Eighty Numbered Streets

Sam Shaber (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 27, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: SMG Records
• ASIN: B00006FN6S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,613 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Improve on PerfecTion, March 18, 2003

By 

Jonathan Hoffman (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eighty Numbered Streets (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real gem, August 29, 2002

By 

Matt (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eighty Numbered Streets (Audio CD)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen for yourself..., October 25, 2002

By 

Elizabeth (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eighty Numbered Streets (Audio CD)

Shaber's 'Eighty Numbered Streets' is full of the kind of passion, honesty, and intelligence that makes you love music in the first place. This is an album that reflects Shaber's own perceptions on events that we can all relate to. The production is wonderful, careful not to lose the raw feel of a live show or to take away from the singer-songwriter's folky appeal or energy (yes, the two can co-exist happily!). If you're in the mood for some good music, here it is.