Richard Snow & The Inlaws / Look Back In Manga
Album: Look Back In Manga   Collection:A-File
Artist:Richard Snow & The Inlaws   Added:Oct 2024
Label:Self-Release  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2024-10-19 Pull Date: 2025-01-18
Week Ending: Nov 17 Nov 10 Nov 3 Oct 27
Airplays: 1 1 1 3

Recent Airplay
1. Nov 15, 2024: KZSU Time Traveler
I Never Liked The Beatles
4. Oct 25, 2024: KZSU Time Traveler
She's An Equinox
2. Nov 08, 2024: KZSU Time Traveler
She's An Equinox
5. Oct 24, 2024: Comes to Mind
She's An Equinox
3. Nov 01, 2024: KZSU Time Traveler
Beautiful Decay, Analogue Calls, I Never Liked The Beatles, She's An Equinox
6. Oct 20, 2024: I Like to Dance: Shake Off Your Pants
She's An Equinox

Album Review
Francis D
Reviewed 2024-10-16
“Look Back In Manga” Richard Snow & The Inlaws
Indie rock and power pop with a 60s Brit pop flavor on many tracks. Based in Nottingham, England, the band formed for a few years in the 90s under another name. As Richard Snow & The Inlaws, they toured extensively from 2005–2012 for Snow Patrol, the Posies and others. This is their first full album since 2011. The songs are a throwback to the rock and power pop of the 60s and 70s, featuring 12-string Rickenbacker guitar and rich harmonies throughout. ‘Manga’ (pronounced MAWN – gah) is a reference to Japanese comics. RIYL: The Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys or Kinks.
— Francis

Recommended: 2, 12, 10, 1, 3, 7, 13. FCC on Track 15.

1. (3:50) She’s An Equinox — Bright and jangly with rich backing harmonies and a great bass line. Very Byrds-like. ***
2. (4:21) I Never Liked The Beatles — Opens with classic riff reminiscent of “I Feel Fine” by the Beatles, and then transitions into a confident guitar-driven strut. About a neighbor who hated the Fab Four. ****
3. (3:38) Beautiful Decay — Easy, ambling 60s-flavored groove. Harmonica in the lead breaks. ***
4. (3:25) Wear You Out — Novelty tune with constant changes in time signatures, tempos and styles. Evolves from nostalgic piano to Beach Boys surf, and back again.
5. (3:16) Keep Up Roland — Angular, at times off-kilter, guitar rock with a snappy backbeat.
6. (4:08) System Out Of Date — Sweet Brit pop, with repeated fingerpicked guitar arpeggios and harmonized vocals.
7. (2:53) Double Act — Gentle, reassuring ballad with wistful vocals. ***
8. (3:02) Bad Times Coming — Peppy, skipping rock with call-and-response vocals in the choruses.
9. (2:47) Not Gonna Take It — Bouncy, reggae-style rock over guitar and organ, with rapid-fire repeated vocals in the choruses.
10. (2:29) You Can’t Have It All — Mid-tempo jangly rock with Beatles-like harmonies and George Harrison-style guitar in the lead break. ****
11. (3:54) Grace — Swaying folk rock with Telecaster slide guitar, bongos and tambourine. Guitar solo at end.
12. (2:54) Analogue Calls — Catchy, up-tempo power pop with sharp guitar work and Beach Boys-like harmonies. ****
13. (4:33) Kick It Around/Wear You In (Clean Edit) — Opens with 17 seconds of chatter and room noise. Minor-key vocals set the stage for lush harmonies in the choruses. Ends with soaring Beach Boys-like harmonizing. ***
14. (5:37) Freedom Snatchers — Piano and guitar slow burn. Telecaster, mellotron and more.
15. (4:33) Kick It Around/Wear You In (Unedited) — Unedited version of track 13. FCC: shit

Track Listing
1. She's An Equinox   8. Bad Times Coming
2. I Never Liked The Beatles   9. Not Gonna Take It
3. Beautiful Decay   10. You Can't Have It All
4. Wear You Out   11. Grace
5. Keep Up Roland   12. Analogue Calls
6. System Out Of Date   13. Kick It Around/Wear You In (Clean Edit)
7. Double Act   14. Freedom Snatchers
  15. Kick It Around/Wear You In (Unedited)