Soul-Junk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Soul Junk | |
|---|---|
| Origin | San Diego, California |
| Genre(s) | experimental, Christian hip hop |
| Years active | 1993 – present |
| Label(s) | Sounds Are Active, Shrimper Records, 5 Minute Walk, Jackson Rubio, Homestead, Holy Kiss Rex, Sub Pop Records, Karate, InTransit, Quiver Society! |
| Website | www.souljunk.com |
| Members | |
| Glen Galaxy | |
Soul-Junk is an experimental genre-hopping rock / hip hop group from San Diego, California.
Contents |
[edit] Background
The roots of Soul-Junk began in 1993 when Glen Galloway began experimenting while touring in Europe with his rock band Trumans Water.[1] When Trumans Water moved to Portland, Oregon in 1994 he left to produce Soul-Junk a full time independent solo project,[2] eventually taking the moniker Glen Galaxy. Influences on the group's early music include Nation of Ulysses, Sonic Youth, and Can.[3]
[edit] Musical Evolution
Early Soul-Junk albums (such as 1950) almost exclusively feature low-fi, Indie rock style tracks of Glen singing Bible verses interlaced with instrumental noise tracks. As Soul-Junk gained members its sound advanced toward rock and pop. 1953 and 1954 show signs of this continual change.[2] Alternative Press stated in a review of 1953 that their indie musical arrangements are outstanding, "tuneful, energetic and original (almost to a fault)."[4] 1955 is transitional, both in terms of Soul-Junk's sound and market stance. Like previous releases most of the lyrics came directly from the Bible, but 1955 was their first album released on a Christian record label.[3] The double-disk set consists of pop / Indie rock / hip hop influenced sounds.[5] It is also the last disk to make extensive use of Biblical quotes before 1959.[6][7]
| “ | The whole point is to make something that people would want to puzzle over | ” |
|
—Galaxalag on Soul-Junk's music in CCM Magazine[5] |
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While there are fewer lyrics derived from scripture, the albums 1956 through 1958 still reflect on the groups' Christianity based viewpoint, sometimes offering critiques of the Church and in a stream-of consciousness manner.[8] On 1956 the sound shifts toward hip hop,[9] leading CCM Magazine to describe it as "beyond offbeat, beyond eclectic... beyond the grasp of its market."[10] This position is intentional according to Galaxy, who seeks to reach a wider audience than simply the church, and states "We do need to rock the boat... I dont particulary want anyone to think they know what they can expect from Soul-Junk."[11]
The albums 1957 and 1958 are based in experimental, abstract hip-hop[12] which sometimes adds elements of "avant-jazz."[8] Glen explained this period to HM Magazine, stating "energy-wise I'm feeling the drum n' bass, I'm feeling chaotic turntablism. But texture-wise I was feeling hip-hop."[2] The resulting sound is fragmented; Soul Junk's "berserk-hop"[6] on these albums is "hip-hop so out-there, so deconstructed, so avant-garde"[7] that it creates a "carnival aesthetic".[6] Between 2003 and 2007, no albums were released. Instead, Glen embarked on an effort to put the entire text of the Bible to music.[12] The first results are 1959 (released in 2007) which consists of Psalms 1-23 verbatim. Glen has also released the entire Book of Genesis through his web site.
[edit] Recurring members
- Glen Galaxy
- Slo-Ro (2001 – 2005)
- Brian Cantrell (1995 – 2000)
- DJ Mizzicah (1997 – 2003)
- Ron Easterbrooks (1995 – 1998)
- Jon Galaxy(1995 – 2001)
- Nathan Poage (1998 – 2000)
Many others are credited per album or track.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Album naming convention
The first Soul-Junk release was called 1950. Its' name was derived from the musical style of the era, a fusion of rock and free-jazz. According to Glen 1950 "...was a good year for music".[1] Subsequent albums have been numbered up from 1950; Extended Play releases have been numbered down, but further numbering does non reflect the music of those years. Soul-Junk songs have also been released on innumerable compilations.
[edit] Albums |
[edit] EPs |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wiitala, Christopher (1999). "Soul-Junk Interview". Cornerstone Magazine 28 (117): 61,64-65. ISSN 0275-2743.
- ^ a b c Agnish, Jai (November / December 2002). "Soul-Junk: Keeping Themselves off Guard". HM Magazine (98): 38-39. ISSN 1066-6923.
- ^ a b Knight, Steve (January / February 1999). "bankshots / Soul-Junk". 7ball (22): 36. ISSN 1082-3980.
- ^ Pecorelli, John (April 1997). "Reviews / 1953". Alternative Press 11 (105): 83-84. ISSN 1065-1667.
- ^ a b Greg Rumburg and Sarah Aldridge (November 2000). "Untwisting Soul-Junk". CCM Magazine 23 (5): 27. ISSN 1524-7848.
- ^ a b c Bowers, William (2002-12-16). "Soul Junk 1957'". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21909/SoulJunk_1957. Retrieved on 2008-10-10.
- ^ a b Bowers, William (2003-11-18). "Soul Junk 1958'". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21912/SoulJunk_1958. Retrieved on 2008-10-10.
- ^ a b Boeckel, Gentry (2003-12-10). "Soul Junk 1958'". Stylus Magazine. http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=1543. Retrieved on 2008-10-10.
- ^ Wiitala, Christopher (2000). "Album Reviews / 1956". Cornerstone Magazine 29 (120): 48. ISSN 0275-2743.
- ^ Selby, Derek Scott (September 2000). "Reviews / 1956". CCM Magazine 23 (2): 51. ISSN 1524-7848.
- ^ Caviness, Brad (November / December 2000). "Straddling The Fence". 7ball (33): 20-21. ISSN 1082-3980.
- ^ a b Bartholomee, Russell (June 2005). "Soul-Junk: Making a Lot of Joyful Noise". Being There Magazine (10). ISSN 1718-5033. http://beingtheremag.com/feature.php?issue=10&id=243&page=1. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
