Alabama Shakes : Sound & Color

Posted on by J. Hubner

On Alabama Shakes debut album, Boys & Girls, they proved an affinity for the roots-y rock ‘nalabama_shakes_sound_color roll. They were a tight band with a vocalist in Brittany Howard that rivaled pretty much any young up and coming soul singer record labels were attempting to shove down our collective throats. Not only could Howard sing so damn good, she could play guitar and write songs as well. She was the real deal. And with a band of not session guys, but friends and fellow like-minded souls, well the Shakes pretty much had it all. Thing is, they were predestined to be lumped into some generic category with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and the list goes on and on. A band that wrote heartbreaking modern soul like “I Found You” and “Be Mine” shouldn’t be confined to the genre box, so Howard and company made sure the second time around that wasn’t going to happen. Sound & Color is a smorgasbord of rock, funk, soul, and a crisply modern take on the likes of Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, The Delfonics, and even give Jack White a run for his money when it comes to grabbing the status quo by the lapels and shaking it around a bit.

The album opens with the starkly lit “Sound & Color”. It’s a melancholy slow burner that shows Alabama Shakes aren’t hiding behind a sheen of put-on grit. The song is in your face and very much present. Brittany Howard’s vocals are front and center with some serious low end in the kick drum. Strings, vibes, and keys float above in a cloud of reverb. This is the sound of a band in the now. “Don’t Wanna Fight” sounds like neo funk ‘n soul all mixed up in a Ronson-approved sonic stew. You could slap a layer of barbecue sauce on the rhythm section as meaty as it is, while Brittany Howard gets all D’Angelo in the chorus. This is the real deal, man. If Boys & Girls brought the Shakes the attention and good reviews, Sound & Color just brought a lifelong career. This is a game changer kind of record.

Sound & Color is a proper title for this album, as there are so many sonic shapes and colors being used here. The production game has been upped significantly, showing that Alabama Shakes are using the studio tools given them to their advantage. Adding a little grit and grime on a track like “Dunes” ages the track to give you the feeling you’re hearing some lost Muscle Shoals recording from 1971. Or on “The Greatest”, where the Shakes try on The Strokes’ dirtied leather jackets for nearly four minutes of angst-y soul/punk. They sweeten things up on “Shoegaze” and you get the feeling Creedence Clearwater Revival might’ve been spinning from time to time. And closing track “Over My Head” is a heartbreaking, soulful ballad that’ll keep you hitting rewind.

I think if Kings Of Leon hadn’t sold their souls for sex appeal and Youtube ads they might’ve been able to retain some of that gritty soul and cowpunk charm they showed on their first two albums. As it stands, they are lost somewhere in the vacuum of hair gel commercials and a pile of crushed Red Bull cans. As it stands, Alabama Shakes seem to be on the fast track to a wonderful and fulfilling career as the champions of a rock ‘n soul, with no signs of commercialism and ego swallowing them whole like their southern counterparts in the brothers Followill. Stay on track, Shakes. Sound & Color is a beauty.

8.2 out of 10

 

 

19 thoughts on “Alabama Shakes : Sound & Color”

      1. Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one. There were a few tracks from the debut that I really dug but was hoping for more on this one.

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      2. I’m finding all their bits and pieces in just the right spot this time around. There’s a couple tracks that could’ve been left off, but other than that I find myself listening to it every morning. It almost reminds me of listening to Lenny Kravitz’ ‘Mama Said’ back in high school. it’s stuff that’s been done(and better), but the heart and dedication won me over.

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    2. The first record was good, but nothing there to make me come back for frequent visits. Something about the production on Sound & Color that keeps me coming back. It’s like cosmic soul. It feels very confident and in-the-moment to me. That’s just my take on it.

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  4. I might give them a try the second time around. I kinda liked their first album (loved some of the songs) but actually figured that their second album would be tame in comparison. Guess, I have to give them a chance, now that you spoke up for them, otherwise I feel like a fool.

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      1. Holy shamoly, I am on track #3 and it’s amazing. Definitely better (I would say juicier) than the debut which had some strong songs but lacked a certain surprise-factor throughout. This is three songs in and makes me giddy!

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    1. They’ve definitely have honed in on something that resembles a sound this time around. A sound of their own, that is.

      Love it when a band isn’t afraid to use the studio as a tool, and Alabama Shakes are certainly doing that.

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Published by J. Hubner

Complex Distractions is a little corner of the universe where music and conversation reign supreme. Intellectual discussions and essays written about heady records, both big and small, that despite what you might think can truly change your life. Spinning the records for the good of mankind.