Russ, titled Open Road, could be his finest solo album yet.

Dave and Russ’s first two albums are more ambient and spiritual, and while interesting, were not the most accessible records in the Davies catalogue. Open Road, however, is much more conventional, and brings Dave back to his acoustic sound. He does not forgo the electric, but he does some nice work with his acoustic guitar. Although Dave has never been known for his singing voice, on this album his weariness and the years of experience in his voice accentuate the music and overall theme of the record.

Russ Davies is not a newcomer to music. Whether known as Russell Davies, or as a member of Abakus or Cinnamon Chasers, he has been producing and remixing music for over fifteen years. He is known mostly for electronic music or deejaying (he remixed a number of Roxy Music tracks for the clubs, with great success), but here he also plays guitar. He lets his dad do what Dave does best, and he plays loud guitar and lets the music grow around it. Yes there is a lot of acoustic throughout, but there is also his trademark gritty electric playing. Russ Davies is a brilliant producer, and if he can get this quality of writing and playing from his dad, they should continue to work together.

Here Dave sings lead vocals. For the most part, he sings about the past and the future. The theme of the album seems to be looking back and wondering what is ahead. The first three songs set the tone — “Path Is Long”, “Open Road”, and finally “I Don’t Want To Grow Up”. Dave’s voice fits the tone beautifully.

This is an album in every sense of the word. The songs are sequenced to set the mood, and it is clearly a concept album about getting older and the fragility of life — you may remember Dave’s health scare in 2004 when he suffered a stroke. The fact that Dave continues to play, write, and perform after such a health setback speaks to his dedication to his art and music.

This is a terrific album. It may not earn new fans, but it should. By rights ‘classic rock radio’ should be all over this album. Fans of Davies’ solo work and The Kinks will enjoy what he has produced here.



Artist Links

facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVE DAVIES & RUSS DAVIES – OPEN ROAD

Author

Aaron Badgley

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
94.2
7.0
Total Spill Rating
94.2
Total Fan Rating
2 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsdave davies & russ davieslove has rules of its ownopen roadpath is longslow downsony musicthe kinks
album reviews, dave davies & russ davies, love has rules of its own, open road, path is long, slow down, sony music, the kinks
About the Author
Aaron Badgley
Aaron Badgley
Born and raised in Whitby, Aaron discovered music through his love of The Beatles. This led to a career in radio, writing for various publications, and ultimately a radio show about The Beatles (Beatles Universe), which ran for over four years. When not immersed in music, Aaron enjoys spending time with the loves of his life -- his wife Andrea, and daughters Emily and Linda (all of whom have an intense love of music too).
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsslow downsony music
 
10
Paul McCartney
8.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III IMAGINED

by Aaron Badgley on April 16, 2021
Paul McCartney McCartney III Imagined MPL/Capitol Say what you will about Paul McCartney, but he never does what is expected of him. Following the success of 2020’s McCartney [...]
 
8.0
Greta Van Fleet

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRETA VAN FLEET – THE BATTLE AT GARDEN’S GATE

by Melinda Welsh on April 16, 2021
Greta Van Fleet The Battle At Garden’s Gate Lava Records There’s no denying it — Greta Van Fleet have taken a lot of flack. Whichever side of the fence you [...]
 
7.0
The Reds, Pinks & Purples

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES – UNCOMMON WEATHER

by Dan Kennard on April 9, 2021
The Reds, Pinks and Purples Uncommon Weather Slumberland Records For the third year in a row, The Reds, Pinks, and Purples have released another album of gentle, hazy, [...]
 
7.0
Robert Cotter
5.1

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ROBERT COTTER – MISSING YOU

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
Robert Cotter Missing You WeWantSounds Before Chic set the disco world on fire with the quintessential hit, “Le Freak” in 1978, they were The Big Apple Band, fronted by Robert Cotter. [...]
 
9.0
Twin Tribes
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TWIN TRIBES – ALTARS

by Jake Collier on April 9, 2021
Twin Tribes Altars Negative Gain/Young & Cold Records/Manic Depression Records Darkwave duo du jour, Twin Tribes, have released Altars, a remix album that encompasses their first two [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III IMAGINED
10
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRETA VAN FLEET – THE BATTLE AT GARDEN...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES – UNCOMMON WE...
7.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ROBERT COTTER – MISSING YOU
7.0
5.1
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TWIN TRIBES – ALTARS
9.0
10
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Philip H. Anselmo

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS – A VULGAR DISPLAY OF PANTERA (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
65
 
This Is A Rock Show

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: OSHAWA MUSIC WEEK: THIS IS A ROCK SHOW – FEATURING REVIVE THE ROSE, THE JAILBIRDS, CIGAR CLUB, KILLER VIRGINS & MORE @ THE OSHAWA MUSIC HALL CONCERT THEATRE, OSHAWA

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
3158
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 3 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on March 18, 2021
19
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on February 18, 2021
265
 
Small Town Titans

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SMALL TOWN TITANS @ SMT HQ, YORK (PA)

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2021
51
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NOFX – SINGLE ALBUM
2161
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JON BATISTE – WE ARE
973
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHEVELLE – NIRATIAS
864
 
SPILL CONTEST: MANNEQUIN VANITY RECORDS GIVEAWAY – ENTER TO WIN A GIANT MVR PRIZE PACK!
815
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PISTOL FIRE – LOOK ALIVE
439
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STRAWBS – SETTLEMENT
426
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DANIEL LANOIS – HEAVY SUN
363
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: SEEPEOPLES – “IT FEELS HEAVY”
360
 
SPILL FEATURE: HIS STORY RIGHT NOW – A CONVERSATION WITH cEvin Key
321
 
SPILL FEATURE: TRULY ORCHESTRATING HIS OWN LIFE – A CONVERSATION WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD
304
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)
265
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RINGO STARR – ZOOM IN
263
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: CANADA’S ‘PRINCESS OF EVERYTHING’ BIF NAKED SHARES NEW SINGLE “BROKE INTO YOUR CAR” AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING ALBUM ‘CHAMPION’
257
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES