Richard Snow, debut album reviews

Richard Snow

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		billsmusicforum.blogspot.com
		This release is an extra treat when listened through the headphones. You'll pick out even more instruments and vocal parts that testify to how well crafted each song really is... he is a man of many talents and musical styles, as evidenced by how easily he hops from the lingering acoustic ballad, "Attention Not Required" to the surf punk blend of "Girls on the Tube" to the jamming funk and fuzz rock of "Hand Me Down My Sunglasses", which incidentally is one of my favorite tracks.

		NELSON BRAGG : Songwriter, percussionist, recording artist
		"I’m blown away at the detail in arrangements and the scale of your production but mostly...I love the tunes and your voice!!! Just incredible.

MALCOLM CARTER : pennyblackmusic.com

... makes one wonder just how one man can be so talented. Snow not only wrote all these songs and played all the instruments bar drums and some bass but he has produced and engineered the whole album superbly... one of the best and most important releases of this year... Snow writes and produces music that is timeless.

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MICHAEL MCCARTNEY : KEAO in Maui

Been spinning "Coming Soon (Going So Fast)" the past two weeks. :=) Like the entire album. It most likely will be aried all of this year. A lot of good songs.

March 2008

LAURIE BIAGINI : Singer/songwriter

His melodies are infectiously catchy... I found this album a delight to listen to, and the songs have many pleasant surprises which capture you unexpectedly, but it all fits together in one perfect package... If you love melodic power-pop with rich harmonies, Richard Snow will more than satisfy your musical cravings.

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		DAVID BASH : International Pop Overthrow
		Whether it's jangly power pop, fun new wave or splendourous and Beach Boys influenced, Richard Snow is an artist who truly "gets it", and his debut U.S. release on SideB Music is a powerful reflection of that. I'm very pleased to have had Richard and his band play at my International Pop Overthrow festival, both in the U.S. and his native UK.

		Powerpopaholic.com
		I've been reviewing a lot of retro-power pop lately, so here is another one. Richard Snow is a 33-year-old singer-songwriter from Nottingham, UK who sings, plays guitar, keyboards, bass and percussion. This album is a re-mastered release of his original 2002 UK release. The album is bookended by two wonderful Beach Boys-styled songs ("The Sweetest", "Coming Soon") that have that Wilsonesque touch and details worthy of "Pet Sounds." The we are treated to the wonderful jangle and melody of "Real" that takes cues from R.E.M.'s energetic bounce. Snow's soft vocals are similar in approach to Richard X. Heyman or maybe Elvis Costello. In some tunes, his vocals do get a bit pushed too far in the background. Things pick up to almost a new wave frenzy with the "Girls on the Tube" and echos of Elvis Costello are definitely on "Hand Me Down My Sunglasses." The gorgeous guitar lead on "Pretty Picture" take over the song much like Jamie Hoover's material. The Byrdisan chime continues on "Spiral" and it's another winner. The haunting "Haphazard" suffers from a bit of over-production and too much echo-effects and is the only misstep here. Overall this is a classic power pop release, Richard uses his influences to form beautifully crafted, catchy original songs. What more could you ask for? Don't miss it.

		SIMON WILSON : Nottingham Evening Post
		It's like Brian Wilson moved to town. Brilliant harmonies, brilliant production touches--this is unlike anything you will hear in town without being avant garde.

		FUFKIN.COM: "great music. then... and now"
		The opening and closing tracks have a timeless Beach Boy quality; and the nine tracks in between flirt with sounding like Richard X. Heyman and Arthur Lee/Love. "Real," "Pretty Picture" and "Sprial" are chock full of cascading 12-string riffs. Other tracks simply chime. This is one more magnificent example of how much better an indie pop artist can be than his more commercial counterparts.

		MAGIC HAT : IrisMagazine.net
		There's no doubting that Richard Snow comes from the school of sixties pop. His self-titled debut album starts off with the gorgeous choral piece 'The Sweetest' full of lush harmony and an obvious homage to Brian Wilson's 'Our Prayer' which was slated to start the lost Beach Boys album 'Smile'. Wilson's influence is all over the album and it continues to exert its effect on second track 'Coming Soon'; prominent basslines and handclaps get things going as Snow weaves an intricate pattern segueing in and out of various sections. The production is superb throughout drawing parallels with fellow Wilson aficionado Sean Hagan of the High Llamas. 'Real' has a more guitar orientated approach with echoes of REM. 'Attention Not Required' follows bringing a somber feel to proceedings with the chorus "goodbye friend I got to go" delivered plaintively over precision fitted sounds. 'Pretty Picture' is less convincing and does not offer the now expected snow hook-line. Things get back to normal quickly though with 'Red Song' a nice jangly guitar pop song ala teenage fanclub with its breezy energetic melody injecting hooks galore. The album finishes as it started with a reprise of 'The Sweetest' adding lyrics this time round. It’s a great way to end things as the song is really a mindblower; layers of harmony and spector style percussion compete with harpsichord and ethereal effects making the finest track of the album. If you like your pop music sweet, sincere and sparkling check this out!