Customer Reviews

The Soul of John Black

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just got this CD a couple of days ago...

DAMN!

Are these guys the saviors of Black Rock & Soul? They very well may be.
The diversity and power of this record will bring you flashes of everyone
from Ray Charles and Soul Brother Number One, to the good reverend Al Green.
Maybe just a hint of Issac Hayes thrown in for good measure. But It's not
just old school tastes that inform this sound. You'll hear Maxwell, D'Angelo
& Outkast seeping into this soulful sauce. The result is a distinctly new
groove. You've got to check out the samples for yourself.

Do yourself a favor and get this soul-infused flavor!

The official explanation of this band's sound, found on the back cover of the CD, is gloriously accurate. John Bigham and Christopher Thomas have indeed created a fresh and groundbreaking fusion of soul, rock, blues, and hip-hop. This new sound is organic and unpretentious, with natural drums and bass laying the foundation, and classy acoustic guitar in most of the songs. One minor issue is that Bigham is trying a little to hard to sing with a certain style or attitude, sounding rather forced at times (like in "Glorious" for example), but musically his subtle acoustic guitar is one of the keys to the album's success, along with Thomas' sly basslines and insistent drum arrangements. The fusion described above is executed seamlessly in all of the songs, with other surprise ingredients popping up here and there. For example, we get moving balladry in "Joy" and "The Bridge," sinister funk in "The Odyssey" and "Supa Killa," and even a little psychedelia in "No Mo'." The new sound of The Soul of John Black is both groundbreaking and instantly accessible. [~doomsdayer520~]

These guys might just save soul music. Seriously, folks. These guys are amazing. People said D'Angelo was going to do that, and even though I like a few of the cuts on his records, most of the songs weren't very good. (Plus he was a little too quick to take his shirt off and to cave in to pressure to compete with the stuff on hip hop radio - most of which, in my opinion blows).

I saw the Soul of John Black in Portland the other night too (by accident)- and it was the most soul this town has seen in recent memory. The people in that bar were really not ready for a band of this caliber. We were dumfounded.

The lead singer has a crushing soul delivery that brings to mind Al Green and Marvin. The music has tons of space and simmering funkineses like Al Green - ala Love and Happiness. If there is any justice, (we all know by now that there isn't) these guys will make some noise. Their stuff is that good. Great band, ordinary guys with extraordinary skills and soul. All hail the Soul of John Black.

When I saw the Wall Street Journal named this CD one of the top 10 of the year, I was intrigued. I had never heard of this band! So I picked up the CD, and I can't stop listening to it! The band channels the spirits and passion of Al Green, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, with a bit of P-Funk for good measure. The outcome? Soul like you've never heard before. It is so darned good. Buy this disc. You will not be disappointed.

Very cool record. It kind of steps through a thirty year period of rock, soul and hip hop. It is sexy like Otis Redding is sexy and it is sassy like D'Angelo is and it has some nice rock edges in there too. A darned fine record.

I saw these guys live in Portland, OR the other night...amazing. The best live band I've seen in years. So, of course, I bought their CD. I can't decide which is better, the CD or the live show. I think they're on a national tour now, but if they don't come to your town, get this CD. And if they do hit your town, do yourself a favor and see them (and get this record). You'll be kicking yourself if you don't.

The Soul of John Black is a band...not a man. No gangsta-rap crap here. Their sound is classic funk and soul with a dash of hip-hop, rock and even some folky interludes with an acoustic guitar. You can hear many various influences hear but I think the most prominent are Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Lenny Kravitz. This is better than just your basic funk CD because their songwriting and musical craftsmanship are quite good.

After Fishbone's CHIM CHIM's BADASS REVENGE, the only album you can hear his guitar skills at the time because he was overshadowed by Kendall Jones, he vanished. Coming back 7 years later with Christopher "CT" Thomas to form The Soul Of John Black. No Fishbone goofyness here. There are some heartwarming tunes here and also, I never heard "JB" sing until this disc (he sings lead on all songs as every song has got a Southern twang). Never knew he could.

This CD is nuts. They stamp music genres like a Fishbone album but doesn't fall into the metal/ska and punk. This is some easy listening gems. First there is the bluesy but sinful "Scandalous (No. 9)", to the heavy rock riffin' "Honey" to the acoustic folk feelin' "Time (Losing My Mind)" to the 70's soul sounds of "Supa Killa". JB & CT have penned a great arranged album from start to finish.

It would have been slightly more interesting if they were to do at least a ska/reggae song to support more of CT's skills on bass and JB also. But this debut album is definitely worth the listen and to enjoy after you purchase it. So what are you waitin' fo'?

Soul and funk with a rock underbeat or perhaps blues/soul/funk or blues/rock. You listen and decide. But, whatever you decide, this is one album you will repeately play as it like a good wine: it improves with age. The reason is simple: it was well crafted from the start. Most of the songs are excellent as is the production and mixing.

My criticisms are minor such as the lead track Scandalous No. 9 should have been faded out rather than abruptly ending.

Since this album sells for as little as $1.00 at other sites, it is a real bargain. Buy it, you won't regret the purchase.

In my top 10 list for new releases over the past 5 years - I am amazed at the number of people who have never heard of these guys - every time I play them for someone, they get hooked immediately - it feels like they should be somewhere in between Al Green and Sly Stone - or they belong to a kind of Funk-Soul-Rock-Folk catagory that you'd think would've existed in the late 60's/early 70's but actually didn't - the crisp acoustic guitar adds a distinctive touch that sets them apart