Sam Roberts – The Inhuman Condition …EP review

I just found this Canadian artist on a recommendation, and I’m loving what I’ve heard so far. I picked a song that I wanted to cover, but I started to listen to the EP and decided to make an EP review instead. I picked up on every song, and it stuck.

Sam Roberts was born in Westmount, Quebec, Canada, in 1974. He started with the violin and then transitioned to the guitar. He was influenced by classic rock and Brit Pop and makes no apologies about it.

Roberts was still an indie artist when he released his 2002 EP The Inhuman Condition, recording much of it on his own dime. The song “Brother Down” caught fire organically; it wasn’t hyped or manufactured. It was word-of-mouth, the way rock used to spread. When the song crossed over to mainstream radio, it became a hit in Canada.

Roberts recorded much of it on his own, along with musician Jordon Zadorozny. Right out of the gate, “Brother Down” hit like an unexpected home run. That track alone could have carried the EP, and he could have filled it with filler, but he didn’t.

Back in 2002, before Spotify and playlist culture, there were still artists working their way onto the airwaves the old-fashioned way, by writing songs so good you couldn’t ignore them. Six songs, no filler, all good. It introduced a new voice to Canadian rock that felt classic and also forward-looking all at once. He is a guy who could hang with Tom Petty, The Clash, and Sloan, yet still sounds completely like himself.

I was intrigued by Brother Down, but then I listened to “Don’t Walk Away Eileen,” which was power pop joy. Big jangly guitars and a hook that could’ve been written in 1966 and still sound fresh. I won’t go through every track but the tracks go in different directions, but stay firmly with his style. When I listen to this EP, I think of The Tragically Hip and Tom Petty’s Damn the Torpedoes. I’ve spot listened to his other albums and this EP, and this one is a great place to start enjoying the music of Sam Roberts.

For you Canadians, if you only know “Brother Down,” go back and play the whole EP. It’s six songs of everything rock should be: melodic and human…and catchy.

Brother Down

One life to live but we’re doing it wrong
You see, got my brother down cause it’s nothing to me
Everyone’s saying that it’s wrong to cheat
But there’s no other way to get my life on easy street

Someone else telling you what you’re living for
Been knocking you down, now you’re looking for more
The only sound you hear is a closing door
Been looking for peace but they’re bringing you war
Rich man’s crying cause his money’s time
And poor man’s smiling cause he knows he ain’t blind
There’s a man over there says he’s tougher than me
But i got eyes that can see through fantasy

I think my life is passing me by
I think my life is passing me by

Take it all back cause it don’t mean nothing
If you give it away and you’re looking for something back
Wake up every morning when there’s nothing there
No reason to die but no reason to care

Someone else telling you what you’re living for
Been knocking you down now you’re looking for more
The only sound you hear is a closing door
Been looking for peace but they’re bringing you war
One life to live but we’re doing it wrong
You see, got my brother down cause it’s nothing to me
Rich man’s crying cause his money’s time
Poor man’s smiling cause he knows he ain’t blind

I think my life is passing me by
I think my life is passing me by

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

20 thoughts on “Sam Roberts – The Inhuman Condition …EP review”

  1. Pingback: Sam Roberts – The Inhuman Condition …EP review – MobsterTiger

  2. Certainly a well known name in Canada. Of course timing is everything for the listener, where you are in life has a great influence. So I never explored Roberts music. I would like to say I know more than Brother Down, but the preview you provided didn’t ring any bells. Very cool you found him and your high praise indicates I have missed a lot.

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  3. Nice find, Max as I really enjoyed listening to this music. The first Sam Roberts song Don’t Walk Away Eileen when he sang, “I’m left for dead’ I thought he was singing, “and the Grateful Dead” and how could I not like that.

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  5. Yep! He seemed to enter the Canadian scene like a rocket, then disappear nearly as quickly. Some good tunes though- I totally forgot about ‘Where have all the good people gone’, it got some airplay too & I liked it. He had a career highlight playing Sarstock in Toronto, 2003, in front of around 350 000 people in front of R.Stones & AC-DC. I just looked up my old post on him, ‘Brother Down’ was the third most-played Canadian rock song on Canuck radio from its release through ’16. So he should still get decent royalties but like Deke says, I hope he got a good contract

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    1. Dave…I did a search of your site but came up with nothing…I must have searched something wrong. I thought maybe you had covered him before…I didn’t remember because as you know…we read so much!
      His other albums sound good as well…but this one I listened to fully and loved it. Some good power pop on this one.

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      1. indeed, no worries, it’s hard to remember everything either of us have covered. I know he was so big in 2003, I was quite surprised by about 2006 when he was almost a forgotten artist

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  7. So many catchy songs. Reading the comments I didnt know he was that popular up north. He should be popular everywhere. Good nudge to get folks to listen to his output. They wont be dissapointed. I’m going to mail you a beaver for being such a Canuck supporter.

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  8. Yep, the two I’ve had time to listen to are good, seem to have a lot going on. I’m busy as today but I’ll revisit. So many shops and stores and f f farmers markets my darling sweet wife wants to dra- share with me today. Yes dear, coming…

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