Athens, Georgia has been known as a hub for great music over several decades. Heart of Pine continues that tradition with their high-powered fusion of a handful of rootsy genres and keen, often quite fun, songwriting that never loses its freshness. Their second full-length collection Southern Soul Revival hits the streets as the band is nearing their 10th anniversary and should solidify their standing as one of the best musical acts working the indie scene and beyond.
Their 2015 birth hailed from the personal and artistic chemistry shared by songwriters and performers Steven Bagwell and Travis Richardson. However, Heart of Pine has a plethora of first-class musical virtues to draw from. The able talents of keyboardist Jesse Fountain, bassist/multi-instrumentalist Boone Hood, and drummer Todd Headley bring considerable sizzle to the table. It’s apparent from the outset.
“Gone” is a memorable and reflective opener. Each of Southern Soul Revival’s nine cuts embodies the “soul” cited in the album title, and “Gone” is one of its most pre-eminent examples. It builds from a smattering of sound effects depicting the feeling of sitting by a pond at dusk or just after sunset into a slowly evolving yet dynamic musical performance. Bagwell’s singing is one of the band’s marquee elements, and he shines throughout this song. There’s particularly fiery guitar work powering the second track, “Hello Heartache”. Another of its high points again comes from Bagwell’s singing. The bluesy growl of his voice at various points does an outstanding job of strengthening the deep southern lineage of this outing. The track arguably features some of the album’s best lyrics.
“Fool’s Game” is another of the collection’s most soulful moments. The arrangement is one of the album’s best, thanks to its compelling dynamic shifts. Drummer Todd Headley and keyboardist Jesse Fountain will be the song’s MVPs for scores of listeners. However, Bagwell acquits himself quite nicely with an emphatic performance. “Voodoo Leg Bone” is an one-of-a-kind number. Horns, memorable blues guitar, and well-placed backing vocals are critical to the musical success of the song. However, it’s a full-on band performance, make no mistake, and each participant deserves accolades for their gripping contributions.
“She Belongs to Me” revisits a Bob Dylan classic from his 1960s era. It isn’t one of Dylan’s better-known cuts, but that never stops Heart of Pine from tearing into the cut with zest. They put their distinctive stamp on the performance. It has all of the best qualities defining their music moving at full bore, and the vocals nail every line of the Dylan original with the same feeling that defines their other performances. The penultimate “EmGAB” seems ideally suited for the band to stretch out in a live setting, as it gives both the guitar and Jesse Fountain’s excellent keyboard playing a chance to take extended instrumental breaks. Don’t sleep on this particular tune. It exhibits all of the strengths that make Southern Soul Revival essential listening for anyone who enjoys retro-minded songwriting with a thoroughly contemporary sound. Heart of Pine has scored with this new release, and it bodes well for their future. They’ll stick around for decades to come.
