Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY XAVIER JOHNSON
Eleven years. It’s been eleven long years since Alabama Shakes, the Grammy Award winning rock trio, has released a record. During that hiatus, vocalist Brittany Howard set off on a multi-Grammy nominated solo career of her own. With how active each member was musically, fans were left to wonder when the group would return. After a surprise reunion show in late 2024, Alabama Shakes announced they were working on new material. Finally their new vision is realized on the recently released I Must Be Dreaming.
The powerhouse trio represents the breadth of American music. Their genre-defying sound is anchored in traditional blues rock, but draws upon a mountain of influences from funk to noise rock. This has given Alabama Shakes a strong reputation in the music world. They are not necessarily a revivalist group. While their music does call back to established sounds, their sound is distinct.
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes performs during the Ohana Festival in Dana Point.
A lot of this impact centers around Howard. Her voice shifts effortlessly into different registers to give each track exactly the vibe it needs. Guitarist Heath Fogg mirrors this adaptability. His dynamic playing is a testament to both the group’s cohesive songwriting and his own versatility as a player across different styles. Anchoring it all is bassist Zac Cockrell, whose bass lines elevate each arrangement and frequently stands out in the mix. This is particularly true on “American Dream,” where he effortlessly rides the groove with a palpable attitude.
Howard’s vocals are at their best on “Garden.” She sings the chorus lines: “If you don’t water your garden, I will / If you don’t show her you love her, I will / She means so much more to me than to you” with such a soulful tone. Backed by a killer bass thump and guitar dotting the track, Howard is given the space to deliver an outstanding vocal performance. Alongside lead single “I Feel Hope Coming,” these two tracks sound like old standards that have survived the test of time.
With the departure of their original drummer Steve Johnson due to serious legal charges, the percussion is handled by a committee of studio artists that perform phenomenally. Musicians Lewis Wright and Noah Bond handle the lion share of the duties while Cockrell contributes drums on “Garden.” Despite this approach, the drumming is cohesive and supports the trio well. The playing doesn’t tend to stand out, even though it is prominent in the mix. One exception, however, is on “How Love’s Supposed to Go,” where Bond gets to open up and absolutely do some damage grooving in the pocket.
The album marches on at a consistent rhythm. This is one of its strengths. The steady pace allows the listener to get lost in the music. For 40 minutes, these songs carry you, almost like a horse’s rhythmic galloping through the American frontier. While sometimes albums with few tempo switch ups can feel one-note, Alabama Shakes makes this a strength.
These songs constantly soak your ears with rich, multilayered sounds. It works whether it’s Howard tapping into a ghostly, effects-soaked vocal timbre, or the guitar weaving in and out, dancing between tender and aggressive moment-to-moment. When Alabama Shakes described this album as “psychedelic soul,” this is where that description sounds accurate.
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes performs at the Ohana Festival in Dana Point.
This isn’t to say I Must Be Dreaming is entirely mid-tempo psychedelic soul tracks. Alabama Shakes frequently flexes its rock bonafides throughout the track list. Their instrumentation is vibrant and unpredictable, weaving in notes of 2000’s indie rock on “Friends” with more modern indie folk sounds on “Waist Deep.” Regardless of form, each song nails the sound it’s going for without ever sounding pastiche. This is simply the pocket Alabama Shakes excels in.
On “Time” and “How Love’s Supposed to Go” both Howard and Fogg get the chance to flex their guitar chops. These are more aggressive blues rock tracks with raucous free-flowing instrumental sections punctuated by wailing guitars and distortion soaked noise.
I Must Be Dreaming is a masterclass in rock music. Embracing sounds that capture the kaleidoscope of the genre, Alabama Shakes delivers a dense, rewarding listen that reminds listeners why a reunion was such a big deal. Alabama Shakes remains a standard bearer of modern rock music and it feels so good to have them back.
