Toronto blues/ soul/ R and B band Soulstack are aptly named— a stack full of soul, that wouldn’t be out of place on the classic Memphis R and B Record label Stax.
They make an auspicious debut on “Big Red” starting with a brief intro, then a catchy slice of R and B sweetness, “Stone Cold Man” which wouldn’t be out of place on an Earth Wind and Fire record. It has an unstoppable beat to draw you in, then some tasty organ and a catchy , slightly overdriven guitar riff. It ends on a beautifully bent harmonic, leaving the listener wanting more.
They continue on in a more laid back blues vein on the gospel standard “ In My Time of Dying,” powered by that awesome organ and a touch of tortured slide. They have superb harmonizing vocals, reminiscent of the Homes Brothers and once again, leave the listener wanting more.
“ Desperate Times” gives a nod to the Doobie Brothers’ “Taking it to the Street” in the intro, then settles into its own roovy groove.
There is some Little Feat influence on the CD and a whole lot of soul.
I can’t get enough of that classic organ sound.
“Since You Came Around,” is another catchy, toe-tapping number,” which will get your mojo working.
And “Skinny Girl” just stands out from all of them, it reminds me of another one of my new favourite blues/ R and B bands the Boogie Patrol.” It has ’70s soul to spare.
“Just a Natural Thing,” highlights some more of those beautiful vocal harmonies. It is punctuated with a tasteful guitar solo.
The harmonies are still subdued on the slower “River of Love.”
They have a lot of gospel influence throughout the CD thanks to the organ and the vocals, especially on another slower number “ Holy Roller” which also features more tasteful slide guitar playing, pus a cool piano and organ solos, which intertwine beautifully together.
They slow things down slightly on the blues tinged “Let Me Be Your Fool,” which features more beautiful acoustic slide guitar which builds into a an excellent solo.
It leads nicely into the last track “Miss Me,” a catchy break-up song, with more of that slide, more soulful harmony vocals, which breaks into a gospel, flavoured, organ powered breakdown, bringing a sexy, sweaty , soulful CD to a rollicking close.
Cd: Big Red
Band: Soulstack
Genre: Blues/ R and B/ Soul
Record label: indie
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