Great 08 Soul/R&B

We’ve come across some great indie soul this year some of which defies the typical definition of soul/R&B.  We LOVE it when artists make us scratch our heads for an accurate definition of what it is they do.  The best soul is the type that comes from the soul.  Most of the time it pushes boundaries and bends the genre.  Sometimes it doesn’t push or topple but it nestles comfortably in an artist’s ability to vocally translate emotion into song with some good ole-fashioned sangin.

We’ve also had some hits from signed soul artists that we feel we can count on to keep their indie flair by going against the grain.  {Going against the grain these days could simply mean that they actually have talent}

Here’s a small list (by no means are we capable of listing ALL the releases that came out this year) of those who we felt a little something special for:

1. Rob Murat – So Much to Say

2. Mint Condition – eLife

3. Nhojj – Soul Comfort

4. Anthony Hamilton – The Point of it All

5. Jon B – Helpless Romantic

6. Waterseed – Early for the Future

7. Eric Benet – Love & Life

8. Hill St. Soul – Black Rose

9. Anthony David – Acey Duecy

10. Lina – Morning Star

11.  Iman Williams – The Long Journey Back to Reality

12. Foreign Exchange – Leave it all Behind (blend of hip-hop, r&b, electronica)

13. J’Davey – The Beauty in Distortion/The Land of the Lost (electro, nu-soul type stuff)

14. Wayna – Higher Ground

15. Sy Smith – Conflict

16. Wayne Stoddart – Love Convictionssmartads