Rob’s Album of The Week: Brittany Howard’s What Now
There are certain bands and musicians who I kick myself from time to time for not getting into sooner, and this includes Brittany Howard and Alabama Shakes. The band came to prominence during the blues and soul revival of the late 2000s and since their hiatus in 2018, Howard has embarked on a stellar solo career. Her creative output has been a bit more experimental than her previous endeavor, but this approach has birthed some wicked cool music. This is evident in her sophomore full-length release What Now that came out on February 9 via Island Records. The album features a blend of Howard’s trademark soulful flair with jazz, electronic and pop elements as well as an amplified edge.
From listening to the record, the music walks the fine line between being flowingly cohesive and establishing a sonic variety. Each song has something different to offer while the structure and arrangements share some similarities. It also has to be mentioned that Howard’s vocals are fantastic. Her singing harks back to ’60s and ’70s R&B while setting the tone and vibe for What Now in its entirety. Even though I started this review column off by saying that I’ve been kicking myself for not getting into Howard’s music at an earlier time, this album is an exemplary introduction to what she has going on as an artist.
It’s February in New England, which means that there are tons of viruses floating around and everyone is dealing with some sort of nagging illness. For yours truly, I’ve been dealing with an on-and-off unholy trinity of congestion, cough and sore throat. It can be frustrating, especially when I’m consciously trying to stay active and healthy. If you live anywhere where the weather changes every few months, then you can probably relate. Speaking of relating, here are my top tracks off of the Album of The Week:
There are some legit bangers within What Now, and one of them is the title track. I love the beats, the charisma, the delivery and the instrumentation, it’s got a funky emphasis that’s purely excellent. Another one that has an array of great beats is “Prove It To You” while reminding me of ’90s electronica acts like Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers. “Power To Undo” stands out with its stripped-down introduction and stunning harmonies. There’s a flurry of guitar riffs and chords that contribute to this notion as well.
Howard is currently on tour in support of her new album with her next stop being back-to-back nights at Webster Hall in New York City on February 16 & 17. She also has a couple other back-to-back shows taking place at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. on February 20 & 21 and The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina on February 23 & 24. Howard has some more touring in store once the spring and summer arrive, which you can keep tabs on right here. In the meantime, grab a copy of What Now. It’s a prime example of an incredibly talented musician pushing artistic boundaries while staying true to their roots and their foundation.
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