Brooklyn-based Big Crown Records was founded in 2016 to release soul, funk, and R&B, and The Shacks were one of the first bands it signed. This CD is part of a series of tracks that never saw a vinyl pressing.
Fronted by singer/bassist Shannon Wise and guitarist/producer Max Shrager, The Shacks combine an indie sound with soul, with Wise’s breathy, sweet vocals over the top (occasionally just a little top sweet). There’s a cinematic sound to much of it, and Shrager is a great guitarist, dropping some Isley Bros-style riffs in a couple of songs, including the opener; the album kicks off strongly with “For Real” a danceable soul/rock tune with some funky keyboard.
“Trip To Japan” opens with a woman discussing a dream that she danced with The Shacks in her living room before Wise sings about how a visit to Japan took her back to childhood.
“Smile Now, Cry Later” sees Wise at peak breathiness but it is a nice cover of the Sunny and The Sunliners 1966 song, a Texas / Latin classic. “Sunday” is quite cute and “Crimson and Clover” (a 1968 song by band Tommy James and the Shondells) is also good.
As for the rest, it’s perhaps a “mainly side one” on vinyl; there are no actually bad songs, it’s just that the sound doesn’t vary once you’ve heard that side, although diehard soul fans will probably appreciate it.
See Bandcamp.
JMC
