Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color
Words By: Bailey Zeigler
Grammy-nominated group, Alabama Shakes, picks up where they left off in terms artistry. Their dynamic R&B sound has elements of rock is captivating and their range and talent blew me away in the first two tracks. The Sound & Color opens with the beautifully simple title track that covers the idea of being connected to the world around you by using your senses. Than suddenly, you’re woken up from your trance with the introductory riff to “Don’t Want to Fight” and you switch from that purely classic R&B sound to something with more edge to it. The combination of the beat and the riffs create an energetic contrast to “Sound & Color”.
My biggest issue (and to be honest, it isn’t that big) is that there was so much distortion on everything that some of the lyrics get lost in the added noise. On the production end, it sounds amazing. I just feel like I shouldn’t have to look up the lyrics as much as I did. Even then, some of the lyric sheets look more like blank pages of a Mad Libs book. Clearly, I’m not the only one with this problem. On the positive side, this production choice really added to the works because it helped create more of a listening experience.
In terms of performance, Alabama Shakes went above and beyond because overall the album is incredibly dynamic. While listening, there were so many constant changes in level of energy and emotion that it really made the experience mind-blowing. “Give Me All Your Love” is the best example of this because this song jumps around on so many levels dynamically and rhythmically but it still makes sense. The edge and intensity in the lead vocals at the hook is what’s really attention grabbing and makes this track sound out.
Another reason why I loved this album so much is that none of these songs sounded too similar to each other. Typically, when artists find a formula that works lyrically or musically they stick with it (sometimes unintentionally). This album, however, I can clearly pick out the songs because each really does bring something new to the listener.
Overall, I believe this album is great as far as being dynamic but also maintaining consistency. I will say that having as much trouble as I did understanding the lyrics is what hurts the album. I’m sure they’re great lyrics but there’s so much production on the vocals there are lines that get completely lost in translation. I still think that this project is a fantastic follow-up to their debut album, Boys & Girls. If you like a wide range of styles and dynamics, I highly suggest Sound & Color.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Recommended Tracks: “Don’t Wanna Fight” & “Give Me All Your Love”
