Soulhat - Experiment on a Flat Plane

It's hard to believe, but "Experiment on a Flat Plane" is the first full-length
Soulhat CD since "Good To Be Gone," the band's grinding 1993 bow on Epic Records.
In that time, the smiley Austin rock outfit went through a breakup, a reunion and
then several lineup changes. So what's left? 

Plenty, actually. "Experiment" is a lot more like the band's debut CD "Outdebox"
than the Epic release, meaning it's plum full of inspired songs and some earnest,
bright-eyed performances. The guitars are most often acoustic, and the songwriting
bounces from Kevin Mc-Kinney's ever-sly, Tom Waits-inspired rock howlers such as
"My Man Joe" and "Plastic" to sweeter, softer fare such as "Skin," a flowery
highlight of the CD. 

Through all of Soulhat's cast member changes -- which persist with the recent
departure of drummer Barry "Frosty" Smith, who's still all over this CD --
the joy of playing wasn't lost on frontman McKinney. It also seems to have rubbed
off on recently added bassist John Vogelsang (ex-Ging'breadmen) and guitarist Mac
McNabb (Trish Murphy). And who wouldn't have fun, playing songs like the rollicking,
twangy "WNBA," which laments, "The WNBA stole my girl away . . . there's a jump-off
on my poor heart/And how will I rebound from misery." Soulhat continues to rebound
just fine. 

Soulhat's CD release party is Friday at the Mercury. 

-- chris riemenschneider 

**** 



Soulhat - Experiment on a Flat Plane (2000) 
Terminus Records - Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Kevin McKinney - guitar, vocals, SK1
Mac McNabb - Guitar, Hofner Bass
B.E. "Frosty" Smith - Drums, Electronics
Johnny Vogelsang - Fender Bass

1. Loading (0:56)
2. Plastic (3:58)
3. Flat Plane (3:53)
4. Mailbox (4:41)
5. (Going) Gone (3:47)
6. My Man Joe (3:54)
7. WNBA (1:59) 
8. (Things We Do for) Cash (3:27)
9. (Movin' to the) City (3:35)
10. (Under Your) Skin (3:15)
11. (Emotional) Microwave (5:08)
12. Deep Sleeper (1:38)

Produced, recorded and mixed by Stuart Sullivan
Recorded at Arlyn Studio & Merou Grotto
Mixed at Brooklyn Bridge
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, N.Y.
Shat Records Publishing, BMI
Brother Bartholomew Music, BMI
chickenfriedeggmusic, ASCAP
Cover Art by Adam Bork for Earthpig Photography