Sam Sliva and the Good's
And the People Say... is a pop-flavored bar-rockin' slice of Americana. Having never heard the band before, I was taken aback by the immediacy of the rich textures of the music and the warm baritone of lead singer Sliva. I was also grabbed by the surprisingly successful commingling of reggae as a part of their signature sound.
This isn't the cheesy trustafarian style of reggae, mind you. It's the easy bang of a rhythm guitar and the walking bassline, seamlessly threaded into the fabric of songs like the lead track "Blind Addiction."
Other places, Sam and the Good go a more straightforward pop-rock route. The earnestness and big hooks of songs like "Surrender" put the band in a realm of artists like
Will Hoge and
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, for those looking for comparison to the familiar. Sliva's vocals and the bands' chops outshine the songs themselves at times, but that's mostly because they're so damn good.
"Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight" is a Whiskeytown cover that brings the alt-country classic into the barroom. Jason Isbell guests on this winning take that I, as a longtime Whiskeytown fan, grant my full approval.
The downtempo "Nothing At All" could easily find its way into the background of a break-up scene on some teen drama show. That's not to say you should be embarrassed to enjoy it. It's a tearjerker backed by organs and fuzzy guitars, and Sliva gives much emotional weight to the simple "Why do something that's nothing at all?" hook line.
And the People Say... is a collection that feels good even when the mood is dark and keeps your foot tapping even through the ballads. It straddles that fine line between commercially accessible and artistically honest with satisfying effortnessless. It's also a perfect "roll down the windows and sing along" album. Don't expect anything edgy or experimental, just expect to enjoy yourself.
