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in winter..
.. it's like drinking black coffee trying to stay warm and keeping the cold out. the rain falls, the wind blows. some of you even get to see snow.in autumn..
.. it's a backyard in the suburbs, and hundreds leaves covering the green grass.in summer..
.. it's a night-time thing. out on the balcony (porch) with some beers and your friends.in spring..
.. it's the hope for a brighter day.Album Reviews
Stories You Wouldn't Believe
Sydney songwriter Sam Shinazzi excels at world weary songs of loneliness, loss and broken relationships. In Sam's world he is usually alone in a bar or bus, and things remind him of what he has lost; "There's a girl in the corner, wearing the same shirt you wore the first night that we met". Sometimes he can justify the girl walking out with another guy on her arm; "You're like a book I once read but it wasn't worth keeping".
Even the most moving love song here, the wonderful 'My Friend And A Free Day' deals with being apart; "I visualize you among strangers all the time, May you always shine in my mind". I sincerely hope Sam isn't always writing from experience, or he must be on his third breakdown by now! Many of the tunes here would work with just Sam and his acoustic in a folk club, but the backing band produce genuinely understated performances that really enhance the songs. Tessa Benjamin's unobtrusive keyboard parts are particularly notable in this respect.
Sam's sad, well-crafted and intimate songs are well suited to small clubs rather than big open venues. Even on the more optimistic songs there is a sense of ennui; hopefully Sam can continue to write fine songs without the subjects and lyrics becoming predictable.
Phil Suggitt