Just 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 hard-hitting, emo-ish guitar tunes that say hello to earlier Soul-Junk…in a way.
Galaxy's been taking in hip-hop in a big way and it shows with colorful and fine programming. For the exceptional "Eyes, Therefore", DJ 3rd Rail takes charge of things with creative off-tempo sampling and programming and a quick guest rapper appearance. The result is a fine wonder-world of sound lost in a touch of late 90's Mo' Wax feel. Pigeon John checks in for a tune and Pish Posh contributes a jungleish remix to end the 17 song collection.
Galaxy has grabbed his groove with his own refreshing rap style which is also quite entertaining at times. At good times he punches in with squeaky high notes in a fun and quirky child-like way. He's comfortable and free and he can roll with the more conventional rap style people have gotten comfortable with. But why bother? Galaxy recognizes that hip-hop can be so much more than it is so he sets out to rework the style into something new. He rolls out catchy, inspired phrases with ease while staying away from the used up approaches coming from the hip-hop frequencies. "Pumpfake" is a good example. It's washed in sputtering beats, fast-moving violin and Galaxy's wake-up call "cuz if anyone in Christ then you a new creation/so yo reflect your creator with origination/you got the new locked up inside of you/time to hit it with the bolt-cutters, bust right thru/cuz I see way too much of playing it safe, see yo/I'm dropping bombs so come along…"
A number of songs are grounded in a few different feels and transcend any easy tag. Take the delicious track 5 as an example — "390 Soul". Electronic bleeps and blips move aside for quirky triplet beat punch and more hip-hop madness, "just got kicked off the lectern at a worship song summit/my hymns all plummet, cuz church ladies still can't hum it/but the kingdom of God? Yo I'm from it/man's religion gave me a fake red light so/I'ma have to run it…." Later, things fade into a spacey, melodic Kraftwerk-like conglomeration complete with skittering electronic sounds and beautiful vocoderized vocals.
Overall, Glen's operations here propel him a few steps beyond the rest of the pack, although he probably won't get the recognition he deserves as mad genius innovator man. This should be interesting to see live.
Other coverage for this album
ReAL Magazine 2000Reviewed by Timothy Paul YenterForget 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…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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