Over the last three or four years East Los Angeles, Chicano soul outfit, THEE SINSEERS have won themselves a cult status amongst real soul lovers. A series of wonderful singles has seen the Joey Quinones fronted band deliver a very particular take on retro soul – garnished with flavours of low rider soul balladeering and contemporary R&B. In interviews, Quinones often recalls how he got into the music via visits with his car crazy dad to SoCal, Chicano drive by shows where soft soul ballads were the order of the day. He also admits a love for Motown – his mother was a big fan. Various band members have also played in punk and ska bands; thus, maybe, we can see how the Sinseers’ very special musical cocktail has evolved – hear it in full flow on ‘Sinseerly Yours’ – the band’s first proper long player.
The first singles from the album were January’s ‘Can’t Do That To Her’ and early March’s ‘Hold On’. The former was/is gorgeous 60s throwback sound – classic harmonies underpinning Joey Quinones’ convincing vocals. The latter was/is a sombre, pleading, old school ballad and between them they represent what the band can offer – joyous, “up” flavours and deeper, soulful musings. The ten tracker that is ‘Sinseerly Yours’ offers plenty more of both and the odd surprise!
The brighter, more up-tempo (never frantic though) cuts include the opening ‘What’s His Name’ while for lush harmonic ballads the lovely ‘Keep On Calling’, ‘Give It Up You Fool’ and the album title track are all hard to beat. Lots of the songs – the LP title track is a case in point – have a flavour of the Impressions in the 60s. Shades of ‘Ten To One’ and ‘I’m So Proud’ on that one, while ‘Can’t Call Me Baby’ owes a lot to the Imps’ ‘You’ll Want Me Back’. The Impressions’ feel comes via the Johnny Pate inspired production and the sweet harmonies; the lead vocals – the frail, fragile falsetto of Mr Q, though, is more like the soaring tones of the original Moments’ lead singer, Mark Greene than dear Curtis but that doesn’t really matter; what Thee Sinseers deliver is always intoxicating.
Now for the surprise – the cuckoo in the nest , if you would! ‘Taking Back’ is a honking-sax led, tough, rough atmospheric instrumental. There’s a live, studio party vibe – handclaps and shout outs in a sort of Packers’ ‘Hole in the Wall’ way – it adds a little more variety to ‘Sinseerly Yours’ which the band’s PR team describe as “vintage blissful soul”. For once the PR hype is spot on! ‘Sinseerly Yours’ will be one of THE soul albums of the year.
(BB) 5/5
