Search - Richard Swift :: Novelist / Walking Without Effort

Pleasently surprised

Benjamin Durdle | Chicago, IL | 09/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"unfortunately, i haven't much time to write an in-depth review of this album. however, i thought it was a shame that it hadn't been review yet. i had no idea who this artist was until i ventured over to the "secretly canadian" website and listened to one of the samples from there. i purchased the album the next day. this is a great double-album that i have basically been listening to non-stop for the past week. a fantastic lo-fi album with an accessible, warm 70's vibe throughout. recomended to any fan of the singer/sonwriter genre. RIYL: cody chesnutt, m. ward, sufjan stevens, dennison witmer, iron & wine, bonnie "prince" billy. warning: this album cause daydreaming/nostalgia."

Richard Swift: The Novelist (Velvet Blue Music, 2003)

sylantroadie | Fort Worth, TX USA | 01/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a review of one of the discs in this collection. The other is fabulous as well.



I encountered this disc through my love of Frank Lenz' music. Knowing that Lenz was friends with Swift, I took a chance and bought the special edition version of "The Novelist." I popped it in my player and was blown away from the very first track to the final note on the disc. The disc is only 19 minutes and 38 seconds, but there is no note that is misused. There is no dead time on this disc. It's every second is worth every penny spent on it. Swift opted for a disc that was tight, compact, and perfect rather than put out a disc that has some hits laced with mediocre songs.



This disc emanates nostalgia. "The good old days" as it were. These are the things Swift is able to display in the style of "The Novelist." Set in 1938, "The Novelist" is an EP that sounds like it could have been a favorite of your great-grandmother's in her youth. A mixture of rag-time, jazz, and modern pop sensibilities, Swift has effected a masterpiece. Although nostalgic in it's music, the lyrics accomplish a melancholy realism that nostalgia usually disowns. The realism and down to earth lyrics bring the past into a more present reality.



The opening track invites the listener into the world of 1938. It sounds like the opening to a movie from the 40's that turns into a short ragtime introduction. After ushering in the listener, Swift begins his first full track crooning "Holiday!" It is a slow tempo song that is laced with piano, various percussion sounds, Swift's signature keyboards and light guitar. All of it's sparse arrangements make for a wonderfully complex song that is pleasant to the ears. Swift's vocals emanate longing for times gone by. He sings "Holiday/would you be my wife/ if you just name the price....breathing you in just to let me go/when nobody makes mistakes/I'm a lovely thing." His lyrics are poetic and graceful. Wonderful to hear.



Every part of the disc is superb, but I would say that Lovely Night and The Novelist are the highlights for me. Lovely Night is a great ragtime style song. Medium tempo with fantastic snare in the background and a "can-can" style crash in the chorus. The tension of the melancholy and old time nature of the song comes through his lyrics: "Cause tonight it's going to be a lovely night/With everybody looking oh so nice/and I wish that we were never born/ It's going to be a hazy day." Swift is an artist who has the ability to combine bright, upbeat sounds with a melancholy flavor with perfection.



The title track, "The Novelist," is fantastic in it's scope and artistic accomplishment. The lyrics are worth quoting in full here."

_

Luke | Texas | 10/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Richard Swift is a very intriguing song-writter. Upon the first few listens you will notice how well he incorporates trumpets and a random assortment of odd sounds like keys with unusual effects into his music. Nice touch. As you have probably already read, Swift is compared to a lo-fi version of Rufus Wainwright, or even Andrew Bird. This is true. I much prefer the latter half of this 2-CD set, "Walking Without Effort". A very peppy collection of songs dominated by a catchy rhythm guitar and Swift's great voice. Swift is a little more experimental on the first half, but it is still good. The only reason I didn't give the whole set 5 stars was because "Walking Without Effort" is much nicer than "The Novelist". You might also take note of his subtle religious references (not sure if that was intended, but you can read into his lyrics any way you'd like to I suppose). This CD brings me great joy. Buy it. Please."