Clumsy (Samiam album)

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Clumsy
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 23, 1994
Genre
Length43:26
LabelAtlantic
ProducerLou Giordano
Samiam chronology
Billy
(1992)
Clumsy
(1994)
You Are Freaking Me Out
(1997)

Clumsy is an album by the American band Samiam, released in 1994 on Atlantic Records.[1][2] The band had been the subject of a bidding war, following the early 1994 success of Green Day; it was Samiam's first album for a major label.[3][4]

Clumsy's first single was "Capsized".[5] The band promoted the album by opening for Bad Religion on the Stranger Than Fiction tour.[6] Clumsy sold around 13,000 copies in its first six months of release.[7]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Lou Giordano.[8]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Robert Christgau(dud)[10]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[3]

The Washington Post thought that "if not bursting with originality, such tunes as 'As We're Told' and 'Bad Day' are nonetheless appealingly energetic and melodic."[11] The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that "Samiam favors a thick power-chord attack that supports lithe, wrenching and surprisingly melancholy vocals ... The result is music that wallops and cries at the same time."[12]

The Gazette concluded: "No problems here with their Westerberg Jr. angst nor their rock ambitions, but if '94 is the year punk 'broke,' '95 is the year it will be broken."[13] The Press-Enterprise stated that Clumsy "flows between hard-core punk and hippie grunge with lyrics telling of childhood pain and misery."[14] The Albuquerque Tribune referred to the album as melodic hardcore, filled with "underlined aggression, bottled like a clinched-fisted rage."[15]

AllMusic wrote that, "'As We're Told' and 'Bad Day' swell with monstrous punk hooks; meanwhile, two slower numbers, 'Tag Along' and 'Cradle' are, respectively, dreamy and angry enough while still retaining can't-miss melodicism."[9]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."As We're Told"Beebout, Brogan3:24
2."Capsized"Beebout, Loobkoff4:12
3."Stepson"Beebout, Loobkoff4:16
4."Bad Day"Beebout, Loobkoff4:01
5."Tag Along"Beebout, Brogan, Rubin4:17
6."Routine"Beebout, Brogan2:41
7."Simca"Beebout, Brogan3:01
8."No Size That Small"Beebout, Loobkoff3:30
9."She's a Part of Me"Beebout, Loobkoff3:31
10."Cradle"Beebout, Brogan4:27
11."Time by the Dime"Beebout, Loobkoff6:02
Total length:43:26

Personnel[edit]

  • Jason Beebout – vocals
  • James Brogan – guitar
  • Victor Indrizzo – drums
  • Sergie Loobkoff – guitar
  • Aaron Rubin – bass

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Samiam Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Roos, John (26 Sep 1996). "They Do Not Like, That Samiam". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 3.
  3. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 977.
  4. ^ Snyder, Michael (July 10, 1994). "SCENE AND SEEN". San Francisco Chronicle. Sunday Datebook. p. 37.
  5. ^ Norman, Michael (September 12, 1994). "PUNK ROCKING ON SCORCHED EARTH AT BLOSSOM". The Plain Dealer. p. 4E.
  6. ^ Staple, Arthur (November 18, 1994). "THIS PUNK HAS GROWN UP". The Record. LIFESTYLE/PREVIEWS. p. 10.
  7. ^ du Lac, J. Freedom (February 24, 1995). "THAT'S SAMIAM". The Sacramento Bee. p. TK19.
  8. ^ Tauschke, Steve (22 Feb 2002). "Anger-powered pop". The Age. Entertainment Guide. p. 3.
  9. ^ a b "Clumsy - Samiam | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  10. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Samiam". www.robertchristgau.com.
  11. ^ "SAMIAM PLAYS SAME OLD PUNK SONG". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  12. ^ Moon, Tom (1 Aug 1994). "SING ALONG WITH - PUNK?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C5.
  13. ^ Lepage, Mark (22 Oct 1994). "SAMIAM Clumsy". The Gazette. p. D3.
  14. ^ "PUNKTHEYAM". The Press-Enterprise. September 23, 1994. p. AA16.
  15. ^ "Samiam - Clumsy". The Albuquerque Tribune. September 22, 1994. p. D15. Retrieved June 4, 2023.