Alabama Shakes first got my attention back in 2012 when I first heard 'Hold On'. A refreshing track, which featured beautifully stripped back contemporary blues and soul to compliment the husky vocals of Brittany Howard. It was a single which promised so much for the rest of the album, especially as the album opener. However, the proceeding tracks never reached the same heights, leaving all in all a disappointing effort. Still, a breath of fresh air I felt. Modern day blues/soul/country usually leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth, accompanied with scratching of the head and ultimately blocking of the ears.
An unwritten formula for modern day music features a number of artists who release a decent first album, but struggle to keep up the momentum in the 2nd. Alabama Shakes have done the rare opposite. 'Sound & Color' is bold, stylistic and at times surprisingly hard hitting. Unlike its predecessor, it maintains a strong and self-assured feel. This is a band sure of what they want, and do it with a confidence which only enhances their sound. The ideas are flowing here, with the songwriting in particular improving immensely.
'Don't Wanna Fight' is as good a single as 'Hold On'. It's gritty, catchy and the vocals are sublime. Brittany Howard is the cornerstone of everything for Alabama Shakes. This might sound obvious, but without her they wouldn't exist. She couldn't be replaced.
'Gimme all your love' demonstrates this perfectly. Again, the vocal delivery is what crowns the track, yet it is so much more than that. A contender for song of the year so far. It soars, soothes and then soars again with some incredibly clever instrumentation in between. A track I didn't think they were capable of if I am being honest. Truly brilliant.
The charm of the album continues throughout with the energy exploding and settling several times. It's this change of tempo and musical innovation which separates this album from the debut. The very serene and tranquil tones of 'Guess Who' is followed up with the fast paced, guitar and drum jam of 'The Greatest'. Closer 'Over My Head' boasts the soulful core of the band, just adding another string to their ever growing bow.
It is this wide stylistic spectrum that makes Alabama Shakes niche . A contemporary, yet old fashioned sounding mix of soul, rock and roll and blues. It is a rare combination these days, especially when you consider each genre taken on it's own has effectively had it's heyday.
Alabama Shakes have written better songs, experimented musically and are bellowing out their lyrics louder. A winning formula.
8/10
Here is the single 'Don't Wanna Fight':
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