Steven Wright-Mark
New York City, New York, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2008 | SELF
Music
Press
I am a complete sucker for high-quality power pop, so my discovery of Steven Wright-Mark a year or two ago was a very happy moment for me. If your patrons go for crunchy guitars, soaring melodies and swooningly pretty harmonies, then coming across this (his third album) will be a happy moment for them too. Hand-sell it to anyone wearing a Cheap Trick t-shirt.” - CD Hotlist
If you're a fan of the sweet lyrical hooks of power pop powered by amazing guitar riffs and changes you don't see coming, My Plastic World will score well in your real world. The entire CD is a home run, and is easily one of the top three CDs I've heard in 2012. - Just Another Crappy Opinionated Music Blog
NYC's Steven Wright-Mark is back with his first release since 2008's Sideshow Freak, and he picks right up where he left off with his Matthew Sweet-meets-Elvis Costello blend of singer-songwriter pop. "I Wanna" bolts out of the gate with a swagger that's both mission statement and an electric power pop number, "Almost Summer" channels Fountains of Wayne, and Wright-Mark shows off his sardonic sense of humor with "My Friends Are Trash". Elsewhere, "Lean" sounds like a lost Tommy Keene classic, and closer "Your Name" might be the best pure pop on the album. It's Steven Wright-Mark's plastic world, and we're all living in it. - Absolute Powerpop
Steven Wright-Mark sure loves the big riff. “I Wanna” and “On Your Turntable” is lead by dominant riffs that would be comfortable on a classic Matthew Sweet album. Especially sweet is the layered vocals of “Almost Summer” it echos of Cheap Trick and The Posies. “That Star” is a fuzzy guitar grower, about his dreams of pop star greatness. Talent this good isn’t easily restrained so crank up the volume and enjoy it. - Power Popaholic
Perfect nuggets of crunchy-sweet goodness, even more impressive as he sings and plays all instruments on this fantastic album. If you remember the Smithereens, the dBs with fondness, or wish the Rubinoos had more muscle, if you love singing harmonies in the car, this disc is for you. - CD Hotlist
Immediately fell in love with his music-perhaps you will too. He is another artist that does all the writing, producing, and playing of all the instruments. If you like Jellyfish, I think you'll enjoy his work. - MOG
Hits all the power pop sweet spots with a sound reminiscent of Matthew Sweet combined with Elvis Costello. Standouts include "Change", "Baby's Coming Home", "Because of You" and "The Real You." - Absolute Powerpop
Toss in some Beatles, a handful of Cheap Trick, a dash of David Bowie, a pinch of Teenage Fanclub, two parts Matthew Sweet, a tablespoon of The Posies, a 1/2 cup of Jellyfish…and I am now enjoying a healthy serving of Sideshow Freak, the new opus from Steven Wright-Mark. He has it down to what seems like a science. His music is like throwing a handful of my favorite CDs against the wall, taking the largest bits that remain and constructing something beautiful from the aftermath. - Rock Sellout
Sideshow Freak opens with a few bars of a calliope before guitars crash into a Foo Fighter/Simple Minds-like pop masterpiece. Hook-filled, deceptively simple tunes, like "Choirboy," grab the imagination and wash away the sour taste of a bad day. - Caught in the Carousel
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Hailing from NYC, Steven Wright-Mark was influenced by hard-hitting, yet melodic, bands of the 70's - groups like the Ramones, Cheap Trick, Big Star. After playing in a few different bands, Steven went "solo" and released his debut solo disc "Pop Motel" in 2007, on Not Lame Records. The album's first single "Pawn Shop Crystal Ball" garnered both airplay and critical acclaim.
Steven is currently the #2 artist on Reverbnation's NY Indie Charts (#10 nationally), and his music is unique in that his music "mashes" a number of different styles. From one moment to next you'll hear the energy of punk, the power of modern alt rock, the jangle of power pop...all with multi-layered harmonies and lyrics that are at times humorous and cynical, and at other times dark and thought provoking.
Following that initial release, Steven became involved with Burning Sky Records, for which he contributed tracks to their highly-respected line of tribute albums, including "I Don't Believe You" for "Sensory Lullabies: The Ultimate Tribute To Jellyfish," and "Burn and Shine" for "Beautiful Escape: The Songs of The Posies Revisted." The latter was produced by legendary producer and musician Don Fleming, who produced the original "Frosting On The Beater" CD on which "Burn and Shine" first appeared. DIY pioneer R. Stevie Moore contributed piano to the track as well.
In November 2008, Steven released his follow-up disc "Sideshow Freak," again to good reviews and fan reaction, with the track "Change" getting radio airplay. In 2009, he contributed a cover of Roxy Music's "Trash" (from their "Manifesto" disc) to another Burning Sky Records project - "Take Refuge In Pleasure: The Songs of Roxy Music Revisited."
In 2010, Steven appeared on two more Burning Sky releases, contributing "It's So Dirty" and "Sheep" to tributes for Squeeze and Toy Love, respectively.
Steven's third solo CD - "My Plastic World" - was released in late 2012 to critical acclaim and airplay (including #1 stints at college radio). You can find his music on Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM, iTunes, Amazon and more.
Band Members
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