'Muscles Shoals has got the swampest' sang Lynyrd Skynyrd in the praise song Sweet Home Alabama. Alabama, especially the Fame Studios in the village of Muscle Shoals, played a key role in the development of rock and soul. When you listen to Boys & Girls, the debut album by young Alabama Shakes, you can hear that they are aware of their local music history. They recorded this album in country
… capital Nashville, but you'd swear Boys & Girls was recorded at Muscle Shoals. Alabama Shakes plays solid 'swampy' soul with influences from rock and blues. 'Bless my heart, bless my soul' are the first lines of front woman Brittany Howard. That gospel lyrics and Brittany's voice, somewhere between Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday, immediately reveal the Alabama Shakes influences. Old fashioned music maybe, but the quartet's youthful enthusiasm ensures that this music is not just for veterans. Alabama Shakes is totally in tune with the current soul trend, but unique enough to be much more than a copy cat or mayfly. (PdK)more
