I'm out of the loop when it comes to mainstream music so part of me feels like I must have missed when Plan B broke out here in the States. Plan B is apparently big in Britain, one of their songs have over 13 million hits on Youtube, and they have over 2 million likes on Facebook which is more than other up-and-comers like Mumford and Sons. But I've asked a couple of people and they haven't heard of them and then I found a recent article quoting the singer/rapper as saying that he can't get any radio play in the States because "The black stations feel I'm too white and white stations feel I'm too black"

It'd be a shame if this album didn't hit because it's a pretty great concept album, following the rise of a soul singer who then gets thrown in jail for a crime he didn't commit. At times, the lyrics are a little on the nose and the story telling is fairly literal but it's still a nice piece of work and one that is made all the better by the fact that there's a video for each of the songs, making this one of the first YouTube operas, so to speak.
EDIT: I just noticed that this album apparently dropped in the UK over a year ago so if it hasn't made it over here by now, I'm not sure it ever will.

The songs I'm posting below are songs 3 and 4 from the album (the first two songs are fairly straightforward soul songs that are supposed to establish the main character as an up-and-coming act. These two songs are about the night of the crime and the court case. I can't get enough of "Stay Too Long" but it seems like "She Said" is the bigger hit. (And it is a cooler video.) I think I like "Stay Too Long" a bit more since I can relate to the main idea of the song - staying out when you should call it a night. I hate when the night ends and often look for ways to extend the evening at all costs. Thankfully, no nights have ended like the song but I definitely need to learn to call it quits.

So does Plan B get a Yay or Nay? Voice your opinion over at the SoulHonky page on Facebook.

Oh, and if you like your soul a little more straightforward, I have to once again recommend Fitz and the Tantrums. They seem to be making a push right now but it can't hurt to give them another plug. It's also nice to see former Tryout Foxy Shazam crossing over a bit - they are the band featured in the new Bing ad campaign following fans and the band in Vegas. (If you've watched anything on Hulu recently, you've probably seen the ad pop up.)