Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts is used to being pegged with a different tag for each album. From the indie rock of “The Inhuman Condition,” to the more complex rhythmic tones of “Love At The End Of The World,” Roberts says he just tries to ignore the attempts people make to categorize the music he makes.
Regardless of the name one puts on it, Roberts continues to be one of Canada’s most exciting rock acts, embraced throughout the country, with pockets of substantial support around the world. “Love At The End Of The World,” is already shaping up to be Roberts’ most successful album to date, entering at No. 1 in Canada, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
The walloping kick of drums and bass makes the music very immediate, and can be heard clearly on the first single, “Them Kids.” The video for the single was nominated for two MuchMusic Video Awards, taking home one. The song’s key hook -- the lyric “I just don’t understand why the kids don’t know how to dance to rock’n roll” -- has become a call to arms that proves the continued vitality of rock music. The pulsating beat is also key to the title track, with its slap-reverb guitar eventually giving way to stomping drums with a ‘50s rockabilly feel.
Even seemingly mellow tracks like “Oh Maria,” start with quiet introspection, eventually evolving into a chorus that is highlighted with sharp drums, chunky guitars and celebratory harmonies. Along with band members Dave Nugent (lead guitar), Eric Fares (keyboard, guitar), James Hall (bass) and Josh Trager (drums) – Sam set out to create an album that had a deeper groove than anything they’d done before.
Aside from this heavier rhythmic foundation, Roberts sees the album as a natural successor to his earlier works, including his Universal Music debut, “We Were Born In Flame,” and its much-lauded follow-up, “Chemical City.” The albums all have the same organic approach to creating rock music, with strong melody being an important cornerstone of every song.
“In my mind [Love At The End Of The World] is a steady continuation of what I’ve done in the past,” he says, “Only write music that comes from an honest place and put as much fire and grit into recording it as possible. Creating music for me is like needing water. It is built into who I am.”
Though Roberts hails from Montreal, where he was born and made his first steps into the music industry in the mid-1990s, he isn’t connected to the city in the way more recent indie bands have been linked by the press. That’s fine, he says, and he’s comfortable not being lumped in with any particular scene. He continues his musical journey on his own terms, satisfied and rewarded that people from across North America have embraced his vision and sound.
“Our journey started before most of the bands that people recognize as coming from Montreal,” he explains. “Sometimes we walk parallel to them, but on a different horizon. I’m happy with being the lone wolf.”