All-cover projects, whether EPs (as this is) or full-lengths, are usually stopgaps between releases that are destined to be footnotes in an artist's career. If this is a footnote, however, it's a highly enjoyable one, and considerably above the average for all-cover discs. That's mainly because Houston chose unusual material for this five-song EP that will be partly or wholly unfamiliar to all but the most thorough collectors, interpreting songs by the Pentangle ("I've Got a Feeling"), the Flying Machine ("Maybe We've Been Loving Too Long"), the Band ("It Makes No Difference"), Shocking Blue ("Love Machine," with lyrics rewritten by Houston), and Colin Blunstone ("Though You Are Far Away"). Also, however, Houston makes them over with her own winsome folk-rock-indie pop style rather than treating them too reverently, so that even the Band cover sounds rather poppy. Another high spot is the wholly acoustic "Though You Are Far Away," in the melancholy folk vein that Houston has visited, either frequently or sporadically, since her late-80s Birdboys album. -- Richie Unterberger/All Music Guide

Ever wonder what happens to old punks? The ones cited in the history books for being in a certain pivotal place in time that was perceived to be the "golden age" of punk rock? Well, in the case of Penelope Houston, she has matured considerably. She possesses an instantly angelic voice with considerable range. Miles apart from her previous noteworthy late-‘70s group, San Francisco’s legendary Avengers, Houston eventually positioned herself as more of a folky by the time of her debut solo LP in 1987, Birdboys, and has since garnered considerable critical acclaim. She remained dormant for years after her first album but became quite busy in the ‘90s releasing several albums that showcased her enormously catchy and quirky songwriting. Most recently she has been busy with her longtime collaborator, Pat Johnson, who lends support to her newest batch of songs found here on the Snapshot EP. She is also joined by her backing band, The Maydays, capably maneuvering their way through the obscure cover songs chosen for this record. Songs by ‘60s popsters The Flying Machine, Shocking Blue (also covered by the likes of Nirvana), and Pentangle all get the Penelope Houston treatment. Styles range from bubble-gum pop to Americana to folk and are all perfectly arranged. What can I say? Houston is still relevant and still very beautiful. She has lived way past her roots and proven that she is more than the sum of her past achievements. Inspiring. -- Royce Seader/Bay Area Buzz

Bloody hell! It's Penelope "The Avengers" Houston! Remember listening to some of their stuff on a dodgy US West Coast punk compilation tape some years ago and being (even allowing for dubious audio quality) not wholly impressed. But this is completely different. From the Virna Lindt-esque "bobbed blonde in a sportscar" picture on the sleeve, one might expect a 1960s revivalist kind of sound - even more so given that Alec Palao (garage consultant extraordinaire) produces and plays in Ms. Houston's back up band here, The Maydays. However, these five covers justify her website biography being headlined "Punk Folkie Popstar", with particular emphasis on "folk" and "pop". The only one that's a little vintage-sounding is 'Maybe We've Been Loving Too Long', which given its origins as a Flying Machine B-side is only right and proper. Excellent version of Pentangle's 'I've Got A Feeling' (can't go wrong with a bit of the 'Tangle). The Band's 'It Makes No Difference' is finally made listenable (but as a Band hater I'm biased), and justice is done to 'Though You Are Far Away' (improving on anything Colin Blunstone has done is flatly impossible, so they're wise to stick very close to the original arrangement). Penelope has a very pretty voice: not too perfect (thankfully - that would be boring), prone to wobble at the right moments, and utterly feminine. Unfortunately it's not a voice that can take being swamped with "rock out" instrumentation - the revamp of Shocking Blue's 'Love Machine' just doesn't work (Alanis Morrissette springs to mind - yuk!). But the spare and sympathetic arrangement on the other tracks does. If you want to do an album of cover versions, choosing unusual and varied ones like these is always recommended. And 4 out of 5 is an excellent hit rate. --Jane Farrell/ Shindig Magazine