Following their critically acclaimed 2022 debut, Thee Sacred Souls released their new album, Got a Story to Tell, on October 4th. With twelve songs of sweet, soaring soul, the Southern California trio, consisting of Josh Lane, Alejandro Garcia, and Salvador Samano, repackages mid-twentieth-century rhythm and blues, Jamaican rocksteady, and doo-wap to produce a classic sound for a twenty-first-century audience. Got a Story To Tell isn’t a concept album, but–much like its predecessor–it brings listeners through an emotional exploration of love, freedom, and heartbreak. The project is the product of deep, personal reflection. With the success of their debut LP, Thee Sacred Souls, the group found themselves adjusting to the relentless onslaught of life on the road. Their endurance as artists, as well as their relationships with friends, family, and loved ones, was tested, and the result is a mesmerizing achievement led by the delicate, yet powerful vocals of Josh Lane who proves once again that he can croon with the best of tenors.
The album derives its name from the first verse of its opening song “Lucid Girl”–a moving story of a woman choosing herself and her freedom over superficial romance. “On My Mind” joyfully embraces the complexity of the human experience, with all its promises and beautiful disappointments, to give us a stirring vocal performance by Lane. Then there is “Waiting on the Right Time”, a groovy and somewhat comic meditation on when or when not to vocalize one’s love and adoration. “My Heart is Drowning” takes us back to the pop songs of the sixties with its charming female backing vocals. Some may be surprised to hear the explicitly political “One and the Same”, reminiscent of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, but if you’re familiar with Thee Sacred Souls’ 2022 “Love is the Way” then you’ll find this to be another beloved exploration of the group’s radical social philosophy.
Thee Sacred Souls show again they are not concerned with sounding “retro” or “old-school”. In fact, along with other artists like Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, and The Sha La Das, all of whom are supported by the independent label Daptone Records, they find great freedom, innovation, and individuality in revisiting and reinterpreting classical forms of rhythm and blues, funk, and soul. Their new album is a welcomed contribution to the musical traditions they pay respect to.
4 STARS
“Vinyl spinning” by Z Carlos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.