Artist: Sam Roberts
Album: Chemical City
Label: Universal
Tracks: 10

 

 

 

This is Sam Roberts second U.S. release and my first experience with his music. If Chemical City is representative of what he has to offer than count me in. I don’t even mind that he’s from Canada.

 

Chemical City has a very late sixties/early seventies rock sound. It’s very basic and rhythmic but isn’t afraid to get experimental or just jam. At the same time it sounds very current, which is one of the most impressive elements of this album. Imagine The Monkees, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty, and maybe David Bazan in a blender and you will at least understand the path you are walking on.

 

“Bridge to Nowhere” is one of the highlights here. It has a very upbeat feel to it as it bounces through the ultra catchy choruses. It’s a bit hippie but there is this dark element to it that completely sucks me in, even though that’s not usually my favorite thing to listen to.  “An American Draft Dodger in Thunder Bay” is a bit edgier of a song that, obviously, dabbles a little in politics. It reminds me a lot of early eighties Tom Petty or maybe even The Alarm. “Uprising Down Under” also caught my attention on every listen. It’s an acoustic number but Robert’s voice is really expressive on it. I really like listening to this song around 2 AM. You sort of lean back and smile and go “yeah man. I gotcha.”

 

I can’t get enough of this album. It really has a profound feel to it that I am drawn to. Roberts treats this album like its important and that really comes through on nearly every track. Fans looking for something different, familiar, creative, and lyrically smart will enjoy Chemical City.