Awmercy's Summer Short List

Light for Fire
Even six months later, I still can't stop listening to their tales of love and drinking, and perhaps love of drinking.

Black Joe Lewis Mixtape
Oh shit. Just when you thought you couldn’t shake any lower, flip on “Mustang Ranch (featuring Project Pat and Juicy J)” and the party will really start getting sweaty.

U.S. Royalty @ Mississippi Studios
With giant bluesy riffs exploded over a pounding drums, it was a fantastic display of what rock 'n roll can be. A perfect example of how a great performance can improve upon and make you like an album even more.

The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles 1972-1975
I’ve owned volume 1 for probably 15 years, but just picked up volume 3 this spring. No idea why I waited so long. The 10 discs packed with soul and funk jams have sent me on a serious Southern soul bender. Recovery unlikely.

Rock n’ Roll Breakfast with Miles
Each morning Miles and I get up together at the crack of dawn. While I make coffee and he eats a Cheerios and a banana, we welcome the sun with a mix of garage thumpers and soul shakers. He starts bobbing and rocking as soon as the music starts and I crack up every time.

Americana: The Muscle Shoals Sound

I hadn't heard of the Americana video series or VBS.tv before watching this, but Muscle Shoals always catches my eye. Some of my favorite artists recorded there, including one of my favorite songs of all time, Wilson Pickett's version of "Hey Jude" with Duane Allman as lead session guitarist. Not to push it too far, but I think that song captures the magic of Muscle Shoals. There is a point late in the song where Pickett's soaring soul scream intertwines with Allman's slide guitar as they wail up into the Heavens. It is a transcendent moment, and completely eclipses the original version. Anyway, check out the video and definitely go listen to that song again.

Leela James - My Soul (2010)

STAX Records was a fantastic label. My favorite, so obviously I was excited to see its rebirth. Leela James has a powerful and soulful voice. The backup singers and musicians capture and update the STAX sound perfectly. "I Ain't New To This" kicks off My Soul with some seriously catchy and funky sass. Unfortunately, aside from the lead song, the album almost completely lacks hooks. It's all solid grooves, choir harmonies, and mood, without much that sticks. With just a couple more earworms this could have been great. I guess it truly is a throwback to when soul singles were propped up with filler album tracks. I appreciate that James wrote most of these songs in her move towards music independence, but STAX, and '60s soul in general, was singles market and depended on top-notch song-writers. I hope Leela James keeps working at it. I like her sound; it's warm, full and sexy. I just wish I could love her songs.

Booker T. - Potato Hole (2009)

Booker T. & The MG's used to be my favorite band and STAX Records is still the baseline by which I measure all other soul music, past and present. So while I no longer listen to the MGs regularly, Potato Hole was still a must listen. Plus, it features Neil Young and the Drive-By Truckers. That's a pretty dynamite, if not quite intuitive, combination. Obviously, Young is a very different guitarist than Booker's old parter, Steve Cropper. However, the best songs are the ones that feature the fuzz and crunch of Young's guitar because it provides such a nice contrast to the B-3's clear and warbling rings. In particular, I like the gritty and soulful grind of "Pound It Out" and the lyrical organ on "Native New Yorker". The mellow second half of the album isn't quite as good as the more upbeat first half, and although it is isn't as awesome as it could be, it more than satisfies this fan.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Tell 'em What Your...

From the opening horns on "Gunpowder" I hear a lot of the Bar-Keys (circa Soul Finger) in Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. It sounds young and fun. But even with the Memphis-style horns and organ, Tell 'em What Your Name Is! is grittier and rocks a lot harder than what STAX produced in the studio. While never quite as fuzzed out as Mick Collins and the Dirtbombs, they don't sound like they've strayed too far from the garage, especially on tracks like "Boogie" and "Please Pt. 2". They slow it down for some James Brown funkiness on "I'm Broke" and work in some call and response on "Big Booty Woman". For something a bit more raw, hunt down the non-album track "Bitch, I Love You". This is party soul and I need to see it live.

Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Roll With You (2008)

Unlike the artists off Daptone Records, Eli "Paperboy" Reed sings straight up 60's, pre-funk soul. The backing band is solid - I love the horn section - but its the vocals that make it worth your time. He has a nice gritty voice - emotive and passionate enough to recall heyday STAX or Atlantic Records. It's clear he's done his homework. The music successfully captures that authentic/retro sound and the songs are consistently good to great. The lyrics keep it simple, focused on love, relationships, boasts, and dances. "Stake Your Claim" kicks off the album with plenty of Solomon Burke-like attitude and well-timed horn bursts. "I'm Gonna Getcha" reminds me a bit of Joe Tex's preacher style rap. On "(Doin' The) Boom Boom" he let's out his best Wilson Pickett scream. If you dig the retro soul sound, you have to check out this album.

Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere - Nudge It Up A Notch (2008)

What’s up gang? It’s been a minute or two since I got it together and found my way down to the record store. But I found this gem and felt obliged to share it with yall’. Steve Cropper used to play guitar and write songs for Otis Redding, The Blues Brothers, and Jeff Beck. Also, he played with Booker T & the MGs for a long time, no big deal. He teamed up with Felix Cavaliere the singer for “The Young Rascals”, and needless to say, they cooked up some tasty R&B/Rock gumbo. They have a super soulful, light and breezy sound. The kind of sound where it would be impossible to be in a bad mood and listen to them jam. You could get rear ended in your car and be like, “It’s Okay! No insurance info necessary! I have Cropper and Cavaliere on the stereo!” Also, on a random note, I have no doubt that they would be the best wedding reception band of all time, ever. Tracks like, “One of Those Days” “To Make It Right” “Impossible” and “If I Wasn’t Lovin You” would bring the house down. “Full Moon Tonight” and “Without You” also rip. The only thing I don’t like is their name. It’s too long and complicated. If I were them I would change it to “Chicken and Waffles”. Quickcrit gang, your thoughts?