Hailing from their namesake, Alabama Shakes have been drawing a good deal of attention with a blend of blues, soul, and rock that is both timeless and raw. For a band that released their first full-length album Boys & Girls in April of this year, they’ve seen a lot of coverage and recognition in a very short amount of time, even having the honor of closing out the opening night of this year’s Bonnaroo festival.

Lead singer Brittany Howard’s vocals are powerful and indisputably soulful, while maintaining a level of modern ambiguity. It’s that touch of strange which keeps Alabama Shakes’ sound fresh and interesting. The longing, torch-y ballad “You Ain’t Alone” (which can be heard on Boys & Girls) hits a mark that will appeal to fans of Devendra Banhart, David Bowie, and Otis Redding all in one. 

About The Author

Isabel Reidy was a contributing writer to Jonk Music in 2012.