The full title of the fourth Sam Phillips album is Omnipop (It’s Only A Flesh Wound Lambchop) that evokes daffiness, absurdity, and obscure pop culture references. While that may sound like fun, Omnipop is all over the place. I consider it a serious misfire, especially coming off the relative success of Martinis And Bikinis. Returning to the Beatles analogy, Martinis = Revolver and Omnipop = Magical Mystery Tour.

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The third Sam Phillips album is an amazing tour de force with one clear influence: The Beatles – although mostly John and George with Paul focusing on inventive bass lines. However, Sam’s lyrics are better than most Beatles’ songs, with a clearer world view advocating love and honesty with one’s self over the materialist, soul-corroding trappings of modern society.

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Cruel Inventions finds Sam exploring an experimental, adventurous sound combined with focused, direct lyrics. Besides “love and loss” Sam delves into socially conscious subject matter with abstract, evocative imagery. It’s a progression from the previous Indescribable Wow.

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Sam Phillips – or “the artist formerly known as Leslie Phillips” – recorded as a Christian music artist until recording The Turning with the producer T-Bone Burnett. In 1988 she left Christian music behind, signed with Virgin, and adopted the moniker “Sam Phillips.”

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