Whether you know it or not, we live in a magical mystery musical multiverse where manufactured pop hits on streaming services and what remains of commercial radio do not always reflect what people actually want to hear.
Accordingly, if you have not been paying attention, a significant movement has taken hold nationwide, led by young artists creating music that feels like a time warp into a parallel universe of late-1950s through early-1970s R&B.
More than simple homage, these artists are writing new songs and recording them with vintage instrumentation and period-minded production aesthetics. The music often feels familiar, yet it is executed so well that you cannot help but relish the influences and attention to detail.
One of the leading so-called “souldies” bands is Southern California’s Thee Sinseers, helmed by multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and arranger Joey Quiñones.
Singing and playing keyboards, trumpet, and guitar, he leads his band with a range that can swing from soft, sultry ballads to slamming Tina Turner-meets-James Brown soul-revue rave-ups. I have seen the band perform twice thus far, and both sides of its personality were on full display.
Now, we can add rocksteady and reggae to Quiñones’ mix with his first solo album Inna Soul Steady Situation. The LP’s hype sticker neatly sums it up: “a tincture of rocksteady reggae and sweet soul.”
Inna Soul Steady Situation delivers on the artist’s stated intent, evoking the feeling of walking through a city neighborhood in summertime, with boomboxes blaring and open windows spilling different music into the street. I especially love how the opening rocksteady track, “Soul Steady Situation,” changes channels, if you will, into the soft vocal ballad “Guess That’s Just Loving You,” which recalls vintage mid-’50s Jimmy Scott from his Savoy Records days.
“There Must Be Something” delivers an early Miracles vibe, while “In My Arms” feels like a lost Brenda & the Tabulations single from 1969, with a lilting reggae bridge added for good measure.
Familiar yet fresh, that same phenomenon is what made me a fan of Elvis Costello in 1977 and, more recently, Ireland’s Thomas Walsh of Pugwash. Their influences are so thoroughly internalized that the music never feels like mere imitation.
The sound quality on Inna Soul Steady Situation is excellent. Recorded in the band’s own studio, a modified former dentist’s office, the creamsicle orange vinyl pressing is well centered, quiet, and warm sounding. Kudos to mastering engineer Doug Krebs at Well Made Music.
Here is the kicker: Inna Soul Steady Situation was produced, mixed, and performed almost entirely by Quiñones. Aside from a few guest backing vocals and some instrumental support on one or two tracks, he plays nearly everything himself, including drums, bass, organ, guitars, and vocals.
You can get Inna Soul Steady Situation on Amazon for a very reasonable $26.39 for vinyl and just $13.98 for the CD. Also be sure to check out Thee Sinseers’ debut — Sinseerly Yours — one of my favorite albums of 2024 (click here). They have a new album coming out later this year and have already begun teasing the release with new singles (video following). Can’t wait!
Our Ratings
★★★★★★★★★★ Album
★★★★★★★★★★ Sound Quality
★★★★★★★★★★ Pressing Quality
Where to buy
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
Related Reading:
- Tank And The Bangas’ The Last Balloon Review: A Joyful New Orleans Finale That Soars
- Lush & Introspective, Rare Lost 1963 Jimmy Scott LP On Ray Charles’ Tangerine Records Label Is Back In Print After 60 Years
- Soul To Soul 1971 Concert Blu-Ray And CD Review: Wilson Pickett, Santana, Tina Turner, And Staples Singers Shine In Ghana
