We went from picking cotton
To chain gang line chopping, to Be-Bopping, to Hip-Hopping
Blues people got the blue chip stock option
Invisible man, got the whole world watching
— “Hip Hop” by Mos Def
This decade was my awakening to the world of black music, which transcends, undergirds and circumvents all American music. I grew up listening to the likes of Gaye, Franklin, Redding, and other well-known soul singers, but most of what I listened to was my father’s classic rock collection and the tuned-in static of 90s country music. However, through the tutelage of a close friend of mine, I was introduced to the world of hip hop and discovered the more obscure soul acts through sampling and interpolation. One year, he and I dedicated the whole year to listening to soul music exclusively. Then we started an old-school hip-hop blog for a couple of years. Ever since, I’ve paid extra attention to new albums that aim for excellence or experiment in soul, hip-hop, blues, and other traditionally black music forms. Hip-hop would be near impossible for me to compile a list of for the decade, so I decided to go for soul…or what I consider soul music in this decade. Below are the most important soul of albums of the decade, in my humble opinion.
10. Changes (2019) by Neal Francis
My most recent addition to the top ten is this old-school Stax-style funk record that seems to find Francis seeking the Lord in the aftermath of addiction.
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9. A Sailor’s Guide to the Earth (2016) by Sturgill Simpson
With the backing of the classic Dap Kings house band, country music rebel Sturgill Simpson found a way to bring country back to its origins: blues and soul. The record is searing in both sound and commentary.
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8. Good Thing (2018) by Leon Bridges
While Bridges came on the scene with a stellar call back to the silky, gospel-tinged soul of Sam Cooke, it is his second album that shows the full range of his talent as he tries on the various hats of all of his influences and kills each track in the process.
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7. Lemonade (2016) by Beyoncé
I’ve never been a huge Queen Bey fan, but Lemonade convinced me that she is a force to be reckoned with and an artist that deserves attention. And it includes one of the best features by Kendrick Lamar.
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6. To Pimp A Butterfly (2015) by Kendrick Lamar
Speaking of Kendrick, I am including this album even though it would normally be classified as hip hop. But the soul and funk sampling throughout, along with the contributions of George Clinton and Thundercat, I’m making the case that Butterfly is a soul record.
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5. KIWANUKA (2019) by Michael Kiwanuka
Michael Kiwanuka is apparently the humblest man in the business of soul right now, but one wouldn’t guess it with the confidence he displays on his third album. His sound is laid back and easy to listen to, but don’t let that lull you. His lyrics hit you in the gut.
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4. Sound & Color(2015) by Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes is this weird mix of Aretha Franklin-level vocal range and energy paired with the soul flourishes of southern-rock pioneers Creedence Clearwater Revival. Much like Leon Bridges, Alabama Shakes’ second album busted open the doors and gave the world numerous looks at the Shakes’ versatility. Short, frenetic, and easily re-playable.
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3. Seeds (2014) by TV on the Radio
For a band that made its name from epic-length, electronically-fueled soul records, TV on the Radio’s last album (for now) takes a more radio friendly tack, packing all their atmosphere, spacious compositions, and bombast into 3-to-4-minute songs. Some think they sold out with this record; I think they just soul’d out.
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2. Cocoa Sugar (2018) by Young Fathers
It’s near impossible to explain the sound of Young Fathers, the Scottish, punk-soul band. They can be found somewhere between Death Grips, Fugazi, and TV on the Radio, but however one describes the music, it rocks. Complicated rhythms, enigmatic lyrics, and elastic bursts dot the sonic landscape of this album. This is the heart of experimental soul.
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1. “Awaken, My Love” (2016) by Childish Gambino
#1 with a bullet. To be honest, any list of the best soul—or any music probably—that doesn’t have this album by Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) at #1 should probably be suspect. The vision, cohesion, and execution of “Awaken” is as close to perfection as humanity will probably see this side of the veil.
