THE SAMUEL JACKSON FIVE

I have been trying to get an album by this band for years without any luck here in Canada. Well with this their most recent release I finally got one and man i'm impressed. I have to be honest this doesn't come across to me as being Post-Rock, at least not what i'm used to hearing from this genre. Of course that doesn't matter at all because this is a fantastic record. They always keep it interesting and the bass is upfront and despite the modern sounding vocals (which i'm not usually into) I have no complaints at all. Everything seems to work to perfection here. I did think of KING CRIMSON a few times with their complex and intricate instrumental work.

"Never-Ending Now" starts off in an experimental manner before settling into a groove. Guitar before 2 minutes. Great sound here. "Mockba" has a solid sound with vocal melodies. Mandolin comes in and then it all kicks in after 3 1/2 minutes with nice chunky bass lines and vocal melodies. The mandolin also returns. "Electric Crayons" has a good heavy intro but it settles quickly with vocals. Deep bass lines here too. It's so uplifting when he sings with more passion. Contrasts continue. "Radio Gagarin" opens with piano and it starts to build. It settles back again with piano after 1 1/2 minutes. High pitched vocals before 3 minutes with atmosphere. Intricate guitar ends it. "Race To The Self-Destruct Button" reminds me of "Discipline" era KING CRIMSON but that changes when it turns heavy. Vocal melodies join in. They are ripping it up late.

"What Floats Her Boat" or grills her cheese has these sounds that echo as bass and guitar play over top. "Ten Crept In" opens with vocals and i'm not sure why this is moving. It kicks in as vocals continue. There's guest violin in this one and the next one. Great track. "A Perennial Candidate" has some laid back guitar as the drums join in. It continues to slowly build then kicks in before 2 1/2 minutes. Clarinet too. "Tremulous Silence" opens with strummed guitar, horns and vocals standing out. The guitar is then picked. It keeps changing back and forth then it all kicks in before 3 1/2 minutes to end it. "And Then We Met The Locals" is a great title. This is uptempo and intricate then it turns fuller but it continues to shift. Horns are screaming 4 minutes in. "Low Entropy" is the short final track with acoustic guitar leading the way as keyboards and bass join in.

Well this has exceeded my expectations. It's entertaining yet challenging enough to keep even the most seasoned progger happy.