4/5 stars
The greatest mistake anyone will make when listening to Alabama Shakes’ new album is expecting it will be 12 tracks recalling ‘Hold On’. Sound & Color is the Shakes’ follow up to their indie-radio-bursting debut, and boy howdy, does it live up to expectations – apart from regurgitating their early hit, that is.
Brittany Howard’s charming, androgynous vocals once again lead the journey across an impressively versatile album that showcases downplayed soul-funk on ‘This Feeling’ and Etta James-like power vocals on ‘Miss You’. But by far the greatest evolution from 2012’s Boys & Girls is how well showcased the rest of the band is; the debutwas Howard with a band behind her, Sound & Color utilises vocals by the other three musicians to great effect, producing brilliant harmonies throughout – most notably on ‘Future People’ and ‘Gemini’.
Ultimately, Alabama Shakes are a band that is sincerely difficult to dislike. Sound & Color is Americana reinterpreted; it stands out as an ode to an era of country and soul that might have been lost to the sands of time.
Sound & ColorbyAlabama Shakesis out on Rough Trade/Remote Control.
