The Michigan Daily discovered in November 2004 that several articles written by arts editor Alex Wolsky did not meet the newspaper's standard of ethical journalism. Parts of these stories had been plagiarized from other news sources. Although the article below has not been found to contain plagiarism, the Daily no longer stands by its content. For details, see the Daily's editorial.

Samuel "Jim" Beam's intricate and profound lyrics continue to shine through his simplistic playing and gentle vocals, on The Sea and the Rhythm, his latest offering. At first glance, one may be brash enough to overlook it as mediocre leftovers from his smash LP, The Creek Drank the Cradle. And only half of that statement is true (Hint: it's not mediocre).

Like Nick Drake and Lou Barlow before him, Beam's simplistic style doesn't interfere with his ability to create memorable and imaginative musical hooks balanced beneath bittersweet and reflective stories of love lost. The EP's shining moment, the title track, meanders along a boardwalk of memories of intimate musicianship as Beam wraps himself and the listener around the bale that holds him down. Needless to say, there's more than you would first believe hiding beneath The Sea and the Rhythm.

Rating: 3.5 stars.