Sam Amidon Salt River
Sam Amidon's Salt River opens as a quietly domestic record that reshapes folk tradition into small, revealing moments rather than sweeping epics. Across the Observer's review the record earned a 60/100 consensus score from one professional review, and critics note that the brightest moments come when Amidon genuinely reworks source material instead of leaning on whimsy.
Reviewers consistently praise the transformed centerpiece “Big Sky” for turning rock bombast into quiet wonder, and single out “I’m On My Journey Home” for its massed a cappella finale that summons a fleeting religious urgency. Themes of folk tradition, domestic intimacy, eclectic collaboration, and reinterpretation of covers run through the appraisal, with standout tracks like “Friends And Neighbors” and “Ask The Elephant” receiving mention even when some material is judged to drift. The Observer finds the album enjoyable in a get-together sense, but notes that some songs vanish into whimsy rather than fully land.
Taken together, the critical consensus frames Salt River as a modest, thoughtfully arranged collection that will reward listeners who prize subtle reinvention and close, homegrown arrangements; those seeking sustained emotional peaks may find the album uneven. The following full review expands on where the record succeeds and where it falters within Amidon's catalog.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Big Sky
1 mention
"Reed’s Big Sky is transformed from rock bombast to quiet wonder"— The Observer (UK)
I’m On My Journey Home
1 mention
"The antique I’m On My Journey Home is delivered as if he’s coming back from the shops"— The Observer (UK)
Friends And Neighbors
1 mention
"Coleman’s Friends and Neighbors lacks the original’s exuberance"— The Observer (UK)
Reed’s Big Sky is transformed from rock bombast to quiet wonder
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Oldenfjord
Three Five
Big Sky
Tavern
Golden Willow Tree
I'm On My Journey Home
Ask The Elephant
Cusseta
Friends And Neighbors
Never
Get occasional highlights
New releases and the best tracks, based on real critic reviews. No spam.
By signing up, you agree to receive occasional emails from Chorus. Unsubscribe anytime.
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 7 critics who reviewed this album
Th
Critic's Take
Sam Amidon’s Salt River is an intimate, domestic-sounding record where the best songs are those that genuinely rework tradition rather than rely on whimsy. The review singles out “Big Sky” for being transformed from rock bombast into quiet wonder, and praises “I’m On My Journey Home” for its massed a cappella finale that briefly summons religious urgency. Less successful pieces, like “Ask The Elephant”, are said to vanish into whimsy rather than land. Overall the album is enjoyable as a get-together, but the critic finds actual magic in short supply.
Key Points
-
The best song is “Big Sky” because it successfully transforms the source into quiet wonder.
-
The album’s core strengths are intimate arrangements and inventive reworkings of folk and outsider material.
Themes
mu
