release date: Apr. 9, 2012
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,04]
producer: Alabama Shakes and Andrija Tokic
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Hold On" (4 / 5) (live on SNL) - 2. "I Found You" (4 / 5) (live on KEXP) - 3. "Hang Loose" - 4. "Rise to the Sun" (4,5 / 5) (live on KEXP, and live on 'Live on the Green') - 8. "Boys & Girls" - 9. "Be Mine" (live on Later with Jools Holland)
[ full 'Live performance on KEXP', Dec. 2012 ]
Studio debut album by Alabama Shakes is a great album that really rocks. It's a sublime combo of soul, r&b, blues rock and garage rock, which makes me think of Amy Winehouse doing rock. Brittany Howard is the leading star of the band with her unique voice and she really knows how to play blues rock on her electrified jazz guitar. I've heard and seen them in many live performances and that's truly their playground 'cause not many artists nowadays perform that great live, or at least not as convincing as Alabama Shakes. This is one of the best albums of the year and naturally, it's highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, The Telegraph 4 / 5, The Independent 5 / 5 stars ]
2012 Favorite releases: 1. Marie Key De her dage - 2. Paul Banks Banks - 3. Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls [debut]
