II by Sam Gas Can

"This album is titled II -- although it deals in duality, it is not my second, and the balance was upset from the beginning (plus, I just thought it was funny). The players on this album are my family, and were given very little direction, allowing their creative impulses to shine through." -Sam Gaskin

II is also Holyoke, Massachusetts-based Sam Gaskin's second album with Crash Symbols, arriving nearly a decade after his ambitious I Sat Around Today cassette. Despite the shorter tracklist, II has a longer runtime and deeper focus on the artifice and accident that defines his recordings as Sam Gas Can.

In this case, the contrast is highlighted by two distinct manifestations. The a-side offers a shorter than usual, but especially well-crafted, slate of post-pop renderings. On the b-side, Gaskin focuses on a long, free-form ensemble piece -- "High Life Suite" -- featuring an extended cast of recognizable contributing players.

The album stands out for its clarity of production, though it preserves the slipstream and homespun qualities of his older experiments. II playfully looks forward into adulthood as Gaskin begins a new family with his partner and their first child, while showcasing the nostalgic pop culture parsing that birthed his unique style of songwriting.

Sometimes hilarious and sometimes melancholy, II is a fittingly thoughtful return after a long wait. Some constituent themes have even carried over from I Sat Around Today, like romance, getting stoned, and the telephone.

"...a fun album all the way around." -WCSB

"...tiptoes through magnetic hedges, peeking around each corner hoping to find a golden egg." -Foxy Digitalis

Track 1:
Sample taken from “Sweet Salvation” by the Stepkids.

Track 4:
Vocals by the Supremes, new music & production by SGC

Track 5:
Written by Labi Siffre

Track 7:
Special horn direction by Andy Allen
Mastered by Jeremy Pisani
Rhodes organ, trumpet - SGC
Violin - Jen Gelineau
Saxophone - Andy Allen
Saxophone - Chris Gentes
Saxophone - Gordon Spencer-Blaetz
Bass - Matt Robidoux
Drums - John William Moloney
Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ted Lee

Track 8:
String arrangement by Jen Gelineau

Recorded at home in HARD DIGITAL//SOFT ANALOG
Except for "High Life Suite," recorded binaurally at Ted's house

Artwork by Ben Styer

Layout by Liz Pavlovic

Tracklist

1.	Self-Saviour	2:08

2.	Now That I've Found Love	4:14

3.	Sarah Porter Hallelujah!	3:26

4.	Stoned Love	3:51

5.	Bless the Telephone	1:34

6.	Gleep Glorp	1:35

7.	High Life Suite	14:28

8.	One More Song	3:46

Credits

released January 6, 2023

License

CC BY-NC 3.0. See the Creative Commons website for details.