The State of Soul

The last post was almost titled "The State of Soul", until i realized that if the state of a given form of music is going addressed, then talking about just one band would simply not be enough. So since the topic at hand is the "State of soul Music", i will talk about soul in its different manifestations today. Traditional soul music today is either played by older musicians that no longer have the fire they once did, or, in very stereotyped ways by cover bands aiming for a retro feel(Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings excepted).

Soul music has evolved considerably over the years and though it may exist very meagerly in a category unto its own, it has assimilated into other styles of music like a double agent. Here is speculation was to what a conversation with this double agent might be.

"Yes sir...im in Rock music. No. Theres nothing of substance. Ok. I will try to start a revolution. I will report back next decade. Agent Double O Soul Out"

There exist microcosms of soul revolutions hidden away in other genres of music. Lets look at a few shall we?

Psychedelic Soul

This sub genre of soul music was popular, for the most part, from the mid 60's to the late 70's, and combined soul music with distorted guitars, Wah Wah Pedals, heavy organ, and pounding drum beats. A genre that was as curious and it was enjoyable, this sub genre of soul was not afraid to explore a darker side of soul music. The Next Morning , the Undisputed Truth, and the 5th dimension, all explored darker thematic material and the sounds generated on their albums can be genuinely arresting at times. Other bands like Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament, and Cane and Able, took soul in a more Rock&Roll direction.Even Motown groups like The Temptations, and the Four tops had brief adventures into psychedelic territory, releasing the albums "Cloud 9" and "Still waters run Deep"(both on Motown records) respectively.Some of the best music these bands ever released was during this era and the flag of soul flew high in a different camp.

Required Listening:

Temptations-Cloud Nine
The Chambers Brothers-The Time has come
Parliament-Osmium
Sly and the Family Stone-Theres a Riot goin on


Rock soul



Bands like the Dirtbombs, Kings X, and King Khan and the Shrines, combine soul with notably heavier elements--Fuzzy Guitars, and sometimes unreal speed and energy, these bands take soul music to aggressive heights. Punk rock, heavy metal, and garage rock influences blended with soulful melodies and beats drive this genre and make for a very enjoyable listening package.

Required Listening:

King Khan and the Shrines-The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines
The Dirtbombs-Ultraglide in Black
King's X-Tape Head
Living Color-Vivid






Neo Soul

This delightful little genre is probably the most popular form of soul music today. With artists like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, D'angelo, and of course Lauryn Hill, it has has had the most crossover success of any sub genre of soul in modern times. Combining elements that made classic soul so enjoyable, with hip hop, jazz, funk, and sometimes house, Neo soul artists are generally well informed politically and socially, and a great percentage of the recordings in this genre have some social or political implications. Another feature of Neo Soul that makes it unique, is that there is a re-found emphasis on songwriting and live instrumentation. All of the above mentioned artists as well as most in the genre write their own music and lyrics and use live instrumentation as opposed to samples and drum machines and samples of contemporary R&B. If you are having a problem differentiating between contermporary R&B and Neo Soul..here is an trick.. Contemporary R&B is R. Kelly and Usher, neo soul is John Legend and Jill Scott.

Required Listening:

Lauryn Hill-The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Erykah Badu-Mama's Gun
Amp Fiddler-Waltz of a Ghetto Fly
D'angelo-Voodoo



Soul Jazz

Self Explanatory....Soul music mixed with jazz. It is a sub genre of Soul music which incorporates strong influences from blues, gospel and R&B in music for small groups, often the organ trio which featured the Hammond organ. Cannonball Adderly's The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco is probably the most famous soul jazz recording that launched "soul jazz", according to NPR , bridging "the gap between bebop and funk." Important figures from this genre are Melvin Sparks, Charles Earland, and Grant Green, and, more contemporarily, Chrisitan Mcbride, and Casey Benjamin.

Required Listening:

Cannonball Adderly-The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco
Christian Mcbride-Live at Tonic
Charles Earland-Black Talk!
Grant Green-His Majesty King Funk


Revival Soul

This is a relatively new genre of soul so it is hard to define the trappings of it. The title that i have provisionally given it probably sells it short. Live band music that incorporates horns, synths, and hip hop elements. The Revelations, Orgone, and Stone Mecca are big names in this genre. Personally, this is my favourite modern incarnation of soul. It is analog, well produced, and the most part simple, and well executed.

Required Listening:
Orgone-The Killion Floor
Breakestra-Hit the Floor
The Revelations-The Bleeding Edge
Stone Mecca-First Contact

in addition to these, there are sub sub genres of soul that blend elements of the above genres, moving soul music into strange beautiful territory. The curious will be happy to know that soul music is alive and well, and constantly foraging into unexplored musical territory.