Without the sudden rise to fame by Green Day a few years ago,
\none wonders what would have happened to some of the power-pop punks
\nthat are enjoying the fruits of success.<\/p>\n
Take Samiam, a group who already had received exposure from one
\nmajor label (their album
\nClumsy<\/i> was released on Atlantic), if not the support they
\nneeded to make it to the big time. With the release of their sixth
\nalbum (and first for Ignition Records)
\nYou Are Freaking Me Out<\/i>, Jason Beebout and crew show they’re
\nclose to being ready to take the prime-time world of music by
\nstorm.<\/p>\n
There’s no questioning the musical talents of these five guys.
\nBeebout knows when to raise his vocal from a softer whisper to a
\npowerful bellow (though he doesn’t resort to lung-piercing screams
\n– score one for him there). The two-guitar attack of James Brogan
\nand Sergie Loobkoff is tight and powerful; they know just when to
\nset their axes for maximum shred. Bassist Aaron Rubin and drummer
\nM.P. round out the sound.<\/p>\n
And there’s no questioning that Samiam can write some great
\nsongs – though a tip of the skullcap has to go to producer Steven
\nHaigler as well for bringing out the best in these guys. The
\nleadoff track “She Found You” demonstrates the band’s power with a
\nguitar hook. Even better examples are found on “Factory,” “”If You
\nSay So,” “Mr. Walker” and “Charity”.<\/p>\n
Yeah, Bob, but what do they sound like? Imagine, for a moment,
\nif the Foo Fighters didn’t have Dave Grohl – that’s kind of what
\nSamiam is like. Punk, but approachable – the kind of band you’d
\nhave a beer with, then break the bottle over a band member’s head
\nfor fun.<\/p>\n
If there is any weakness on
\nYou Are Freaking Me Out<\/i>, it is that the band is unable to
\nmaintain such a level of high quality for the entire album. This is
\nnot to say that songs like “Out Of My Mind” are in any way bad –
\nnot at all. But by the time you hit the obligatory Beatles cover
\n(“Cry Baby Cry”), it almost feels like you’ve listened to two
\ndifferent albums – it just doesn’t always seem to meld the way
\nSamiam would like it to.<\/p>\n
Is this a fault? Hardly – there are hundreds of bands who would
\nlike to get close to the power these guys whip out in under 45
\nminutes. If anything, it’s the last remaining sign that this band
\nhas a little more maturing to go. Again, this isn’t meant as a slam
\n– but they have had a rather wild ride while flirting with
\nmainstream acceptance, and this is a positive step forward the band
\nhas taken. (I have
\nClumsy<\/i> in the Pierce Archives – though it’s been a while
\nsince I dusted it off, I don’t remember it setting my ears ablaze
\nlike
\nYou Are Freaking Me Out<\/i> did.)<\/p>\n
And despite their definite overtones of being radio-friendly
\n(which they indeed are), I think that some program directors might
\nbe scared to try Samiam on their stations after the last two Green
\nDay albums stiffed. (Don’t remind me about Green Day’s big hit on
\nthe radio now –
\nNimrod<\/i> was a commercial flop.) Three – no, make that four –
\nwords: take a chance, wimps! (Funny, I always thought the whole
\npurpose of radio – besides being one humongous executive ass-kiss –
\nwas to introduce new music to people. Having spent time in radio, I
\nshould know.)<\/p>\n
Should radio pick up the gauntlet and give
\nYou Are Freaking Me Out<\/i> a chance, it may be just the impetus
\nSamiam needs to get noticed – and may be the final step they need
\ntowards making the great American album. Until then,
\nYou Are Freaking Me Out<\/i> is a portrait of what is just on the
\nhorizon.<\/p>\n
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