Beating Time
THE FAULT IS HISTORY (CD)
By Souljahz
Authentic Music. £13.99
0688619923-Z
It's nice to get something different to review. No American rock comparisons this time.
Souljahz (soldiers, geddit?!) are a soul/rap/hip-hop outfit and, though it's not the most wanted on my metaphorical jukebox, The Fault is History is a very enjoyable album. The songs are catchy and varied, the production and musicianship is of a high standard. All material is written or co-written by the group (siblings Joshua, Jekob, and Rachael), creating a gospel tinged blending of acts like Britney Spears, Nelly, The Outcasts and Missy Eliot. To show the breakdown of boundaries, Souljahz's music has been featured on an X-box game alongside several showcases including appearances with No Doubt and Erykha Badu, plus the land of MTV.
The album's lyrical approach led me to wonder whether they were an American version of the Worldwide Message Tribe, that is, part of a schools evangelism project. Teenagers are definitely targeted with songs such as 'Same Ol' Game' and 'True Love Waits'. Where issues such as teenage pregnancies and pre-marital sex are grappled with, Souljahz answer with biblical principles, questioning the accepted values of secular society. Social problems are definitely top of the agenda . There are moments where the social justice side of things get perhaps a little crass on tracks like 'poor man' ('and you point your fingers and laugh, did you think when he last had a bath...?'). Obviously there is a valid point being made (check out James 1.27) but the choice of language is not always the best! However, The Fault is History is not without its personal challenges - to put God first in our day-to-day lives and to bring belief to reality in the way we live our lives.
If you can relax and go with the 'flava' then this is an enjoyable listen. However, the line between trendy and cheesy is a thin one to tread. You'll either love the summery pop-soul vibe or hate it. People over the age of 14 should approach The Fault is History with caution: it might make you cringe!
