Customer Reviews

Last Drag

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a fan of The Samples for several years now. I first bought their "Outpost" CD as an experiment, and then went on to pick up every Samples disc I could find. They represent a sound that's been all but missing for a long time in mainstream rock and roll. Real songs, played by real musicians who really don't seem to care an awful lot if they never get any airplay. They can rock with the best of them when they want to (check out the live CD, "Underwater People"), and then display a quiet sensitivity rarely found in rock music since at least the 70's, without sounding at all dated. The musicianship and songwriting are unsurpassed by anyone I can name. There isn't a Samples album I don't like, but this is my personal favorite. They really don't rock very hard on this album-- it's mostly kind of spacey, with touches of psychedelia just beneath the surface-- and it's absolutely great. If you're unfamiliar with this band, buy this CD. If you don't instantly love it, send it to me-- because if it's possible to wear out a CD, I'm gonna need another copy someday.

I must admit I am a huge fan of The Police so I am somewhat biased because these guys don't sound exactly like The Police but the way Sean sings and the mix of reggae and pop reminds me of them. This in no way diminishes how great this band is. Sean Kelly is an amazing songwriter as well as the other members in the band who contribute songs and arrangements. The lineup has changed over the years but this lineup (the original) is by far the best. Sean, Jeep (drums), Andy (bass) and Al (keyboards) are all fantastic on this CD. I recommend all of the Samples CD's but especially the first 4 (Samples, Last Room, Last Drag, AutoPilot) as these are the best. The best of these four is The Last Drag. Not a bad song on here and the songs are so varied as is the case on all their CD's that you never get bored and can listen to this CD constantly. Highlights for me are the beautiful "Everytime", "Streets In the Rain", "Taxi", "Carry On", "Misery" and "The Last Drag". Please do yourself a favor and try out this band, they will not dissapoint. Also if you haven't been to one of their shows, it is well worth it, great live band as they tour constantly to get their music across to their hugely devoted fan base.

I picked up this cd in a bargain bin just for kicks and giggles and found it to be one of the best albums that I have heard in the nineties. Their mixture of raggae and (America) style pop is just incredible. "Everytime" has a bridge in it that is smoother than anything I've ever heard from the masters themselves, The Beatles. An overall A-One album. A must-buy!!!!!!!!

The Samples are in my opinion and the opinion of thousands of others the best band in the nation. It is just too bad that they aren't played everywhere. The Last Drag is the best Cd they have ever released! If you want a CD that you can put in the CD player and not change for a little over an hour, buy this one.

The Samples are, without a doubt, musical and lyrical geniuses. Their loyalty to their fans, the environment, and originality have made them worshiped by their fans. They've NEVER sold out and their dedication to making great original music has sadly kept them off the mass airwaves.
Their entire repitoire including No Room, Autopilot, and Return to Earth are all gems. This is the "desert island" cd for me, though. The original mambers are all here. Sean Kelly and Andy Sheldon are the "Lennon/McCartney" of the band. "LSR", "Everytime" and "Prophet of Doom" are three of the BEST songs EVER written. Jeep adds genius drumbeats and his "Misery" is mesmerizing (his best is "Water Rush" on Autopilot is my favorite Jeep song). Al adds the perfect offbeat keyboard chords to Sean's guitar riffs and Andy's reggae influenced basslines. (His keyboard riff on "Taxi" is also incredible).
To sum it up, this was the band at it's finest and if you want an hour long CD with influences of folk, rock, pop, reggae, ska, jazz, and psychedelia...this will blow your mind.
Check out their website for more info on the band.

If anyone is looking to find new music and is willing to take a chance on a band you've probably never heard, this is the album to buy. Every Samples album is a work of art, but The Last Drag is a masterpiece. Rarely can you find an album so perfect from beginning to end. Each song tells a story, takes you on a journey and makes you feel alive. The Samples are my favorite band, and this album is my favorite album PERIOD! Brilliant and passionate!

Reminiscent of Toad the Wet Sprocket (remember them?). Sweet yearning lyrics and equally evocative voices. They're easy to listen to and folksy. Nothing's too refined, which is one of the reasons I like them. You get the feeling they're playing in the back of some little cafe by the highway, as they drive through the heartland of America. A friend of mine didn't like this quality and made some complaint about their time being off. Well... I'm no drummer, but I think I enjoy a really wide spectrum of music and I'm difficult to please. The Samples please me. The Last Drag was my first intro to them. Little Silver Ring is such a great song, and for some reason I love When the Day is Done. I get this goofy nostalgia-laden image of a battered farmer in the Dust Bowl and his young son working all day and coming home to something comforting like, oh, cornbread and grace. I know, ridiculous, but that's not to be helped and certainly not this album's fault.

I was introduced to the Samples on Onion River Radio, (the best place on the Internet to be introduced to new artists.) "The Prophet of Doom" was playing and immediately caught my attention. I ordered this CD from Amazon and had to wait several weeks for it to come in. It was well worth the wait. There mix of clever hooks and ethereal guitars is incredible. A good introduction to this band. I can't believe these guys have been around for so long and this is the first that I've heard of them. I'm sure I'll be buying more of their stuff in the near future.

why I have never heard of this band before. Beautiful. They may sound like The Police, but their sound, songs, and spirit puts them on a 5 star map in their own right. This is real 5 star stuff. Thank you men, outstanding work. I really appreciate this album. Make me remember how good it is to be alive.

The Last Drag is a great album, as are all other Samples albums. However, I need to correct one of the other reviewers... the Samples have NEVER been a Police cover band. They are often compared to the Police because, like Sting, Sean Kelly sings in a falsetto range, but they were never a Police cover band. Anyway, get this and No Room and you'll instantly need the entire catalogue.