The final straight of Eric Church’s April 2021 album trio. After Heart and & (or: and), the third and final album will be released on 23rd April 2021. Here are my thoughts about Soul – and, of course, about the whole set of three albums.
Eric Church – Soul – Track by Track
The nine tracks of Soul last 32 minutes.
1. Rock & Roll Found Me
Like my faith, like my church
My low like my high
The better in my worse
Come on baby “Light My Fire”
Like a needle in my vein
The crazy in my sane
I turned on my amps and all at once my blind could see
Yeah when rock and roll found me
The rhythmic opener of Soul feels like a traditional country song with a touch of blues. The steel guitar is howling in the background. A nice connection to the very personal and direct sound of the second album of this set of three, & / And.
2. Look Good And You Know It
Soul really comes with some touch of soul – at least in the second track, where Eric Church is spreading a lovely vibe and which is supported by a female backing choir.
3. Bright Side Girl
If there was a chance to put a “simply beautiful” badge in streamed music, Bright Side Girl would definitely deserve it. Again, Eric Church creates a very loving and caring atmosphere, but is later also sprinkling some guitar elements here and there. Nice track, for sure.
4. Break It Kind Of Guy
The fourth track welcomes you with Southern spirit guitars and marching drum rhythms which come with the speed of a long-distance train. The perfect acoustic bedding for the vocal collaboration, where the falsetto voice almost feels like a lease from the legendary Bee Gees. Country meets funk – and I am already doing the Stayin’ Alive dance while listening to the Chief.
5. Hell Of A View
Two singles in a row – and Hell Of A View is another amazing and catching one. The song is much more of a straight modern country song (no more funk *sigh*).
6. Where I Wanna Be
Flew to California, drove to Alabam’
Hitched to Wichita, caught a ride in a van
Paddled in a boat and peddled on a bike
I’ve walked, I’ve swum, I’ve crawled, I’ve hiked
I’ve hopped a train to Maine and a bus to the Keys
Chased her all night in my dreams
One look at her and it’s easy to see
Wherever she is, is where I wanna be, yeah
Soul is for sure the album which touches the widest variety of genres. Where I Wanna Be comes with such a summery groove that you feel a touch of reggae in it. Life can be so good… For example if you listen to Heart & Soul while roadtripping the USA with Eric Church.
7. Jenny
The song Jenny is indulging a forty second guitar intro. Overall, the song allows a lot of focus on the acoustic guitar. This leads to a very reduced instrumentation and a touch of folk music. Needless to say that Church is a master in that kind of music as well.
8. Bad Mother Trucker
No “F”, no typo in here. The song is indeed about a female truck driver.
She is hell on wheels where the road meets the rubber
A real gear jammer, a white line wonder
Yeah, you only get one and I wouldn’t want another
‘Cause mama was a bad mother trucker
The songs on Soul come with a lot of groove and a great touch. So does this former single release. The power behind the chorus is also remarkable.
9. Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones
No! Is that really the last out of 24 songs of the Heart & Soul trilogy? The grand finale of the third sub-album? Eric Church closes the album with another track we already know as one of his single releases. A quiet, lovely story. Just enoying to listen.
Eric Church – Heart & Soul – Trilogy (Links)
Here are the links to all albums of the trilogy. I will add them once the reviews have been published:
- Eric Church – Heart
- Eric Church – &
- Eric Church – Soul
Eric Church – Soul – Spotify
Here is Soul on Spotfy:
Eric Church – Soul – My View
What I especially like about Soul is that Eric Church again created a very own spirit for this album. It comes with a touch of black music, but also feels very open to many other music styles as well. By that, it might be the most special album of the three. Heart is my favorite, but there is no doubt that this project receives a triple Top Pick! rating
Eric Church – Heart & Soul Trilogy – My View
Of course, at the end of my triple posting week about Eric Church, it is also time to think about the set of three albums. Indeed, the number of songs would have also been suitable for a double album. Overall, it is “just” a set of 24 songs. So the triple album thing may be a bit of a marketing argument on the one hand. On the other hand, though, the triple release splits the songs into three very different sets with their own character each. And it gives the lovely chance to chare some songs with your fans exclusively. I feel that is an amazing gesture. All three albums received the Top Pick! rating – so you know that I love trilogy anyway. Enjoy these days with The Chief. He did an amazing job, for sure.
2021 Top Pick! Media Reviews
Here are all my 2021 released Media Reviews, which lead to a Top Pick! rating:

Spell Songs – Spell Songs II: Let The Light In

Johannes Scheurich – Mehr Davon

Al Lewis – Moving On Moving Past EP

Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 2 EP

Incredible Pack – Time For Decisions

Hämatom – Die Liebe ist Tot

Lordi – Lordiversity (Full Box Review)

Lordi – Humanimals (from: Lordiversity)

Roxette – Joyride (30th Anniversary Edition)

Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP

Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)

Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP

Alex Diehl – Die Songs, die ich nie schreiben wollte EP

Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues

Michael Patrick Kelly – B.O.A.T.S

Dieter Hallervorden – 80 plus

Greyhound George Band – Get Up And Walk!

AHI – Prospect

Michael Heppes – Achtung Leben

Running Wild – Blood on Blood

Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren

Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love

Dave Hause – Blood Harmony

Elton John – The Lockdown Sessions

Alcatrazz – V

Ryan Hurd – Pelago

MEDLZ – (das) Läuft bei uns Vol. 2

Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire

Toby Keith – Peso In My Pocket

Santiano – Wenn die Kälte Kommt

Roland Kaiser – Weihnachtszeit

The Record Company – Play Loud

Naraka – In Tenebris

Paule – Wunderschön unperfekt

Break Point – The Story of the “Indian Express”

Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville

Billy Strings – Renewal

Nox Holloway – If Only The World Didn’t Spin So Much EP

Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name

Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben

Adrian Sutherland – When The Magic Hits

Saint City Orchestra – Unified

Charley Crockett – Music City USA

Peter Maffay – So Weit

Billy Idol – The Roadside EP

Rage – Resurrection Day

The Vaccines – Back In Love City

Samantha Fish – Faster

Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman

Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind

Echo Bloom – Wake

Danko Jones – Power Trio

Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart

Beatrice Egli – Alles Was Du Brauchst

Ray Wilson – The Weight Of Man

Kool & The Gang – Perfect Union

James McMurtry – The Horses And The Hounds

Annie Chops – Level Up

Jayne Denham – Wanted

The Killers – Pressure Machine

Clare Dunn – In This Kind Of Light EP

Perlregen – Drei

Chris Young – Famous Friends

Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth

Jim Lauderdale – Hope

Grizfolk – Grizfolk

Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream

Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee

Los Lobos – Native Sons

Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive

Ida Mae – Click Click Domino

Sarah Straub – Tacheles EP

Gary Kemp – INSOLO

Eliza Shaddad – The Woman You Want

Helge Schneider – Die Reaktion – The Last Jazz Vol. II

Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP

The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds

LANCO – Honky-Tonk Hippies EP

Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP

Kat Eaton – Talk To Me

Gary Allan – Ruthless

Meghan Patrick – Heart On My Glass

Buckcherry – Hellbound

Razz – Might Delete Later EP

Jim “Kimo” West – Ka Honua Maluhia (Peaceful World)

Helloween – Helloween

pez – All Lowercase EP

Karlie Apriori – Seelenpassagier EP

Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP

Joe Bonamassa – Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart

Anchors & Hearts – Guns Against Liberty

Black River Delta – Shakin’

SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen – SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia

Pop Evil – Versatile

Blake Shelton – Body Laguage

Noah Levi – Indigo EP

Allison Russell – Outside Child

Kicker Dibs – Vagabund

Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground

Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP

Levara – Levara

The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones

Emma Moore – the table EP

Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 1 EP

Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert Vol. 8

Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos

Wincent Weiss – Vielleicht Irgendwann

Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A

Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP

Klee – Trotzalledem

Robert John Hope – Plasticine Heart

Elvie Shane – County Roads EP

Fury in the Slaughterhouse – now

Diane Weigmann – Die Wahrheit liegt irgendwo dazwischen

Eric Church – &

Eric Church – Heart

Brett Kissel – What Is Life?

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times

Jon Randall – Neon Texas EP

Canaan Smith – High Country Sound

The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under A Full Moon

Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP

Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen

The Dust Coda – Mojo Skyline

Silent Winter – Empire of Sins

Billy Lockett – Reflections EP

Ego Kill Talent – The Dance Between Extremes

Thunder – All The Right Noises

Blutengel – Fountain of Destiny

Chez Kane – Chez Kane

Bad Temper Joe – One Can Wreck It All

Pete Murray – The Night EP

Dreamshade – A Pale Blue Dot

Kaylee Bell – The Red EP (EP)

Hayden Joseph – Different

Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht

Willie Nelson – That’s Life

Alice Cooper – Detroit Stories

Cassadra Jenkins – An Overview On Phenomenal Nature EP

Carly Pearce – 29 EP

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For

Sonor Teutonicus – Morgenrot

Korpiklaani – Jylhä

Aaron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!

Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP

Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart

Willie Jones – Right Now

Bow Anderson – New Wave EP

Chelsea Berman – Can You Just Not EP

The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground

Petric – Flashbacks

John Diva & The Rockets Of Love – American Amadeus

Aaron Watson – American Soul

Understanding Train Station – A Podcast on Living Abroad and Cultural Differences
Travel Postings about the Cologne Region
Here are all Flyctory.com travel postings of the region around Cologne:

SkyTrain Dusseldorf Airport

Bergischer HC (Handball) at Uni-Halle Wuppertal

Pullman Cologne

Mercure Hotel Severinshof Cologne City

Mercure Cologne City Friesenstrasse

Hilton Dusseldorf

Wuppertaler Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Suspension Railroad)

Open Sky Lounge Dusseldorf Airport (DUS)

H+ Hotel Köln Brühl

Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)

Hambach Surface Mining – The Largest Man-Made Hole in the World

Wasserturm Hotel Cologne (Curio Collection by Hilton)

Phantasialand Wintertraum on the Evening (Pictured Story)

Sea Life Oberhausen

Weird Al Yankovic is touring Europe 2023 – Tour Dates and Travel Hints

Road Stop Motel Mettmann (Presidential Suite)

Staying Overnight at the VIWA Private Spa Wuppertal

INNSIDE Dusseldorf Derendorf

German Röntgen Museum Remscheid

KölnTriangle Cologne View – a great View of Cologne

The Bergisch Coffee Table (Bergische Kaffeetafel) – A Sweet and Savory Tradition

European Airports Go Mad – a Morning at Dusseldorf Airport

Hampton by Hilton Aachen Tivoli

The Lounge Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)

The Paradise of Calories – Chocolate and Candy Outlets in Aachen

House of German History (Haus der Geschichte) Bonn

Solingen Bird and Animal Park

Visiodrom Wuppertal

Premier Inn Cologne City South

Sea Life Königswinter

Hampton by Hilton Dusseldorf City Centre

VfL Gummersbach (Handball) at SCHWALBE arena

Walking Through Historic Remscheid-Lennep (Pictured Story)

My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts

Charles Dickens Christmas Market Heimbach

Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf Airport (Ratingen)

Hyatt Regency Cologne

The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)

Fauna Animal Park Solingen

Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport

MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience

Bergisches Museum for Mining, Craft & Trade Bensberg

A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)

Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum Dusseldorf

Rhine Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) Cologne

taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home

Deutsches Museum Bonn

Chocolate Museum Cologne (Schokoladenmuseum)

Maritim Hotel Cologne

The Fair Play Suite at the Kameha Grand Hotel Bonn

Bonn Marriott Hotel

Watching Cologne from Europa Rad Ferris Wheel

ibis Dusseldorf Main Station

Dusseldorf Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)

INNSIDE Hotel Dusseldorf Hafen

100 Years of Gold Bears and More – Haribo Shopping around Cologne

“Climbing” the Monte Troodelöh, Cologne’s Highest Point

Autokino Düsseldorf – Drive-Movies & Show

Car Watch – A new Pop-up Drive-in Cinema in Cologne

Cologne/Bonn Airport during Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)

Cologne DRIVE IN Movies – More than the Covid-19 Alternative

German Fairy Forest (Deutscher Märchenwald) Altenberg

Arithmeum Bonn – A Museum about Calculations

Hilton Bonn

Historic Mustard Mill Cologne

Cologne Old Town Christmas Market

Cologne Stadtgarten Christmas Market

Cologne Cathedral / Roncalli Square Christmas Market

Stars Of The Galaxy – A Star Wars Shrine in Mönchengladbach

Cologne Harbor Christmas Market at Chocolate Museum

Dusseldorf Airport Photo Tour

Andernach Geyser

On Top of Leverkusen Water Tower

German Blade Museum Solingen

The Scherz-Tour – A Different RheinEnergieSTADION Cologne Tour

Bergisch Historic Trams Wuppertal

Museum Plagiarius Solingen – The Place for Copies

Lindlar Open Air Museum

Alte Dombach Paper Mill

Very Important Postings – July to December 2018

Ratingen-Cromford Textile Factory

The Eau de Cologne Giants – 4711 vs. Farina

Leverkusen Deer Park Reuschenberg (Review)

Dormagen Deer Park Tannenbusch

City Outlet Bad Münstereifel

LINA @ Kunst!Rasen Bonn

History of Gaming in Cologne’s City Museum

Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 5 (Trip Report)

Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 1 (Trip Report)

Six Intercontental Flights in 72 Hours (Overview)