finetune artist: Sammy

One of the more successful US lo-fi acts, a pop format that accentuates the quality of songs above any production expertise, and partly coined in answer to Beck's phenomenal rise, Sammy was formed by Luke Wood (guitar, bass) and Jesse Hartman (vocals, guitar) who rose to prominence when supporting that artist in the USA and UK. The pair met when Hartman noted Wood's Velvet Underground T-shirt in the late 80s, discovering a musical kindred spirit. Together they recorded a debut album, titled simply Debut Album, in their occasional drummer Corn's Long Island, New York basement. Though Wood originally worked in the New York press office of Geffen Records, he used the Smells Like Records subsidiary imprint of Geffen artist Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) to release it. The duo's relationship became somewhat strained by Wood's job, after he moved to a marketing position with Geffen in Los Angeles. Hartman, still located in New York and employed in his brother's pizza parlour, was forced to write with his partner by sending tapes back and forth. However, the approach did not unduly damage the quality of compositions on the album, and both brought their individual experiences to bear on their songs. "Rudy", for instance, concerned a "crack smoking Rastafarian dishwasher" employed at the restaurant, with Hartman's writing primarily influenced by his abiding interest in film. The album was followed by a 1995 EP, Kings Of The Inland Empire, and a second album in 1996. The duo eventually parted ways in the late 90s, with Hartman going on to record synth-based music under the Laptop moniker.

Listen to Sammy at Finetune.

(2006) Tales Of Great Neck Glory

Buckle-Up Sunshine
Anything
Encyclopedi-Ite
Horse Or Ballet?
Neptune Ave. (Ortho Hi Rise)

Ashys on 2009-08-12 00:13:55.790:
I've never heard of Sammy before now. Despite this, I dig them. =]