The indie-centric New York band released their debut album on Sept. 20.
New York City-based band Sammy Rae & The Friends proudly wear their heart on their sleeve, which is evident in their mantra and all over their sound.
“Go put a smile on somebody’s face, go tell somebody they’ve got a place in this world, go tell somebody you wanna be friends with them,” reads their artist bio on Spotify.
This funky band offers a charming blend of pop adjacent to indie and jazz, thanks to unique instrument choices and interesting motifs. Their debut album earnestly strives to mix all of this together, from the sound to the vibes to the smiles, all of it has a place on Something for Everybody.
The first half of the album is arguably the strongest for reasons that become apparent once the second half hits. There’s a lot to balance here, and the album’s beginning does a great job of walking the line between earnestly feel-good and sugary.
It’s hard not to nod your head at the saxophones in “Cool Doug, at Night” or the infectious clapping rhythms in “Call Ya Back.” The joyousness of these tracks makes them danceable anywhere from the living room to the gym.
However, after the “888-98-CALYABAK” interlude, the album hits a sudden turning point where it goes into a kind of “tell, don’t show” mode.
The second half noticeably shifts to a more generic “gonna have a good time” vibe. Those lyrics appear verbatim in “Good Time Tavern,” a song as perpetually positive as its title suggests. From “We Made It” onward, Something for Everybody struggles to maintain the balance that it struck so well in the first half.
Music should feel good because of its energy, not necessarily because of happy lyrics forced into the listener’s ear. The album’s second half turns the optimism up a notch in an attempt to play to the band’s strength of bringing happiness. Ironically, this is where the record is at its weakest.
The album’s positiveness even affects the more intimate guitar tracks that close out the album. Songs like “David” follow on the heels of such overt sunshine-and-rainbows lyricism that they wind up feeling relatively shallow and undeveloped. Despite the band’s efforts to embody a warm, positive presence, Sammy Rae’s music is at its best when it’s not trying so hard to be overtly wholesome.
Overall, Sammy Rae & The Friends generally succeed at creating Something for Everybody. If you’re willing to put aside a bit of cringe, this record is perfect for simply getting up and having a good time, whether alone or with those you love. It fulfills the infallible/everlasting demand for feel-good music.
Trial Track: Cool Doug, at Night
Score: 7/10