The Samples

One of America's most talented (and mostly unknown) bands of the '90s, the Samples made a giant leap on this release. Their first all-studio album with three new bandmates is simply astounding. The quintet sounds like they've been playing together for a decade, laying down driving pop songs, with occasional reggae rhythms. The music is tight, the production crisp, and Sean Kelly's memorable voice (somewhere between Bruce Hornsby and Neil Young), leads the way. Kelly's lyrics rely on cliché more than usual but that's entirely forgivable, because it is the music and the melodies that one will remember from this album. If you don't own a Samples album yet, it's not too late to redeem yourself. This is a good place to start. ~ Steve McMullen, All Music Guide