Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

My gut instincts tell me that Alabama Shakes are very much a band to experience live rather than on record. With a vocalist as incredibly raw and powerful as Brittany Howard at the helm, and a whole range of blues and rock history from their state, there's no denying they'd be show-stealers. But at a stage in their career where the hype's been monumental and inevitably the ticket prices will be too, it's a little difficult to find place for them on your iTunes or Spotify playlists.

Nonetheless, that talent is rare in live performers today. And who knows, maybe their niche place in the music business will prevent their songs from being used to advertise sports cars or tampons.

Right from the get go the band get down to a stomping bassline on 'Hold On', a track that, aside from older Americana influences, slots in nicely with today's music scene where Kings of Leon once stood (pre-meltdown). Howard even does a quite convincing Followill impression, screeching "I don't wanna wait!" over much cymbal-action. 'I Found You' features more in the way of interesting riffs and a slight Motown tinge to the background, and it's a far better written track. Lyrically, though, the band suffer from a range of clichés: "I travelled a long way/ and it took a long time to find you/ but I finally found you". Not exactly riveting reading. But they sing it with a conviction that overpowers any lingering doubts of their originality. 'Hang Loose', too, is constructed with a blues-hook aimed straight for the Later... with Jools Holland demographic, but it just works.


They can occasionally come up with some stand-out riffs and moments that save them from age-old blues comparisons: the jittery twangs on 'Rise of the Sun' make them sound more Vampire Weekend than anything. There's even a delicious soul moment on 'You Ain't Alone', complete with Wall of Sound dramatic effects and an all-but-visible spotlight on Howard's showstopping vocal. Following this with the weird 'Goin' to the Party' seems quite misjudged, 1:46 of pretty much nothingness. Thankfully the soul and power returns on 'Heartbreaker' if again at the expense of decent lyrics - but hey, there've been far worse songs called 'Heartbreaker' in the past 5 years. 


Like every great gig there's an ideal moment to wander off and get a pint and that'd probably happen here during 'Boys & Girls'. Slow, romantic and cute, it's all very lovely, but not exactly awe-inspiring. 'Be Mine', too, lingers a little too long before its climactic ending that just about saves the album's intensity single-handed. There are true duds towards the end, though: 'I Ain't the Same' probably would struggle to make a Killers b-side, and glaringly begs for more original songwriting. 'On Your Way' has a clear early Fleetwood Mac influence, taking some of the sounds and tunes of Albatross and packing them into a sunkissed Texas anthem, and it's a nice pastiche track. Ending their album though with the oddly shouty and uniquely southern-American 'Heavy Chevy' does well to reaffirm their heritage but does so whilst making their image seem gimmicky. It's just a little silly.

In a way the album, to use a current reference, is a lot like watching Ruth Brown on the current UK series of The Voice. The talent is certainly there and it's an incredible power, and in amongst all of the other contestants for your attention it easily stands out, but at the end of the programme you're ready to return to your own music collection. With a little more creativity and an individual stamp they'd really become something special. But as one of the greatest live bands of the moment I wouldn't totally discourage you from discovering them.

Rating: 7/10

Highlights: You Ain't Alone, Rise of the Sun, I Found You, Heartbreaker

Avoid: Goin' to the Party, I Ain't the Same

Artwork Watch: I've been waiting years for someone to bring back artexing.

For fans of: Music.