Listening Post: Souled American
Dusted: “Souled American arose in the context of the roots-influenced alternative rock scene of the mid to late 1980s that included “cowpunk” bands such as Rank and File, Green on Red’s acid country and the more refined sound of the Jayhawks. This nascent Americana movement built on the tradition of Dylan and the Band etc. and fed into the No Depression scene associated with Uncle Tupelo in the 1990s.
The first Souled American release, Fe (1988), is in this larger tradition—kind of. “Magic Bullets,” “Make Me Laugh,” and “Going Home,” in particular, have a fairly conventional country rock sound, with rattling drums, twangy guitar, and heartfelt nasal singing, and “She Broke My Heart,” is all weepy country. Some of the other tunes, though, point in a different direction. “Notes Campfire” sets the mood with acoustic strums and a classic country set-up (“I heard about your love/so you’re alone today”) but soon becomes unintelligible (“Slavic notes campfire”?) and introduces odd harmonies somewhere between the Byrds and the Holy Modal Rounders. The distinctive elements of the band sonically begin with the bass of Joe Adducci, which is up front in the mix, shows the influence of his time playing reggae, and is unique in the genre. Equally important are the restrained percussion of Jamie Barnard, the atmospheric playing of guitarist Scott Tuma (who has maintained a solo career), and the voices of Adducci and guitarist Chris Grigoroff.