Here and Somewhere Else
| Here and Somewhere Else | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1998 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | What Are Records? | |||
| Producer | The Samples | |||
| The Samples chronology | ||||
| ||||
Here and Somewhere Else is an album by the American band the Samples, released in 1998.[1][2] It marked a return to What Are Records?, following 1996's MCA Records-released Outpost.[3] The band supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.[4][5] Several of the album's songs were marketed to adult album alternative radio stations.[6]
Production
[edit]Produced by the band, the album was released as an enhanced CD, with footage of the recording sessions.[7][8] The band added three new members prior to the sessions: drummer Kenny James, keyboardist Alex Matson, and guitarist Rob Somers.[9] The Samples strove for a poppier sound, with shorter songs and lyrics pushed to the front, and spent two years working on the album.[9][10] The majority of the songs were written by frontman Sean Kelly, who thought they were the most radio-friendly of the band's career; he also thought that the band's style would change as they became more accomplished musicians.[11][12] The ska-influenced "We All Move On" employs a horn section.[13]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
The Portland Press Herald deemed the album "vintage Samples: bright melodies sitting atop buoyant pop arrangements, inflected here and there with reggae."[15] The Wisconsin State Journal considered it "reminiscent of their 1992 pop-flavored No Room."[16] The Denver Post called Here and Somewhere Else "an exquisite pop-oriented album packed with radio-ready songs, featuring the most consistent tunesmanship of any Samples disc to date," writing that "behind the tunes are smart, elaborate arrangements and fine production craftsmanship."[13]
The Richmond Times-Dispatch opined that the three best songs were "We All Move On", "Losing End of Distance", and "Little People".[17] The Herald-Times labeled Here and Somewhere Else "a relentlessly upbeat pop album, full of positive lyrics and grooving music."[18] The Tennessean noted that "soft, adult-contemporary vibes mixed with a bit ... of Gen-X angst 'n' jangle."[19]
AllMusic wrote: "One of America's most talented (and mostly unknown) bands of the '90s, the Samples made a giant leap on this release."[14]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We All Move On" | |
| 2. | "Anymore" | |
| 3. | "Hypocrite (Another World)" | |
| 4. | "Here and Somewhere Else" | |
| 5. | "Losing End of Distance" | |
| 6. | "Pioneer Square 2012" | |
| 7. | "Sea of Broken Hearts" | |
| 8. | "The Birds of Paradise" | |
| 9. | "Little People" | |
| 10. | "Going Through Changes" | |
| 11. | "Any Other Day" | |
| 12. | "St. Mary's Bell" |
References
[edit]- ^ Renzhofer, Martin (22 May 1998). "Club Notes". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. E10.
- ^ Weatherford, Mike (29 May 1998). "The Samples". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 24J.
- ^ Thomas, Rob (4 Mar 1999). "You Can Get Sample of Samples on Web". The Capital Times. p. 1E.
- ^ "The Samples". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 5 July 1998. p. D2.
- ^ Morse, Steve (15 July 1998). "Ziggy rewards patient reggae fans". The Boston Globe. p. F4.
- ^ Bell, Carrie (Sep 12, 1998). "Samples return to indie roots". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 37. pp. 17, 114.
- ^ Robicheau, Paul (9 Jul 1998). "Recordings". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 8.
- ^ "At Copper Dragon Friday—Sample the Samples". The Southern Illinoisan. July 9, 1998. p. 3C.
- ^ a b Condran, Ed (17 July 1998). "New-Blood Samples Contain Much Less Fat". Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 5.
- ^ Beck, Aaron; Budzak, Gary (October 1, 1998). "The Samples". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 9.
- ^ Minge, Jim (July 5, 1998). "Samples' Personnel Changes Rejuvenate Band". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 3.
- ^ Savio, Amanda (April 29, 1999). "Enjoy". Record-Journal. p. A5.
- ^ a b Harden, Mark (June 29, 1998). "Boulder's Samples move along". The Denver Post. p. F5.
- ^ a b "Here and Somewhere Else Review by Steve McMullen". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Sutherland, Scott (24 Sep 1998). "The Samples are not a band that lacks for recorded product". Portland Press Herald. p. 14D.
- ^ Kassulke, Natasha (4 Mar 1999). "Spotlight: The Samples". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 17.
- ^ Fountain, Leigh Buckley (September 24, 1998). "Samples On Track with 'Somewhere Else'". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. D14.
- ^ "Jam bands and college rock". Audibles. The Herald-Times. February 26, 1999.
- ^ de Yampert, Rick (5 Oct 1998). "Our Picks". The Tennessean. p. 5D.