Small Town Boy Review - An album by Rob Smith

Review

ROB SMITH - Small Town Boy (Self released)

"This is a collection of 4-track, home-recordings, that wasn't meant to be heard far outside of the mentioned home, but with songs like these, you just can't stop them rushing out of the door and conquering the hearts and minds of the melody addicts all over the world. There's no doubt that, sooner or later, this "small town boy" would've found his way into the BIG pop city. After spending some time in the eighties giving "power to the POPeople" down under, Rob Smith is on his way back with some kinda audio-diary, summarising his career, while working on a new album with the one and only Michael Carpenter. I just can't imagine what the fully-studio-treated "real thing" will sound like, when his DIY efforts sound just perfect! Generally, this album is a non-stop "guess who" game. But, still, the songs sound less like copies and more like some long lost outtakes by some of your favourite bands/artists".

"It opens with two absolute killers called Be With Me and I'll be Your Fool - which both sound like tunes that the Raspberries forgot to record when they were in one of their Beatly-moods. The other side of Eric Carmen's influence comes in the shape of the heartbreaking ballads, Winter Rain and She's Not in Love. Citing Rob's own lyrics: 'tryin' to write a song that's gonna take me to number 1' , is exactly what the title tune sounds like. Summer's Here, is a modern-daze treatment of the early Beach Boys concept and She's Got the Look is what you'd call the power-pop extravagance of the highest order. Also, add the 'Orbisung' Change Your Mind and the ELOrchestrated Penelope and you'll get the idea of Rob's mission."

Goran Obradovic / POPISM Radio

"The guitarist of the beloved Australian power pop band, The Innocents, goes it alone here with excellent results! Smith is an avowed fan of The Rubinoos, and it certainly shows on several of the cuts on Small Town Boy, as the disc is replete with upbeat, happy tunes that draw on our youthful feelings of simplicity, purity, and, well, innocence!"

"Tracks like She's Got The Look, Small Town Boy, and Change Your Mind will please Rubinoos fans, and Summer's Here takes it one step further by adding some Beach Boys slants. There is another side to Smith, though, and it is his ballads on which he reveals his maturity and eloquence. Heartfelt songs of love and loss like Winter Rain, Far Side Of Town, and She's Not In Love are powerfully emotive and will definitely coax several tears. Here, Smith has the ability to further emphasize his overwrought inner self by punctuating his phrasings with a strong vibrato, a la Steve Stanley of The Now People. Small Town Boy is an excellent disc by a good guy and a fine songwriter. Pick it up as soon as you can, and stay tuned for new discs by The Innocents.

David Bash (Convener of the International Pop Overthrow)

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		Review ROB SMITH - Small Town Boy (Self released) "This is a collection of 4-track, home-recordings, that wasn't meant to be heard far outside of the mentioned home, but with songs like these, you just can't stop them rushing out of the door and conquering the hearts and minds of the melody addicts all over the world. There's no doubt that, sooner or later, this "small town boy" would've found his way into the BIG pop city. After spending some time in the eighties giving "power to the POPeople" down under, Rob Smith is on his way back with some kinda audio-diary, summarising his career, while working on a new album with the one and only Michael Carpenter. I just can't imagine what the fully-studio-treated "real thing" will sound like, when his DIY efforts sound just perfect! Generally, this album is a non-stop "guess who" game. But, still, the songs sound less like copies and more like some long lost outtakes by some of your favourite bands/artists". "It opens with two absolute killers called Be With Me and I'll be Your Fool - which both sound like tunes that the Raspberries forgot to record when they were in one of their Beatly-moods. The other side of Eric Carmen's influence comes in the shape of the heartbreaking ballads, Winter Rain and She's Not in Love. Citing Rob's own lyrics: 'tryin' to write a song that's gonna take me to number 1' , is exactly what the title tune sounds like. Summer's Here, is a modern-daze treatment of the early Beach Boys concept and She's Got the Look is what you'd call the power-pop extravagance of the highest order. Also, add the 'Orbisung' Change Your Mind and the ELOrchestrated Penelope and you'll get the idea of Rob's mission." Goran Obradovic / POPISM Radio "The guitarist of the beloved Australian power pop band, The Innocents, goes it alone here with excellent results! Smith is an avowed fan of The Rubinoos, and it certainly shows on several of the cuts on Small Town Boy, as the disc is replete with upbeat, happy tunes that draw on our youthful feelings of simplicity, purity, and, well, innocence!" "Tracks like She's Got The Look, Small Town Boy, and Change Your Mind will please Rubinoos fans, and Summer's Here takes it one step further by adding some Beach Boys slants. There is another side to Smith, though, and it is his ballads on which he reveals his maturity and eloquence. Heartfelt songs of love and loss like Winter Rain, Far Side Of Town, and She's Not In Love are powerfully emotive and will definitely coax several tears. Here, Smith has the ability to further emphasize his overwrought inner self by punctuating his phrasings with a strong vibrato, a la Steve Stanley of The Now People. Small Town Boy is an excellent disc by a good guy and a fine songwriter. Pick it up as soon as you can, and stay tuned for new discs by The Innocents. David Bash (Convener of the International Pop Overthrow) Home