Single – The Real Thing
Release Date 21st March
Review by Linda McDermott
American born Sam Robbins releases another belter of a single which is aptly titled ‘The Real Thing.’
The song is the third single from Sam’s third album ‘So Much I Still Don’t See’ which is a testament to a singer songwriter’s journey through his 20’s, through his formative years of 45,000 miles per year touring and the beginning of a troubadour’s career. The album is the culmination of firsthand experiences gathered through hard travel and big adventures. For the listener, these big adventures are heard through a soft, introspective soundscape, with sounds built sparingly around solo acoustic guitar and vocals, tracked live, just as they are performed live.
The third single from ‘So Much I Still Don’t See,’ is a Chet Atkins inspired upbeat song. ‘The Real Thing’ began with a lyrical groove while driving out of a certain American city on tour, thousands of miles from home, with a 12-hour drive ahead, the spark of inspiration hit. The groove of the first line, ‘I’m sailing smooth highway under soft suburb lights, where an Applebee’s oversees every corner’ led to the rest of ‘The Real Thing’ being written all in one night at a hotel in the middle of nowhere, USA.
‘The Real Thing’ is a tribute to one of Robbins’s main influences on guitar, the great finger-style player Chet Atkins. With Chet’s signature thumping thumb technique, Robbins built a palette that used this classic sound but twisted it with his own modern take. The thumping, western-style groove emulates the vibe of the lyrics, the quintessentially American feeling of driving fast down a dusty highway, to get to anywhere but where you are.
Personally, for me this is a perfect summer tune. There are songs that demand your attention, and then there are songs that simply carry you along with them. This track falls into the latter, an effortless, sun-soaked journey that seems tailor-made for rolling the windows down and letting the warm air rush in. Led by a smooth, expressive guitar, the melody feels so natural, never forcing itself upon you but instead unfolding with an easy flow.
The harmonies in the vocals are where the magic truly happens. They blend so seamlessly into the music. I like that there’s no rush, no urgency, it’s just a perfectly balanced flow that lets you sink into the moment, your worries fading into the rearview mirror, if that was possible.
It’s this balance between melody and music that makes it such an ideal summer drive companion. It doesn’t demand your focus; it simply exists alongside you, making the miles slip away effortlessly, helping you relax as you go, and who doesn’t want that?
Check out Sam’s releases to get a feel for his vibe, especially if you need to chill.
Tour Dates:
https://samrobbinsmusic.com/tour
https://www.instagram.com/samrobbinsmusic
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