BELLRAYS, THE - Punk Funk Rock Soul, Vol. 2 (Sealed) (LP)

With 'Punk Funk Rock Soul Volume 2' The BellRays return with their first full new album since the release of 'Black Lightning' in 2010! Punk. Funk. Rock. Soul. The main ingredients in a potent witch's brew that The BellRays have been mixing for a long time now. If music is food for the soul, then The BellRays are thanksgiving and they know how to cook. The BellRays strip down to the meat of what music means to them. Growing up in SoCal, they thrived on radio channels that broadcast more than one kind of music. It was a party. 'Punk Funk Rock Soul' is their party with their songs and friends. With each song, The BellRays play with the formula. The dynamics shift and change from straight ahead rockers like "Bad Reaction" "Junior High" and "Never Let a Woman" to more rock/pop songs like "I Can't Hide" and "Brand New Day". "Man Enough" features tornado drumming and Caravanesque guitar solos. How do you make the dark sound light? Listen to "Perfect", which is heavy while singing about finding that rhythm together. "Now" spreads out with a simple melody and message of being in the moment. "Every Chance I Get" gets to the blues with its plaintive resolution to use time as wisely as possible. "Love and Hard Times" closes the album with an easy, R&B tinged lyric reminiscent of Levon Helm and The Band. Throughout PUNK FUNK ROCK SOUL, The BellRays slide from song to song, changing the dynamics but not the dynamism. In the studio or on stage, the BellRays equals energy. E=BR(P+F+R+S).