prattle on, rick.

April 14, 2010 - prattle on, rick. is the equivalent of a Sunday afternoon car ride with a cup of Starbucks. A nice blend of folk and lite rock, this musician is the rebirth of Simon & Garfunkel meets Eric Clapton.

If you like great music, Patrick Rickelton's tunes are exactly what you're looking for.

****
- I Am Entertainment

April 22, 2010 - Nashville based Patrick Rickelton’s (a.k.a. prattle on, rick.) debut EP Communion Bread is a lovely indie folk album that features members of The Vespers as the recording band. Characterized by polished acoustic guitar based melodies, Communion Bread showcases soaring vocal arrangements lead by Rickelton’s mellow vocals and female backing vocals by Callie and Phoebe Cryar (The Vespers). Drums, percussion and harmonica support the songs, accenting the singer-songwriter aspect of the record. Communion Bread is an impressive collection of introspective and stirring folk songs that is well worth seeking out. – Written by JFelton
- Record Dept. Music Reviews

July 29, 2010 - prattle on, rick. is the moniker for a revolving door of Nashville-based musicians with the only permanent member being singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, Patrick Rickelton. Rickelton was also in Nashville-based bands Greenland and Noble Three.
They remind us of another time. A simpler time where life made sense. Their harmonies are beautiful and wistful.

The feel is reminiscent of the Cranberries, but the vocals are a style all their own. We know you’ll enjoy prattle on, rick. - The Highway Girl

August 3, 2010 - Patrick Rickelton introduces COMMUNION BREAD, his debut EP as prattle on, rick.

Why or how did you choose your bandname?

I was a high school teacher for six years, and when I first started putting music online, I didn't want my students to find it when they inevitably googled me. So I took the letters of my first and last name, shuffled them around to see if there was something cool in there, and came up with "prattle on, rick."


What inspired you to persue a music career?

I had played music, written songs in the proverbial closet for many years. It was when I started playing with a band, in early 2006, that I gained some confidence and some encouraging feedback. For a few years I balanced a full-time career as a teacher with playing in bands, and I eventually realized I could only progress so far as long as I was devoting such limited time and energy to music. I was eager to see where I could go as a performer and writer, plus I was well burned-out with teaching, so I quit in 2008. I've been working part-time from home since then and playing a lot of music. More music than work, in fact, which I'm very thankful for.


Can you recall any particular moment or experience that may have moved you to persue a music career?

Well, playing music is a different matter from pursuing a music career. I imagine I wanted to play music from the moment I heard Van Morrison's Moondance album. I was 14, and for some reason the thought of actually playing music was still kind of a pipe dream. What really moved me to get serious about playing was hearing Oasis' first two albums as a college student - "You gotta make it happen!". As far as actually making a career as a musician, I suppose my refusal to grow old gracefully is motivating that one.


What or who are your biggest musical influences (past or present)?

Van Morrison, Oasis, Simon & Garfunkel, Sigur Ros, David Gray. There are many others of course, but these are the big ones, the ones that consistently send chills down the spine.


How do you describe your music to others?

Quiet pop music. Indie folk pop. Nu folk. Chamber pop.


Any memorable experiences while performing live or while touring "on the road"?

I shy away from playing clubs, traditional band or rock venues. We play restaurants, cafes, art shows, museums, houses, and the like. We're glorified buskers. My favorite moments are when kids get completely entranced in what you're doing. A five-year-old with her fingers in her mouth, eyes wide open, fixated on your fingers and mesmerized by the sound. It's a pure, fresh reaction to music that adults rarely have; they're too desensitized.


What kind of feedback have you received from your current release?

It's been pretty positive. It's cool to see bloggers whom I've never met, halfway across the country, pick up on a song and blog about it, and a few hundred more people hear it as a result. The wide reach of the Internet makes it difficult to stand out in such a glut of independent music, but I have faith that if your music is good and honest it will eventually find it's way to people's ears. I love that about the blogs, that ordinary dudes with computers can spread the news about an unknown artist, based solely on the music's merit and nothing more.


What is the inspiration behind your current release?

COMMUNION BREAD was recorded during a personal watershed - two bands I had devoted a lot of time to had ended suddenly, I had left my career as a teacher - the thing I had devoted my twenties to, essentially - and it seemed every friend I had ever made had moved away or moved on. I saw it as a typical place for modern man - everything is transient, and as a result relationships in particular feel hollow. The EP tries to capture those feelings, but also to reaffirm my faith in redemption and purpose.


Why should potential fans be turned on to your music?

I think this music gives voice to feelings that we all have, whether we realize it or not. I hope it can help people know themselves a bit better.


What sites can fans find you at online?

www.prattleonrick.com is the best place to start.


What can fans expect from you in the near future?

I'm planning some small tours in the southeast for later this year. I'd also love to record another album before the end of the year. And I've started playing keys for a new band called Neulore and there will be much to hear from them in the coming months.


Anything else you may want to inform our readers?

Nope - Just thanks for listening! - Next Music Blog

February 22, 2010 - I hope you’re in the mood for a good Music Monday, because Patrick Rickelton, operating under the…eh…rather strange name prattle on, rick., from Nashville/Tennessee just recently released his debut EP Communion Bread. The chances are high that you never heard of him before – and this is just a big shame (well, not for you but in generally) since his music sounds fresh and the EP is a very nice (acoustic) indie folk release worth checking out.

Patrick contacted me after my review for the first three tracks from upcoming The Vespers album Tell Your Mama. Well, the reason seems very understandable for The Vespers are part of the EP, because they actively supported Patrick recording his material. And no, prattle on, rick. doesn’t sound like just a version of The Vespers – he kept his own style and despite some shared genre characteristics there is not so much in common between both bands – ok, one fact is indeed just the same: the awesome music.

The music is mostly characterized by smooth strummed acoustic guitar melodies, very chilled vocals sung by Patrick himself (with female backing vocals by Callie and Phoebe Cryar). Decent drums and percussions as well as a nice played harmonica support the songs and especially the latter accents the singer-songwriter aspect of the record. The spectrum of the music reaches from classic acoustic indie folk songs (My Holiday or When Creation Speaks Too Low or Lately) over more upbeat but still dreamy songs (Lift Up) to a bit sadder tracks with nice cello (or is it a upright bass…tell me it is) and e-guitar melodies (Find Your Own Way). So the variation is mostly found within the borders of indie folk without breaking out of traditionally concepts like Leonard Mynx did with the recently reviewed Le Petit Mort.

So what you get is what you want without surprises and I mean this in a good way because, even if I contradict myself very oft-times, I like music that is plain and simple. Experiments too often ruin the credibility of the music and the musicians because they are often a sure sign of a missing feeling for song-writing. I know, many will disagree with me, but experimentation should serve the record and mustn’t work as a smoke screen for missing talent (bash me in the comments if you like). So, back to the EP and to prattle on, rick.

If I had an indie folk label and I would be interested in finding new acts that sound very promising, I certainly would like to check out the Communion Bread EP. This being said I declare, that I really enjoyed these 20+ minutes of very good music. In comparison to The Vespers, the music is more indie folk orientated, without those introverted, very soft moments. prattle on, rick. is a bit more straight forward and this could be the reason that his music may is a bit more open to wider audiences. But this is just my feeling about the two bands if I listen to them switching from one to the other. But who needs those comparisons, both bands are just amazing and that’s it.

If you’re interested in buying your copy of the Communion Bread EP (which constantly reminds me of the great Iron And Wine song Communion Bread And Someone’s Coat from the Passing Afternoon Single) I highly recommend to buy a physical copy of the record, because in this case you will also get a totally free bonus album (The Decade Begins) containing twelve instrumental tracks whereby every tracks represents one month. Isn’t this totally awesome? And because it is, you will click this link, listen to the free January sample and buy your copy right now. Soooo…you just don’t like CDs and free bonus albums…well, then buy your digital version at DigStation (100% of the purchase goes to the artist) or at iTunes (honestly, DigStation sounds way better, so just buy it there…) p.s. you can listen to the whole EP over at prattle on, rick.’s MySpace. - Common Folk Meadow (blog)

January 22, 2010 - This amusingly-titled act consists of Nashville singer-songwriter Patrick Rickelton and whoever happens to be backing him at the moment. His debut EP is a folk-pop delight, evoking Elliott Smith and Simon & Garfunkel in equal parts. "My Holiday" is gracefully tuneful, "Lift Up" does just that, and "Lately" sounds like an instant classic. Prattle on all you'd like, Rick. - Absolute Powerpop (blog)

NPR.org, May 6, 2008 - The music of Noble Three is filled with longing. Hearts are broken, days are lonely, promises are broken. But the Nashville, Tenn. duo tempers their melancholy with an infectious dose of finger snaps and claps, bouncing rhythms and tinkling pianos. Their debut EP, Shipwrecked, is both breezy and haunted, with gently plucked guitars and incredibly rich harmonies.

Noble Three is Patrick Rickelton and Tres Crow. Rickelton provides the "soul" while Crow handles the "verve." Rickelton's wife, Erin offers additional vocals, including the harmonies on "I Would Run."

"I wrote 'I Would Run' nearly three years ago," says Patrick Rickelton. I saw the movie Before Sunset and right after sat down with the guitar, started strumming, and somehow the feeling the film had left me with made its way into this very simple song. It's one of those songs, rare for me, that was done in half an hour. The song's not about the movie; I suppose it's about all those times I, or anyone, have longed for someone or something that clearly can't be had."

Rickelton and Crow formed Noble Three in the Summer of 2007, combining their shared love of '60s pop and mid-'90s rock. They're currently working on some simple home recordings, releasing new songs every other week on their Web site. - NPR's Second Stage

February 26, 2010 - prattle on, rick. is the moniker of Nashville singer-songwriter Patrick Rickelton. “Lift Up” is one of those songs I can easily see in a Jason Reitman movie – it’s lovely, cinematic and earthy. There is something incredibly calming in the evenness of Patrick’s voice. Patrick says that his music career began with his experiences listening to Van Morrison’s “Moondance” album. You can hear that influence in the very way Patrick balances his vocals against the music. You can buy his EP “Communion Bread” HERE now. - laisthenewny.com (blog)

November 3, 2009 - prattle on, rick. is a set of contradictions: at once spiritual and secular, vague and close, a kiss goodnight and a long embrace over your morning coffee. The music wraps you in arms of airy texture, with vocals that are soothing and comforting, only to bite down when you least expect it, a reminder that there are no easy lessons in life. Yet, through it all there is Rickelton, his voice like a guiding mentor, or an encouraging father, reassuring us that, though life is hard and filled with disillusionment and heartache, there is peace to be found at the other end or during those quiet moments when you look up and see that the clouds have broken and the sun is kissing your cheeks through the fall leaves.

prattle on, rick. is that best type of pop musician, mysterious, dignified, as close as a lover and unafraid to lead the listener into hard, difficult places, and yet equally unwilling to simply leave us there. There is deliverance to be found in his music, a salvation that is palpable and delivered honestly and truthfully, so that when Rickelton sings at the end of his latest offering, Communion Bread “Someday we’ll sing/a perfect melody in perfect harmony/we’ll worship perfectly/see what we’ve longed to see/where everyone we meet is long-lost family” you believe every word. Not because the melody is beautiful, or because this lyric is at the tail end of 20 minutes of gorgeous neo-folk, or because you’re a prattle on, rick. fan. No, you believe it because it’s the truth.

And the best pop music always tells the truth. - Dog Eat Crow World (blog)