The Crossing
Menahan Street Band · 2012
38 min · 11 tracks · soul
A rich tapestry of instrumental soul, blending vintage warmth with modern grooves that evoke a sense of nostalgia and yearning.
Top tracks — play these first
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Lights Out — This track encapsulates the band's signature sound with its infectious groove and soulful brass arrangements, making it a fan favorite. Its cinematic quality has led to multiple uses in film and television.
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Bullet for the Bagman — With its driving rhythm and catchy melody, this song showcases the band's ability to create engaging instrumental hooks that resonate with listeners. Its rhythmic shifts highlight their musical versatility.
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Driftwood — The track features a poignant blend of melancholy melodies and intricate instrumentation, demonstrating the band's emotional depth and lyrical storytelling through music alone. It stands out for its reflective quality.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong arrangements and a cohesive sound, making it rewarding for repeat listens.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of layered instrumentation, with horns and strings weaving through the tracks to create a lush soundscape.
- Each track maintains a mid-tempo groove, with rhythmic variations that keep the listener engaged without abrupt changes in pace.
- Several songs incorporate repeated motifs that evolve throughout their duration, allowing for a sense of development while remaining cohesive.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- warm nostalgic instrumental vibes
- wave-like pacing with depth
- reprise that invites reflection
- background warmth for relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone singles only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- The Crossing is the third studio album by Menahan Street Band, released in 2012 after their acclaimed previous works. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their unique sound within the contemporary soul genre while also contributing to the resurgence of instrumental music. This album followed up on their 2008 debut, Make the Road By Walking, and exemplified their growth as a collective of accomplished musicians.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings· The Budos Band· Charles Bradley
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Crossing 5:04
- 2 Lights Out 2:35
- 3 Keep Coming Back 3:16
- 4 Three Faces 4:34
- 5 Sleight of Hand 3:00
- 6 Everyday a Dream 3:51
- 7 Seven Is the Wind 5:06
- 8 Bullet for the Bagman 2:57
- 9 Driftwood 3:39
- 10 Ivory and Blue 3:36
- 11 Ivory and Blue (reprise) 1:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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