The Snakes – Sometime Soon…

Muswell Hill quintet The Snakes have finally returned with their sophomore record, Sometime Soon…, a full four years after the release of their acclaimed debut. And while their countrified English twist on classic Americana has stayed relatively intact, their songwriting and scope has expanded right along with the times, with the band taking plenty of risks alongside the more traditional country-tinged rock songs their fans have grown familiar with. Sometime Soon… has the sound and feel of a spirited live recording, with the loose, natural direction of the band shining through on these fervid, forthright songs.

The album starts with the plaintive piano ballad, ‘Interview,’ which, based on the title, is perhaps an honest declaration by the band of who they are and what they stand for. It’s a mournful, moody number that is deeply affecting, and one of the album’s clear highlights. The matter-of-fact lyrics, “When there’s no one else around, there’s no one else around,” resonates deeply with me every time I hear it. The slow, Latin-tinged flavor of ‘What Have I Done To You’ builds on that spirit, echoing the southern blues of Calexico with the dexterous, nimble guitar work featured in the breakdown. ‘Promised Land’ and ‘Come My Way’ both sound like obvious choices for a single, but they stay too straight and middle-of-the-road to ultimately be all that memorable, especially when compared to the engaging songs that started the record off.

‘Wasting Time’ is a fun, rollicking number that gets the album back on track, and is followed by the haunting ‘Cumberland Breeze,’ which sounds like its blown straight out of the winds of the Old West. ‘We Can Fly’ is a slight, breezy number that fully embodies the easygoing, transient songwriting qualities that the band does best. For there is certainly a searching, active nature within their music, whether it’s in the upbeat, toe-tapping melodies or the restless spirit of the song’s subjects. ‘Tin Foil Town’ reinforces that adventurous, unsettled theme, with the protagonist not remembering quite how they ended up where they woke up, nor where exactly they are going when they eventually clear their head. It’s a lively, boisterous highlight of the album’s second half, and really finds the band exploring different, challenging aspects of their wide range of sound and style.

The album closes with the anthemic wistfulness of ‘Black Cat,’ an uncomplicated rocker that finds the band in fine form, featuring a rousing, infectious chorus, stellar guitar work and a moving piano solo. It’s these type of stirring numbers that would lead you to believe that the Snakes would be a band best enjoyed from a barstool, while you slowly shrug off the burdens of the day, downing a few pints as their catchy songs wash over you. And while Muswell Hill might not have much of a blossoming alt-country scene to speak of, the Snakes have, on Sometime Soon…, captured the restless, fitful spirit of a band searching for a place to finally call home.