Sam Prekop (album)

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Sam Prekop
Album-Sam Prekop self-titled.jpg
Studio album by
Released1999 (1999)
Length45:29
Label Thrill Jockey
Producer Jim O'Rourke
Sam Prekop chronology
Sam Prekop
(1999)
Who's Your New Professor
(2005)

Sam Prekop is the debut solo studio album by American musician Sam Prekop. [1] [2] It was released in 1999, through Thrill Jockey. [3] [4]

Contents

Background

The album features contributions from Josh Abrams, Jim O'Rourke, Archer Prewitt, and Chad Taylor, [5] as well as Rob Mazurek and John McEntire. [6] It is entirely produced by O'Rourke. [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
NME 7/10 [8]
Pitchfork 8.9/10 [7]
PopMatters 6.8/10 [5]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Marc Weingarten of Rolling Stone commented that "Prekop's solo debut is an insidiously seductive exercise in chill-out cool; the best tracks brush up against you like a gentle breeze." [9] He added, "Accompanied by a Chicago indie supergroup that includes guitarist Archer Prewitt and percussionist Chad Taylor, Prekop concocts quiet storms from quasi-samba beats, swelling strings, cascading melodies and his own whispered vocals." [9] Sarah Zupko of PopMatters stated, "For the most part, Prekop's whispered vocals render the lyrics beside the point, acting as an improvisational instrument that is integral to the fine ensemble playing." [5] Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune wrote: "On his solo debut, the singer still suggests the breeziness of bossa nova and the nuance of after-hours jazz without actually embracing either style. The music has a slightly wider palette than his guitar-based bands, with keyboards, violins and cornet flavoring the arrangements." [10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Sam Prekop, except where noted.

Sam Prekop track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Showrooms" 4:22
2."The Company" 4:17
3."Practice Twice" 4:06
4."A Cloud to the Back"3:56
5."Don't Bother" 5:21
6."Faces and People"
7:00
7."On Such Favors" 3:40
8."The Shadow" 4:48
9."Smaller Rivers" 2:41
10."So Shy" 5:19
Total length:45:29

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes. [11]

References

  1. Proefrock, Stacia. "Sam Prekop". AllMusic . Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  2. Sherman, Heidi (February 13, 1999). "Sam Prekop Deflates Solo Offering". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  3. Ratliff, Ben (January 22, 1999). "ROCK REVIEW; Sighing Yet Not Moping in Solitary Daydreams". The New York Times . Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  4. Reece, Doug (December 12, 1998). "Popular uprisings". Billboard . Vol. 110, no. 50. p. 18.
  5. 1 2 3 Zupko, Sarah. "Sam Prekop". PopMatters . Archived from the original on July 23, 2001. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Cohen, Jonathan. "Sam Prekop - Sam Prekop". AllMusic . Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Schreiber, Ryan (February 9, 1999). "Sam Prekop: Sam Prekop". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  8. Martin, Piers. "Sam Prekop - Sam Prekop". NME . Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Weingarten, Marc (February 9, 1999). "Sam Prekop: Sam Prekop". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  10. Kot, Greg (February 14, 1999). "Pop". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune . p. 9.
  11. Sam Prekop (1999). Sam Prekop (CD booklet). Thrill Jockey.