- Source: Plunge (Sam Evian album)
Plunge is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Sam Evian, released on March 22, 2024, through Flying Cloud Recordings and Thirty Tigers. It received positive reviews from critics.
Recording and title
The album was recorded live to tape at Flying Cloud Studios in upstate New York and includes contributions from Evian's partner Hannah Cohen, Liam Kazar, El Kempner of Palehound, and Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief. The album was named for Evian taking daily polar plunges.
Critical reception
Plunge received a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. Uncut found it to be "a loose, luscious listen, with a timeless sound". Glide Magazine's Ryan Dillon commented that Evian's "status as a producer shines on this album as the artist pieces together a plethora of emotions and sets them to even more expansive and awe-inspiring arrangements".
AllMusic's Marcy Donelson felt that "its breezy mix of radio-friendly, late-'60s and '70s singer/songwriter, psychedelic, and power pop brings it closer in line with cited inspirations like the Beatles, solo George Harrison, and Harry Nilsson, among many others". Sean Fennell of Paste said that although Plunge is not very distinct from his prior work, "there is nothing diminishing about the returns this time around—especially when you consider just how pristine a sound Evian is able to pull from his impressive cast of collaborators on this occasion". Under the Radar's Mark Moody called it "blessed with tight writing, surefire melodies, and a cast of all-star musicians" and found it "well worth jumping into".
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians
Sam Evian – lead vocals
Hannah Cohen – background vocals (tracks 2, 4, 7)
Megan Lui – background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
Adrianne Lenker – background vocals (track 4)
Liam Kazar – background vocals (track 4)
Michael Coleman – background vocals (track 4)
Santiago Mijares – background vocals (track 4)
Sean Mullins – background vocals (track 4)
Zhana Whyche – background vocals (track 4)
Technical
Sam Evian – production, mixing, engineering
Heba Kadry – mastering
Phil Weinrobe – co-production, engineering (tracks 3, 4)
Adrianne Lenker – co-production (track 3)
Visuals
Riley Donahue – design
CJ Harvey – photography
Josh Goleman – photography
