There’s something about “Sam’s Hill” that holds the air of dusk—when shadows stretch long, and time feels a little less linear. Built around a quietly smouldering vocal, half Thom Yorke in falsetto limbo and half front-porch storyteller, the track sounds like it was captured in one take, just before the sun dipped below the trees. The performance is restrained, never forced, which gives the whole thing a kind of hushed power. That feeling of standing on a quiet street corner waiting for something—or someone—lingers through every measure.
Sonically, the track leans into a soulful strain of indie rock that flirts with folk without ever fully committing. There’s a warmth to the analog recording—taped live with producer Shane Leonard—that gives it texture without crowding it. And what a lineup: Pat Keen’s bassline is subtle but grounded, JT Bates adds a pulse that feels more heartbeat than beat, while Courtney Hartman and Paul Brandt swirl their respective parts around the edges, like candle smoke. If you’re a fan of T Bone Burnett or Jon Brion, there’s a familiar tug here, but it’s all filtered through the Wisconsin woodgrain of Monsoor’s songwriting.
This version of “Sam’s Hill” is more than just a re-recording—it’s the version that fits. Monsoor wrote it after returning from Los Angeles in the late ’90s, and like the old corn cribs he salvaged for wood, the song has been slowly rebuilt, piece by piece. Now, it’s nestled right where it belongs—among the trees and trails near his home in La Crosse. It carries the weight of that history, but not in a heavy way. More like the way a familiar walking path carries the imprint of every step.
About Matt Monsoor:
Now calling the Driftless region home, Matt Monsoor isn’t just making music—he’s building a world. His EP “Better Things” hinted at it, but the bigger picture is unfolding: old horse stables turned venues, trails carved into the landscape, and the quietly ambitious dream of an artist retreat called Comfortably Lost. It’s the kind of DIY project that feels part sanctuary, part secret. And in a way, “Sam’s Hill” is its anthem—a song that’s been waiting for its surroundings to catch up.
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