Samiam - You Are Freaking Me Out | 90s Album Review

90s Album Review

Following the release of 1994's Clumsy for Atlantic, Samiam returned their completed fifth album from the major label and found a new home with Ignition. Unfortunately, that label ran into money troubles, leaving copies of You Are Freaking Me Out difficult to come by. For a band that evolved out of the same Bay Area punk scene as Green Day, Bad Religion, Operation Ivy, and many more, the band never reached the same commercial heights as some of their contemporaries but maintained a dedicated fanbase to this day. While some may have questioned the band's evolution from skate punks to something closer to post-hardcore, emo, and even pop-punk, the key ingredients - catchy hooks, big guitar riffs, and a propulsive rhythm section, keep the record on track even when they take chances with quieter and more subdued moments and even a Beatles cover.

Songs In This Episode

Intro - She Found You

20:44- Full On

27:06 - Cry Baby Cry

29:46 - Charity

Outro - Ordinary

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Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Highlights

• (00:00) The episode kicks off with an introduction, featuring music and announcing the hosts, Tim and Jason (J).

• (00:15) J and Tim extend their gratitude to the Dig Me Out Union on Patreon, emphasizing that the support from the union members enables the production of their episodes. They encourage more listeners to join the union at dmunion.com.

• (00:33) Tim brings up that the album for review was chosen through a "tournament of death" conducted in September, where 18 albums were nominated and voted upon.

• (01:09) J humorously adds that anyone globally, including astronauts in space, can suggest records for review on their website.

• (01:38) The hosts jest about targeting the astronaut demographic, leading to a light-hearted moment.

• (02:05) Tim outlines the albums that were suggested and the ones that received the most votes in the first round of the tournament. The top vote-getters included "You Are Freaking Me Out" by Samiam, "Ruby Red" by The Dam Builders, and "Limbo" by Throwing Muses.

• (03:48) J continues, listing the albums suggested in the second round, with "Conart" by Smart Went Crazy and "Zuckerbaby" self-titled among them. "Demanufacture" by Fear Factory and "University" by Throwing Muses emerged as the top picks.

• (05:35) J comments on the unusual occurrence of having two albums by Throwing Muses in the final round.

• (06:02) Tim announces the poll results, with Samiam's "You Are Freaking Me Out" emerging victorious with 36% of the votes. Throwing Muses' "University" secured the second spot, while "Limbo" didn’t receive any votes, to the hosts' surprise.

• (07:01) The album, suggested by Joseph Long, is commended for its adept fusion of punk, alternative, and pop elements. Chip Midnight was the sole patron who voted for it in the final round.

• (08:09) J confesses he hasn’t previously listened to Samiam, except for their newest record "Stow Away."

• (08:18) Tim, too, is not well-acquainted with Samiam, having only heard their name and linking them with the pop-punk genre.

• (08:40) Tim explores the band’s history, highlighting their move to Atlantic Records and the subsequent rejection of their second album for the label. The band managed to buy back the record and sold it to Ignition, which unfortunately went bankrupt upon its release.

• (11:02) In spite of these hurdles, Samiam persisted, releasing additional albums, with "Stow Away" marking their return after a 12-year recording break.

• (12:51) Tim delves deeper into Samiam's history, highlighting their appearance on the original Jon Stewart show on MTV and their roots in the Berkeley, California punk scene.

• (13:36) Tim expresses confusion over the poll selection process, noting the lack of comments Samiam received yet still being chosen for review.

• (14:02) Tim notes that "You Are Freaking Me Out" was produced by Stephen Egerton and reflects on the number of albums produced by Egerton they’ve discussed on the podcast, comparing it to those by Steve Albini.

• (15:07) A brief discussion between Tim and J ensues about other producers and albums, with a realization that they haven’t yet tackled a Brendan O’Brien produced album.

• (15:38) Tim continues the conversation on Stephen Egerton, mentioning his work with other notable bands like Local H, Fuel, and The Nixons.

• (16:12) J shares his positive impressions of the album, praising its mix of hard rock, alternative, and punk elements. He singles out "She Found You" as a standout track and expresses regret for not exploring Samiam’s music earlier.

• (20:53) Tim concurs that the album grows on the listener. He recounts his initial skepticism and subsequent appreciation, lauding the album’s hooks, guitar work, and Jason Beebout’s vocal and lyrical contributions.

• (25:34) Tim discusses the initial divisiveness of the album due to its deviation from consistent punk sounds. He mentions "She Found You" as a radio-friendly single and compares the album's unavailability to Sunny Day Real Estate's album "The Rising Tide" due to the label going bankrupt.

• (26:22) Tim expresses his enjoyment of the album, praising the production quality and catchy nature of the songs. He mentions the album's concise runtime but criticizes the inclusion of the last song, which he feels could have been a hidden track.

• (27:00) J & Tim are confused by including a Beatles cover, "Cry Baby Cry," on the album. They find the song choice strange but agree that Samiam did the song justice.

• (28:32) J points out some weaker moments on the album, specifically citing "Good Enough" where he feels the vocals and music enter a generic space. He also mentions a disconnect in "Charity" between the verse and chorus, feeling like two different songs.

• (29:58) Tim agrees with J's points and adds his thoughts on other outlier tracks like the Beatles cover and "Nothing New." He feels these songs are either underdeveloped or don’t fit the album's overall vibe.

• (32:04) J returns to discussing "Charity," agreeing with Tim that it feels like it wants to go in a "Goo Goo Dolls" direction but doesn’t fully commit. He believes an acoustic guitar would have suited the song better.

• (32:58) Tim concurs with J’s assessment and adds that the lead in "Nothing New" sounds like it belongs to a different band or album. He also notes that the vocals sometimes feel strained or uninspired in quieter moments.

• (34:13) Tim understands why fans of Samiam's earlier, more hardcore work might not appreciate this album as much. He references the band's evolution from a skate punk band and imagines some fans might not be on board with the change.

• (36:33) Tim contextualizes the album’s release in 1997, a year notable for albums like "OK Computer" and "The Colour and the Shape." He suggests that without a big single, Samiam’s album might not have significantly impacted radio programming.

• (38:30) Tim asks J where he stands on the album, prompting a discussion on its overall worthiness and potential classification as an album, EP, or single.

• (38:30) J continues discussing the album, highlighting its mix of hard rock, alternative, and punk. He appreciates the chunky, big-sounding guitars and the straightforward pop format of the songs. The album delivers energy, hooks, and fun with a cohesive sound. J also praises the vocal variety and expressiveness, comparing some tones to bands like The Clash and Against Me.

• (40:17) J is surprised he hadn’t spent time listening to Samiam before, as their music fits well with bands he liked in the early 2000s, such as Jawbreaker, Knapsack, Superchunk, and Hot Water Music. He appreciates the album’s feel-good music with an edge and its accessibility.

• (41:46) Tim shares his thoughts, mentioning that the album grew on him with each listen. Initially, he saw it as pop-punk but began to appreciate the hooks and guitar work more over time. He notes the band’s interesting chord choices and structures, and praises the shouty, multi-track vocals in the choruses.

• (43:23) Tim appreciates the band’s attempt to give each song a unique personality and approach. He notes the unexpected quiet parts in some songs, almost leaning towards emo, and praises the band for driving home the hooks effectively and quickly.

• (44:57) The album’s tight construction, with most songs under four minutes, is commended by Tim. He appreciates the band’s ability to maintain their sound while offering enough variety to keep the listener engaged.

Dig Me Out rating:

Tim and J both rated Samiam's "Astray" as a "Better EP." Tim's perspective on this rating was influenced by his initial reception and subsequent warming up to the album. At first, he categorized it as pop-punk but grew to appreciate the hooks and intricate guitar work as he delved deeper into the tracks. He commended the band's ability to infuse each song with a distinct personality and lauded the unexpected quiet, almost emo-like segments in some of the songs. The tight construction of the album, with most songs being under four minutes, was another point of praise. However, despite these positive elements, he felt the album could have been more impactful if it were condensed into a powerful EP.

On the other hand, J was immediately drawn to the album's mix of hard rock, alternative, and punk. He enjoyed the energy, hooks, and cohesive sound that the album delivered. J was surprised he hadn’t spent time listening to Samiam before, given their alignment with other bands he enjoyed. However, even with his appreciation for the album’s feel-good, edgy music and its accessibility, J concurred with Tim that "Astray" would have made a more potent impression as a well-curated EP, distilling its energy and hooks into a shorter, more concentrated format.