RAY DAVIES He led the legendary Kinks for 33 years, and while the output was notoriously so-so in later years, Ray Davies’ reputation was already sacrosanct when he put out a pair of not-too-shabby solo records in 2006 and 2007 (Other People’s Lives and Workingman’s Café). But now comes See My Friends, the kind of vanity project/victory lap LP that makes you blanch with horror. Re-doing classic Kinks songs with the likes of Jon Bon Jovi, Mumford & Sons and Smashing Pumpkins’ chief tool Billy Corgan completely undermines more compelling duets with Spoon, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Black and the late Alex Chilton. Still, maybe he’ll play “Lola” live in its entirety (he never used to!) (John Schacht)

Price: $52-$69.50