WORKING OUT THE KINKS: Best known as the lead singer/songwriter of the Kinks, Ray Davies doesn't just know how to write a terrific musical hook that gets you humming along. He's also one of the more astute, humane, subtle and artful of social observers, with a longing for the simpler days and world that have passed us by. "Working Man's Cafe" (New West, A) is chock-full of such magical moments.

"Vietnam Cowboys" muses on the globalization of culture and commerce, while the title track waxes nostalgic for the non-franchised hangouts where working stiffs used to feel welcome. "In a Moment" argues that hope and despair, embrace and rejection all transition in a blink, so seize what you will while you can. Not getting any younger, Davies also contemplates the inevitable in "Morphine Song," a brutal glimpse inside a geriatric hospital ward. And he argues modestly in "Imaginary Man" that we've imbued him with attributes and acclaim that he doesn't really deserve. As ever, modestly becomes him.

GIRL POWER: Like her sister in blood and soul/country heritage Shelby Lynne, Allison Moorer is working in a cover-tune vein on "Mockingbird" (New Line, B+). But instead of focusing on the Brit-gone-Memphis stylings of Dusty Springfield as Lynne did on her latest disc, "Just a Little Lovin'," Moorer is steering her strong, sultry pipes to a wide range of sonic landmarks all written by female talents, from June Carter Cash's "Ring of Fire" to Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot." Also charging her/our batteries are a sexy read of Nina Simone's "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," Moorer's dark, rocking rending of Gillian Welch's "Revelator" and an artful rethink of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now."

With Buddy Miller at the helm, there's always at least little twang to the guitar, some down-home spirit to the organ grinding and a loose, country clickety-clack in the percussion.

BLUES YOU CAN USE: As one of Sean Costello's songs on "We Can Get Together" (Delta Groove, B+) goes, "I've got a brand new angle on the same old game." This pale-skinned bluesman grabs your ears with good vocals and tastefully modern, slashing guitar lines. But what really makes this disc jump out are his zesty tunes, underscoring that all blues don't sound the same. Check out the up-tempo "Can't Let Go," his bayou-flavored "Told Me a Lie," or the sassy, boogaloo of "Hard Luck Woman." I'm also fond of the balmy, Bonnie Raitt-ish "Have You No Shame," his gospel-fired "Going Home" and a song that evokes the cream of Cream, "Feel Like I Ain't Got a Home."

SHAKE AND STIR: U.K. neo-hippies Kula Shakar will trip you up, but good, with their retro-rock flavors and emotions, covering lots of creative territory in "Strange Folk" (Cooking Vinyl, A-). Dig the San Francisco acid test reality of "Second Sight," asking, "Do you want to see the man behind the truth?" Heavy. And how 'bout the make-love-not-war sentiments of "Die For Love" in which they intone "Don't want to be wrapped up in a flag, or spilled upon the sand . . . but I would die for love." The cumulative effect is like tuning in an hour of free-form FM radio, from the glory days.

TWANG TIME: Some of America's best roots musicians, including two who took home Grammys last week, have well-timed new releases.

Jim Lauderdale, Grammy winner for best bluegrass album, shows his slip-sliding Americana side on "Honey Songs" (Yep Roc, A-). With home-run originals like the slow-swinging "It's Finally Sinking In" and cranked-up "Stingray," this twangy outing is so retro it sounds fresh again, in a Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers kind of way. Adding to the pleasures are aptly billed backing musicians the Dream Players, including pedal-steel master Al Perkins, bassist Garry W. Tallent (from the E-Street Band), electric guitarist James Burton, pianist Glen Hardin and drummer Ron Tutt. (The last three all did yeomen's work in Elvis Presley's touring band.) And harmony vocalists include Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless and Buddy Miller. Not too shabby.

Singer/drummer Levon Helm, winner of the Grammy for best traditional folk album, is the special featured attraction on guitarist Arlen Roth's "Toolin' Around Woodstock" (Aquaman Records, B). Sounds more like they've stopped into the local tappy for a Monday night jam session, as they're working over bar-band faves like "Sweet Little Sixteen," "Cryin' Time" and "Ballad of the Thin Man" in ragged, righteous fashion. Bill Kirchen and Sonny Landreth are also along for the ride, and a bonus DVD offers a tour of the legendary little music town.

Also highly meritorious is the first solo album by Gary Louris, of Jayhawks fame. Called "Vagabonds" (Ryko, A-), the combination of his husky/yearning voice, pining folk/country tunes and warm, keyboard, acoustic guitar and pedal-steel-driven arrangements evoke the best of Tim Buckley and Stephen Stills in his Crosby, Stills & Nash glory days. *