The Daily Spin, March 10
Alabama Shakes | Sound & Color
Welcome back to the Daily Spin, the series in which I review 365 albums during 2023.
Each album will be given a rating on a scale from 0 to 10. You can look at the entire set here. Additionally, you can check out a list of my favorite song from each album right here.
If you want to suggest an album, good news! You can do so right here!
Album: Sound & Color (2015)
Artist: Alabama Shakes
Link:
Though often painted as revivalists, I think Sound & Color helps Alabama Shakes step out of that box, however temporarily that may be. As they flow from genre to genre across the record, it becomes imminently clear that this group is far more than the sixties-style music that painted their first record, Boys & Girls.
Under anthemic vocals, courtesy of powerhouse Brittany Howard, there’s a very soulful sort of pull to each song on the album - some with more effect than others, but all of them driving in their own unique regard.
The clear stars of the record are the two opening tracks - the titular one, a slow-moving masterpiece, lightly sparkling chimes and a sole bass guitar opening into a spacious tun, one that’s so easy to get carried away on, while Don’t Wanna Fight is a slightly more rollicking rock anthem, one that powers through the sentiment of being so, so tired. Shoegaze, down the album a ways, shines in its own right, a glimmering tale of friendship and happiness.
It’s distilled feeling, bottled in a way that harks back to a better day. I like that.
Rating: 8.6/10
Best Tracks: Sound & Color; Don’t Wanna Fight; Shoegaze
Worst Tracks: This Feeling