{|Jimmy Barnes|} did a funny thing when he released {|Soul Deep|}. Gone was the long hair and leather jacket. {|Barnes|} was now a soul crooner, complete with '50s suits and slicked hair. He performed soul standards like {|Jackie Wilson|}'s {|(Your L... Read more

{|Jimmy Barnes|} did a funny thing when he released {|Soul Deep|}. Gone was the long hair and leather jacket. {|Barnes|} was now a soul crooner, complete with '50s suits and slicked hair. He performed soul standards like {|Jackie Wilson|}'s {|(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,|} {|Sam and Dave|}'s {|When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,|} and {|Ike and Tina Turner|}'s {|River Deep, Mountain High.|} But the change is only a superficial one: {|Barnes|} is not a soul singer, and instead chooses to belt out these classics as if they were {|Working Class Man.|} In other words, depending on your viewpoint, this album is either an abomination or a refreshing new take on some classic {|Motown|} songs. Purists will hate {|Barnes|}' gravelly delivery of these songs (which does descend into pointless screaming far too often), but {|Barnes|} has assembled a surprisingly cohesive tribute to '60s soul. It's typical {|Barnes|}, but with a twist, making this a brave, yet rewarding, step away from his stale blue-collar commercial rock. ~ Jonathan Lewis Less