Search - Samples :: Samples

Long Time Fan

11/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who likes The Police, The Outfield, Cutting Crew, XTC or Naked Eyes, will most undoubtedly enjoy this debut from The Samples. This is a fresh new sound combining all of the elements of the previously mentioned artists, yet it's a style and sound all their own. I first purchased this on Cassette back when it first came out, and I was hooked! By the time it was released on CD, I already had every available release on cassette. Needless to say, I have upgraded to CD, and let me tell you, I never get tired of listening to it. "Feel Us Shaking" has to be my all time favorite track, "Ocean Of War", "Close To The Fires", are a close second and third. All in all, the entire CD is a great investment. Enjoy!!"

A terrific debut

12/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album has been released and re-released so many times it's hard to believe. But I guess that's a testament to how good it is. Originally released in 1988, this CD started as a self-release by the band. Very quickly, they signed with Arista records who wanted them to change their sound a bit to get more radio play. The band said no way and left the label. After that, the independent label W.A.R? (What Are Records?) signed them and re-released the album. Interestingly, after a number of releases with that label, they left to sign with MCA. After only one album (Outpost), they returned to W.A.R? They're either still with W.A.R.? or they may be self-releasing their new material again. I forget.Anyway, this debut album sounds something like a cross between XTC and the Police to me, not a bad thing at all. Highlights include the brilliant "Birth Of Words," one of the finest breakup songs ever written (reworked in less successful fashion for "Outpost"); "Close To The Fires," a song about the environment, and "Feel Us Shaking," another relationship song, also reworked in inferior fashion for the hodgepodge W.A.R.? debut, "Underwater People." But really there isn't a clunker in the bunch. At ten songs, they limited it to only their best material I suppose, something which cannot be said for albums past their second album for W.A.R.?, the even superior "No Room." All in all a great album by a relatively unknown band. Give it a try."