Artist – Album: Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls
Released: 9th
April 2012
Sounds Like: A landmark
People of the world rejoice! I am a hero! Fanfares toot for
me, fireworks spell out my name in the clear night sky, and, in pubs up and
down the country, best friends will cheers a hearty cheers, sip their drinks
and shake their heads with a wry smile at my tremendous achievement. For today,
I’m sure you’re aware, is the 100th day of 2013. Which means that –
ahhh yes, you’ve got it – this is my 100th album review. 100 days,
100 blogs. Thank you. Thank you.
The subject of this post, apart from my blatant awesomeness,
is Alabama Shakes’ Boys & Girls; an album that was only released last year
and is therefore the newest I’ve listened to during this whole stupid boy
project. However recent it may be, it’s also steeped in rollicking rock history
and therefore a good rowdy record to be listening to on my centi-post.
Right from the first track, the irrepressible ‘Hold On’, with its slumbering
introduction and the hollered chorus “You got to... wait!”, the albums revels
in its bluesy roots rock heritage. It’s not hard to hear Janis Joplin in
Brittany Howard’s raw vocals, but there are also echoes of the great Creedence
Clearwater Revival, AC/DC and even early Kings of Leon in their music. ‘I Found You’, ‘You Ain’t Alone’ and
particularly the brilliant ‘Be Mine’ sit
next to the opening song as the best bits here and are well worth seeking out.
Unsurprisingly for a band that so proudly wear their
influences on their sleeves, nothing here is groundbreaking. However, it’s
still a great debut, and, at least for me on this momentous day, a landmark
album.
Albumaday... rating:
7/10
1. Hold
On – 3:46
2. I
Found You – 2:59
3. Hang
Loose – 2:24
4. Rise
to the Sun – 3:08
5. You
Ain’t Alone – 4:44
6. Goin’
to the Party – 1:45
7. Heartbreaker
– 3:47
8. Boys
& Girls – 3:25
9. Be
Mine – 4:14
10. I
Ain’t the Same – 2:55
11. On
Your Way – 3:05
Listen to ‘Be Mine ’:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uEGjucLt9A
Also released on the 9th April:
1984: R.E.M - Reckoning
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