Blog > Title: Lost Classics: The Novelist/Walking Without Effort

Richard Swift is one of the most underrated talents going.

Having seen the guy three times, I can say that he puts on a stupendous show. But his recorded work is nothing to snuff at either. In fact, I would say it’s  cause for commotion.

This collection of EPs, titled The Richard Swift Collection Vol. 1, may be understated, but is an extremely good place to start appreciating this artist’s music.  Much of what Richard goes on to explore in his very diverse later catalog begins here. Richard plays most of the instruments on this release– and their are quite a few. He also recorded and released the EPs on his own before signing with Secretly Canadian in 2005 and reissuing them as the Richard Swift Collection in the late fall.

The Novelist is a study in early lo-fi recording styles and raspy-jazzy jams that fall not far from Tom Waits, or crate-digger sound studies from yesteryear. “Lovely Night”, despite a very clean chorus, sounds very much like a 1930s New Orleans jam session, and could have easily found its way on to some of Mr. Waits earlier 70s albums. “Sad Song St.” finds a ukulele and organ telling a kitschy story of a rather humorous lifestyle of depression and love lost. Fans of this style will not be disappointed as the rest of this disc plays out like a truly satisfying night sitting in front of the radio when your grandparents were kids.

What’s truly impressive, though, is that the joy does not end there. Throw in Walking Without Effort and you will find a more modern Swift embracing classic instrumentation (acoustic guitar, horns and piano) and textures  in a way that is very clean and new sounding. Not to mention proving himself as truly gifted and moving songwriter. “Half Lit”, “As I Go” and “Above and Below” are not only true standouts here on this disc, but also stand out as a few of my very favorite recorded songs in recent memory. Fans of Andrew Bird, Denison Witmer, Sufjan Stevens and Elijah Wyman should definitely take notice.

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Richard has an album coming out this week entitled The Atlantic Ocean. And has toured previously with The Walkmen, Wilco, The Cold War Kids and My Morning Jacket. If you like this album check out Dressed Up For the Letdown, his surf rock experimental record Richard Swift as Onasis or his electronic album as  Instruments of Science and Technology.

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