Customer Reviews

Outdebox

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the great jam bands of the 90's. All 4 musicians are impeccable, and the song writing is very fine. One of the most under-appreciated bands of their time. The music is still as good today as it was then- and they are even better live.

This band was IT in Austin in 90-91. They released two major label records, neither their best. The best was the analog tape only "Live at the Black Cat".

OutdeBox is the closest of the two Epic releases to what the fans were jammin to, partly because it was originally a Currant release.

Here - is a revealing personal ballad from Kevin, great song

Bill Cassis is one of Texas' undiscovered talents. He is every bit as talented as Ian Moore or Eric Johnson.

Kevin's song writing has always been great, but it needs Bill's guitar wizardry edge to make exceptional tunes. I'm glad they are collaborating again. Hopefully one of the music industry clowns walks away from SXSW long enough to catch Soulhat at Heart of Texas, and signs them.

I recently saw these guys live and was blown away. I went into the show with no expectations and came away a fan. Raw energy, musicianship, and pure entertainment. If not already there, this album will be on your favorite's list. It is one of those rare gems.

Any fans of SOULHAT, or even music that grooves on a high, funky plain will love this album. Every song is amazing. Actually, I just got their newest CD "Experiment on a Flat Plane" off the Terminus Records website, and its awsome! I give both these albums five stars.

The best music to come out of Austin since Stevie Ray. Soul Hat offers an infectious groove that keeps you hanging all through the CD. Things Aren't Like That Anymore and Alone typify the Soulhat Sound

Soulhat (or Soul Hat as they seemed to be called when this album came out in 1992) was hard to pin down, and didn't want to be pinned down. The man who would soon become their drummer, "Frosty" Smith, was apparently the original source of the idea that they were a cross between The Grateful Dead and Stevie Ray Vaughan; so he's rumored to have said when he first heard them. But that was their early live sound, represented on this CD by only one track, "Stink Pot," recorded live in a studio. The rest of the album doesn't sound much like Stevie Ray Vaughan, and there isn't so much Deadish jamming, though you can hear some Terrapin Station Dead sound in the mix. (That would apparently be unintentional, as at least two of the band members, including Smith, claimed not to like the Grateful Dead and denied they were an influence.)

Also in the mix is some alternative post-punk sensibility, including a bit of occasional Latin and/or lounge-like vibe, some tight funkiness alongside a relaxed looseness, with pleasant, jangly, jaunty electric guitar, some bluesy Southern rock guitar, some sweet vocal harmony, and no doubt plenty more I'm not putting my finger on. The songs are fairly catchy, a lot happier-sounding and less weird than the cover art work would suggest.

There's nothing here like "Bonecrusher," which seems to be Soulhat's best known song outside Texas.

I've spoken about the band in the past tense, but they still have a website up and some of the four from this line-up apparently still get together to play.

I don't think anyone who finds the verbal description here intriguing will be disappointed. It's quality stuff, preserving some of the feel of the favorite local band they were and some of the polish and broader appeal that led to a major-label rerelease of this CD. Give it a shot.

I would take this album with me on a deserted island. It's everything that you could possibly want in an album. Soulhat it what Austin, TX. is all about!!