Outpost (The Samples album)

Outpost is an album by the Boulder, Colorado-based band the Samples, released in 1996.^[2][3] The first single was "The Lost Children (A Slow Motion Crash)".^[4] The band promoted Outpost by playing the H.O.R.D.E. Festival.^[5]

Outpost
Studio album by The Samples
Released	1996
Recorded	1995–1996
Genre	Alternative rock
Label	MCA[1]
Producer	Ed Thacker, Walt Beery
The Samples chronology
Autopilot (1994) Outpost (1996) Transmissions From the Sea of Tranquility (1997)

The album sold around 58,000 copies in its first two years of release.^[6] The band briefly broke up after promoting the album, before reforming with a different lineup.^[7]

Production

The Samples were able to spend two years working on the album, due to label negotiations.^[8] Outpost includes re-recordings of two older songs, as well as a re-recording of a Sean Kelly song; it also contains an unlisted live track.^[9][10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
Fort Worth Star-Telegram	[9]
The Indianapolis Star	[12]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[13]
New Straits Times	[14]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette	[10]
The Republican	[15]

The Washington Post wrote that "the Samples' music is still a bit blank, but it's consistently tuneful and mostly lively."^[16] The Hartford Courant noted that "the music is almost devoid of musical hooks, relying instead on [Sean] Kelly's vocals, background harmonies and pleasant arrangements among guitar, bass and keyboards to hold the listener's interest."^[17]

The Indianapolis Star stated: "From the dreamy, melancholy 'I Remember Dying' to the high-energy delivery of 'All My Thoughts (I Remember Johnny)', the Samples' Output ... reminds of a pre-Top 40 Fleetwood Mac."^[12] The Republican determined that "this is provocative stuff, at times reminiscent of everyone from the Police in their prime to early BoDeans and R.E.M."^[15]

Track listing

All songs written by Sean Kelly, except where noted.

1. "Anyone" (Kelly, Andy Sheldon, Al Laughlin, Jeep MacNichol)
2. "Did You Ever Look So Nice"
3. "Learjet"
4. "Shine On"
5. "Big Bird" (MacNichol)
6. "Indiana"
7. "Birth of Words"
8. "It's Curtains" (Sheldon)
9. "The Lost Children (A Slow Motion Crash)"
10. "Foreign Countries" (Kelly, Laughlin)
11. "Information" (Kelly, Sheldon)
12. "All My Thoughts (Johnny Station Wagon)" (Sheldon)
13. "I Remember Dying" (Kelly, Sheldon)
14. "When It's Raining" (live hidden track, originally on The Room album)

Personnel

• Sean Kelly – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards
• Andy Sheldon – bass, guitar, vocals
• Al Laughlin – keyboards
• Jeep MacNichol – drums, percussion, guitar, vocals
• Greg Leisz – slide guitar
• Eric Caudieux – keyboard programming, drum programming
• Walt Beery – guitar, background vocals

References

1. "Samples". Trouser Press. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
2. "The Samples Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. Roberts, Michael. "Feedback". Westword.
4. Farinella, David John (Jun 22, 1996). "MCA tries the Samples". Billboard. 108 (25): 9.
5. Morse, Steve (19 July 1996). "Samples go back to roots for a fresh start". The Boston Globe. p. G14.
6. Bell, Carrie (Sep 12, 1998). "Samples return to indie roots". Billboard. 110 (37): 17, 114.
7. Renzhofer, Martin (31 Oct 1997). "Kelly Works Through Pain, Brings Music Into Focus". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. E10.
8. Thomas, Rebecca (21 Feb 1997). "COLORADO BAND SAMPLES TAKES ITS FANS SERIOUSLY". Orlando Sentinel. Calendar. p. 7.
9. Ferman, Dave (July 26, 1996). "CAPSULE REVIEWS". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Star Time. p. 12.
10. "RECORDING REVIEW". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 8 Sep 1996. p. G8.
11. "Outpost - The Samples | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
12. Konz, Joe (6 Oct 1996). "The Samples 'Output'". The Indianapolis Star. p. I11.
13. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 978.
14. Murthi, R.S. (30 Aug 1996). "THE SAMPLES – Outpost". New Straits Times. Arts. p. 5.
15. O'Hare, Kevin (July 7, 1996). "Samples' talent shines through on 'Outpost'". The Republican. p. E5.
16. "SAMPLES' OUTPOST' STILL CLOSE TO HOME". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
17. Moran, John M. (25 July 1996). "THE SAMPLES OUTPOST". Hartford Courant. Calendar. p. 4.