Album Review: Stan Snow – Road to the Sun

Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Stan Snow has an impressive résumé; he’s worked with quite a few household names (well, they’re well-known names in my household, at least). On Road to the Sun – his fifth seventh and latest album – he tackles some big themes And while that in and of itself is commendable, if the music doesn’t measure up, it wouldn’t matter. Luckily, it does. The wide-screen, orchestral grandeur that serves as the introduction to the opener “River of No Return” seems to set a tone for the album. But things take a turn from there, with a catchy groove anchoring the song. Snow has a firm grasp on pop melodic values, and he couches those melodies in interesting arrangements. While the hooks are sharp and accessible, there’s a pleasing depth and complexity to the songs that makes them worthy of further listens.

Some of the afore-hinted-at heavyweight associates are present on Road to the Sun, including Paul McCartney’s longtime drummer Abe Laboriel Jr and the criminally underrated Lyle Workman. Still, Snow plays most of the instruments on the album. But there’s an organic vibe to the whole affair, making it sound more like the work of a simpatico aggregation of players rather than a one man band. Snow’s guitar work deserves special praise, as it’s equal parts catchy and inventive. Highly accessible music, the songs on Road to the Sun can be enjoyed on multiple levels: as appealing and tuneful midtempo rockers, and/or as vehicles for Snow’s thoughtful ruminations on tops like war, social unrest, Wall Street malefactors and so on.