Much of the joy in my life so far has been discovering new bands -- bands that are hell-bent on speaking the truth, saying something real, getting our lazy asses up from our couches and send us running to the nearest record store. Usually they can't be found anywhere on the Top 40 charts, at least certainly not here in my country. Enter the Alabama Shakes; the American embodiment of 21st Century blues rock, soul, garage and R&B, harking back to the glory days of Stax and Motown. This young group of twenty-somethings is led by a big lady, Brittany Howard, who unabashedly carries with her the ghosts of many a legendary African-American singer from the '60s and '70s......in particular Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, and more recently, Amy Winehouse. A real powerhouse voice. Get their debut LP now. [link]
