Laps in Seven

Sam Bush | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 13, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sugarhill
• ASIN: B000FFL3AG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,447 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As one of the founding fathers of the bluegrass/jazz hybrid dominating the new acoustic scene, Sam Bush has always kept a close eye on songcraft and tradition, even as he looks toward expanding the expressive and commercial potential of traditional styles. If his previous album, King of the World, was maddeningly eclectic, this, his seventh solo album, sounds more focused and in touch with what made his pioneering work with New Grass Revival so exciting. With the exception of the nimble, dainty instrumental "The Dolphin Dance" and the frenetic, somewhat overwrought electrified jam of the title track, the material preserves the tight punch of a great bluegrass single--even when spilling over the seven-minute mark on Darrell Scott's "River Take Me" or layering organ and female backing vocals for an R&B groove on "I Wanna Do Right" (an homage to Hurricane Katrina victims, cowritten with Jeff Black). His band (featuring Byron House on bass, Keith Sewell on guitar, and Scott Vestal on banjo) blazes straight through the tricky 5/4 time of John Hartford's "On the Road" and finds a melodic sweetness to It's a Beautiful Day's classic-rock standard "White Bird." On Julie Miller's "The River's Gonna Run" he gets his first chance to duet with his old friend Emmylou Harris, and also gets a hard Americana drive courtesy of Buddy Miller's chunky guitars. Certainly Bush has made more experimental records, but this one is among his most tuneful and slyly rocking. --Roy Kasten

Product Description

Tracking Listing: 1. River's Gonna Run - Sam Bush Emmylou Harris 2. Bringing in the Georgia Mail 3. Dolphin Dance 4. On the Road 5. Ridin' That Bluegrass Train - Sam Bush Tim O'Brien 6. I Wanna Do Right - Sam Bush Shaun Murphy 7. Where There's a Road 8. New Country - Sam Bush Jean-Luc Ponty 9. Ballad for a Soldier 10. River Take Me 11. White Bird 12. Laps in Seven

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good, but not at the top, June 22, 2006

By 

speedread (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Laps in Seven (Audio CD)

Sam Bush has always had an eclectic taste in music. It's nice to see him branching out to other genres beside his 'thing' with reggae for so many years (not that that was a bad thing). The impression about this album is that it doesn't flow like most of Sam's past solo projects, not that this is also necessarily a really bad thing.

What _is_ enjoyable is Sam's bringing in of a variety of musicians to lend a hand -- the duets with Emmylou Harris and with Andrea Zonn, Jean Luc Ponty, Tim O'Brien and others. In particular, I have been very impressed with Scott Vestal's banjo work as of late and this album provides stellar examples of it.

However, there wasn't a single song that really grabbed me -- unlike on "Glamour & Grits," for example, which contains several amazing instrumentals. This CD is more along the lines of his previous release, "King of My World," which is also a very satisfying production.

To set the record straight, I'm _not_ disappointed at all -- it's just hard when you have Sam's talents to top yourself with every new release; it's also fair to say that people will always tend to find a favorite or two in all the works of musicians they revere, and this particular CD just happens not to be it for me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This may be the best Sam Bush CD ever (so far), July 25, 2006

By 

Jared - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laps in Seven (Audio CD)

"Laps in Seven" may be the best Sam Bush CD so far, and that's saying something considering some of Sam's other excellent projects. I understand some are more interested in hearing instrumentals only, which were more prominent on previous records, but I love Sam's song selections, and yes, his vocals and band's harmonies. The songs also give him plenty of opportunity to shine on his instruments of choice (mandolin, fiddle, and even guitar).

In addition, the other members of the Sam band showcase their talent, and the addition of the banjo to the band is quite refreshing.

Those looking for instrumentals may enjoy "The Dolphin Dance", "New Country", and "Laps in Seven", but the playing and musicianship is prominent throughout the entire record with extended solos in songs.

I wish I could list all of my favorite tracks on the CD, but I truly love them all. Ones that earn the repeat button especially include the title track, "I Wanna Do Right" (featuring Shawn Murphy and the Do-Right Singers), which is a bit of a different sound for Sam, and "Where There's A Road" (featuring Andrea Zonn).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad Someone still makes good music, February 25, 2007

By 

Susan Atkinson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Laps in Seven (Audio CD)

In a world full of studio [...] and what I deem "TRASHVILLE, TN" , it's wonderful to know that there is still something worth listening to out there. THe original scores are great. When I read the write up for THe Dolphin Song, I was worried, but it too proved worthy. The cover of Georgia Mail is a foot stomping sing along dream for me. I brought this cd in the car alongwith me for a ride to my boyfriend's father's 80th birthday dinner. He played some bluegrass in his days, the family is steeped in it. He too enjoyed it. Glad to see what I condsider a revival in true AMerican music.