The rock-meets-soul-meets-funk-meets-whatever-he-wants voice of Mr. Glenn Hughes is back. I really disagree with the term the Voice Of Rock he's accompanied with, since I strongly believe this man's capable of singing EVERYTHING in the wider modern spectrum - I can imagine him as the next answer to Luciano Pavarotti's ambitious behavior, but don't know how he would handle Chris Barnes' growls if he suffers any injury again (sic). To cut a long story short, there's no dispute on this experienced vocalist/bassist's ability. So, let's focus on the music itself...
Glenn Hughes surely is a busy man. The multi-talented ex-member of monsters of Rock like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Hughes/Thrall, Trapeze or the latest HTP (Hughes/Turner Project) has released some remarkable solo albums over his juicy career (whereas he seems to be in an orgasm of solo working during the last 12 years) with the landmark of his charismatic voice in the forefront of each release. It's a fact, though, that the first time I put this CD in my player (car player, to be more specific) I was everything else than blown away by Soul Mover. Not that I was eager to throw it under a passing truck - my girlfriend surely would be fond of it - but I was hearing something flat, one-dimensional or ground-based. Not that my opinion was altered dramatically by hearing the whole album many times again, but this is the proof that Soul Mover has some aces revealed on second sight.
In a more blues/soul/groovy direction than his predecessor Songs In the Key Of Rock (2003), Soul Mover may be an upcoming beloved for the artist's devoted followers (don't count me in) but will raise a handful of doubts from eager listeners. Supported by longtime guitarist J.J. Marsh and keyboard player Ed Roth, on drums is none other than Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith who really makes the difference. This result - making me fantasize a jamming between RHCP, Lenny Kravitz and Jimi Hendrix - is also enforced by the guest appearance of the other back-then Peppers member, Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro. Come on, you can easily sum it up; the data given speak for themselves.
Who am I to judge...There's no point in arguing 'bout the musicians' level or the overall album production. Still, Soul Mover is groovier and less rocky than I expected it to be. The opening same-titled track and Dark Star are groovy & funky tracks and Hughes really cries his soul out. There are also some straightforward heavy Rock cuts,  e.g. Miss Little Insane or some more bluesy tunes like Change Yourself. The rest of the songs are more or less in the above-mentioned general vein.
I'm a disbeliever, huh? No way, it's just a case-sensitive situation to review a Glenn Hughes release, since he's equally shared between the basic Rock and Soul/Funk elements/principles. Still, this is a - generally speakin' - Rock mag and I'll have no other choice than to rate it as a...