The Snake King by Rick Springfield - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

The largely unacknowledged open secret lying at the heart of Rick Springfield's career is how, at his core, he's a serious artist. His gift for power pop and his spell as a television actor obscured this essential fact, but on the many albums he's made since his popular peak during the early '80s, he regularly returns to sober subjects, which means most of his fans may not be surprised that he spends the bulk of his 2018 album The Snake King exploring depression, faith, political confusion, and other weighty ideas. Even so, he hits these subjects hard throughout The Snake King, his lyrical explicitness finding a match in a shift his music: He's moved from arena rock toward heavy blues and folk-rock anthems straight from Bob Dylan in 1965. Given that he's a fine guitarist and craftsman, this isn't quite as startling in sound as it is on paper. Springfield always danced at the edge of guitar heroics -- even Working Class Dog, his power pop classic, is filled with muscled six-strings -- but he's never taken as much time to shred as he does here. He holds his own as a soloist, but what commands attention on The Snake King is his rococo lyrics, how he chases after Dylan on the opening and closing numbers "Land of the Blind" and "Orpheus in the Underworld" (especially the latter, which is his own spin on "Desolation Row"), while spending time cocking a snook at convention on "Santa Is an Anagram" and "Jesus Was an Atheist." These song titles alone suggest Springfield is trying a little bit too hard on The Snake King, and he is -- he's overcompensating by overloading the album with verses and volume -- but that's also its charm. He's intent on delivering something bracing, loud and new, and on that front, he not only succeeds but winds up with something idiosyncratic and compelling. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

1. In the Land of the Blind

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

2. The Devil That You Know

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

3. Little Demon

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

4. Judas Tree

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

5. Jesus Was an Atheist

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

6. The Snake King

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

7. God Don't Care

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

8. The Voodoo House

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

9. Suicide Manifesto

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

10. Blues for the Disillusioned

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

11. Santa is an Anagram

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

12. Orpheus in the Underworld

by Rick Springfield

Primary Artist: Rick Springfield; Main Performer
Composer: Rick Springfield; Composer

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

12 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

53 minutes and 29 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1500x1500 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

Studio Quality (Hi-Res)

24bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Hi-Res/Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

7/12 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

Only 1/12 tracks has synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Hard Rock, Arena Rock

Label

Frontiers Music s.r.l

Music Distribution Service

Orchard Enterprises Inc

Country

Italy

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Jan 25, 2018

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

191773890902