After a long break, a new album can be a delicate act to balance for an artist, as well as something of a daunting task. This year has already seen other long-awaited returns from the UK's Marmozets and Basement. This time, it is the return of critical darlings, blues rock group Alabama Shakes.
For Alabama Shakes, their first two albums – 2012's Boys and Girls, and 2015's Sound and Colour – brought heapings of acclaim. At the time, you could be mistaken for thinking the four piece (now three piece) had the world in their hands, and free rein to sweep away all before them. Instead, the choice was to pause, and the band went on hiatus starting in 2018. For vocalist and guitarist Brittany Howard, whose rich, soulful vocals bring their tracks vividly to life, this was an opportunity to take a turn on a solo path.
Howard followed with two solo studio albums, which while successful in their own right, didn't reach the same dept of platitudes as the group. After lots of speculation, the return of Alabama Shakes was confirmed in late 2024. This brings into view I Must Be Dreaming, the long awaited third album from the group.
The hallmark, unmistakable vocals from Howard bring warmth at every turn, and from the off it is a pleasing, listenable time. In pre-release interviews, the group have said they have taken inspiration from the current political climate in the US. Where others may take that as a cue to channel anger or frustration, it's clear Howard and Co have opted to change tac providing a calming space that offers some small solace of escapism; away from the toxicity and noise, into something deep and soulful.
Whether that's the grooving "Another Life", the widescreen, encompassing soulfulness of "I Feel Hope Coming" – there is an abundance of rich, cooling indie rock across all eleven tracks here. It may not be a wholesale change, but it is a welcome escape at a time where many would cherish the chance to pause and unwind.
