Bastards Of Soul‘s debut LP Spinnin’ made it to my year-end list of 2020, so I was really looking forward to new work from the East Dallas-based soul quintet. Their sophomore album Corners seemingly effortlessly lives up to the high expectations, but it’s a release with a dark edge. The band – Chadwick Murray (powerful lead vocals), Danny Balis (bass), Christopher Holt (guitar), Chad Stockslager (keys), and Matt Trimble (drums) – were at their peak during the recordings, resulting in nine intense, new songs. They brought them live on stage in July 2021, and two months later charismatic frontman Chadwick Murray (45) unexpectedly died, just a few days after his son was born. The emotional backstory (read more at TexasMonthly) only makes the thrilling music more impressive. For me Just A Little Bit stands out, but closing song Come Around hits the hardest, since the lyrics have so much more meaning now: “Tell me why // Why can’t a good thing last?” Chadwick Murray lives on in this beautiful music.
Corners is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Eastwood Music Group.
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs
PS Below you can watch Just A Little Bit, a documentary short, which premiered on May 15, 2020. Good memories.
There may be enough songs recorded to make a third album possible.