Sam
Green And The Time Machine
Sam
Green And The Time Machine, from Melbourne, Australia’s CD Which Way Left?, is
a collection of folk songs that stay threaded in his surrounding area. The
songs deal with everything from love, life, wilderness and confinements to city
life as well. There is nothing too serious or playful about them. They stand on
they stand on their own feet both separately and together as an album, which is
one of the best things to be said about it. You either like folk music or you
don’t, but if you do, you’ll be able to appreciate this CD and others available
by him. The track list runs at fourteen with a minimalist approach to length.
But that is the usual case with folk-laden pieces. And each tell a story as
usual too, so this is nothing new whatsoever, and neither is Sam Green. But
he’s not trying to be, he’s playing for the sake of the song. You get that
feeling in the first several tracks, and it goes from there. If you’re a folk
lover you will get it, if not, you can still be turned on by something about
it. I’m not saying it is a masterpiece, but Sam Green is no rookie either. The
songs have-to speak for themselves and hold up on their own as well as together
for any album to work. It’s clear that he’s an artist that knows how to do
that.
It's safe to say these are all true stories, but you never know, so it’s up to anyone to make that call and whatever else can be said about it. But reading up first never hurts unless it’s raked over the hot coals, which also safe to say, there is no reason. Beginning with “Dandeong Ranges” the story about the hills of Melbourne, he comes off vocally-gruff at first. This doesn’t really change anywhere in the number, but you get used to it as the music takes control and within the first track that is a non-issue. He shows he knows his way around his own numbers both musically and vocally, but most of all lyric and melody-wise. The difference between singer-songwriters and rock performers is clear as a bell to anyone, and there might be some pop-qualities on this release, but nothing to write home about there. Make no mistake, this is much more of the Gordon Lightfoot than the Josh Grobin variety. But it’s not even that so much as being able to get across both a musical and socio-political statement, with some nature and life’s creature comforts thrown in. You get all these determining factors and more, or you won’t get it at all from jump. There is essentially no turning back after the first number, which is not always the result.
“Love For A Moment” explores both sides of the artist by showing his influences and his softer side, which almost enters the soft-rock territory but not quite. The point is you get where he’s coming from, as where some songs might lose the listener as to exactly what they’re about. It’s personal that way and doesn’t make any difference because it's still up to anyone to interpret how they wish. Liking it or not doesn’t always depend on what it may or may not be about. Take “Melbourne Town” for instance. One doesn’t have to live there to sing about it, but if one does, the picture can be drawn by experience to make a better effort. You’ll hear all that, “Mist Of The Dersert” and more if you get wind of Sam Green And The Time Machine’s new release.
It's safe to say these are all true stories, but you never know, so it’s up to anyone to make that call and whatever else can be said about it. But reading up first never hurts unless it’s raked over the hot coals, which also safe to say, there is no reason. Beginning with “Dandeong Ranges” the story about the hills of Melbourne, he comes off vocally-gruff at first. This doesn’t really change anywhere in the number, but you get used to it as the music takes control and within the first track that is a non-issue. He shows he knows his way around his own numbers both musically and vocally, but most of all lyric and melody-wise. The difference between singer-songwriters and rock performers is clear as a bell to anyone, and there might be some pop-qualities on this release, but nothing to write home about there. Make no mistake, this is much more of the Gordon Lightfoot than the Josh Grobin variety. But it’s not even that so much as being able to get across both a musical and socio-political statement, with some nature and life’s creature comforts thrown in. You get all these determining factors and more, or you won’t get it at all from jump. There is essentially no turning back after the first number, which is not always the result.
“Love For A Moment” explores both sides of the artist by showing his influences and his softer side, which almost enters the soft-rock territory but not quite. The point is you get where he’s coming from, as where some songs might lose the listener as to exactly what they’re about. It’s personal that way and doesn’t make any difference because it's still up to anyone to interpret how they wish. Liking it or not doesn’t always depend on what it may or may not be about. Take “Melbourne Town” for instance. One doesn’t have to live there to sing about it, but if one does, the picture can be drawn by experience to make a better effort. You’ll hear all that, “Mist Of The Dersert” and more if you get wind of Sam Green And The Time Machine’s new release.
Kevin Webber
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