What's the difference between SOUL and a SOUL-ist?
It's not a secret that much of my year has been spent swimming in the music of Memphis, Detroit, Philly and the like from about 1965-1975. In the process of this I've been taking in a few "modern" classical soul-ists or those with a soul base to their pop music (think Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings for the first and Gnarls Barkley for the second).
Most modern soul I easily dismiss. "Soul" music anymore seems to mean croony R&B from high warblers... not deep warblers with a bit of funk as I prefer. I my search for a modern day Garnet Mimms1 (a young fresh voice in his time) I came across several mentions of Amy Winehouse. I'm still not entirely sure what I make of her.
Amy Winehouse - Rehab
Vocally, I think she has serious potential. If she'd been a young singer in the 60s though she would have been surrounded by better musicians... and this bothers me more than a little bit. In the 60s, she could have ended up at Stax being backed up by the musical punch of the Memphis Horns which could have challenged her voice. I want to hear some pop to strings and funk in the guitar. I dunno, it's not bad anyway. Maybe I'm too harsh.
Buy some: Amy Winehouse | Garnet Mimms
1Garnet Mimms? Oh yes, Garnet Mimms! Listen here to his track "As Long As I Have You"... oh and turn up the volume on your headphones before you press play or else that piercing guitar might not hit your heart. Volume UP kids!