Boys and Girls
Alabama Shakes (ATO Records) Making it big in the music world
is the dream of tens of thousands of garage bands around the world. The Alabama Shakes are living that dream, punching into music business consciousness like a thunderbolt. The four members must be overwhelmed, thinking “Is this all real?” Talk about your sudden success, but it is warranted. Hailing from Athens, Alabama – not
to be confused with Athens, Georgia where REM and the B52s originated - the band formed itself around guitarist and lead singer Brittany Howard and bassist Zac Cockrell, who would jam together and swap song ideas in her grandfather’s house. They added drummer Steve Johnson and a bit later, guitarist Heath Fogg from another area band. The Shakes were born – they later added Alabama to distinguish themselves from a similarly named band– and they played the bars and small-town halls of the region as a cover band (check out their version of “How Many More Times” on YouTube), occasionally tossing in an original every once and a while. But their distinctive soul-based,
stripped down, bluesy garage rock sound and the magnificent voice of Ms. Howard was attracting attention. A four-song EP, a slice of a song in a national advertising campaign for Zales and enthusiastic − no, rave − reviews in The New York Times, New Music Express, and Rolling Stone were creating a buzz. Almost overnight the band was touring as headliners and playing the big late-night talk shows. Boys and Girls lives up to the
hype. Howard has a wonderful voice: husky, immense and intense like Joplin’s. She can go from a whisper to a growl at the drop of a hat. Listen to the power and range in the dynamic “You Ain’t Alone” – the one song by itself is reason enough to pick up the album. Thankfully there are numerous other fine tracks showcasing their
www.bounder.ca BILL MACPHERSON
distinctive sound. Soul, gospel, blues, and rock and roll are all pervasive, with Howard’s voice the glue binding it all together. The first single is the infectious
“Hold On” with its chugging bass and drums intro, some sinewy guitar licks and that big, soulful voice of Howard’s at the centre of it all. The gal doesn’t look like your typical rock band frontsperson, but she plays a mean rhythm guitar and puts every bit of herself into every song, every time. The band employs keyboards, organ
and piano on a number of songs, but primarily it’s guitar, bass, drums and Howard’s heartfelt, gut-wrenching, searing vocals. This is real roots music from the
American south. Healthy doses of soul and the amazing, wide-ranging vocal power of Howard define the band’s sound. Boys and Girls is a fine debut album but way too short, offering up a taste and leaving you wanting more.
C CM
MUSIC REVIEW
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