Alabama Shakes are back with swampy Southern soul, trip-hop and seventies funk
After a ten-year hiatus, the band Alabama Shakes has returned with a new album titled I Must Be Dreaming following an impromptu benefit concert in Tuscaloosa. The group blends their characteristic Southern soul and rock roots with elements of seventies funk and electronic trip-hop, anchored by Brittany Howard's emotive vocals.
The band Alabama Shakes has returned after a decade-long hiatus, following an unexpected benefit performance in Tuscaloosa in late 2024. The group, which gained international fame in the early 2010s with their debut album Boys & Girls, had seemingly disappeared after their experimental 2015 follow-up, Sound & Color, while lead singer Brittany Howard pursued a successful solo career. Although the band was never officially dissolved, fans had heard nothing from them until this recent resurgence sparked industry-wide attention.
Their new album, I Must Be Dreaming, builds upon their signature swampy Southern soul and rock roots while incorporating diverse influences such as seventies funk, psychedelic melodies, and electronic trip-hop elements. Despite this broader sonic palette, Howard’s powerful and emotive vocals remain the central unifying force of the music. This latest project successfully bridges the band’s established soulful sound with the artistic growth Howard experienced during her solo work, marking a significant evolution for the group after their lengthy absence from the music scene.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
