Search - Sam Shaber :: Eighty Numbered Streets

How to Improve on PerfecTion

Jonathan Hoffman | Portland, OR United States | 03/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sam Shaber's previous CD showed considerable songwriting talent, a very nice voice, and competent guitar work. Why mess with such a good thing? "Eighty Numbered Streets" shows why. The excellent arrangements and added instrumentation breathe life into the songs and further enhance Shaber's always outstanding lyrics, elegant melodies, and wonderful voice. As examples, this CD repeats two songs from "PerfecT", "All of This," and "Rain and Sunshine." The songs were nice in the "simple, folk" version of the earlier album, but the new arrangements cause them to soar. Ironically, the most compelling selection on the CD has the simplest arrangement. "Bare" is spare. Using impressionist images rather than explicit statements, the song is a testament to personal honesty in writing and performing. Thus, it aptly begins with a few words of studio patter. It is sung with no more than her vocals and guitar, until Jere Flint's cello sneaks in midway through the song. My only objection is the song's opening line, "No poetry, no pillowshams." We know what she means about the pillowshams, but she does herself a disservice with "No poetry". This song, like the rest of the songs on this terrific CD, is poetry of the first order."

A real gem

Matt | Massachusetts | 08/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sam Shaber's music is cool, her lyrics smart, and her delivery passionate. As today's singer-songwriters go, she has grown to be one of the best. "Eighty Numbered Streets" is filled with warm songs to friends, to family, and most notably to New York City. Despite the autobiographic roots of this CD, she successfully avoids the self-obsession that plagues many of today's musicians. Energy, honesty, and a wonderfully soulful voice add up to a real gem of an album--contemporary urban folk/pop at its finest."