This guy goes from metal, to funk, to soul, to straight ahead hard rock, so what is this guy? He's it, the well-known "voice of rock" who returns with a more funk and groove-laden approach to his hard rock mantra with his vocal chords fully intact for his latest solo offering, following the rock path that
Songs in the Key of Rock did, but adding the R&B element that
Building the Machine presented.
With
Soul Mover, as the title hints, Hughes takes his personal interest in funk and R&B related material to the next level, bringing along guitarist JJ Marsh, drummer Chad Smith from Red Hot Chilli Pepper fame, as well as guest guitarist Jane's Addiction/former Chilli Pepper axeman Dave Navarro for his latest effort.
The title track record opens up the record with the Stevie Ray Vaughan/Pat Travers groove that is mixed with a metallic backdrop, firing at the heart of the soulful element of the record. Hughes and Co. keep up this vibe with tracks such as "
High Road," "
Dark Star," and "
Last Mistake," however, its not all an R&B laden record, there are several tracks that relate to all his endeavors of the past. Heavier material such as the dark "
Isolation," "
Miss Little Insane," and the percussion frenzy of "
She Moves Ghostly" brings his edginess to light, while it's more laid-back material such as "
Change Yourself," which could have appeared on either
Seventh Star or
DEP Sessions (dubbed the "
Eighth Star") and "
Don't Let Me Bleed" with it's thick atmosphere provided by Hughes vocal prowess, that bring more of an assortment to the table. Hughes sings all vocals on this record; harmonies are done in perfect pitch with no sign of going flat.
One of the other prominent things about this record is Smith's drumming; it really showcases him as an excellent rock/metal drummer, technical at times and straight ahead heavy pounding, proving that he is more than just an "alt rock" drummer. The songs are filled with hooks, occasional anthem choruses, and tight riffs from the guitar and occasional organ fills, it's what we expect from a group of musicians of this caliber, and we got what we expected.
Soul Mover showcases why Hughes was selected to sing for Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and
Phenomena among many others, his voice is truly one unique set of pipes.
Written by
Hashman Friday, February 4, 2005
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