release date: Apr. 21, 2015
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Blake Mills, Alabama Shakes
label: Rough Trade - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Sound & Color" - 2. "Don't Wanna Fight" (4 / 5) (live in studio) - 4. "Future People" (live in studio) - 5. "Gimme All Your Love" (4 / 5) (live on SNL) - 7. "Guess Who" - 8. "The Greatest" - 9. "Shoegaze"
2nd studio album by Alabama Shakes released on ATO Records in the US and by Rough Trade Records in the EU is the closely continued journey from the fine debut Boys & Girls from 2012. Almost all tracks are entirely written by the band's undisputed leader, Brittany Howard.
Compared to the brilliant debut, the style and sound is almost identical on this one - the songs are there and it's basically a more than fine follow-up that nearly turns out just as brilliant. Only slight difference, as I hear it, is a more soulful blues rock building on r&b and a little less garage rock.
The musicians in this band are just sublime, and it says more than anything that the band's official videos are live studio recordings. And Brittany... well, that woman is on top of it all. She rules!
This album is simply one of the best releases in 2015.
[ allmusic.com, The Independent, NME 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Spin 7,5 / 10 stars ]
2015 Favourite releases: 1. Mellemblond Fra et sted - 2. Paul Weller Saturns Pattern - 3. The Alabama Shakes Sound & Color
