LOFI FOLK, HIFI HUGS
Sammy Brue goes back to his roots with new album Nocturnal Country, a collection of feel-good folk songs ‘stamped in time.’
Photo courtesy of Sammy Brue
ALBUM REVIEW
Ogden-based artist Sammy Brue’s new album Nocturnal Country is a collection of ten ‘lofi folk’ songs recorded by his independent Hug Someone Today Records and released on December 29, 2023.
Despite being young, age 22, his career spans over a decade and it shows. The album encapsulates why Rolling Stone called 14-year-old Brue an “Americana prodigy” seven years ago; his ability to see the world and write it down is beyond the confines of age. A folk singer/songwriter, he’s mastered the art of genuine storytelling, heart-piercing lyrics, and hummable tunes.
Nocturnal Country is Brue’s first independent album, following I Am Nice (2017), the EP Down with Desperation (2018), and Crash Test Kid (2020) with New West Records.
It’s not an album without sorrow or angst, but shines with love and gratitude. Dark nights turn to honeybees and “all those pretty faces on Two Bit Street (“Keep It Moving); Grief becomes “there are no regrets for time well spent (“January 18th”); Love is “a lifetime of holdings your hands and kissin’ real slow” (“Kemah Sunset”); Apologies are resolute — “It’s my job to love you” (“Something From Nothing”); Comfort is, “You answered all my questions with your kiss today” (“Every Time I See You I Smile”); And remembering is writing: “I just want to write the words I mean” / “I don’t need a photograph to see your beauty glowing off the park bench” (“Stamped In Time”).
“Cloudy Thought Recap” is exactly how it sounds, an existential swirl of relatable random thoughts, with a gut-punch line, “ … accompanied by the demons who’ve changed my life.”
A personal narrative in “Sour Boy” displays Brue’s signature willingness to get humbly honest.
Home video clips accompany several tracks on Spotify, including the family dog (“Every Time I See You I Smile”) dancing grandparents (“Kemah Sunset”), and his mom (“Mama).
“Keep It Moving” has a lot to say, seemingly inspired by his day to day life in Ogden — “…I smile bright cuz I finally feel the motion of all these seasons: from skateparks to airplanes to listenin’ to honeybees. / “I’m mesmerized by candlelight and all this madness thrown my way.” / “…train stations to snow cities and all those pretty faces on Two Bit Street…” / “Most importantly, I’m trying to put a dent in this world.”
More than a dent, these songs are stamped in time.
Nocturnal Country was first released on Bandcamp in October to raise funds for Brue’s next album. To support this special project, purchase the digital download here.
UPCOMING UTAH SHOWS
FEBRUARY 23: COPPER NICKEL, OGDEN
MARCH 30: HOUSE SHOW, MOAB, UTAH
APRIL 5: OLD CUSS CAFE, SALT LAKE CITY
APRIL 6: BRUEHAUS, OGDEN
