Soul Tracks - News and Reviews

Aaron Neville teams with Salvation Army for new Christmas CD

administrator — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:40:20 -0500

Free download from Zo!

administrator — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:32:54 -0500

We just received this note from our friends of The Foreign Exchange:

Friends and Family,

We are proud to present the new EP of covers from our longtime friend, collaborator, and bandmate Zo!, "...just visiting too."

[SoulTrackers can get a FREE DOWNLOAD of the EP by CLICKING HERE]

Angie Stone - Unexpected (Advance Review)

jeffr — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:19:19 -0500

The Mother of Neo-soul has been many things in a career that has spanned three decades, including a trend setter. But, I've never known Angie Stone to be trendy, certainly not as trendy as she is on her sophomore project for Stax Records, Unexpected. If the trend these days is to write hooky songs about flying above all the drama and turning a deaf ear to all the haters and naysayers, then Stone is in the home zone.

Brand New Heavies - Live in London

jeffr — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:22:55 -0500

About the only thing better than a Brand New Heavies album is a Brand New Heavies concert. Those who've witnessed these supremely soulful funk-masters in a live setting know the infectious energy generated by Andrew Love Levy, Jan Kincaid, Simon Bartholomew, and N'Dea Davenport is in a class of its own. You will see no laptops onstage. No effects. There's order to the concert -- the band's rhythm section is right and tight -- but also spontaneity. Levy once told me they purposely change the set up for each show to keep it fresh for themselves and the audience.

Anointed Pace Sisters - Access Granted

jeffr — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:13:24 -0400

The beginning for The Anointed Pace Sisters' career is similar to that of many singing gospel families, regardless of fame. Their father encouraged them to sing - first around the house and then before congregations. The main difference between most singing church families and The Anointed Pace Sisters is that the latter took the next step of making records, going on tour and receiving international acclaim.

Steve Arrington - Pure Thang

administrator — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:10:43 -0400

Steve Arrington made his reputation as the front man from the group Slave - an outfit that showed the world that love songs didn't have to be slow. Slave made some of the funkiest get-your-rap-game-on songs during the 1970s and early 80s. A couple of guys I know tried to use that opening line from the song "Slide" as a pick up line.

Ryan Shaw - In Between

administrator — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:48:26 -0400

Ryan Shaw burst onto the scene in 2007, working with producers Jimmy Bralower and Johnny Gale to create one of the most unadulterated musical pleasures of that year with his debut album This Is Ryan Shaw. It was a brilliant disc that recalled the vibe of early Motown, relying on well selected covers and surprisingly strong original tunes. What wasn't a joy about This is Ryan Shaw was the treatment it received from Sony Records, getting the promotional rug pulled out from under it just as it should have been hitting its stride. Whil

Songstress Karen Bernod offers free download

administrator — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:35:11 -0400

Soul songstress Karen Bernod is finalizing her new album, Planting Seeds, and in the meantime is offering a free download to her fans of the new cut "Evolution." Click on the picture below to download this song for yourself.

Fred Hammond - Love Unstoppable

jeffr — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:40:46 -0400

Since his tenure with Radical for Christ (RFC), Fred Hammond has largely been accredited as one of the key architects of urban worship: a smoldering mix of contemporary gospel and melodic worship-like Contemporary Christian music.

Jesse Boykins III - The Beauty Created

jeffr — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:15:05 -0400

Its embarrassingly odd for us to have one of the best releases of 2009 go unacknowledged on our site, but somehow we managed to pull this neglect off (we're that busy, I swear!). Worthily nominated as this year's SoulTracks Readers' Choice Award's Best New Artist, Jesse Boykins III's first full-length project, The Beauty Created, is a promise fulfilled. With strong vocals and esoteric songwriting, his debut EP, Dopamine, offered plenty of hope for Boykins' future.

Average White Band - Times Squared: Live From New York, Vol. 2

jeffr — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:08:28 -0400

A live CD will never supplant seeing a band perform live. That is especially the case for groups as funky as the Average White Band. However a live CD is sometimes the best one can do (unless, of course, a group also decided to release a DVD). Still, a listener can learn things of value by listening to a CD such as the Average White Band's Times Squared: Live From New York, Vol. 2.

Ne-Yo contributes to "Princess and the Frog" soundtrack

administrator — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:11:27 -0400

To listen to exclusive snippets from 'The Princess and the Frog' Soundtrack, CLICK HERE:

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Ryan Shaw releases new EP

administrator — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:46:24 -0400

One our favorite young singers, Ryan Shaw, who wowed SoulTrackers a couple years ago with his debut album, is now back with a brand new EP, In Between.

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Steve Wallace - Urban Soul

jeffr — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:51:58 -0400
Steve Wallace likely created Urban Soul: The Movie as a way to give people another way to consider Urban Soul, the compact disc. And on that level, the film works because crafting a story line, creating characters and giving his music a setting I believe will make people like the CD even more. The CD is solid as a stand-alone entity. However, as a stand-alone project, Urban Soul is just a group of 14 pretty good songs. What you don't get is a guiding principal that connects these 14 tracks.

New Listening Room - Brian McKnight is Back! $9.99 sale!

administrator — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:25:11 -0400

Brian McKnight - Evolution of a Man

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Kevon Edmonds - Who Knew

administrator — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:25:13 -0400

Kevon Edmonds was undoubtedly one of the most underrated singers of the late 80s and 90s.

Gotta Have Gospel Christmas album hits the stores

Erma Byrd — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:25:47 -0400

LOS ANGELES, October 19, 2009 - In time for the most wonderful time of the year, GOTTA HAVE GOSPEL! CHRISTMAS will begin spreading holiday cheer on Oct.

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Arika Kane - Arika Kane

jeffr — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:33:34 -0400

Childhood ambitions don't always pan out as plausible career moves, either because another calling takes hold, or a rude reality check demonstrates that they're better off making other plans. From the sound of it, neither of these apply to Arika Kane. Singing since the tender age of ten, Ms. Kane had a start in the game that some vocalists lack---musicians for parents---and because of that, always had fervent coaches and cheerleaders for her burgeoing singing and songwriting skills, which are skillfully displayed on eponymous debut.

2009 SoulTracks Awards Finalists Named!

administrator — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:50:03 -0400

Hey SoulTrackers, the time has come! After a month of receiving nominations from you and having 2,000 soul music artists and industry people narrow the choices down, we finally have named our finalists for the 2009 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards, the world's most popular awards celebrating independent soul music! There were so many quality artists it was a tough job, but our committee narrowed it down to seven finalists in each category.

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Freddie Washington - In The Moment

jeffr — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:12:58 -0400
Debuting a solo project 30 years in the waiting can be a mean setup depending on the artist. With the high potential for failure shadowing such a long-awaited release, bassist and songwriter "Ready" Freddie Washington finally steps from behind the scenes and into the fore with his solo project, In The Moment. For the uninitiated, Washington's beloved bass work and rhythm arrangements are the definitive designs of 80s R&B. He's played and co-written gold and platinum hits for Patrice Rushen, The Cover Girls, and Whitney Houston to name a few.

Me'shell NdegeOcello - Devil's Halo

jeffr — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:48:03 -0400
One can only imagine how an artist receives the lukewarm reception of a supposed loyal following to what is critically considered their pinnacle work. In the case of Me'shell N'degeocello, the body of work in question could best be captured as B.C. and A.C., Before Cookie and After Cookie, at least in terms of the project's lackluster fan reception and the artist's subsequently estranged response.

Pastor Christopher Chappell - Blessing Me

jeffr — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:37:25 -0400
The Grace Community Church in Kennesaw, Georgia is one of the fastest growing churches in the Atlanta area. This may be due to the church's house choir - The Anointed Voices of Grace - being considered one of the region's top-rated choirs. With all that hype, it was only a matter of time before the choir, along with Grace's founder Pastor Christopher Chappell's Sho Nuff Gospel imprint, hooked up with a major distribution deal with a label like JDI Records. AVOG certainly benefits from JDI's remarkable reputation in independent gospel music with Dr.

New UK Soul Chart Debuts on Starpoint Radio

administrator — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:13:00 -0400

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Dexter Myers - Soul Divo - The Collection

jeffr — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:45:56 -0400

LaSonya Gunter - Crazy Beautiful

jeffr — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:30:22 -0400

LaSonya Gunter had my interest with the four tracks on her record Crazy Beautiful. After that, she kind of let me go. Those first four tracks (excluding the 18 second introduction) provide a glimpse at the kind of artist Gunter can be at her mature, confident and creative best. Those songs reveal an artist who displays a comfort level on tunes that run the gamut from jazzy R&B, mid-tempo funky torch songs, hip-hop influenced bedroom anthems and up tempo rockers. I was ready to keep on going wherever LaSonya Gunter took me.

Marko Nobles reviews Nakia Henry's "Remember Me"

administrator — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:46:45 -0400

Remember Me is the debut CD from artist Nakia Henry. After listening to early tracks that would be included in the full project I was very interested to hear the entire CD but those tracks in no way prepared me for the sheer joy I would experience in listening to the disc in full.

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Angie Stone to release "Unexpected" in November

administrator — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:05:25 -0400

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The Chestnut Brothers - RetroSoul

jeffr — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:12:31 -0400

The Chestnut Brothers - an old-soul duo hailing from Atlanta - pedal their Dennis Edwards, Howard Hewett-inspired chops on RetroSoul. The title is a fitting headline for an album paying respects to a more innocent chapter in Southern-fried soul music. Reminiscent of first-rate Johnnie Taylor (latter Malaco era) at its best, the twosome still stumble over a few discomforting chapters. "Girls" feels like a freakazoid pilgrimage ala R. Kelly.

Various Artists - Soul Unsigned Volume 3

jeffr — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:14:01 -0400
Does Ricardito love Soul Unsigned Records? Yes. Does SoulTracks love Soul Unsigned Records? Yes. Is Soul Unsigned Volume 3 better than Volume 2? YES! Phil Driver serves up another batch unsigned artists from around the world; I guarantee there will be at least one track on here that you'll love.

Kevon Edmonds returns with new album

administrator — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:33:14 -0400

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR REVIEW OF "WHO KNEW"

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Soul Tracks - News and Reviews

Aaron Neville teams with Salvation Army for new Christmas CD

Free download from Zo!

Angie Stone - Unexpected (Advance Review)

Brand New Heavies - Live in London

Anointed Pace Sisters - Access Granted

Steve Arrington - Pure Thang

Ryan Shaw - In Between

Songstress Karen Bernod offers free download

Fred Hammond - Love Unstoppable

Jesse Boykins III - The Beauty Created

Average White Band - Times Squared: Live From New York, Vol. 2

Ne-Yo contributes to "Princess and the Frog" soundtrack

Ryan Shaw releases new EP

Steve Wallace - Urban Soul

New Listening Room - Brian McKnight is Back! $9.99 sale!

Brian McKnight - Evolution of a Man

Kevon Edmonds - Who Knew

Gotta Have Gospel Christmas album hits the stores

Arika Kane - Arika Kane

2009 SoulTracks Awards Finalists Named!

Freddie Washington - In The Moment

Me'shell NdegeOcello - Devil's Halo

Pastor Christopher Chappell - Blessing Me

New UK Soul Chart Debuts on Starpoint Radio

Dexter Myers - Soul Divo - The Collection

LaSonya Gunter - Crazy Beautiful

Marko Nobles reviews Nakia Henry's "Remember Me"

Angie Stone to release "Unexpected" in November

The Chestnut Brothers - RetroSoul

Various Artists - Soul Unsigned Volume 3

Kevon Edmonds returns with new album