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Rating: 4 stars
Label: Independent
Producer: Matt Rankin
Website: www.souldoutquartet.com
1. He's Coming Back Soon - The project opens up with a single that has gotten a lot of play on my local SG radio station. The guys show that they can get the four-part harmony done well. I'll admit, before I knew who the group was, the opening had me thinking it was The Oak Ridge Boys, with it's country flavor and low bass singer. Great choice for a single and first track of the album.
2. I Have A Story To Tell - Lead singer Matt Rankin is featured on this track. Another song with a modern country flavor, Rankin delivers it well.
3. Ain't Nobody - The title track follows in the footsteps of songs such as Brian Free & Assurance's "Long As I Got King Jesus" and "Jesus Will Pick You Up", fusing SG with black gospel. Lead singer Rankin is featured again, and I noticed on this track that he could easily pass for a tenor singer, sort of like Bill Shivers. This song should be a hit at concerts. I was impressed with Matt Fouch's bass notes in the final part.
4. Please Remember Me - Baritone singer Tanner Stahl is featured on this ballad in the first verse, then the feature is handed to Matt Rankin. This song is actually a remake of a track on an earlier Soul'd Out album, Telling The Story, and the vocals sound much better this time around. For example, tenor Dusty Barrett's vocals sound much more powerful than Brent Hopper's did on the previous version. I noticed that Matt Rankin's voice has improved with time as well.
5. There's A Bigger Blessing - A mid-tempo track that features bass singer Matt Fouch. This guy is quickly becoming one of my favorite young basses in the industry. He shows his capability on this song to not only carry a solo, but also sing some deep bass in an ensemble setting.
6. Heaven Medley - This track features bits of the songs "When We All Get To Heaven," "I Feel Like Traveling On," and "Looking For A City." Dusty Barrett shows some of his higher tenor range on the latter.
7. There Is A Fountain - Baritone Tanner Stahl is featured on another ballad, this time through all the verses. The quartet sings some of the old hymn by the same name near the end.
8. We Shall Rise - This track is another re-vamping of a song from the group's Telling The Story album. I share the same opinion of this track as I did of the other re-record: the vocals sound much better on this new version.
9. A Wonderful Savior Tenor Dusty Barrett gets a solo feature all the way through on this old hymn. I've been a fan of Dusty since his Crystal River days, and he doesn't disappoint on this track. Very smooth tenor singing, and one of the finest out there today.
10. Joseph Got His Tomb Back - An upbeat song featuring the lead singer. The bass singer's feature on the second verse is good as well. Very nice perspective in the lyrics, and one of my favorites of the album.
11. Aint't Nobody (Reprise) - The album closes with an encore of the title track that doesn't really impress me.
Final Thoughts: This album shows that this quartet is one that is going to be a force to be reckoned with if they continue in the direction they are going now. They have a fine lineup: tenor Dusty Barrett is one of the best in the business, lead singer Matt Rankin is as good a songwriter as he is a singer, baritone Tanner Stahl is a solid vocalist in his own right, and bass singer Matt Fouch reminds me of a cross between Eric Bennett and Richard Sterban. Pianist Michael Howard, who was hired after this project was released, is a talented player as well.
I have listened to every project this group has put out since 2003, and I can honestly say this is one of their best (if not the best) project they've released. Be on the lookout for great things from these guys in years to come.
Next review: Legacy Five - God's Been Good
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3 Comments:
I have to say that Matt reminds me a lot of Mike Holcomb as well.
Fair review, but I think it closer to a 4.5 rating. Great quartet!
Soul'd Out Quartet is a picture of varieity. From side-splitting humor, driving, happy quartet songs like "We Shall Rise", worshipful audience rousing ballads such as "He Is My Lamb", the black influenced side of things with "Ain't Nobody", and a serious focus on ministry, you get a bit of it all in a Soul'd Out concert.
They are still a young group that musically has some maturing to do, but they are currently better than some top-tier groups. There is a good chance of them being a well known group in the future, especially if this particular lineup last a long time and they really "gell" together.
Dusty Barrett is a natural on stage, seems like he's so relaxed and calm, as if he's at home during a performance. He would be a great addition to most any group, and Soul'd Out is fortunate to have him.
In the Heave Medley, it sounds to me like Dusty, during "Looking For A City", is being held back a bit. He seems to have a higher register than what the accompainment track allows him to use. I'll venture to say that he could probably keep up with Dan Keeton and his track. I think Soul'd Out would be wise in the future to slowley work towards keying arrangements around Dusty's vocal "power" range.
But anyway, they are a good group worth keeping an eye on.
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