No Place Like Soulive

Not all fanatics are Trekkies or Star Wars aficionados. The Internet may be crowded with message boards and chat rooms buzzing with polls asking "who was the best captain of the Enterprise," but believe me, the number of times that some college kids have seen the Dave Matthews Band live rivals the dozens of times some sci-fi fans have seen Star Wars.

That's right, Jam Band fan bases are fanatical too. Some kids can rattle off Phish setlists dating back to 1989 from memory, some can name every segue that the Grateful Dead ever performed, and all have forged unwaivering opinions about their favourite jam band.

So when I tell you that "No Place Like Soul" is the gutsiest move that Soulive has ever made, you might understand why. Since forming in 1999, Soulive has been a core trio - Eric Krasno on guitar and brothers Alan and Neal Evans on drums and keyboards, respectively - with a rotating host of guest horn players, singers, and rappers. Despite the occasional guest vocalist, the core band has always remained a funk inspired jam-band.

But on "No Place Like Soul," Soulive has welcomed a full-time singer into their ranks: a bold soul named Toussaint who has transformed the band into a full-on soul/R&B outfit. This addition is accompanied by a label change, from the group's long-time Blue Note label to the famed - and, until recently, defunct - soul and blues label Stax.

The result is a remarkably fresh blend of motown, 70s funk, and R&B. The band has never sounded tighter, and Toussaint's unique (though sometimes nasal) voice intertwines perfectly with the meticulous instrumental arrangements. Most inspiring, though, is the calibre of songs on "No Place Like Soul" - the members of Soulive have already proven to be virtuosic players, but this new record establishes them as similarly talented songwriters. Tunes like "Mary," "Don't Tell Me" and album opener "Waterfall" have the catchy hooks and thoughtful lyrics that make up great songs, while the album's two raging instrumentals are as fierce and tight as the rest of the band's catalog.

Though this new record is certainly more mainstream than Soulive's previous work, it's a far cry from a sellout album. Rather, it is the manifestation of growth from a decade-old band trying something new. And even though the change might alienate some fanatical fans, "No Place Like Soul" is a leap in the right direction.

Check out three tracks below: album opener "Waterfall," Sly Stone inspired "Yeah Yeah," and "Outrage," one of the funkiest instrumentals the band has ever recorded.

Tumi & The Volume

MySpace may seem like a place for emo adolescents and webcam girls, but it's actually an amazing resource for promoting (and discovering) music. In an effort to discover some really organic, conscious hip-hop, I checked out my favourite emcee's myspace - Toronto's k-os - and explored his "top friends." A few clicks and several over-produced beats later, I stumbled across South Africa's Tumi & The Volume.

Their website's sparse gray background was a welcome change from the flashy wallpaper of gangstas and hundred-dollar bills I'd seen before, and the simplicity of the band's friendly yellow logo (complete with cartoon goats) perked my interest. As soon as the funky vibes of "Signs" started playing, I knew I'd discovered something genuine.

Tumi & The Volume is a collaboration between Johannesburg, South Africa rapper/poet Tumi Molekane and members of African dub outfit 340ml. Together, the group manages to fuse funk, R&B, rock, and of course, hip-hop, to produce one of the most honest and musical rap albums to date. The bulk of Tumi's eloquent rhymes teach his listeners about the state of Africa, touching on ever-visceral topics of poverty, starvation, rape, and murder - but through it all, Tumi manages to spread positivity and optimism.

But don't let the subject matter bring you down - in fact, Tumi & The Volume won't let you. Their self-titled debut album moves so quickly from rhyme to hook that you can't help but stomp your feet and dance around.

"Tumi & The Volume" is on sale through Universal records at any record store and on iTunes. Though it's hard to pick favourites off this album, here are two tracks that absolutely can't be missed.

Welcome to Musicopolis!

Hey everyone, and welcome to my music blog!

I spend a lot of time looking for new and unique music, and I thought it might be fun to share some of what I find with my friends. So check this blog often for new music from Musicopolis - I'll post reviews, recommendations, and sound clips.

If you like the music I'm writing about, send this blog to your friends!

I hope you guys enjoy what I have to offer ;)

~ Jake.