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| SamiamWhatever's Got You Down2006 Hopeless 
  Review by: Brian See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on September 26th 2006
With 6 years between full-lengths -- in which veteran Cali-punks Samiam labored through a sorta hiatus status in which several overseas tours occurred -- one would think the band should be willing to embrace a whole new audience. But as Whatever's Got You Down proves, they could certainly lure back a few of their own fans, too.
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At first I wasn't so sure about this album, but the more and more I listen to it, the more and more I fall absolutely in love with it. the new samiam is weak. The production, albeit intentionally unusual, doesn't sound good! Period. That sort of stuff was acceptable on Soar and Underground when the band was getting started, but they came a long way with sonically superior production which really brought their gritty/edgy sound more alive on albums like Clumsy and You Are Freaking Me Out. This new effort is a total regression. Good stuff. Production is a bit weak compared to Astray, but it is still great. i agree...the production on this is terrible...the songwriting is great however the production makes this one of their weaker efforts... i've just heard "when were togheter". amazing. i didn't noticed it was out yet. listening to this gave me a specific wave of nostalgic happiness i haven't gotten from a new release since the last social distortion. Also, The Lemonheads and Weird Al came out this week. Amazing! 6 years well worth the wait. The Falcon and new Lucero getting released the same day......better than any holiday by far!--pabstboy This is really good. just picked it up and wow! it doesn't sound like they're trying to sell records and be a huge band. it sounds like a punk record! how novel! yeah, the mix is wierd and jason's vocals aren't pitch perfect; do you want samiam to sound like my checmial romance? i sure as shit don't. i'm just glad to have another from these guys! And this is listed below a band that formed a year ago because...? No disrespect to Brendan and crew, but come on, Samiam are legends. Been a fan of Samiam since Billy came out. I enjoy everyone of their albums and think they are great. When I first heard sound clips off this album I was skeptical. The mixing sounded strange and the way the singer sings on this album is different. Well I picked it up today and after repeated listens I am very pleased with this release. It is rough and gets some getting used to but after a while it is the same old Samiam and the songs start to get stuck in your head! Good job! bide my time sounds like a replacements song I loved Astray but I'm having a hard time getting into this. wow Dull really is a good song not as good as Astray but i like it After much thought, turns out my genre of choice is ATARI. cant get into this band at all LOVE this album...Track 11 Holiday Parade is my favorite. I've been a long time fan & if you'd like a first album to pick up I'd recommend YOU ARE FREAKING ME OUT...."Astray" is damn fine too...and if you enjoy this and haven't heard Solea, then what are you waiting for. Just get all of their albums, every single one is great. If you only want to get one or two, it should be (in my opinion) clumsy and astray i haven't heard all of Samiam's releases but i've been listening to this stream for the past 2 days and i am enjoying it more and more each time great record. great band. great guys. "the recording job on this is absolutey aweful, just makes it sound like a demo tape. the vocals and music just don't get you into it like we all know that jason and sergie are capable of. seems forced, maybe they're trying too hard or taking a different approach (sometimes it doesn't even sound like jason singing)" i've been a huge samiam fan since back in high school (1988) and spent a lot of time at the berkeley square (rip) and gilman just living the dream. they've really become one of the best bands to come out of the sf east bay/gilman scene from back in the late 80 and early 90s. they are one of those bands that puts out great records one after another and manages to make tham all sound different but yet keep the samiam ingtegrity and tradmark "wall of sound". but i have to be honest here guys... what happened? the recording job on this is absolutey aweful, just makes it sound like a demo tape. the vocals and music just don't get you into it like we all know that jason and sergie are capable of. seems forced, maybe they're trying too hard or taking a different approach (sometimes it doesn't even sound like jason singing), but if so, it's not really working yet. like maybe a bunch of songs that never really made it on other albums. buy this record if you've been a fan and have the rest. don't buy this record as your first samiam experience, but after you've heard the others. did something happen to the singer to make his voice sound different? i'm no authority on samiam, but i own astray, and picked this up as well, and his voice sounds different. as in, he gargled too many razor blades to try and sound like frankie stubbs. the singer sounds like Chad from ALL on this song wow...i'm really out of the loop. i saw this today and thought it was another band taking samiam's name so i didn't pick it up. For me I was hoping it would somehow be in my top 3 Samiam records held by Soar, You Are Freaking Me Out, & Astray, it failed in that.However It is a fine record that I enjoy more than Billy but right now not as much as Clumsy. Storm Clouds might be one of my favourite songs of the year and Take Care is a great tune as well. Storm Clouds is such a good song. THE best Hopeless release this year. Will probably make it into my top 10 albums for this year *snugged right next to Latterman* It better be in my mailbox tomorrow. You hear that Hopeless!?! I got a huge Hot Water Music vibe coming off this. Or should I say the Draft...... I got a huge Hot Water Music vibe coming off this. still dont think this album is good i really love the first four tracks...then it just gets "ok" very strong but... there isn't a "dull" or a "bird bath" or "why do we" on this... just a song that really grabs me and makes me want to give the album a solid listen. A good release from Hopeless! Incredible! great |
