I was seventeen once. It’s very blurry but I remember being that age over twenty years ago. I starting writing songs three years prior which were basically rip offs of Nirvana songs. It took years and years to get to a place where some talent was starting to emerge. That’s why my older self as well as my current self is jealous of Sam Levin. At only seventeen years old he is showing great technical skill as well as creative ideas on his release A General Air of Regret.
A General Air of Regret is a very diverse album. It feels like Levin is exploring different approaches and styles but has yet to find a signature sound. He opens with “TV Show” which contains some fantastic guitar playing that is gelled with percussive elements which create an airy sounding vessel. It’s melancholy and thoughtful and at some points reminded me of Sufjan Stevens. That vibe continues with “Bookmark” which again has some great guitar work as well as vocal hooks. The music changes direction with “Change the Channel” which is an experimental ambient composition. Levin then goes into a completely different genre with “Change the Channel” which is a synth heavy song that has a contemporary dance vibe to it. The guitars are vacant on this song. “The Only Thing” literally sounds like people singing around a fire. You can even hear the insects. It was one of the highlights. He then shifts into “Therapy” which is electronic and instrumental and not that far away from Boards of Canada. As the album progresses there are many different styles that Levin tries and it felt like almost every song was shifting genre. There were a number of highlights like “Psych Ward” and “Robert's Graveyard.” Levin’s talent is undeniable. That being said he is displaying characteristics that tend to come from younger artists that I have seen over the years. In this day and age artists have access to superfluous amount of technology and it makes it relatively simple to bathe in all the possibilities of production. That fact makes it more likely to explore different genres instead of limiting yourself which can sometimes be beneficial. A General Air of Regret is an album that successfully explored these possibilities but what it doesn't do is create a signature sound. I’ve worked in this business for a long time and I promise you one of the most important elements in finding success is creating a foundation. If you think about successful artists no matter what the genre you will find this. My point in all this is that it will behoove Levin to start to distill all these different genres he is playing with and start to chip away at forming a signature sound. This in my opinion is the reason why working with a producer who understands talent can create direction which can be vital when making an album. It’s a factor that an experienced third party can see clearly. Levin has so much time and potential that it’s a little ridiculous. I wouldn't be surprised if he became a common household name by his mid 20’s. I wish him luck on his evolution and hope to hear more soon.
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