I hope you’ve heard of them and if you haven’t, you’re in for an absolute treat. If you admire raw talent and soul in your musicians, Alabama Shakes will not disappoint.
I was introduced to the soulful roots rock sound of Alabama Shakes in May of 2015 while I was watching my routine Sunday morning show, CBS Sunday Morning. I cannot tell you how absolutely WOW’d I was. My jaw simply dropped to the floor when I heard their music and listened to their story.
I appreciate and listen to a wide range of music genres. I can go anywhere from classical to house to R&B and blues. I grew up around a lot of classic rock such as AC/DC and Led Zeppelin so when I heard Alabama Shakes for the first time, I felt a bit of nostalgia, but also such a rush from a group who seems so genuine, talented, passionate, and humble. As true artists, they exude energy, emotion, and passion when delivering their music and their performances and it is down right genuine.
What I appreciate even more is the fact that since their first album Boys & Girls came out, they’ve attempted to not give in to media or public definition of what they should be. Although many reviewers and critics will attempt to label their musical style or genre, they are remaining creative individuals who will allow themselves to explore whichever direction their music takes them. “We just wanted to be free and explore and not worry what this record would be in the public’s eye,” guitarist Heath Fogg is quoted as saying on RollingStone.com when talking about their second album Sound & Color.
I would also say their music is not simple by any means. There is complexity and layers. While giving it a rating of 4 out of 5, Garrett Kamps at Billboard.com writes Alabama Shakes’ music on the most recent album Sound & Color is “…erudite enough to excite even the most studious, skeptical ethnomusicologists.” He further claims, that “among rock music of its kind, it’s one of the most muscular collections in some time, yet it accomplishes this by hardly even flexing.” I agree and believe this is a sign of true talent and vision!
From forming in 2009 and performing at local gigs in their small hometown in Athens, Alabama to touring all over the world, they have really jettisoned. Off their first album the hit single, “Hold On,” was nominated for several Grammy Awards. “Hold On” includes a message about staying positive no matter what’s happening around you and to keep workin’ at it. It became Rolling Stone’s Best Song of the Year in 2012.
During breaks in their touring schedule, they created their second album, Sound & Color which was released in 2015 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. As of this writing, for the Week of March 12, 2016, the album is listed as 20 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales. In addition, this year they won 4 Grammy Awards, Best Alternative Music Album – Sound & Color; Best Rock Performance – “Don’t Wanna Fight”; Best Rock Song – “Don’t Wanna Fight”; and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical – Sound & Color.
Being fearless, as Brittany Howard has been described, has definitely paid off.
