If you’re a fan of authentic singer songwriters, you’ll definitely be interested in this new album from Sam Sample. There’s an enjoyable, approachable energy to the style that’s sure to appeal to a lot of classic country fans. Sample has an accessible voice that feels warm and comfortable, inviting listeners into these stories on this album.
It opens with “What’ve I Got on You,” the lead single for the album. It’s a song ultimately about assessing the connection that you have with another person. There’s an upbeat country style with guitar, fiddle, and a moving rhythmic style. It’s a nice way to start off the album and introduce listeners to Sample’s solid vocal.
The following “31st Floor” features an enjoyable banjo that captures the listener’s attention right from the start. The lyrics invite the listener in to connect with the importance of perspective. We think about what it’s like from the “mountains or the shore” which rhymes nicely with the them, contemplating the view from the 31st floor. The rhythm keeps it moving, but feels comfortable and easy going rather than hard driving.
“Western Mass” has a contemplative, stripped down acoustic style in the opening. The phrasing feels more like a typical folk song. The reflection on going home (or at least somewhere familiar) will be relatable even for folks who are not necessarily connected to Western Mass. The following “TJ” has a similarly engaging acoustic style. It’s some of the best work from Sample’s vocal style; it reminds me of sitting around a campfire listening to a friend sing. It’s more like folk than the rest of the album and that’s probably why I like it.
The track “Nick” has a bit of an experimental rock edge to it, so it’s not quite as consistent with the rest of the album for us. Then “Better Things” has a fiddle heavy sound that makes it take up a different energy as well. The lyrics seem a bit more punctuated than the other songs with easy going phrasing. “Rock Song” unsurprisingly is more of a rock track, with heavier guitars and a gritty edge to the vocals. It shows off a different side of Sample’s vocal range and styling.
“Stubborn Ways” has a contemplative atmospheric element to it in the opening. The almost prayerful approach to the vocal phrasing appeals a great deal. The lyrics are about finding someone who makes you feel at peace and how heartbreaking it is to lose that. It’s emotionally heavy, the reality of grief is real with this one. I appreciate the ability to write with such depth and conviction.
The final two tracks are a bit more like the opening country flavor. “Signal and The Noise” has a nice steel guitar part on it that gives it a nice charm. It’s ostensibly a love song with a thoughtful reflection on a meaningful connection. The last track “Moon Man” has a featured electric guitar and some expressive writing on it. I would say it’s as much Americana as any song on the album. There’s an inflection in Sample’s voice on this one that makes it feel more country than the rest of the album and it really works well.
All told, this is an album for fans of indie country music to embrace. These songs have genuine storytelling ethos to them. I appreciate that there are songs from a range of subgenres that all fit under a unified sensibility. Sample’s songwriting and vocal are solid on each track. You’ll hear shades of a range of artists from Sheryl Crow to even a dash of Brandi Carlile. It’s definitely worth your time to spin this intriguing album from Sam Sample.
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