11 Songs Focused on the Soul | Playlist

1. Kanye West, “Pure Souls”

Ft. Roddy Ricch & Shenseea

Donda • Def Jam • 2021

“And I cannot sell my soul (Jesus saved my soul).” “Pure Souls” arrives as the 21^st track on Donda, the 10^th studio album by Kanye West. It’s no secret that Donda, named after West’s late mother, had the messiest rollout of his career.  Ultimately, the 27-track, nearly two-hour-long LP has its fair share of rewarding moments, including the song at hand featuring Roddy Ricch and Shenseea.

“Pure Souls” runs a lengthy six minutes itself but ends up being worthy of its duration.  Roddy Ricch sounds great on his melodic verse, as well as the chorus.  A memorable moment is Ricch’s reference to his Grammy:

“They said I was mad at the Grammys
But I’m lookin’ at my Grammy right now
Pulled up on Ye, and I said, ‘They don’t understand me.’”

Of course, West remains the star, performing on the second verse and bridge.  On the bridge, he notes, “It ain’t how it used to be / This is the new me, so get used to me.” What does he mean? He’s focused on Christianity and faith – he’s changed from a spiritual perspective.  As for Shenseea, she lends her lovely vocals on the outro (“The truth the only thing you get away with”).

2. Beyoncé, “Spirit”

The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe) • Columbia • 2020 

“Spirit” served as lead single from The Lion King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), as well as making a reprisal appearance on The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe).  While this Beyoncé record wasn’t my ‘cup of tea’ when released prior to the release of the film, it grew on me. The message, sentiment, and overall vibe are #winning.  Furthermore, after seeing The Lion King and re-listening multiple times, I have a greater respect for it.

Some of the pros of this soul/spirit record includes the voice of Queen Bey. The gospel sensibilities earn high marks.  Furthermore, given the African setting of The Lion King and Beyoncé’s emphasis on black culture and excellence, the African elements are also fitting.  The cons? The song feels a bit undercooked, with so-so songwriting.  Still, give it credit for the heights it aspires to with respectable messaging. 

3. Robert Finley, “Souled Out on You”

Sharecropper’s Son • Easy Eye Sound / Concord • 2021

“Souled out on you / Sad, but it’s true / After all we’ve been through / I’m souled out on you.” Robert Finley isn’t at the top of popular music circles but perhaps it should be.  The 67-year-old blues and soul musician shows out on his 2021 album, Sharecropper’s Son, ranking among the best of 2021. Old-school through and through, Sharecropper’s Son feels refreshing nonetheless.  Finley delivers elite, earthy, and gritty vocals throughout the course of the affair, ‘giving his all’ over natural-sounding, retro backdrops.

With Dan Auerbach masterfully handling the boards, Finley is on autopilot, particularly on the album’s best song, the pained, incredibly authentic “Souled Out on You.”  This is a prime example of those expressive, earthy, spirited vocals,  filled with grit. Thanks to his authenticity, you truly buy what he’s selling:

“You put me through hell
Got me under your spell
No matter how hard you try to hide it
The whole world can tell.”

Even with an edgier, coarse performance, Finley manages to give us some of the best falsetto that you’ll hear – tremendously soulful.

4. H.E.R., “Lost Souls”

Ft. DJ Scratch

I Used to Know Her • RCA • 2019

H.E.R. is special – understatement.  In a time where R&B hasn’t necessarily seen the level of notoriety it once enjoyed; she’s been one of the artists propelling the genre.  The accomplishments this young Grammy-winner has earned over two Grammy cycles (61^st and 62^nd Grammy Awards) is impressive.  Sure, she walked out empty handed during her second Grammys cycle with I Used to Know Her, but the fact that she was nominated twice consecutively in the big categories – awesomeness exemplified.  One of the standouts from I Used to Know Her not named “Hard Place” is “Lost Souls,” featuring DJ Scratch.   

The brief “Lost Souls” has Lauryn Hill written all over it.  For one, it samples Hill’s classic, “Lost Ones” from her 1998 masterpiece, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.  Besides the prominence of the sample, and that vintage 90s hip-hop sound, H.E.R. emulates Hill lyrically and regarding how she performs the song.  “Confusing self-conscious with self-confidence,” she raps with attitude on the first verse, continuing, “So you monogamous, but body positive / Post pills you swallowing for a following / What he got to offer? He don’t see the kids that he fathering.” Like Ms. Hill, H.E.R. is woke AF lyrically.  It’s summed up brilliantly with the titular lyric, which appears on the chorus:

“A lost soul can’t lead the people, no
A lost soul can’t lead the people, nah
A lost soul can’t lead the people, no
A lost soul can’t lead the people, uh.” 

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5. The Killers, “My Soul’s Own Warning”

Imploding the Mirage • Island • 2020

The Killers get off to an electrifying start on their 2020 album, Implode the Mirage. Opener “My Own Soul’s Warning” is the exemplification of ‘go big or go home!’ The production is epic and turned up to the nth degree.  Furthermore, front man Brandon Flowers is locked-in and from the jump. Flowers shows poise on the verse, but kicks things up a notch beginning with the pre-chorus (“I tried going against my own soul’s warning / And in the end, something just didn’t feel right”).

Brandon Flowers absolutely soars on the chorus, flexing his gorgeous tone as well as how truly powerful and potent he can be.

“But then I thought I could fly
And when I hit the ground
It made a messed up sound
And it kept on rattling through my days
And cutting up my nights
Like a goddamn knife
And it got me thinking, no matter how far
I just wanted to get back to where you are.” 

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6. Against Me!, “True Trans Soul Rebel”

Transgender Dysphoria Blues • Total Treble • 2014

On “True Trans Soul Rebel,” a highlight from Transgender Dysphoria Blues, front woman Laura Jane Grace is frank about being transsexual.  This is best evidenced on the chorus: “Who’s gonna take you home tonight? / Who’s gonna take you home? / Does God bless your transsexual heart, true trans soul rebel?”

If the chorus of “True Trans Soul Rebel” wasn’t confessional enough, the bridge highlights Grace’s feelings of being ‘built wrong’ essentially:

“You should’ve been a mother
You should’ve been a wife
You should’ve been gone from here years ago
You should be living a different life.”

Heavy, yet rocking, “True Trans Soul Rebel” is nothing short of awesome.

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7. Logic, “Soul Food II”

No Pressure • Def Jam • 2020

“Me and my team is finally reaping / What we been sowing like a seamstress…” Word! “Soul Food II” is one of numerous highlights from No Pressure, the purported final studio album by Grammy-nominated rapper, Logic.  The record directly follows up “Soul Food”, one off the gems from Under Pressure, not to mention being considered one of the best songs of Logic’s career.

There are two verses with each representing one of two distinct parts.  The excerpted quote graces the first part, which focuses on his life, the industry, and such.  As for the second, we drift back to some nerdier The Incredible True Story, space concept territory – “Accompanied by a girl inside their ear, her name was Thalia / Made of ones and zeros, she was a program.” Interesting to say the least!

Also appears on :
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8. The National, “You Had Your Soul with You”

I Am Easy to Find •  4AD •  2019

“You had your soul with you, I was in no mood…” The National returned ‘sooner than later’ with “You Had Your Soul with You”, the alluring promo single from their 2019 LP, I Am Easy to Find. “You Had Your Soul with You” commences uniquely with a couple of measures of biting, glitching electronic sounds, before gaining stability with a full-fledged rock groove.  Beyond the groove, “You Had Your Soul with You” evolves into more of a traditional sound, while still incorporating some creative, accentuating cues.

Front man Matt Berninger sounds as compelling as ever, diving right into the first verse with his distinct baritone.  Behind him is a busy backdrop that’s never dull, incorporating ample rhythm between the drums, guitars, and strings. Regarding the form of the record, there is no true chorus – only verses (three).  That said, the excerpted lyrics are reiterated following the third verse. Notably, “You Had Your Soul with You” features guest vocals courtesy of Gail Ann Dorsey.  On the third verse, she sings two lines of lyrics as a solo, before being joined by Berninger. The results are nothing short of marvelous.

“I have owed it to my heart, every word I’ve said
You have no idea how hard I died when you left.” 

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9. TOOL, “Pneuma”

Fear Inoculum • Tool Dissectional, L.L.C. / Volcano Entertainment II, L.L.C.  •  2019

“Wake up, remember / We are born of one breath, one word / We are all one spark, sun becoming…” Fear Inoculum, the long-awaited fifth studio album by TOOL, arrived in 2019, and debuted robustly at number one on the Billboard 200.  Among the standouts from the album is the lengthy “Pneuma,” a track that runs just shy of 12 minutes.

Despite being a slowly evolving record, “Pneuma” is characterized by ample rhythm, metric shifts, and that ‘vibe’ that only TOOL could ultimately construct. While it’s clean and light at certain times, there are plenty of moments where the guitars dig in, and the drums totally pummel.  And if you were curious what a pneuma is and what its connection was is to this list, well, it’s soul; spirit. The spiritual references of the lyrics truly stand out.

Also appears on :
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10. Jon Bellion, “New York Soul – Pt. ii”

The Human Condition •  Capitol •  2016

“New Yorker in California, packed Brooklyn up in this bag / I’m in Malibu with the Bronx, she’s in Kevin Love with your man.” Jon Bellion brings a sense of adventure and plenty of alternativeness to pop music.  He even managed to get some more mainstream attention on his 2016 album, The Human Condition, thanks to a hit single, “All Time Low”. “All Time Low” was a bop for sure, but a personal favorite moment from the album was when he decided to bust out the bars and show pride for his home state on “New York Soul – Pt. ii.”

“New York Soul – Pt. ii” is Jon Bellion to the core.  There is colorful, intriguing production work, with some bad ass beat/production switches in the process.  Bellion is confident AF, packing some punch behind his bars, particularly the moment he denounces “fuck boy rap” on the second verse. Adding to the allure, my boy Alec Benjamin serenades us on the Brooklyn-loving chorus (“Lay me down in Brooklyn if I lose my life /… I did everything for New York”).

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11. Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nevermind •  Geffen • 1991

“Hello, hello, hello, how low.” The most famous ‘teen’ song and one of the most iconic, arrives courtesy of Kurt Cobain and Seattle grunge band, Nirvana.  “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is undoubtedly the band’s crowning achievement, and still resonates to this day.  Of course, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” appears on Nevermind, which has received some attention in 2021 due to a lawsuit by the baby, now a grown man, who graces the album artwork.  Regardless, let’s focus on this ‘teen spirit’ instead!

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is an example of a transcendent, timeless record – something that’s often strived for but rarely attained.  Besides the assertive, gritty vocals by Cobain, it’s the clever lyrics that take it to the next level.  The best part is the chorus, period:

“With the lights out, it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah.”

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