If like the monkey, the sweet soul/ slow slow/ low rider soul revival makes you want to speed things up by at least 30 bpm and stick a funky drum break under the results, the fact that Joey Quińones, the frontman of Chicano soul revivalists Thee Sinseers, has a solo LP out might not at first tickle your fancy. But when you find out that Quiñones has included as much early reggae-influenced material on the album as lowrider cuts, maybe you’ll perk up a bit and pose the question ‘Why this particular stylistic variation?’ The answer is partly to be found in the East L.A. locale in which our man grew up surrounded by the disparate sounds of cumbia, punk, soul oldies and partly in the journeyman stage of Quiñones’ career when he could be found leading backing bands for Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae acts touring Southern California. So you could say Inna Soul Steady Situation finds Quiñones branching out stylistically somewhat – as always though, the sixty-four thousand dollar question is – ‘Is it any good?’ Let’s find out…
1. SOUL STEADY SITUATION
Upsetters-era Lee Perry in SoCal? Classic super-sweet organ-led early reggae number (not to mention ‘almost’ title track) and pretty much worth the price of admission on it’s own.
2. GUESS THAT’S JUST LOVING YOU
First of the dreamy lowrider cuts – great if you like that sort of thing – moving on to…
3. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING
This doo-wop-ish lilt – got a bit more time for this – intersectional monkey/lowrider soul interests – who knew?
4. DON’T LET GO
Back to the reggae – or rather, in this case, the rocksteady but with Chicano soul vocal melodies – and it has to be said this works very well indeed.
5. IN MY ARMS
Second slow soul cut – see comments for track 2.
6. FOR YOU
That’s more like it – another rocksteady/ Chicano soul hybrid – very much for you. And the monkey.
7. DRIFTIN’
Third slow soul cut – and I’m coming round to it. Am I? Actually not really.
8. DON’T BE LATE
Another reggae number – arguably harking back to the early to mid-seventies rather than the sixties which even finds Quiñones forgo the falsetto for large parts – but I’m diggin it.
9. BOLSITA
A.k.a ‘Little bag’ a.k.a Joey’s got a brand new (old) bag which recalls jangly-rhythmed affairs like ‘Tequila’ and ‘Tighten Up’ which should warm up stone cold party dancefloors. Altogether now, “Bolsitaaaaaa!’
10. ONE MORE NIGHT
Fourth slow soul one – just got to check on my cooking – back in a sec.
11. SITUATION 2
Ending as he began, Joey’s back with an early reggae closer and a melody with cadences at least as Chicano as they are Jamaican to beautifully bookend the album.
COMMENTS:
On balance, this one’s a winner. Definitely feeling the early reggae and rocksteady cuts and the Chicano vocals and melodies provide an attractive twist and there’s enough of this to keep non-lowrider soul fans happy while there’s enough slow-burners to keep Thee Sinseers’ faithful interested to boot. Joey’s a canny dog!
BEST TRACKS:
Soul Steady Situation, There Must Be Something, Don’t Let Go, For You, Bolsita, Situation 2
(Out now on Colemine Records)