Entering with a James Brown-inspired shriek, singer Brittany Howard is front and center on the group’s second album, Sound & Color, which channels Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield, and funky ’70s soul-jazz. While any Alabama Shakes record will live and die by Howard's emotion-packed pipes, this one brings a broader palette to the band's sound. From the smooth-soul vibes and strings of the title track and the snap-tight funk of "Don't Wanna Fight" to the barnstorming blues-rock of "Dunes," the band broadens its horizons while staying true to its soul-rock roots.
