Don't Do Anything

It starts with her voice, "I thought if he understood, he wouldn't treat me this way. No explanations". There's a little electric guitar accenting the voice. And then comes the beat. A big tribal beat that is right up front in the mix and keeps growing and growing as the song continues on. It's not a fast song and when it is just Sam, it feels like a Boot and a Shoe song. But that big drum sound and the fuzzy guitar give it a new feel. "No Explanations" is the opening track to "Don't Do Anything" and a sign that Sam is not standing still in her musical style.

Sam has stated in an interview somewhere that she sees this CD as a cross between ABAAS ("A Boot and a Shoe") and "Martinis and Bikinis". It is easy to see. The big drums on some of the songs and the heavy use of a electric guitar along with several songs that have very catchy choruses really bring back the feel of her mid 90's sound. But the rest of the CD is Sam with her acoustic guitar or piano surrounded by deft drumming from Jay and always gorgeous violin from Eric which is very much the qualities we loved in ABAAS. In fact, this CD is pretty much a trio with Sam on piano and acoustic and electric guitars, Jay Bellerose on percussion and Eric Gorfain (The Section Quartet) on violin (banjo and other instruments of destruction). Patrick Warren helps out here and there and the entire Section Quartet gets in on a few songs also.

"Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" and "Signal" are two of the older songs on the CD. "Sister Rosetta" was one of the standout songs from the Plant/Krauss CD and tour and it is even better here. The sound is very close to ABAAS with a lovely string arrangement from Eric.

"Another Song" and "Don't Do Anything" are back to back on the CD. I love this pairing of songs. They almost segue with no time gap between the two. "Another Song" is a beautiful piano based song that reminds you of ABAAS with Sam singing, "Did you ever love me?" while sweet voices sing "La La La" in the background. "Don't Do Anything" is a fuzzy electric guitar based song with Sam singing "I Love you more when you don't do anything?". Is she being sarcastic? Ironic? It seems that her tongue is firmly placed in her cheek. It is so different from "Another Song" and yet they fit together so well. The old (ABAAS) sound and the new style; blending beautifully.

Where "A Boot and a Shoe" was considered by some to be the breakup CD, "Don't Do Anything" finds Sam moving on after divorce. There appear to be references to this past relationship throughout the CD and there are still some emotions that need to be displayed. But there is no doubt that she is moving on. And that is what makes this CD so exciting. For Sam is driven by her passion to make music: To create art. It is her calling and songs like "Can't Come Down" and "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" seem to drive home this point. Lyrics from a Sam Phillips CD are never straightforward though. They are more like abstract paintings; giving you small glimpses of reality surrounded by dream like images. Then there is "Watching Out of This World" which seems to be using the TV show "Out of This World" as a metaphor. It is the closer and I love it there. So many CDs just sort of end. When you hear "Watching Out of this World" you know the CD is coming to an end and that thought along with the song's feel make you feel a bit melancholy. And then you smile because with a running time of about 37 minutes, you have plenty of time to listen to "Don't Do Anything" all over again.

Sam Phillips
`Don't Do Anything'
Nonesuch Records

If there were artistic justice in this world, Sam Phillips would be a hallowed name followed with much fanfare. But that is not her way, she tends to slip in through the cracks and to peek from behind the corners. Her music reflects this tendency.

New fans recognize her as the lady that provided the great melodies for Gilmore Girls, while die hard fans go back thirty years ago with her to her days as a Contemporary Christian singer.

Sam Phillips (formerly Leslie Phillips) left what was becoming the Christian Music scene in 1986 when it was clear that what had started as some Christian artists collecting together now was turning into an industry.

Don't Do Anything (Nonesuch, 2008) is a bit of a throw back to her 90's period of some fuzzy "soda pop" sounds mixed with her neo-nostalgia that she has hone in on with the past two records. She blends it all perfectly. It could easily be a soundtrack for an 1800's western saloon of the future.

She opens the album with a track that is reminiscent of her ultra mod 1995 record Omnipop. It is fuzzy and unapologetically wonderful. She kicks off addressing the lingering questions surrounding her divorce from T-Bone Burnett. "No Explanations", track #1.

The entire album is orchestrated properly, sparse where needed. Sam is very purposeful, but not blunt. She intricately weaves hinted at visions beyond grasp with a first listen. There is her constant human positioning and an earth consciousness, in the hands of our maker who loves us best when we "Don't Do Anything."

On her myspace for months Sam has made it clear that the title of the record is not to reflect what she intends us to do in the current political state of the world.

Ms. Phillips last record "A Boot and A Shoe" (Nonesuch 2004) took me about two years of solid listening to when I finally declared one day "I got it! All of these songs are about things that are kinda the same only not!"

Sam makes art, not just music.

On the cover of "Don't Do Anything" she is fully clothed in a bathtub of water. She is taking care of basics without the seemingly unessential steps.

This is a record to keep on in the background and songs will grow their own stories around you, and it will soon demand more than just background. Sam Phillips makes records to be fully listened to, not just single track downloads.

Don't try hard to get her, just get her. Don't do anything, except buy the record.

This is Sam Phillips raw, uncooked - at her most vulnerable. It is also sexy, sensual, and at times, she rocks harder than she ever has before. Take My Career in Chemistry - an explosion of joy, desire and mystery. I challenge anyone to listen to this song and not play air guitar or air drums, losing yourself in a fit of sheer ecstasy. The lyrics are sparse but this works well with the theme. The familiar chords of e minor, a minor and d minor appear but the melodies make everything new. This is a remarkable collection of songs that you'll revisit again and again.

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