After a recent, tight live set from Ace and the Soulless at the really groovy Chicago Bar in Tucson, Disaster Amnesiac approached guitar player Johnny Soulless about the CDs that they had mentioned being on offer. I had no cash but Johnny just let me take one gratis. Many thanks are in order from me to that really great guitar player. It probably would have been the case that Ace And The Soulless got an enthuse session at this eighteen year blog. That Soulless suggested I "mention it online or something" sealed that deal. In what appears to be this group's debut physical release, the listener is treated to ten tracks of rockin', rooted and rollicking Rock 'n Roll. Ace Reztone plays the upright bass on all tracks, and of course this gives their sound that gritty blend of percussion-attained melody which can be achieved from the instrument in capable hands. Disaster Amnesiac will ask the reader to refer to the ways in which Bill Black's playing effected the Sun Records sessions for Elvis's early trio as a marker for that. Adam Galleano keeps his drum playing pleasingly simple throughout. His drumming frames the songs' forms and keeps their paces going on all tracks. Yet another Tucson drummer that lays it down with an elegance that never misses. Since we're talking about the instrumental approaches here it must be stated that Johnny Soulless is a fantastic guitar player. His tones on the vocal parts of this album's tunes are seductive to the attentive ear, and his solos rip and rampage when he takes them, even as their relative brevity appears necessary to Ace and the Soulless' aesthetic. In the vocal department, the contrast between the singing styles of Reztone and Soulless must be noted. The former has a clear, well annunciated delivery while the former gives a raw alto growl. The back and forth presentation of these disparate ways of Rock 'n Roll chant are astute in that the listener never tires of either. It's worked for a lot of different bands. The lyrical concerns range from explorations of self awareness to barroom flirtation to hard times laments and these are, as we all know, lasting topical themes within just about any American music in general and Rock 'n Roll specifically. If that makes you uncomfortable or offended I'd be willing to guess that the dudes of Ace and the Soulless would shrug and play on. During Where The Hell Johnny Soulless begs the question of where in the hell Rock 'n Roll is these days: c'mon my guy, it's in your hands! Tucson people are well advised to catch Ace and the Soulless within the lounge setting. If they hit your town, dittos!
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