Samiam

Samiam: Whatever's Got You DownWhatever's Got You Down (2006)
Hopeless Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: InaGreendaseBrian
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 26th 2006With 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 .

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.

Whatever's Got You Down at its core is purely heartfelt punk rock. Growing up in the same scene and timeline as Jawbreaker, there's quite a few similarities: the raw 24 Hour-like dirge of great standout "Take Care;" "Do You Want to Be Loved," which interestingly samples the haunting opening chords of Pixies' "Where Is My Mind" at its start; the Horace Pinker nodding verses of "Storm Clouds;" the burly stop-start tumble of "Anything"'s intro. Samiam undoubtedly sound like a particular band they've surely influenced through their years too, though: Hot Water Music. Through modest hooks and simple, fetching lines, Jason Beebout's voice is rough and yet absolutely soars through emotional cuts like "When We're Together" and the aforementioned "Take Care." I think it would be silly to say Samiam channels the aura of the Gainesville band's stint on No Idea Records, but I can sense that the current overlapping of fans between the two would find a lot to appreciate on Down.

It's just really odd that musically, the band plays emotionally urgent punk rock in one of its far better stages yet are able to get away with so many unusual flourishes doing it. They can throw in pretty octaves ("Do You Want to Be Loved") or lines of absolute, simple bitterness or desperation ("I meant everything I said / You're lucky we're still talking at all;" "I miss you so much"). It's a huge mid-life crisis -- a fucking heartache really, but it actually sounds sincere coming from Samiam's narrative.

While not likely to make the same impact of the band's early-to-mid-`90s landmarks, Samiam has made a fine addition to the album catalog of Adults Talking About Relationships Intimately (ATARI), and an equally fine addition to their own. Consider this first pseudo-post-reunion effort a solid success.

Do You Want to Be Loved

STREAM
Take Care

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

taargus (January 28, 2010)

Fact: Cracked crash cymbal. Why would anyone intentionally do this? Overall production on this album is horseshit and that fucking annoying crash sticks out like a boner in a speedo. The only that is more unlistenable in my opinion is the way that The Sword's cymbals are twice as loud as the rest of the band in the mix. The songs (from both bands), however, are as solid as anything else in their catalogues, so I keep listening...

VStoriesFallen (May 22, 2007)

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.

Anonymous (December 6, 2006)

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.

Mat_T (October 10, 2006)

Good stuff. Production is a bit weak compared to Astray, but it is still great.

A shining light in a year of shitty cds.

paperlantern (October 5, 2006)

i agree...the production on this is terrible...the songwriting is great however the production makes this one of their weaker efforts...

Maks (September 28, 2006)

i've just heard "when were togheter". amazing. i didn't noticed it was out yet.

Anonymous (September 28, 2006)

Same here.

fortyminuteswesterberg (September 27, 2006)

listening to this gave me a specific wave of nostalgic happiness i haven't gotten from a new release since the last social distortion.

Scruffy (September 27, 2006)

Also, The Lemonheads and Weird Al came out this week.

Anonymous (September 27, 2006)

Amazing! 6 years well worth the wait. The Falcon and new Lucero getting released the same day......better than any holiday by far!--pabstboy

GreenVandal (September 27, 2006)

This is really good.

sweetsuperior (September 27, 2006)

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!

i do feel that sergie's holding back the BIG hooks for the new solea lp...

Anonymous (September 27, 2006)

Love this record.

Anonymous (September 27, 2006)

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.

Anonymous (September 27, 2006)

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!

Anonymous (September 27, 2006)

bide my time sounds like a replacements song

bryne (September 26, 2006)

I loved Astray but I'm having a hard time getting into this.

arrhythmia (September 26, 2006)

wow Dull really is a good song
jeez