Choose your own invasion

The British Invasion was the best thing to happen to rock 'n' roll before LSD -- keep the Spirit of '66 alive with these great English exports.

Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of The British Empire) -- The Kinks, 1969

Originally intended as the soundtrack for a BBC drama that never got off the ground, these songs use the average, middle-class lives of Arthur and his family as case studies of the human condition. "Drivin'," a droll road song fit for a pauper, provides proper diversion while "all the world is fighting." Reality hits home, though, on "Shangri-la", which bemoans "The gas bills and the water rates, and payments on the car / Too scared to think about how insecure you are." The songs start off deceptively simple, and are at times annoyingly catchy, but inevitably end up rocking.

This Is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies and The Kinks -- Various Artists, 2002

Although The Kinks' direct descendents include fellow countrymen such as Blur and Oasis, this tribute album shows that their music has had a lasting impact on American artists as well. Obvious hits such as "Lola" and "All Day and All of the Night" were passed over in favor of more obscure tracks that feel personal and relevant. Fountains of Wayne lend their jaded optimism to "Better Things" and Cracker spice up "Victoria" with crunchy guitar riffs. Matthew Sweet lends his melancholy to "Big Sky" and Queens of the Stone Age give hard rock grit to "Who'll Be The Next In Line." Ray Davies contributes a live rendition of "Waterloo Sunset" as well as some informative and amusing liner notes. "Where are Cracker from," he muses, "and do they wear red hunting jackets?"

The La's -- The La's, 1990

There is a distinctly dreamlike quality that pervades this, The La's first and only studio album, which relies heavily on jangly acoustic guitars, trance-inducing rhythms and a lethargic vocal delivery. From the wide-open eye on the album cover to tracks such as "I Can't Sleep" and "Doledrum," it's readily apparent that this is the work of a haunted insomniac. On "Failure," Lee Mavers warns the listener, "No you can't throw failure over your shoulder ... No you can't hurry forward, it's holding you back." This inner turmoil hints at Mavers' perfectionism, which has delayed a second album for more than a decade. Hopes for a follow-up were raised earlier this year, when the band reunited for a series of concerts.

Reaching to the Converted -- Billy Bragg, 1999

Reaching to the Converted is an ironic title for this collection of B-sides and covers, which contains some of the folksy Brit's most accessible material. Non-converts are sure to embrace the bright melodies of "Shirley," "Sulk" and "Accident Waiting to Happen." With the exception of the anti-war anthem "Think Again," relationships prevail over politics.