Transmissions from the Sea of Tranquility

The bulk of the double-disc Transmissions from the Sea of Tranquility is culled from a concert the Samples gave at the Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado in July of 1997. The Samples are at their best in concert, and many of songs on the album are actually stronger in this incarnation than they are on their studio versions. You would never know that Kenny James, Rob Somers and Alex Matson are new members -- they fit right into the group's sound. There are a handful of songs that were recorded live at the Boulder Theater but without an audience, as well as some studio cuts. While these aren't as exciting as the live tracks, they do mark the first time the songs Flying and Prehistoric Bird have been recorded, and they also include the new song Sacred Stones and a version of John Lennon's Watching the Wheels. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide