Alabama Shakes: Sound & Color | Album Review

Sound & Color
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Artist: Alabama Shakes
Genre: R&B / Soul
Label: Rough Trade

We all love bands of the day, at least for a while, and then – heartless creatures that we are – we move on.

Three years ago, Alabama Shakes' debut album Boys & Girls lit a fuse with its mixture of ultra lean rock'n'roll and soul.

Selling nigh on a million copies, garnering praise from the likes of Adele and Robert Plant, and nabbing three Grammy nominations, meant an easy-peasy follow-up might be on the cards.

Glad to say they didn't take the bait, as Sound & Color is a completely different kind of riot 'goin' on.

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For starters, the virtually one-note leanness of the debut has been replaced by a broadening of styles, (hence, probably, the album title) which encompasses soul/funk mood pieces (Gemini), svelte soul (Dunes), eruptive bangers (The Greatest) and George Clintonesque soul freak-outs (Future People).

Shakes. Rattles. Rolls. Even more fun starts here.

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Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in popular culture