Album Review: Rubber Soulive by Soulive

Soulive is a jazz trio consisting of Alan Evans (drums), Neal Evans (Hammond B-3 organ), and Eric Krasno (guitar).  I had never heard of these guys, but I thought this album looked interesting when I realized it is an entire album of Beatles covers. 

Knowing nothing about the band or their sound I wasn't sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this album.  Right from the start I bought into the whole feel of what these guys were doing.  They stay pretty tight to the original songs, the longest running track here is "I Want You" at five minutes.  They open with a very lively version of "Drive My Car" and go from there. 

The only problem I think the album has is that the best two songs are back to back in the middle.  Their cover of "Eleanor Rigby" and "I Want You" are fantastic and after this pair you feel a bit of a drop off.  That being said they finish with a very good version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Apparently these guys are best known for creating lively, danceable jazz.  They bring hip-hop rhythms into their music and so they bring some very good energy to these Beatles tunes. 

I will listen to this album again and would definitely throw this on when having friends over for a dinner party.  It would also be fun to have on in the house while you sat out on the porch talking about the world with friends on a cool fall evening. 

I have to say that as of right now their version of "Eleanor Rigby" is one of my favorite jazz tunes ever, and based on that and their version of "I Want You," which makes you realize the Beatles were the first heavy metal band, I give this one 4 out of 5 stars on the Rahpsody scale for Really Good.