Here And Somewhere Else

A disappointment:
Having seen The Samples in concert soon after moving to Colorado in 1990, I religiously bought every one of their albums as soon as it was released. One or more of them are always on my CD changer in my home, car or office. This album, however, has been disappointing- while some reviewers say the band has "matured," I think they've grown tired. In fact, their lack of energy corresponds with their signing with a major label. None of the songs offers the kind of boost I have been accustomed to.

Return to Form Wherever the Place May Be:
The Samples (what is left of them) are back with W.A.R. records and the 2nd marriage is a welcome respite from their misguided foray into major label output. The Samples hailing out of Boulder Colorado gained a cult-like local following in the early 90's and even made it to the big time--that is being featured as the musical track to a Warren Miller Ski flick. Success did not suit them well, as their creative light began to flicker and fade with the release of "Autopilot" in '94 and the low point with their MCA release, the dismally flat "Outpost" in '96. Gone now are two of their members, Al Laughlin and Jeep MacNichol (he of the golden sticks); gone also is the MCA label, but back is their creative spark and a return to their original musical talent. I was prepared to be disappointed upon buying "Here and Somewhere Else", but this CD actually sounds good. It's not surprising that the Samples sound remains since Andy Sheldon and Sean Kelly had always been the songwriting force behind the Samples breezy, mountain clean, enviro-charged, semi-eclectic, quasi-world music, Stingish vocals brand of music. For Samples fans, this doesn't compete with "The Last Drag" or "No Room" but I don't think you'll be disappointed. Some of the best tracks are the eastern-tinged horn ska-driven lightness of "We All Move On," the new-age enviro anthem of "Hypocrite", and the cool reggae groove of "The Birds of Paradise" A low point on this CD though is the track that falls between track 5 and 6 (call it 5 and 1/2), but not listed on the jacket possibly titled, "Pretty Little Girl." It's an exercise in everything to avoid and stay away from in songwriting pitfalls. Sean Kelly falls into rhyming his lines 3 or 4 times just for the sake of rhyming, with no lyrical value to the song whatsoever. It's pure cheese. Skip this dismal little ditty and overall you've got a solid listen. The folk mountain air cool of "Going Through Changes" perhaps sums it up for the new Samples. There have been some changes made and they sound like it's for the better. If you are a Sample devotee, pick this one up. If you are new to the group, go get "No Room" or "The Last Drag."

Getting worse and worse!:
I'm real sorry folks,I do consider myself a fan and you must go see them as they come your way, but this album is complete trash! These other people must be crazy. The Samples have always run a thin line between awsome and downright cheesy. The lyrics on here are so week vh1 wouldn't play them. I really feel like the band has lost their edge. I can tolerate a mellow turn. All the slow transmissions songs are nice but then most of them were great to begin with. Thier brother songs are on this album and they don't cut it. I would sight some of the lyrics if I could remember but I hardly litsened to it. If you can't go back to the modified police songs that gave you a unique sound please don't be an opening band for hootie and the blowfish. If you know the differnce between hootie and Toad the Wet sprocket then you will understand the differnce between old samples and new.

The Samples have become a total joke - this is proof!:
I lived in Bo, CO. in 1989 and 1990, and the Samples were afavorite, especially with the first album. The next two aren't toobad, either, although not what the first one was. Then they just wentsouth. I saw them three weeks ago here in Charleston, and left afterthe fourth time Sean Kelly worked the word "Charleston" into a lyric and the sixth time they played a fraction of four good songs into one lousy medley. I hope you're reading this, Sean - lay off the drugs, dude. Then maybe you guys will make another decent album after all the dogs (including this one, for sure) you've spewed forth since about 1995. Don't take it from me - the below is an actual quote from the Samples' website: (about the song) Finest Role - We all came up with the music and I made up the words to this. I do not really remember how it was recorded... to tell you the truth I do not remember anything about the recording of Autopilot. I always liked this song but we still haven't played it yet live. Sean Kelly

A kindler, gentler Samples:
True, this album is pretty mellow but pretty good none the less. Not killer, but nice mellow tunes to groove to. Worth checking out.