Sam Barber - Restless Mind

After listening to the first few minutes of Sam Barber’s debut album, Restless Mind, it’s easy to understand his eventual rejection from American Idol.

Barber is unequivocally machine resistant. Restless Mind represents this tenacious quality across a sprawling 28-song collection that touts to reveal his innermost vulnerabilities, though succeeds more at something more valuable. This isn’t a standard paint-by-colors palette vying for streams, but a war cry of a songwriter determined to protect their artistic integrity at all costs. Rest assured, though, Barber’s grip is tight on the latter.

Throughout Restless Mind, the Southeast Missouri native dives headfirst into the universal struggles of young adulthood, all while experiencing the stresses of burgeoning stardom, and the sheer pressure of his internal tug of war is palpable. Rollicking opener ‘Man You Raised’ is a heartfelt promise to remain himself through these changes, whereas the unshakeable longing of ‘Thought of You’ is brought to life through production that sounds like the tossing and turning of a cold sweat nightmare. All work due to Barber’s vocals, which are unpolished and wild. He sings less to hit targeted notes and more as if he has to exorcize every syllable from his heart. While undeniably impactful, it can become heavy to the listener's ear and can make some of the songs indistinguishable from one another.

When he experiments with diverse soundscapes, however, is when Restless Mind assuredly soars. Lighter ‘Long Way to Go’ adds slight blues elements that suit Barber’s more hushed vocal takes. On toe tapping ‘Down the Road,’ he softens his rock-leaning tendencies for a gritty, western romance that’s a full fledged Americana singalong. Similarly, on superb ‘Stay the Night,’ the 70s-inspired production choices add an unfiltered sexuality to Barber’s familiar story of wronged love.   

Though, even with these bright moments, Restless Mind suffers under the incredible weight of material, both lyrically and the sheer amount of songs, that would have benefited from a guided curation. All of which would have allowed the listener more of an opportunity to absorb and digest Barber’s targeted point of view.

Years from now, will Restless Mind be a career defining album for Barber? Certainly not. It likely won’t even be an honorable mention.

Yet, what it confirms is Barber’s undeniable sense of self that is firmly rooted in a commitment to his ample talent and prolific work ethic. Listening to such a first outing, it's impossible not to imagine all the songs and albums that are yet to come. Luckily, the road is long for that glorious, restless mind.

7/10

Sam Barber’s 2024 project, Restless Mind, is available everywhere now via Lockeland Springs/Atlantic.

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