Here you find our album reviews of the past and present – always subjective, but full of respect for the music and artists. Let’s talk about records!
The year 2021 is drawing to a close and it was again a year of great new releases and rediscoveries. Of course it was and is always impossible to limit a year to just ten albums, but the following records have left a lasting impression on us and have accompanied us through these difficult times. It is time to honour the best albums of the year: Here is the West Coast Soul.de Top 10 of 2021!
Once a month we take a look back at the classics and rather unknown album highlights of West Coast music from the 70s and 80s. Join WEST COAST SOUL on a foray through our record collection and travel with us back into the past.
As Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak resurrect the symphonic soul of the 70s with finesse and passion and take us into a world of analogue emotions. Their just released debut album “An Evening with Silk Sonic” offers with its plush feel-good sound and perfectionist timelessness a safe haven in troubled COVID times and opens up a great era of music history for a new generation of music lovers. Definitely one of the albums of the year!
On his third album “If Words Were Flowers”, Atlanta-based soul artist Curtis Harding once again skilfully blends classic soul and R&B influences with elements of hip-hop and psychedelia, but also expands his sound with jazzy nuances, experimental arrangements and the emotional power of gospel. The result is a stirring plea for love and humanity in chaotic times and one of the most beautiful soul albums of the year coming to an end.
Once a month we take a look back at the classics and rather unknown album highlights of West Coast music from the 70s and 80s. Join WEST COAST SOUL on a foray through our record collection and travel with us back into the past.
With his unique voice and energetic blend of modern soul and funk, Joel Culpepper has been one of the hottest acts on the British R&B scene for years. On his debut album “Sgt Culpepper”, the singer-songwriter from South East London, with a little help from friends like Swindle, Tom Misch and Shawn Lee, realises his vision of retro-modern soul music and sets a new standard for British R&B. Definitely one of the most exciting albums of the year.
On his new album “For Free”, David Crosby revives his legendary musicality shortly before his 80th birthday and, with the support of artists such as Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen from Steely Dan and Sarah Jarosz, creates an almost transcendent painting of Californian music between poetry, prayer and classic folk-rock harmonies.
Once a month we take a look back at the classics and rather unknown album highlights of West Coast music from the 70s and 80s. Join WEST COAST SOUL on a foray through our record collection and travel with us back into the past.
