It's good to hear from Brittany Howard this year. It's been four years since Alabama Shakes released the well-deserved AotY-nominee Sound and Color, and it seems that Brittany lost her goddamned mind in all the best ways with this release. It's still the sound she made as the leader of Alabama Shakes, but it also has a lot of influences from other musicians. Paula Abdul came to mind with her vocal delivery on "History Repeats", there's some Vangelis on "Run to Me", "He Loves Me" has the heavy beat of "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin, and "13th Century Metal" brings Jack White and the conclusion of Kendrick Lamar's "Untitled #3" to mind. The whole album has some influence from D'Angelo, too.
Then you have her lyrics going through some mood swings - righteous, powerful, mournful, lovestruck, soulful, and indignant. "Goat Head" in particular is going to give me nightmares. Brittany is well deserving of queen status.
By: ForkCandles