Sam Graber Band - Love & Fury (2024)

This Minneapolis unit starts its new year with an imaginative, subtle first album. It begins with the ambient-guitar-led “Higher,” driven by delicate yet aggressive drums and a delicious melody line. There’s a soulfulness to their pop showcase, and the songwriter Sam Graber’s vocals are authoritative, which is nice. There are no whiney, anxious, melancholy wisps; just a well-woven interplay between instruments that delivers soundly.

Produced & engineered by Brian Reidinger & recorded in Minneapolis the ten Love & Fury directives have some nice fat tones, good backup vocals & chord progressions. The band is primarily a trio with Graber (bass/piano/vocals), Brian (drums/keys/guitars/vocals) & Marc Partridge (guitars/vocals). Quite a good sound from just three dedicated performers.

There’s some basic rock that pours from their guitars on “Cinnamon Skin” that isn’t anything we haven’t heard before. However, the trio reminds us of this root system in our rock hierarchy. Tried by many who either failed or succeeded. REO Speedwagon, Smile (“Radioactive Love”) & Colour Radio (“Bound For Life”) with tints of Big Country (“Inwards”).

Their slip into a pure pop-funk confection like “Simple” is an inconsequential misstep. However, the early J. Geils band-oriented “Get Ya Some” has some nice electrical charges that run through the band’s wires. It has a more bluesy funk exponent that renders it danceable & memorable. Excellent playing by all & live could develop into a whammer-jammer of an instrumental workout.

The group shifts gears into the wonderfully more serious “Echo” with its musical qualities that started with “Higher.” This is where they do their finest work. Creativity shines & their originality is evident. They take a page from The Anti-Nowhere League (“Queen & Country”) & Slade (“Walking On Water, Running On Alcohol”) with their strong unified melodic vocals on “Long Long Way” – a final goodbye to the lover who walked away in a huff. A memorable tune. The Tiffany of the showcase.

While “I Don’t See a Tear” is rather elementary Sam’s vocals are soulful. The song is also decorated with the requisite guitar solo & steady drums. Somewhat in an Eddie & the Tide, John Cafferty & Beaver Brown tradition. It will take root with repeated listens.

The band lays out good stuff (not fluff) that never gets weighed down or gooey. Songs have their hooks firmly stitched in & the trio understands how to maintain their style throughout their showcase & knows their limitations. No jazzy detours, heavy-duty bluesy growls, or showboating. Everything is listenable for average Joes too — with their Pabst Blue Ribbons. But don’t be fooled, this isn’t a bar band. These guys can play & write some consistently nifty originals.