Customer Reviews

Transmissions From the Sea of Tranquility

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this day of candy pop music and overdone morbid music, this double disc is the silver lining of an otherwise monotonous cloud of digital garbage. The Samples have brought together the majority of their meaningful songs as well as new insights toward this beautiful piece of work.

Favorites include live versions of "Weight of the World", "Feel Us Shaking", "Did You Ever Look So Nice", a cover of John Lennon's "Watching the Wheels", and AMAZING versions of "Anyone But You" and "Nothing Lasts for Long". There is also a hilarious little whale bit.

Another plus is the way Sean/Andy describe the meanings behind the pieces, on the disc jacket. Plus the pictures are a riot.

If you are a Samples fan, this is a MUST because the acoustic versions of the songs you know are elevated to a new level. If you are unfamiliar with the Samples, I highly recommend this album, for with a varying musical range from folk to alternative, they will appeal to most music fans. I cannot really think of a band they remind me of, but Dave Matthews Band is a big fan of the Samples work, if that tells you anything. This double disc is a great investment! I highly recommend it.

One day I downloaded a track of "Feel Us Shakin'" featuring frontman Sean Kelly and Boyd, LeRoi, and Carter from the Dave Matthews Band. The next week, I picked up this album, off of the strength of that one song, and it was in my stereo for about a month straight afterward. Tracks like "Sacred Stones," "Feel Us Shakin'," "Nothing Lasts for Long," and "Who Am I" sound like they can only be sang through tears of joy, and rousing versions of "Did You Ever Look So Nice," "Won't Be Back Again," and "Little Silver Ring" among others run wild with energy, greatly benefitted by Sean Kelly's soaring vocals. It is said that The Samples can only be truly appreciated if seen live, and aside from catching them on one of there numerous tour dates, a copy of "Transmissions" is as beneficial a satellite broadcast from venues all across Anytown, USA. A must have for any hardcore or fledgling fan.

If you are a Samples fan, this album is a staple. This album is kind of a smorgasboard of Samples. The album is a compilation of live, acoustic, and studio tracks. The live versions of the classics are terrific. Great sound quality.

If you enjoy reading album jackets cover to cover, this is one of my favorites. Sean describes the meanings, lyrics and inspirations to the songs which I think is really cool.

I highly recommend this album.

the samples. i love this band, yet they frustrate the heck out of me. clearly, if you're new to the samps and want to buy an album indicative of their collective work, this is obviously it. or, if you want them at their best, i like "the last drag." but that's not really why i wanted to write a review. i guess i just wanted to say that this band has such amazing potential, but they only use it every now and then. sean has one of the most unique high voices in rock today (he capos every song!), and he's occasionally a great songwriter, but most often the samps just seem to rest on their laurels. i've seen them six times, and most recently in april they just sucked. and they just played their instruments bad. i don't understand them. i think they need to get off of their ridiculously rigorous touring schedule, spend more than 2 months in a studio, focus on writing, and produce an album of the caliber that everybody knows they can. the road is wearing them out.

As someone who on Easter Sunday in 1987 strolled into Tulagi's for a beer and found a bunch of cool guys playing great music on stage for the first time, I believe that this is a great album. I even proposed to my wife using a samples song and seen them about 20 or so times since over the years. One of their best qualities lies in their live sets. The band carefully brings you up and slows you down without you ever knowing that it is taking place. Experience the CD's one and all. Each has a great character to it and will draw you in. Start here and go to the original album and work through the anthology of the Samples. You will enjoy the Journey

As a casual Samples fan I didn't rush to this, but once it was less than a dollar used I ordered it. Best 52 cents I spent all week. There's some GREAT versions of songs here. Most of this is live, with a few studio/demo's tossed in. For me this was worth getting for "Who Am I?". Better than the Autopilot version easily. Also a good cover of Lennon's "Watching The Wheels". Nice to have that. The live songs from the Last Drag album, all wonderful. Good pics and notes too.

One reviewer here mentioned Blues Traveler. To the effect that if you're tired of Blues Traveler and the like, try "Transmissions." I'm cool with what the reviewer said...and maybe there's a whole Blues Traveler genre? Wherein the Samples compete mightily and successfully? Maybe so, I'll check in here on Amazon to find out in the future.
Why? Because I don't like Blues Traveler at all and find the Samples frustrating. They're on the edge of having some attitude or kick but mainly this is laid-back high voiced airy corn syrup. Has elements that resemble Counting Crows (first album) but without the angst. So it comes down to personality and I prefer the angst.
I'd heard "When It's Raining" (not in this 2 CD set) on Pandora and all these songs fall short, "Flying" is the most comparable with an expansive sound that lets the mind drift with the tune. The cover of "Watching the Wheels" is actually pretty good, "Streets in the Rain" is sorta catchy, but I mainly bought this CD for the "...Little Whale" song for its tongue-in-cheek positivity.
Overall, unlike other reviewers, I would NOT recommend this set for non-Samples fans. It was a cheap enough buy, used, that I don't feel ripped off for a 2 CD set.
If anyone wants to write a post about a Blues Traveler/Dave Matthews genre I'd read it.

this cd very closely mirrors the experience of seeing the samples live. good energy, great songs...one of my top ten albums ever. catch the samples' show if they're in your area...you won't regret it!!

This one Outpost is one of the funkiest SAMPLES jams.. it really livens up their old and some new stuff. Not reccomended for the first time veiwer, but if your coming back for some more its a great number two. I am not sure why, just tkae my word for it. Number one get TFTM. yeah okay yeah.

For the quinticential Samples fan to a newbie, this collection is great. The Samples are best when they are both live and kept separated from the big label producers that mellow their sound. This is a must have CD(s)