Sam Phillips - Solid State
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 4:54PM
Sam Phillips - Her major label deal and marriage to T-Bone Burnett are now a few years behind her, but no matter. The eclectic and quirkily winsome songwriter returns with a wonderful 13-track album culled from her prolific yearlong "Long Play" project consisting of five self-produced EP's and one full-length (whew) // Release: Solid State (June 7) // Sounds like: despite the prodigious output of Long Play, the quality (and stylistic diversity) of Solid State reconfirms Phillips reputation as both an imaginative and risk-taking writer who can also build a compelling song in the studio...like Aimee Mann, she eschews the estrogen-fueled, soul-bearing delicacy of many female writers for a dramatically stark style that draws upon Beatle-ish melodies, oblique lyrical edge and haunting string arrangements // Quote: "I became much more interested in singing and playing live with musicians and capturing that, rather than building a recording instrument by instrument, part by part. I have always been inspired by T Bone’s desire to grow as a producer and musician. Just when you think you understand where he’s going, he turns down a side road and you’re in strange territory." // What we like: Phillips' effortless way with a melody is reinforced with the deceptive simplicity of the songcraft...the brooding "When I'm A Camera" has an intriguing feel enhanced by her music hall piano and Jay Bellerose's drumwork..."Throw Yourself Away" is a jumble of stripped psychedelic touches and glistening guitar lines...
Sam Phillips - "When I'm A Camera" (from the album Solid State)
Sam Phillips - "Throw Yourself Away" (from the album Solid State)
Reader Comments (1)
My Solid State CD is in the mail but I know all the tracks already as I've downloaded them from Sam's "long play" site and, hey, I'm a long-time fan of hers but these are among her best work ever. She put out over 40 pretty amazing songs in a year through Long Play and this is Sam at the very top of her game.