James Deane (Vocals, guitar)
Johnny Lewesley ( Drums)
Ed Groves ( Guitar, Moog, Vocals)
Ed Harcourt ( Vocals, Bass, Keyboards)
Influences
Beach Boys, Weezer, Kraftwerk, Carpenters, The Four Freshman, Robert Moog, Walter Carlos,
Nirvana, Devo, The Cars, Sebadoh, Steve Guttenberg, Gary Numan, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Pavement, Elliott Smith, The Kinks, The Beatles etc etc etc blah blah blah blah.
Snug was a band formed in the mid-90's by James Deane, Ed Groves, Ed Harcourt and Johnny Lewesley at school. We started because there was nothing else to do and to annoy the jocks. Upon leaving our esteemed college, Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music decided to manage us and after a few shows we signed to WEA records. A few years and singles later, they ceremoniously dropped us but released their evil claws and let us have our album so we finished it & released it on Howling Duck records through Pinnacle and dossed around getting drunk and listening to Kraftwerk and The Beach Boys; these were heady and amusing days, but times were tough and the public never really caught on. We recorded a 2nd album in Johnny parent's house, titled 'From Solar to Polar' with the funding from Avex records in Japan, who brought us over to Tokyo and Osaka twice in one year. It was an amazing experience but also Snug's epitaph and last few gigs. Johnny went to Oxford University and Ed Harcourt pursued a solo career having become bored of cleaning out pig bins in the kitchen. James and Ed Groves formed Numo who were heavier and played a few gigs for a while; they disbanded and Ed, having been not only an amazing guitar god but also a rather keen skater, is now planning on becoming a snowboarding instructor. Sultry Jame Deane now fronts the band Clearfield and Ed Harcourt is still doing his own music. Snug are dead. Long live Snug!
Thanks for putting me in your top 8! I feel I am in good company with Weezer and The Rentals. This page reminded me of all the fun we had 'back in the day', love it!
Before I attach the Christmas greeting image / slight dollop of spam, I just want to try and assert my existence and humanity by expressing that I throughly enjoy both the Snug album and - moreso - From Solar to Polar, particular favourites are Snowflake, Running Down The Gauntlet, Steve Guttenburg for President and Anenome, oo, and the hidden track from Snug, er, either called Tokyo Polaroid of ??? But It's Beautiful, indeed it is...
Now, I shall proceed with the christmas greeting, which has certain spam-like qualities, but then again, what doesn't these days? What do we humans do that isn't advertising for something? Are we not always trying to advertise how wonderful or lonely or generous or talented we are? Anyway, if you enjoy books about squirrels and the end of the world, you might enjoy this one...
I found this Japanese review! Anyone out there understand japanese?!
SNUG (snug)
Formation of snug is when 4 people who 94 years, love beach baud is were still passing to high school. When in 96 in the contest of the band it performed for the first time with public, how! They it won! (The number of participation bands 60 bands) with favor to get the opportunity which [konpireshiyon] singing “SUPERMODEL” release is done from the [huiasu] panda, furthermore filling [manzanera] of [rokishimiyujitsuku] liking and with applying management it was favored fortunately, [ru].
In 97 “MY GIRL (Keith)”, the single release 3 “of CAROLINE” and “ODE TO THE DAY”. Including [redeingu], you perform to also many festivals, furthermore green day, the man sun, are selected in opening act of [sutereohuonitsukusu]…With good fortune continues still.
Following in 98 “BEATNIK GIRL” release. This tune was chosen single of the weakly, snug poured large attention in England. Also this year [redeingu] and you perform to the festival of T, IN THE PARK and the like accompany to the tour of [katatonia]. After that from in D label " howling duck " long-awaited 1st album recording. “The album 'SNUG where that is announced, in 99 after the release of single I WONDER”' is.
That debut album 'SNUG' (as for the Japanese board in October with bonus track/truck entering release!)4 it is young, the springtime of life [tsu] [po] of reason, spirit having been plugged, it is the pop album which can be enjoyed simply with fresh. But the pop, it is not just that in simple discernment solution! For example as for that if it tries inquiring about “Palm Trees” and “The Girl With All The Toys” and “Under The Sea”, it is clear. First however with the pan kish which has spirit [kiyatsuchi] it is pulled to tune with funny, after that as for many times repeatedly stop wanting to hear this album, because such is not ardently the chorus which the melody which is beautiful a tune there is! Plus making these two faces, from their musics where also lovely play heart appears and disappears, love to the curiosity excellent music 4 abundance of the drawer, it is made to feel to that even to challenger mind.
It is far with the bullet pop, the 1st album 'SNUG where the kind of sound which makes the wind feel where America dries is plugged' and glance was put in home country England, but in here Japan oh with while saying, the core between the ocean easy pop fans it became topic, analog was imported with limited 1000, but same complete sale! CD the limited board of 2 uniting presently is the extent which becomes procurement difficult.
Answering the yearning impression of the Japanese of such a circumstance fan, this time the 2nd album with the Japanese precedence and the bonus track/truck entering came to the point of release being done. That this 'FROM SOLAR TO POLAR'. Fresh at the time of 1st without losing, the large masterpiece where the music which is rich in variety prejudice is visible more lines up! Now the work self produce, the engineering and the mixing by the fact that [edo] [gurobusu] of the guitar manages, furthermore became the completion whose SNUG color is dense. Because, [jieimusu] of the vocal “above by his expected, became the thing concerning this album thinking in pride, the [ru]. Also 4 people more from before concentrating on arrangement, it made splendidly and, [edo] [gurobusu] works as an engineer and passes and thinks and. It tried expressing the lyric concerning my life about of this half year, it is. To that melody of [edo] [hakato] scratches creative desire in the band and, produces the kind of relationship which is built, it is. When the [tsu] [te] which has become something whose also everyone is splendid you feel it is delightful.”With self-confidence fully. “Lock power and somewhere heart of full speed, the kind of melancholy which keeps accompanying in the distance, electric kind of Daisaku which to that produces balance during latency consciousness becoming simultaneous, the [ru] it is.”Way with [edo] [hakato] says, it is stuffed in this album at the point where of SNUG the various charm leaves truly without. It makes the sentimental kind of feeling to which that can point to us excitingly, can tighten the chest. The song lighting sense where polishing depended on the sound which has the being cut off which more has become dynamic at once, the thing inevitability which opens the air hole to the English music scene with the chorus work of mooniness and the cute arrangement where twist is effective. There is no just flat tire and a guitar pop, pop music fan everyone necessary listening!
Pop masterpiece 2000, 'FROM SOLAR TO POLAR' here birth!!
I loved Snug.....LOADS! The last time I saw them play was at the Water Rats in mid-late 2000. I saw Numo in the same venue (& at the Borderline) in 2002 but it wasn't the same. No siree. Ed H wrote his best pop tunes in Snug. FACT!
At least I've got the memories.....and the records. Schweet!
Howdy Snug, your albums were mighty feats of golden pop and the video for Beatnik Girl, well, er, it was 'special'... I never really pictured ninjas and Melinda Messenger when listening to it, but y'know, go with those creative impulses... or corporate decisions... or teenage fantasies...
Do I really get to pop Snug's cherry? Ooh how exciting, and kind of saucy!? 'Minature Golfcarts' was a class song... altogether now..'You've got nothing on me! Hey! You!..Youve got nothing on me.' McFly eat your heart out : )
