Albums to watch

Bright Sunny South

Sam Amidon

Bright Sunny South

The Vermont singer-songwriter adds jazz touches to his established template of reworking traditional folk songs

ADM rating[?]

7.5

Label
Nonesuch
UK Release date
13/05/2013
US Release date
14/05/2013
  1. 8.8 |   The AU Review

    It is a compelling album, one delivered with integrity and subtlety - a rewarding listen for those of the more folky persuasion, though one that should be of equal interest to others
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  2. 8.5 |   The Quietus

    He makes the traditional elements feel authentic, while the personal touches he incorporates seem archaic
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  3. 8.2 |   Paste Magazine

    Bright Sunny South continues Amidon’s commitment to turn passed-down traditions into a progressive, knowing form of music
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  4. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    What sets him apart is threefold; the sheer quality of material, arrangements that show a willingness to deviate from the norm and his wonderfully rich, expressive voice
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  5. 8.0 |   No Ripcord

    Amidon mounts his stories with an aura of suspense, a quality that comes from the swelling soundscapes that gild his yearning introspections
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  6. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    This is intriguing, beguiling music, brilliantly different and yet paradoxically, strangely familiar
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  7. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    A strange but compelling set
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  8. 8.0 |   All Music

    Suggests his development in its gorgeous production, increasingly deft arrangements, and a general sense of greater confidence and vision throughout the record
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  9. 8.0 |   Q

    It's both exquisitely downbeat and nowhere as indulgent as you might expect. Print edition only

  10. 8.0 |   Mojo

    A spirit of strange, gentle melancholy runs throughout the album. Print edition only

  11. 8.0 |   Blurt

    It is not one thing (folk) or the other (post-rock, post-classical experiment) or even, really a blend of the two, but rather something fresh and idiosyncratic and worth exploring
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  12. 7.7 |   Pitchfork

    Not quite as stylized as 2010’s I See the Sign, but certainly no less ambitious, Bright Sunny South is a quiet, austere album that emphasizes Amidon’s banjo playing and singing
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  13. 7.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    A truly sincere and beautiful album
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  14. 7.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    A man on a long walk allowing his surroundings to distract him and stimulate old memories, which always retain the same images but take on completely different meanings with time
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  15. 7.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Amidon has taken a huge step forward as a folk artist, creating arrangements which preserve his musicianship, while deepening the maturity of his interpretive skills
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  16. 7.0 |   DIY

    Nobody's quite sure whether these tales are his own or folk stories passed down through the ages, and they're all the more entrancing for it
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  17. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    Bright Sunny South is full of these unhurried, easy moments, and succeeds because of it
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  18. 7.0 |   The 405

    This is good – nothing more, nothing less
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  19. 6.0 |   The Skinny

    Likely to play best to those already partial to roots re-visitations, or existing fans of the Vermont artist’s work
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  20. 6.0 |   Evening Standard

    Don’t be fooled by this record’s title: there’s nothing bright or sunny about Sam Amidon’s latest album
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Sam Amidon: Bright Sunny South

  • Download full album for just £8.49
  • 1. Bright Sunny South N/A
  • 2. I Wish I Wish N/A
  • 3. Short Life N/A
  • 4. My Old Friend N/A
  • 5. He's Taken My Feet N/A
  • 6. Pharaoh N/A
  • 7. As I Roved Out N/A
  • 8. Shake It Off N/A
  • 9. Groundhog N/A
  • 10. Streets of Derry N/A
  • 11. Weeping Mary N/A
  • 12. Digital Booklet - Bright Sunny South N/A
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