Sam Sklover & Friends & Family & More – It’s Just Business, Babe Pt. One Album Review
BY CURT GIVENTER
In a musical landscape battered by songs and artists afraid of experimentation, Sam Sklover’s debut album It’s Just Business, Babe Pt. One, breaks the mold in immense ways. Amongst all the shoegaze, indie-rock, and synth-pop bands, Sam Sklover & Friends & Family & More stands on their own two feet, establishing their own spot in the music industry with a sound that sounds like it was revived from decades past, or perhaps never gone as it lives through their music. The album sits at a comfortable seven tracks, with twenty-two minutes of tight jams, slick raps, and uplifting soul.
The title speaks for itself, as Sam Sklover & Friends & Family & More are here for nothing else but the business – that being the business of groove. Boasting two legendary features from both Devin the Dude as well as Grand Puba, the album is supported with some great verses from these revered rappers, melding beautifully with the band’s masterful control over their sound. The project has a wide range, from some soul/R&B-type tracks to rap beats for the aforementioned artists to spit over, along with some funky instrumentals, including a more laidback acoustic one to finish it off. The totaled twenty-two minutes tick by quickly, as each track has its own unique character that leaves the listener wondering what’s to come next, and before they know it, the album is finished and they’re wanting more.
The opening track, “They Love Each Other” sounds like it came straight from the 70s, complete with that quacky, single-coil guitar tone, the smooth electric organ, and Kayla Frimer’s dulcet tone and timbre of her voice. The soul and R&B influences are evident in this song, carrying the track along as each instrument has its’ time to shine. The drums sit nicely in the mix, not too busy, yet interesting enough to carry along the guitar and organ solos, ushering the listener along a diverse arrangement of sounds. In many ways, it’s like a modern-day Janis Joplin & Big Brother & The Holding Company track, with Frimer’s inspiring voice accompanying the funky rhythms that the band provides.
The following track, “In the Pocket of Big Funk” is a super smooth instrumental, led by a chaotic yet focused keyboard lead, making the listener feel like they hopped in a time machine. The keyboard licks are infectious as they embed themselves in the rhythm, chugging the song along to a quick drum solo, followed by a blues-filled lead guitar solo that rounds out the band’s talents, giving each member a chance to display their skills.
“I Can’t Believe We Got Devin the Dude on a Track” speaks for itself, providing a steady, relaxed backdrop for featuring rapper Devin the Dude. The respect and appreciation for the artist is clear on the track, as the band holds it down tightly as Devin smoothly delivers his bars. After his verse, the band rides out triumphantly while leading into a final crescendo for the finale. The next track “The LLC Strikes Back” features Grand Puba as a solid follow-up to the last song, taking it a bit slower tempo-wise to provide some room for Puba’s lines. After his verses, the band breaks down into a catchy, tight groove. Once the featured rapper finishes his work, Sam Sklover and his band lead the track to its end, capping it off with a light melody.