Samiam

Though its formula wears a bit thin by the 15th or 16th cut, Soar finds Berkeley, CA.-based quintet Samiam getting the most out of its West Coast punk sound with varying degrees of success. Erstwhile Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz co-produced, and the album has a slick, refined sound that often overshadows its contents. There are standouts -- "Clean," "Ed Says," and "Where D'Ya Go?" among them -- but Soar does not showcase the depth the band would achieve later in its career. ~ Brian Raftery, Rovi