Samiam - Stowaway - Sea Blue And Aqua Blue With Bone And Yellow Splatter Vinyl (/300)

Pure Noise (2023)

First of all, things are starting to get a little out of hand naming these vinyl variants.  Bone splatter?  It looks like white to me.  I mean, it barely looks like white if you look really close.  This particular variant was limited to 300 copies and was one of several variants released.  By the time I went to buy, this was the best looking one left, but I'm not getting any others.  As I've mentioned, with a few exceptions, I'm really trying to not own multiple copies of the same record, so this one will do.

Samiam is a band that I got into later than most people, but are a band I really ended up enjoying.  This is their first full length since Trips came out in 2011 and it's lovely.  The first few times I listened to it, I wasn't sure that I liked it.  But that was primarily because I was listening to it while I was working and was being too strongly influenced by the first song, "Lake Speed."  It's too fast and shouty and lacks the melodic vibe that makes Samiam such a great band.  There's something to be said about picking the right opening track, and I'm not sure this was the correct choice.

The rest of the album is quite nice.  Catchy songs, with Sergie's excellent guitar work topped with lots of melodic vocal harmonies.  It's really a perfect blend of the sort of thing that I tend to like to listen to.  I can't say that 2023 has been knocking my socks off with new releases so far this year, but Stowaway breaks through.  It might not sound like anything fresh, new or exciting, but that's not what I want from this band.  I want Samiam to sound like Samiam, and thankfully, they still do.

Samiam - Stowaway:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nQtTTe2Kied8o4B4e6M8bu2h7FLTqUYhU

Samiam - Billy LP - Green Vinyl

New Red Archives (2012, Reissue)

Billy is the last of the Samiam full length albums that I needed to round out my collection.  There are still quite a few EPs and 7"s floating around out there, but at least I have the main ones taken care of.

Billy was Samiam's 3rd full length and was absolutely their best one up until that point if you ask me.  It still was reasonably tough and punk rock but it showcased the band's pop songwriting chops way more than anything else they had previously released.  For my money, I still think that Clumsy is the best Samiam record, but Billy is definitely no slouch.

Especially when you have a song as good as "Well" on your record.  With it's vaguely sinister lead guitar riff and buckets of energy, you could make the argument that "Well" is the best Samiam song they ever wrote.  But let's not discount the rest of this album as it quite good for the most part.  There's a handful of slower songs that drag down the record in places, but in general Billy has way more high points than low. 

It still blows my mind that this record came out in 1992.  The fact that these punk rock records that I remember seeing in the record store and passing on because I just wasn't that interested at the time is just weird.  I remember it all like it was yesterday.  At least with age I was able to go back and appreciate Samiam in ways that I didn't when I was younger.  They ended up being a pretty great band.

Samiam - "Well":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc8UgB2fZ0s

Samiam - "Hey Brother":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WYoCX2Y6UE

Samiam - Soar LP - Purple Vinyl

New Red Archives (1991, 2012 Reissue)

Soar is one of only 2 Samiam records that was missing from my budding collection of their full length albums (the last one left that I don't have is Billy).  So far my favorite of the bunch has been Clumsy, but they've all been pretty good.  The one that I've liked the least was their first self titled one, so I was slightly apprehensive on whether or not I would like Soar, as it is Samiam's sophomore effort.

I had no reason at all to be concerned, the leap in songwriting quality from the self titled debut to Soar is remarkable.  It's so much more melodic and well paced.  To me, Samiam;s debut was just a little too shouty and 'punk rock' for a band that was so obviously striving for a poppier sound.  They shelved all of the over the top angst and crafted an album full of energetic, passionate songs.

There are so many highlights, but for me to shining moments are "Slumbering," "Someone's Got To Lose" and "Sky Flying By." They're just perfectly crafted.  I am extremely excited to pick up Billy next.  After hearing what the band achieved on Soar and knowing what they accomplished on Clumsy; the fact that Billy is the album that got them signed to a major makes me think it's probably pretty great.  I guess we'll see.

Samiam "Sky Flying By":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0O1gDm0XrE

Samiam - "Slumbering":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl3EnlosY_E

Samiam - Astray LP - Tie Dye Vinyl (/100)

Unless You Try (2013, Reissue)

As I've mentioned before, sometimes timing works out perfectly.  I decided to give Samiam another shot after not really being that into them in the 90's.  Turns out I blew it and they're great.  Then, just about every one of their full lengths gets a fancy vinyl reissue.  So, getting this collection filled out has been pretty easy.  As mush as I do like these Samiam records, I'm completely content with these reissues and I don't have that strong desire to start picking up the original pressings...yet...

Astray is an album that I know a lot of Samiam fans really like.  To me it always stood out because I knew quite a few people (myself included) that couldn't remember if it was called "Astray" or "Ashtray."  Not sure that it's relevant, but I can confirm it is "Astray."  This particular variant is courtesy of Unless You Try records out of the UK.  Ever since the Lillingtons boxed set came out, I wanted to get my hands on a "tie dye" colored vinyl record.  This one isn't that special really.  It's just blue swirled with white and a little red here and there.  I've seen some tie dyes that are super unique looking, but I'm sure I could pull another record out of my collection that looks similar to this one.

As far as the record goes, it's pretty great.  I'd lump it in with Clumsy or You Are Freaking Me Out in terms of quality.  Full, deep guitars with strong vocal melodies. No throwaway songs and as I'd mentioned in another review, I definitely hear some Knapsack style guitar work in here.  I realize since Sergie was in both bands, that is a bit silly to bring up, but I think that Knapsack influence certainly is more prevalent on Astray than on some of the other Samiam records I have.  One of the best records I've heard since giving Samiam another shot, though Clumsy is still my favorite so far.

Samiam - Astray:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF0-U_rthTE&list=PL7800432710721428

Samiam - Whatever's Got You Down LP - Clouds In The Sky Vinyl

Samiam - Whatever's Got You Down LP - Clouds In The Sky Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

No Idea (2013, Reissue)

As loyal readers of this website probably know, I've been on a quest to reclaim some older bands from the 90's that for one reason or another just didn't click with me back then. Seaweed and Jawbox have been the most impactful of these bands, but right on their heels is Samiam. As stated in another Samiam review I wrote, I am going through their discography completely out of order, so I'm getting snapshots of the band at different stages of their career.

Whatever's Got You Down originally came out in 2006, apparently to some mixed opinions. I will have to say, I'm not familiar with that initial release of the album, but it seems that many people have very strong feelings about the production of the record and it's effect on the songs. Well, No Idea jumped into the fray and re-released the record with a completely redone mix. Again, I can't compare it to the original, but I think this record sounds great.

The guitars are full and crunchy, the vocals are clear and the songs all have a great energy to them. There's definitely some aspects of later Samiam records that do remind me an awful lot of Knapsack. Maybe not in the vocals so much, but certainly in the way some of the song structures are set up. Probably not surprising as guitarist Sergie Loobkoff has done time in both bands. Still, this is a very strong album and if the production really was that bad on the original release, it's definitely worth checking out this reissue as everything sounds peachy to me.

I really wish I had been keeping up with Samiam all these years. It's fun having a band that has such a lage amount of records to go out and get all at once, but it can be a bit overwhelming. Thus far it's only been their debut self titled release that hasn't really clicked with me. Every other Samiam record I've heard has been great. And I still have more to go.

Samiam - Samiam LP - Purple Vinyl

Samiam - Samiam LP - Purple Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

New Red Archives (2012, Reissue)

I will be the first to admit that I'm going about Samiam all wrong. I never really listened to them much back in the 90's, but was inspired to start relistening to their albums to give them another shot. Needless to say, I like them much better now than I did then, so it's been a quest to start adding LPs to the collection. Luckily every label on Earth seems to think it's a good idea to reissue Samiam records, so they're very easy to come by at the moment.

The bad part of getting into this band now, is that I'm tending to listen to all of their records out of order, so even though this is the first Samiam LP, i've already heard the albums they put out 5, 10, 15, 20 years later. It gives me some perspective on how the band has evolved over the years, but it definitely makes this first album stand out from the initial batch of the Samiam releases I've picked up.

Compared to albums like Clumsy & You Are Freaking Me Out (the two I am most familiar at this point), the self titled album is significantly rougher around the edges. It takes much more of a hardcore influence and doesn't have the pop sensibilities of their later work. That's not to say the album doesn't have its catchy hooks, it does, but in general it's a much louder, angrier affair than some of their other records. That probably makes it sound like I don't like this record, but that isn't true at all. This album has bursts of energy and enthusiasm that are not as obviously apparent on some of their other albums and it's fascinating to see the band's growth.

I still have a lot of Samiam records to get through. I have had Whatever's Got You Down for a bit but have only played it once as it came during a busy end of the year rush of new records. I got Soar for Christmas but haven't given it a spin yet, I have Astray on it's way over to me and I have to pick up Billy still, so there's a lot to go on my continuing Samiam education.

Samiam - A Youtube Playlist of a bunch of songs off of the self titled LP:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=ALBTKoXRg38BDUJ1qEpIv9ZaI0S...

Record Store Day Haul #4: Samiam - Clumsy LP - Red Vinyl (/1500)

Record Store Day Haul #4: Samiam - Clumsy LP - Red Vinyl (/1500), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Siren Culling Series (2013)

I completely blew it and missed the boat on Samiam back in the 90's. I couldn't really even tell you why. I think I heard a song or two that I didn't like and then completely wrote off the entire band's catalog. I really just never listened to them. Well, I screwed that up pretty good, because Samiam are pretty stellar.

I am lucky as just about all of Samiam's full lengths have recently been or are in the process of being reissued. Clumsy was a Record Store Day 2013 release on red vinyl, limited to 1500 copies. It was one of the top wants on my list this year and I was able to grab a copy without incident.

The record itself is great. Clumsy was Samiam's major label debut, and it sounds like one. The production is maybe a bit glossier than I typically go for, but considering what else was coming out at the time, it makes total sense and I actually think it helps the songs shine even more. What really struck me about the record is how much it reminds me of Goosefair by China Drum. Maybe not as much as far as songwriting goes (as I think China Drum is just one of the all time greatest bands), but certainly in the way the album, especially the vocals, sound.

This is probably an ass backwards reference and I'm sure this would be a statement more useful in trying to get people to listen to China Drum than it is a way to describe Samiam. Regardless, this is a great record and I am full bore on the hunt to grab the rest of the Samiam discography.

Samiam - As We're Told:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy-DqNGlATE

Samiam - Capsized:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=erxi9MgF-ms