Ric Seaberg's Useful Info: Press

I should have reviewed this fine, fun CD a long time ago (the reasons I didn’t are many and too self-indulgent to bore you with here) but better late than never (I hope.)


Ric Seaberg is such an affable and talented singer-songwriter that it’s almost impossible to listen to his music and not feel like smiling (and bobbing your head and dancing happily even…and maybe especially… when you’re all alone…try to resist the effortless bounce of the playfully rueful “Why Didn’t I Think of That?”, you’re a stronger person than I if you can :-)


A Thousand Songs is filled with charming love songs (name checking Richard Thompson on the wistful “When I Come Home” made me smile knowingly) and fanciful “real guy” ditties (that word used with unapologetic affection for the tunes…the grand ode “My New Truck” was featured on one of my favorite radio pleasures, NPR’s warm and wacky Car Talk and as football season comes back he makes me realize that I want a “Big TV” too :-) with Ric’s solid, unpretentious vocals ably supported by warm and sometimes muscular (but never overwhelming) musical backing (a special tip of the hat to Tim Ellis who plays some mighty fine guitar on all of the tracks including the jaunty “One More Beatles Song”, a tune that in a better world would be booming from car stereos all over the country on these bright summer’s days) and sweet harmonies.


A Thousand Songs is a lovely record for a summer’s day…full of unabashed and unapologetic love and passion, fun and wit, lovely melodies and heartfelt vocals…a lovely record anytime for anyone who likes their rockin’ pop music to be real and engaging and smile-inducing.

(Links to Ric's page (you can hear audio of the title track at the second link) and to the page of his music sold by my pals at CD Baby (tell 'em I sent ya...you won't get any discounts or anything but it may make them laugh :-) are included in the body of the piece above.)

Volvos in a rock song? For those who think safe, Swedish cars are only for when one's rock and roll days are over, pay attention, for you have succumbed to one of the many stereotypes cultivated in rock music about the cool of driving fast and reckless.

Singer Ric Seaberg shatters such foolish notions in his 2003 song, "Little Volvo." Musically, the song is built on a reggae-influenced, upbeat groove, while carried by the 4/4 rhythm of a standard rock song. The beat is infused with a guitar riff that is both mellow and energetic like a 35 mph drive down a winding, backcountry road (braking appropriately for turns and paying attention to all traffic signals, of course) Thus, Ric creates a sound that has hints of both Tom Petty and Paul Simon, yet is thoroughly unique.

Lyrically, Seaberg is as solid as a sonnet. The first two verses provide an encyclopedic survey of cliches from rock songs that praise life in the fast lane, from the Beach Boys "Little Deuce Coupe" to Commander Cody's "Hot Rod Lincoln," simultaneously deconstructing such myths about the fun of fast driving by pairing them with their deadly consequences. The chorus and the finishing bridge then provide a resolution, praising the safety features of a Volvo, from air bags, (front and side), to traction control, to its resistance to rolling in a crash.

"Little Volvo," which has received air-play on NPR's hallowed institution Car Talk with Click and Clack, creates a new cool for car owners that places brain above brawn, and safety over speed. But, as a loyal Volvo owner and Rolling reader, you already had that mindset.

"Little Volvo" appears on Ric's CD "Santa Monica" available from www.cdbaby.com and www.amazon.com.

RadioIndy is pleased to present Ric Seaberg with a GrIndie Award for the CD "A Thousand Songs"
Veteran songwriter Ric Seaberg takes listeners for a musical journey through his life and much more on “A Thousand Songs.” Overall, Seaberg’s songs are very reminiscent of late 70’s Jackson Browne, both in his vocal approach and melodies. The Browne influence can be heard throughout the disc, but is most recognizable on “The Queen of Hollywood High” and “In My Daddy’s Car.” There are also some faint hints of John Lennon and Warren Zevon scattered about as well. Seaberg also touches upon the subject of divorce in songs such as “Make it About Me” and “Smiley Emoticon.” His ability to write openly about his life experiences and feelings makes it very easy for any listener to attach themselves to these great songs. Any Jackson Browne or Brian Wilson fan will be spinning “A Thousand Songs” over and over again.

One of the coolest byproducts of surfing the "blogoverse" (or whatever the heck it's going to end up being called) for me is discovering music that I would otherwise never get a chance to hear, enjoy, and embrace.

Discovering the music of the ever-delightful Last Girl on Earth was a grand treat, and this CD is another welcome addition to my ever-burgeoning music collection.

Years ago, a wonderful record by Nick Lowe was re-titled Pure Pop for Now People because the American record company thought the original British title, Jesus of Cool, might have proven problematic here in the States (can't imagine why...:-) Whatever the origin, I love the phrase...pure pop for now people...and I like to use to refer to rockin' pop records that I really like.

Ric Seaberg's Santa Monica is, in all of the positive aspects of the phrase, pure pop for now people. It's sunny and warm...with wordplay that is often witty (and sometimes delightfully silly) and occasionally sweetly poignant...and it rocks with easy, melodic aplomb from the tasty lilt of the clever title track through the funny "Jesus Didn't Have a Car" and the bittersweet "Family Asshole Void" all the way to the lovely Christmas song that is the unlisted 16th track on the disc.

If cornered to describe it, I would say to try to imagine a less acerbic Warren Zevon fronting a harder-rocking version of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band...Seaberg is no copycat, I'm just trying to get across the touchpoints that come into my head as I groove to his music. Pure...rockin' and engaging...pop indeed.

RIC SEABERG – A THOUSAND SONGS

Liedjesschrijven is misschien wel het enige wat Portland’s singer-songwriter Ric Seaberg echt goed kan doen. In de voorbije 10 jaar leverde hij 8 cd’s af met daarop steeds een zo goed gevuld mogelijk assortiment van verse songs. Het mag dan ook niet verbazen dat nummer 8 in de rij “A Thousand Songs” weliswaar geen 1000 liedjes bundelt maar met twintig tracks komt hij toch al aardig boven het normale gemiddelde uit.
Ric Seaberg is een rocker in hart en nieren. Al sinds de beginjaren ’60 trad hij op als frontman bij diverse rockbands in het Amerikaanse Noordwesten. Zijn bekendste formatie was ‘The Morning Reign’ waarmee hij podia deelde met o.a. The Doors, Guess Who, The Cream, The Animals en The Spencer Davis Group. Mede daardoor is het eigenlijk onbegrijpelijk dat deze muzikant nooit een vedettenstatus heeft kunnen verwerven. Maar eigenlijk is dat ook het laatste wat hij in zijn leven zou ambiëren. Daarvoor is zijn relatief anonieme bestaan met vrouwtje en zoon in Portland voor hem te belangrijk.
Zijn door blues en country geïnspireerde pop- en rocknummers puilen uit van humoristische kwinkslagen en cynische teksten. Menig keer betrap je er jezelf op dat je zachtjes zit te gniffelen bij het aanhoren van sommige grappige songteksten.
Op “A Thousand Songs” gidst Ric Seaberg de luisteraar doorheen zijn leven en zijn vele anekdotes en herinneringen werden in spontane en eerlijke no-nonsense teksten neergeschreven vooraleer ze op een bedje van stuwende rock en gitaarmuziek werden opgenomen voor deze cd. Qua stijl worden in de pers wel eens vergelijkingen gemaakt met Jackson Browne die met groter succes eenzelfde genre wist te bespelen.
Een goede melodie, verzorgde zang en een knappe productie vormen het handelsmerk van deze artiest. Gitarist Tim Ellis heeft Ric Seaberg op al zijn ooit verschenen platen begeleid en heeft doorheen de jaren lief en leed met hem gedeeld. Ook op dit album is Tim Ellis weer overal opvallend aanwezig met verzorgd en sterk gitaarspel.
Ric Seaberg neemt een vliegende start met het ijzersterke en hitgevoelige “Hear Me!” en het grappige verhaal van zijn eerste tumultueuze ritje “In My Daddy’s Car”. De vergelijking met Jackson Browne zou men kunnen staven op basis van de songs “Smiley Emoticon” en “The Queen Of Hollywood High” waar Seaberg’s stem zeer nauw aansluit bij die van Jackson Browne.
Om de diversiteit te borgen en de verveling tegen te gaan plaatste Ric Seaberg enkele hoogkwalitatieve ballads tussen de rocknummers en ook in die rustigere songs etaleert hij zijn vocale capaciteiten. Hoogtepunt is daarbij het door mooie accordeonklanken begeleide “When I Come Home” maar ook “A Song Named You”, “Go There” en “Make It About Me” over een echtscheiding verdienen een eervolle vermelding in deze recensie. Afgesloten wordt deze cd met het nummer “Arch Enemy” dat vol zit met gevloek en verwijten en daardoor eigenlijk tot het grappigste lied wordt gebombardeerd.
Ter afsluiting willen we ook nog even vertellen dat de eerste track op dit album een geluidsopname van 37 seconden is die in 1951 door zijn moeder werd gemaakt van de driejarige kleuter Ric Seaberg die “The Lone Ranger Song” al hakkelend zingt. Zij zal toen wel nog niet beseft hebben dat haar zoontje zo’n goede zanger zou worden en zich met acht albums in de onsterfelijkheid zou zingen.
(valsam)
www.rootstime.be

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