Morgan James has once again flipped expectations on their head with Soul Remains The Same, released August 8, 2025. Known for her ambitious concept albums and fearless vocal delivery, James takes on the world of hard rock and metal, songs by Ozzy, AC/DC, Metallica, and more, and reimagines them with a soulful, feminine fire. A Juilliard-trained powerhouse often praised for her bone-deep feel for classic soul, James proves here that genre boundaries are more like suggestions.
The opener, โThunderstruck,โ kicks down the door. Rolling drums thunder before an electronic pulse swells, horns burst in with cinematic flair, and then James enters, her voice booming and belting in the top of her range. Thereโs storytelling even in her firepower, each phrase brimming with urgency and vivacity, with so much soul, life, and vivacity. The Hammond organ churns underneath while backing harmonies bring the soul, making the familiar anthem sound freshly reborn. Then, shifting gears, โIs This Loveโ slows the tempo into a tender, romantic burn. Here, James leans into her breathy, low register, intimate and smoldering, while melodic guitar and soft beats set the mood. Her vibrato rings as she soars the refrain, exposing the way she connects desire with vocal control so effortlessly that it borders on jaw-dropping. No wonder itโs the albumโs most-streamed trackโitโs seductive and deeply vulnerable.
And then thereโs โTonight, Tonight,โ a haunting closer that strips everything back to ambience and voice. James sings with delicate strength. Her voice trails and soars while staying in the breathy low ranges. Thatโs just how powerful her control over her organ is. Meanwhile, her vibrato writhes and trails through the word โbelieve,โ letting the lyrics float as the star of the show. Recorded in a single unedited take, the performance feels fragile yet unshakable.
With Soul Remains The Same, James transforms the songs she covers, because even the heaviest anthems can have a soul that still burns bright, right? So, check it out on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan