Forget Nelly and Sisqo and Eminem. Soul-Junk had this summer's most addicting, thumpin-in-the-cruiser song; 'Ill-m-I,' which resurrects late-80s rap to provide (a little) continuity to an eclectic mix of digital and instrumental sounds, creating a sweet piece of ear candy that's as fun to dissect as it is to listen to. 'How we flow' follows up with a strong mix of hip-hop groove, off-key sing-talking, horn solos, and banjo playing. 'Pumpfake,' 'Sweet to my soul,' and 'The peacemaker' are other standouts. The album is sometimes engrossing, sometimes annoying, but always challenging.
There's no point trying to describe the sound of Soul-Junk. You might as well try explaining to your parents why Rage Against the Machine constitutes music. It's a bit of this, a bit of that: lots of old school rap, a little Euro-techno; sometimes with an acoustic guitar, occasionally with a piano or violin; almost always with some electronic drums or synth. Although not as talented as the Beastie Boys, the same free-styling, fun-loving attitude shows through in much of Soul-Junk's work. It has the experimental feel of Beck, and, like Beck's early albums, each track is hit-or-miss.
Pushing the comparison to the Beastie Boys and Beck a bit further, Soul-Junk at its best forces us to think about the fake plastic genres that artificially divide the crap being played on the radio today. Soul-Junk has pop stylings, but without any of the test-marketed, saccharine bar-chords that leaves your ears ringing and your head hollow. It has hip-hop beats, electronic sampling, and acoustic pickings but refuses to be relegated to any of these categories. But rather than melt all these sounds into some ready-for-radio, just-add-water formula based on what's already out there, Soul-Junk picks and chooses its musical influences, forming it into an out-there twist of everything on the radio. And unlike the built-for-Musak music being played on the radio (especially the "Christian" stations), Soul-Junk pushes lyrics in your face that are as much from Christ as they are about him.
Think of 1956 as aural caffeine: you don't want to live on it, but life's a lot less fun without it. This CD is a blast--if you can handle it.
Other coverage for this album
Bandoppler 2000Reviewed by Jai AgnishJust when you thought you had the Junk all figured out…nope. It's hard to get a handle on Soul-Junk. Each album brings a new direction, a new move, a new experiment. And like a true innovator, Glen Galaxy distances himself from the past for a slap of random sweetness in 1956. Lots to choose from: jungle curiosities, crazed hip-hop gems, heart-felt and mellow guitar/computer-based numbers and…Exit Zine 2000Reviewed by Luke10:21RomerThe White Hot Apostle Strikes Again! This is not a review of the new Soul-Junk album, 1956. This is a preview of things to come. It isn't the turning of a new leaf, but the growth of a completely new tree--and hopefully an entire orchard. Once you hear the fruit of the Spirit of Soul-Junk, you'll wonder why David never thought to plug in his harp. Where do I start? The music showers down around…Opus 2000Reviewed by Jason MoreheadMy first introduction to Soul-Junk was at Cornerstone 1998, when they played an after-midnight set with the Danielson Famile. I'd just spent the night dancing to Joy Electric and watching MC Hammer, and I was tired and exhausted when Soul-Junk began. Their music was the very definition of quirky, with band members all over the stage, playing Casio keyboards and children's toys before hitting the…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Justin W. JonesUsually when Soul-Junk is heard in Christian music circles, they are mentioned in the same breath as The Danielson Famile, and with their experimental style of hip-hop/noise/rock you could see the comparisons. But with their latest album 1956, there is no category other than "genius" that connects these two innovative groups. Far more structured than earlier ventures, 1956 should push them out of…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Steve WhiteIf you were looking for a model of how artistry and faith can be in perfect union, Soul-Junk may have the answer. Because of the group's commitment to their music, it will gain an audience that would otherwise not hear the message of the gospel. Glen Galaxy and his partners in Soul-Junk are pushing the limits of music with their fusion of hip-hop, techno, and indie rock. Soul-Junk quotes…Similar sounding releases
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