Soul Alley will be releasing their debut CD Public Alley 421 in two weeks time. Those of us with an advanced copy already know the treat in store for those who have to wait several more days. Every track grabs the ears with its first note. The highly-polished sonic quality from producer Bruce Bears who plays keyboards throughout perfectly captures lead singer Alley Stoetzel’s clear, precise, powerful voice on every cut. (Pronunciation: Stoetzel rhymes with pretzel).
Stoetzel’s own song “Tell Me You’re My Guy” opens the disc with her silky catchy chorus working wonders with the mouthful of lyrics she’s singing. Her voice rises and comes back down again with the kind of control often found in veteran horn players. This quality is in sharp contrast with some of Stoetzel’s live shows where she can be nervous, off key, and vocally out of control. Drummer Justin Oliver knows just how much to smack those skins and he plays with the precision of a clock.
With her punchy vocals making it a potential hit, Stoetzel goes right to work on “Punish Me,” indicating she is much more comfortable in the studio than in front of an audience. The rest of the band is in fine form. Guitarist Eric Vincent pays out plenty of soulful melodic phrases. He makes it sound easy. “I’ve Got Reason” finds Stoetzel belting out high octane proclamations of love, and, the band’s composition “Had Me Going” has a fantastic groove coming from Eric Vincent’s funky riffing. Drummer Justin Oliver and bass player Louis Ochoa are deep in the pocket. Their snappy, stop-start rhythm work kicking this into high gear.
“Your Thing Ain’t No Good Without My Thing” plays out with Stoetzel’s vocal cruising over more funky, danceable grooves and whip smart guitar work. “How Do I Let A Good Man Down?” features Eric Vincent’s best phrases on the CD. Vincent and the rhythm section play so tightly it isn’t funny. Lead guitar notes hit the spot in a reserved spot under the vocal melody and the bass and drums force the feet to move.
“Girls Can’t Do What The Guys Do” is a classy number that Stoetzel unfurls at her own special pace. Eric Vincent jumps in her with a cool guitar solo that reminds me of the Isley Brother’s in the late 1960s. The funkiest song on the CD, “I Got The Right Street” depended on Ochoa’s heavily accented low end notes. From there, Stoetzel voice gets duskier and huskier. “Feeling Low” also relies on Ochoa to take it down low with some easy going bass guitar thumps. Eric Vincent strikes it while its hot in the spaces that the rhythm guys leave open, like a target shooter that never misses his mark.
Stoetzel sounds catchier than ever on “Ain’t Nothing Gonna Change Me” with some overdubbed vocal harmonies on the chorus, and, “You’ve Created A Monster” is the bands chance to rock out. The funk gets heavier on “Monster” and Stoetzel’s voice gets an appealing rasp while Eric Vincent’s guitar gets edgier. This piece is definitely a sledgehammer break from the breezy, jazzy R&B numbers on this disc.
“Sweetest Smile And The Funkiest Style” gets into a breezy zone of funk underneath Stoetzel’s girlish charm. She is warmer in tone on this love song and her band puts the wind in her sails, with tastefully knobby bass and a drive in the drums.
Closer “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” gives Stoetzel a chance to show her emotive chops on this old country number by Dolly Parton. Give this girl just a little acoustic guitar and some organ and she reaches moments of sublime beauty. Alexandra Stoetzel is truly a gifted singer and a gifted songwriter who can take her talents and her band as far as her ambition reaches. She only needs to toughen up a bit and become more comfortable and confident during her live performances.
Soul Alley have a CD Release Party on October 20, 2010 at the House Of Blues foundation room at 7:00 p.m. with the Luke Mulholland Band. $15 cover charge.
www.soulalleymusic.com
