Graphic By: Jen Hight

No matter where the band gets their name, where their music comes from is most important. Drawing off obvious influences such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Brooklyn-born Sam Champion offers a rock album packed with slow, methodical folk rhythms and meaningful lyrics.

Comprised of Noah Chernin (guitar, vocals), Jack Dolgen (bass) and Ryan Thornton (drums, vocals), Sam Champion examines the familiar themes that the average twenty-something goes through. Here's a song-by-song breakdown:

1. "Slow Rewind" -- Noah sings "I am aggressively lazy," and that pretty much sums up the whole essence of this album. This track gives you a good sense of what the rest of the album is like. They don't really deviate from the slow, folksy rhythm that the title track introduces.

2. "TV Fever" -- Just when I thought their lazy, slow rhythm couldn't get any slower, here comes "TV Fever." "A hometown hero with no place to go/ He's on a holiday." Noah sings honestly, his voice cracks and it really does seem like he's not trying that hard. I guess it's more about what is being said and not how it's said.

3. "Company Dance" -- A more upbeat track than "TV Fever." There are some sweet guitar solos on this track that really give it a more poppy feel. I just wish Chernin would put some more emotion in his voice.

4. "You Can’t See The Stars In This Town" -- Another painfully slow song. I like the rhythms going on behind Chernin's vocals, and there is also a nice harmonica part that reminds me of The Wallflowers.

5. "Sally" -- Probably my favorite song on the album, "Sally" is very catchy. It reminds me of being back home with old friends who you know like the back of your hand. It just reminds me of memories of people that you remember doing crazy or unsuspected things.

6. "Texas Song" -- Chernin asks a long-distance lover to "just come to Texas" so they can be together. It's a nice, slightly sappy song. It's very short and sweet, and before you can really judge it you move on to the next track.

7. "It's Getting Late" -- This is a decent song, although I keep hoping and praying that Noah will deliver a bigger presence behind the microphone. Though the lyrics themselves are quite good, I can't get over the lack of sentiment in his voice.

8. "Now Look At Me" -- "We go out of the mainstream and into the jungle." I guess this could be interpreted as leaving the world of catchy pop tunes and going into the un-chartered territory of slow, meaningful music. It's not their best song, but it's another decent one.

9. "All Of Our Tomorrows" -- This is one of the few songs on the album where Chernin actually shows a little confusion and struggle in his voice. He sounds broken-hearted and lost as he sings "All of our tomorrows, half of our todays/ Distant from our sorrows, closer to the grave."

10. "Too Broke" -- This is probably my second favorite song on the album. Chernin will strike a chord with our generation with lyrics like "I’m too broke to get drunk." This song might really sum up the message behind Sam Champion, leaving college and asking, "What do I do now?"

While I enjoy the sound of Sam Champion, it comes with several criticisms. The debut's title, Slow Rewind, is quite literal. The album only sports ten tracks, clocking in at an overall length of thirty-one minutes, but it seems to last a lifetime.

If you're looking for a folksy departure from your typical rocktivities, then give Sam Champion a listen. You can check out their song "TV Fever" at their official website. For more music, check out their MySpace.