Ric Seaberg's Useful Info: Press

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.

Hello:

Just found your site today via one of those blog exposure sites, (Blog Explosion I think it was), and have been reading some of your past entries.

Everyone has their own reasons for writing and not all actually are too concerned with what the public thinks about said writing but I felt compelled to share with you that I think your writing is fantastic. It's not many who know the true art behind the word; often times they lack the education about sentence structure, grammar or even description.

I read a lot and while I may not be the best writer, I do know a good, top quality writer when I read them and you are a quality writer. You give just the right amount of descriptive narrative; not over doing it, not under doing it, that makes this reader able to walk along with you in your story. It's so rare to find that on an internet web site. It's a joy, a pearl, a refreshing drink of water in an otherwise dusty and harsh landscape.

Basically, your blog is very enjoyable to read. Thank you for sharing your stories and ideas.

That's all.
Ciao

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.