Athens, Alabama’s Southern rock quartet Alabama Shakes made quick waves on the national music scene with its debut album, Boys & Girls. That album featured the hit single, “Hold On,” featuring the soulful vocals of singer Brittany Howard.
Sound & Color is the 12-song follow-up. After kicking off with the title track, “Don’t Wanna Fight” immediately showcases Howard’s vocals. There’s a shrill squeal that surges into the song’s first verse as a blues-driven riff grooves in the background leading to a Motown-esque chorus.
From there, the band cruises into rock ‘n’ soul territory that’s sure to garner even more admirers of the band’s trademark sound. The plucking guitar sound that has become familiar with Alabama Shakes isn’t lost on tracks like “Future People,” when thick electronic bass notes ring out, or on “Gimme All Your Love,” where keyboards are the driving force. The band isn’t afraid to strip things down either, as heard on the acoustic “This Feeling.”
The album hits a peak with the rough and tumble rock of “The Greatest,” before sliding into the finish with a few slow and soulful songs.
Much more than its debut, this one sets the mark for the band’s sound and where it’s going in the future. It sounds as if the quartet was focused on breaking out of the retro-soul revival category in favor of forging its own path, which they do with aplomb.
I expect this one on plenty of year-end top 10 lists. Now, if only someone could get them to Charlotte for a debut concert here… it’s about time, isn’t it?
This article appears in May 13-19, 2015.
