Don't Do Anything

Sam Phillips

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 2, 2008)
• Original Release Date: June 10, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000YDOOTQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,924 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great CD from Sam , June 2, 2008

By	Bruce Greenberg "Infomas" (Southern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It starts with her voice, "I thought if he understood, he wouldn't treat me this way. No explanations". There's a little electric guitar accenting the voice. And then comes the beat. A big tribal beat that is right up front in the mix and keeps growing and growing as the song continues on. It's not a fast song and when it is just Sam, it feels like a Boot and a Shoe song. But that big drum sound and the fuzzy guitar give it a new feel. "No Explanations" is the opening track to "Don't Do Anything" and a sign that Sam is not standing still in her musical style.

Sam has stated in an interview somewhere that she sees this CD as a cross between ABAAS ("A Boot and a Shoe") and "Martinis and Bikinis". It is easy to see. The big drums on some of the songs and the heavy use of a electric guitar along with several songs that have very catchy choruses really bring back the feel of her mid 90's sound. But the rest of the CD is Sam with her acoustic guitar or piano surrounded by deft drumming from Jay and always gorgeous violin from Eric which is very much the qualities we loved in ABAAS. In fact, this CD is pretty much a trio with Sam on piano and acoustic and electric guitars, Jay Bellerose on percussion and Eric Gorfain (The Section Quartet) on violin (banjo and other instruments of destruction). Patrick Warren helps out here and there and the entire Section Quartet gets in on a few songs also.

"Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" and "Signal" are two of the older songs on the CD. "Sister Rosetta" was one of the standout songs from the Plant/Krauss CD and tour and it is even better here. The sound is very close to ABAAS with a lovely string arrangement from Eric.

"Another Song" and "Don't Do Anything" are back to back on the CD. I love this pairing of songs. They almost segue with no time gap between the two. "Another Song" is a beautiful piano based song that reminds you of ABAAS with Sam singing, "Did you ever love me?" while sweet voices sing "La La La" in the background. "Don't Do Anything" is a fuzzy electric guitar based song with Sam singing "I Love you more when you don't do anything?". Is she being sarcastic? Ironic? It seems that her tongue is firmly placed in her cheek. It is so different from "Another Song" and yet they fit together so well. The old (ABAAS) sound and the new style; blending beautifully.

Where "A Boot and a Shoe" was considered by some to be the breakup CD, "Don't Do Anything" finds Sam moving on after divorce. There appear to be references to this past relationship throughout the CD and there are still some emotions that need to be displayed. But there is no doubt that she is moving on. And that is what makes this CD so exciting. For Sam is driven by her passion to make music: To create art. It is her calling and songs like "Can't Come Down" and "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" seem to drive home this point. Lyrics from a Sam Phillips CD are never straightforward though. They are more like abstract paintings; giving you small glimpses of reality surrounded by dream like images. Then there is "Watching Out of This World" which seems to be using the TV show "Out of This World" as a metaphor. It is the closer and I love it there. So many CDs just sort of end. When you hear "Watching Out of this World" you know the CD is coming to an end and that thought along with the song's feel make you feel a bit melancholy. And then you smile because with a running time of about 37 minutes, you have plenty of time to listen to "Don't Do Anything" all over again.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Flowers of Soul, June 12, 2008

By	Homie G (Planet 9) - See all my reviews

Haunting kaleidoscope of music, a carnival left town, an empty soul full of sound.

"I hear the music up above my head"

Picked it up, can't put it down, "no explanations", "can't come down".

Thank you Sam! This is a beautiful gem.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Job!, June 8, 2008

By	Jamie Flint "Music fan" (Spokane,WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The highly anticipated new release is received with much enthusiasm! A few of the songs are definitely mellow, but there's still quite a bit of variety throughout the album. I especially love "Sister Rosetta" and "My Career in Chemistry". And the rest is growing on me! I think she did a great job - a good production. And it doesn't sound just like the last two - I think it's quite different - except maybe the song "Don't Do Anything".
Great Job, Sam! I remain a huge fan and look forward to your next endeavor.