Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color

This writer had an odd sense that Alabama Shakes might not be around for the long haul when interviewing them in 2012. Sequestered in their dressing room, the chatty Alabamas turned tongue-tied, even defensive, the moment the tape began rolling. Did overnight fame agree? A shrug. What were their plans for the future? Darned if they knew. On it went - the conversation flowing 90 per cent in one direction.
How is relevant to their second LP? Because a similar lack of focus informs Sound and Color. Here the quartet try to obscure their memorable quality, Brittany Howard's cloud-gasping vocals, under endless feedback. Some of the creative decisions are baffling - why record a three minute punk 'workout' that sounds like every other punk work out ever written? And you can probably tell what they're going for with 'Shoegaze' before the song has ever begun.
Not surprisingly, the group fare best retreating to the blues-rock blueprint to which they owed their initial success. 'Don't Wanna Fight' is agreeable rollicking, while 'Dunes' and 'Future People' they are smart enough to let Howard's voice do the heavy lifting. If only such moments were more plentiful.
KEY TRACK: 'Don't Wanna Fight'