I've been a fan of the Alabama Shakes since 2012 when they released their debut album, "Boys & Girls." Not because they were from Athens, Alabama, just thirty minutes northwest of Huntsville, where I live. And not because they were young, fresh, and new, and something different, but at the same time somehow hearkening back to the raucous, in-your-face, kick-ass days of early Rock 'n' Roll and Rhythm & Blues. And not because they were also echoing the great old Muscle Shoals sounds that drifted down the Tennessee River valley from that other Alabama town, nearly in shouting distance (well 40 miles) west of Athens.
Well, maybe all these helped, but, no, for me, it was more about the front woman of the band, Brittany Howard. Not since Janis Joplin had there been a sweltering, bold belting female rock vocalist with as much power, grit, and allure as this young (23 years old when "Boys & Girls" was released) songstress from the deep South. So when she decided to quit the Alabama Shakes in 2017 to go solo, I was concerned but not disappointed. When her first solo album "Jaime," finally came out last fall, my concerns were quickly dashed. It was freaky, funny, sad, and deeply personal, and I love it.
Despite all the accolades, I didn't know much about Howard's background and personal life. The music was enough for me. But now I'm happy to report that the rock critic Amanda Petrusich has written a fine, flattering profile of her for the April 27, 2020 issue of the New Yorker. You can find it online at: www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/27/brittany-howards-transformation
ENJOY!
Well, maybe all these helped, but, no, for me, it was more about the front woman of the band, Brittany Howard. Not since Janis Joplin had there been a sweltering, bold belting female rock vocalist with as much power, grit, and allure as this young (23 years old when "Boys & Girls" was released) songstress from the deep South. So when she decided to quit the Alabama Shakes in 2017 to go solo, I was concerned but not disappointed. When her first solo album "Jaime," finally came out last fall, my concerns were quickly dashed. It was freaky, funny, sad, and deeply personal, and I love it.
Despite all the accolades, I didn't know much about Howard's background and personal life. The music was enough for me. But now I'm happy to report that the rock critic Amanda Petrusich has written a fine, flattering profile of her for the April 27, 2020 issue of the New Yorker. You can find it online at: www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/27/brittany-howards-transformation
ENJOY!
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