Track nine, the midtempo, Wilco-like pop rock of “Carried By The Breeze” may be the first song the band ever wrote, but other than some lively keyboard work and a heavily reverbed vocal, it’s nothing special.
The airy southern pop of “Old Grey” however, a tune about getting older, has bluesy/honky-tonk piano fills, gorgeous lap steel (by Ben Holst) and an instantly catchy vocal chorus for a tune written in the key of B minor.
Final track “Saw Your Mother,” besides ending the album on a triumphant note, is practically a four-part journey over five-and-a-half minutes. It starts with ascending and descending riffs played behind a poppy, danceable backbeat. About halfway through, a cheerful-sounding organ takes center-stage during a proto-punk section that is reminiscent of Boston band "The Glow," and then quiets down for a sober, Clapton-esque acoustic strumming segment. And just when you think the song is over, a sudden shift to ringing, icy guitars and twinkling atmospherics ends this album highlight just as it began, with an obvious homage to Echo.
For a group who started out in college not too long ago – Frank and Donnie went to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte – playing for friends at parties and getting “paid in beer,” The Sammies have developed some serious and highly dynamic songwriting chops relatively quickly over the course of a couple albums.
With Sandwich, The Sammies have practically taken the last forty years of rock and roll – 60’s and ‘70s classic rock, 1980s post-punk, southern rock and garage rock revival – and put their own stamp on it. The result is an album full of memorable tracks. It should be a contender for indie album of ’08 (and will be up there on my list).
Thus, it goes without saying that if you liked The Sammies' self-titled debut, you’ll definitely love their new album as well.
For more info on The Sammies, visit their myspace page and official web page.
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