{"title":"Souled American","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"notes-campfire","title":"Notes Campfire","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are cult bands and then there's Souled American. In 1988, the Illinois group arguably invented \"alternative country\" with the album Fe. While the alt-country sound is widely recognized as Southern roots rock with an indie-punk sensibility largely defined by Uncle Tupelo's No Depression released two years later — Souled American's early music feels as if it was formed in a vacuum, inspired by the timestretching space of reggae. But over the course of the following decade, Souled American's music grew increasingly slow, insular and esoteric. Although Fe, Flubber and Around the Horn are inarguably more accessible, upbeat and even sometimes fun, if you've never heard this music before, it actually makes sense to start at the end. Their last two albums Frozen and Notes Campfire will now be re-issued in limited, 30th Anniversary Editions with a fresh abundance of stories, technical information, musician credits, and cartoons that detail the unexpected origins surrounding these two early classics of “ambient Americana.” These records sound at once both old and new with brilliant melodies and profound performances stacked in unusual patterns like soft-hued bricks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aguirre","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50545409392971,"sku":"2222553","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Souled_American_-_Notes_Campfire_ZORN115_3b185e76_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728344632"},{"product_id":"frozen-5","title":"Frozen","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are cult bands and then there's Souled American. In 1988, the Illinois group arguably invented \"alternative country\" with the album Fe. While the alt-country sound is widely recognized as Southern roots rock with an indie-punk sensibility largely defined by Uncle Tupelo's No Depression released two years later — Souled American's early music feels as if it was formed in a vacuum, inspired by the timestretching space of reggae. But over the course of the following decade, Souled American's music grew increasingly slow, insular and esoteric. Although Fe, Flubber and Around the Horn are inarguably more accessible, upbeat and even sometimes fun, if you've never heard this music before, it actually makes sense to start at the end. Their last two albums Frozen and Notes Campfire will now be re-issued in limited, 30th Anniversary Editions with a fresh abundance of stories, technical information, musician credits, and cartoons that detail the unexpected origins surrounding these two early classics of “ambient Americana.” These records sound at once both old and new with brilliant melodies and profound performances stacked in unusual patterns like soft-hued bricks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aguirre","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50545427579211,"sku":"2222568","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Souled_American_-_Frozen_ZORN114_a36f89bc_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728345397"},{"product_id":"rise-above-it-a-souled-american-anthology","title":"Rise Above It: A Souled American Anthology","description":"\u003cp\u003eAsked in 2019 to select a song he wished he’d written, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy named “Before Tonight” by Souled American, a lost song, a forgotten band. We always think we know the history of music that matters until we hear some unearthed treasure like the unearthly Souled American and must account for how greatness this great gets forgot. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSouled American formed in 1987 with four musicians from Illinois - vocalist\/ rhythm guitarist Chris Grigoroff, vocalist\/bassist Joe Adducci, electric guitarist Scott Tuma, and drummer Jamey Barnard. They were scouted and signed by popular independent label Rough Trade Records. Their 1988 debut \u003ci\u003eFe\u003c\/i\u003e and Lucinda Williams’ eponymous album became the label’s initial US releases. The band made a total of four records for Rough Trade before the label went bankrupt and the music vanished. They then made two records for Germany’s small Moll Töntrager which, scarcely distributed and poorly promoted, were (as Abraham Lincoln would say) little noted nor long remembered. The Internet arrived but none of Souled American’s six records ever found it. Engineer Jim Rondinelli (Wilco, The Jayhawks, Matthew Sweet, Urge Overkill) coproduced \u003ci\u003eFe\u003c\/i\u003e and calls Souled American, “far and away the most unique and fresh and talented band I ever worked with.” Engineer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine, Counting Crows, Califone) co-produced their next three records. “I was flabbergasted that they existed. I couldn’t believe there were people singing together like that in my generation. I was utterly in love.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eRise Above It: A Souled American Anthology \u003c\/i\u003ecollects 20 tracks—a third of the band’s recorded output between 1988-1996—newly remastered from their first six releases to tell the Souled American story (up to this point). The accompanying booklet features song lyrics from the band and liner notes from Camden Joy detailing the band’s history, as well as their influence on and importance to the Americana\/Alt-Country\/Rock scene. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTweedy devoted a chapter to “Before Tonight” in his 2023 bestseller World Within A Song. He began his praiseful paean with an admonition. “This song,” wrote Tweedy, “is likely the hardest track to find of any I’ve included here . . .” Until now! Hopefully\u003ci\u003e Rise Above It: A Souled American Anthology\u003c\/i\u003e addresses that. And much more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":51069698900299,"sku":"2238774","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Rise_Above_It_A_Souled_American_Anthology_b24c4717_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1736510835"},{"product_id":"sanctions","title":"Sanctions","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSouled American return after thirty years with a work of immediate relevance. Arriving just in time, with decency roundly mocked, as dissent spells career disaster and algorithms isolate us into units of convenience, Sanctions dares explore roots and traditions in both sound and consequence, revealing a band that has lost members but gained gravity. Acclaimed by Jeff Tweedy, The Jayhawks, John Darnielle, and Counting Crows, Souled American here elevate their unique style of ambient Americana into a life-altering experience full of feeling and drama, like some ink-stamped elegy fresh off the printing presses of Walt Whitman.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jealous Butcher","offers":[{"title":"LP - Clear","offer_id":56386355560779,"sku":"R1351-9812","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2000x2000bb_9ca8576c-817c-435d-8921-d960e80d0f7e.jpg?v=1769422371"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/souled-american.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}