The BoDeans have long been at the heart of the Americana movement and Sam Llanas has long been at the heart of The BoDeans. Therefore it was a bit of a surprise when Llanas left the band in early August of this year. Then again, the signs were there with the back to back release of The BoDean's new album and Llanas' own second solo album. Now the band has moved on with Jake Owen (not that Jake Owen) as lead singer, and Llanas has moved on with his new album, 4 A.M. 4 A.M. is a softer album than The BoDeans' recent work, an acoustic album that seems content to sit in the shadows. It is a quiet and contemplative album that ponders all of the things that run through a person's head in the wee hours, at least all of the ones that don't involve money. The lack of concern with jobs and bills makes the album feel a little out of touch with today's problems, and the audience may tire of contemplating Llanos' navel before he does, but all in all, 4 A.M. is a pleasant album.

The album begins with the plaintive love song "Oh Celia," a tender melody the protagonist hopes will help him land the titular girl. "I asked around 'til someone knew your name, its so beautiful I'll sing it once again." "Shyne" finds its rhythms in Latin beats and gypsy castanets as it slinks along through he city night. "4 A.M., here we are again, every night its just you and me," Llanas sings on the third track. "4 A.M. can be the hardest time if you're feeling blue," he concludes. Llanas has claimed that the the keyboards in "All Through the Night" always ruined the song for him. Unfortunately, without the waterfall of jangling notes, his version feels rather flat and lifeless. "Nobody Luvs Me" features some interesting syncopation that serves to separate it from most of the rest of the tracks on the album. "When I wake you're my breakfast in bed," Llanas sings, his voice warm and tender. "Fare The Well" features a light, meandering Latin rhythm and a vocal that would make Raul Malo proud. Its a warm, heartfelt farewell to a lover struck with wanderlust. "Janey" finds the protagonist wandering his late night neighborhood with a lover at the end of an affair. His voice becomes soft and cold against a backdrop of gentle strings. "Its four in the morning, the hour of truth, not much to talk to, not much to do," Llanos observes on "The Only One." It is a touching and tender ballad about loneliness and isolation. "Cherry O" brings the percussion front and center in a simple cha-cha, as Llanas seems to relish playing with the inherent rhythm of her name. "Oh How I Love You" is a pedestrian song that looses itself in the over arching sameness of the album. "Singing Songs to pass the miles," Llanas muses on the final track, "The verses are the days of your lives." The song brings the album around full circle, and stands out for its restrained production.

Sam Llanas' 4 A.M. is a collection of songs about being awake at 4 A.M. with nothing to indicate why the protagonist is awake, as though it were merely a time of day when wakefulness occurs. It contains all of the hopes that might keep one awake, but ignores most of the fears. It is a meandering album that manages to find beauty in small moments, and because of that its songs on their own can be quite touching. However, taken as a whole it misses the depth and diversity that would make it a completely satisfying collection.

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