December 1, 2012

17. Boys & Girls / Alabama Shakes


Boys & Girls

Feels much better now that he's a black chick.  The D Man texted that message to Stark the Vinyl Shark after listening to Alabama Shakes a second time.  The first time listening to the band's debut, Boys & Girls, I actually thought the singer was a stringy-haired white dude from the South.  Nice to have that cleared up.  And nice to have this notable response from Stark:  This is the best text I have ever gotten, no matter the context.

Brittany Howard and the boys do some serious soul-shaking and self-affirmation on the album's opening track, "Hold On."  "Must be somebody up above / saying c'mon Brittany / you got to get back up!"  Howard's soulful, nearly-there, but always reaching delivery sets the positively great groove on fire.  She knows how to simmer, too, on tracks like "I Ain't the Same" and "You Ain't Alone."  Though the record's vibe hails back to numerous old-school influences, it sounds urgent, in the here and now.  Stark the Vinyl Shark later noted that this was the record he wished Kings of Leon had made.  Listeners will nod their head in agreement, understanding that Boys & Girls is authentic, southern-rock soul music.

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