disappointed
I'm a big fan, so when I saw Sam Phillips had a new CD coming out, I was excited. It's been a while since her last release. Unfortunately, I find very little to like here. The sound is similar to Fan Dance, but not as personal. The songs sound like strange little experiments. I miss the tuneful catchiness of her earlier albums.

Classic from Sam Phillips.
Wonderful music. Like all the other records from Sam over the last 10 years. You may describe this new record as "chapter three" (fan dance - boot & shoe - Don't Do Anything ) or trilogy.
There is one thing I don't understand: 4 years and a 35 min record. That's a little disappointed. But we might get the next cd next year... (-8

Her best release in several yrs
This is her first CD in a long time that just grabs you on the first listen. I think the beats are little more livelier here. So far, this is the most refreshing and energetic CD I've listened to this year. There is little more rocking here. More kick to the drums and guitars that swirls less and hum more. I am really liking this. Maybe getting rid of her hubby on the production let her be less self conscious and let it loose. Man, I am really getting into this as I am writing this.

This fan's still dancing
Here's more of what I've grown to love about Sam's music. Songs that grow on you; that take on deeper shades of meaning with repeated listening. And a couple of absolute gems like "Sister Rosetta" and "Signal". I'd love to see Sam do a rocker now that the trilogy is complete.

Part 3 of the 'Minimalistic Trilogy' is very good!
A lot of these songs just beg for repeat listens... perhaps because they are so short in length. I'm really stuck on "No Explanations", "Little Plastic Life", "Don't Do Anything", "Shake it Down", "Sister Rosetta", and "My Career in Chemistry" - the latter being my favorite song on the release. "Flowers Up" is good - "Another Song" reminds me so much of classic Paul McCartney - even the background vocals. Oh, and I absolutely love the new rendition of "Black Sky". The rest of the songs I can take or leave but they are by no means terrible songs.

One of my favorite lines is from "No Explanations" - "I thought if he understood he wouldn't treat me this way... no explanations.... she looked me over and over and couldn't locate me... no explanations... no more explanations". That's awesome. If anyone has ever been in that situation before, you know exactly what she's talking about. I love the repetition of the beat 'Boom! Boom! Bang! Bang!' in this song!! I'm surprised I haven't damaged the speakers in my car when I crank this song up loud. ;)

Even though I have enjoyed this 'Minimalistic Trilogy', I do hope that Sam kicks the music and the mood up a few notches with the next release. And, she most likely will. Sam doesn't stay in one place for very long. She likes to keep reinventing herself.