Riff Album of the Month Discussion Club: May 26, 2024
Come join the discussion with fellow music lovers!
I usually like to build up a little suspense when it’s my turn to pick an album for The Riff Album of the Month Club. But this time, I’m doing the opposite of burying the lede. I’m propping it up.
Last month, Terry Barr chose Kacey Musgraves's latest album, Deeper Well, as our album to discuss for April. I was familiar with Kacey Musgraves, the superstar country-pop artist, but I was less familiar with her music. Spending a few weeks with not just her latest album but her entire discography was a revelation. Immersing myself in her music allowed me to realize what a powerful songwriter she is and how she’s always pushing herself artistically.
I knew that I wanted to pick another album released in 2024. I also knew that I wanted to pick someone whose music has always pushed the envelope both melodically and lyrically.
I had my answer right away, but wanted to play several other new releases first before deciding on the winner.
Well, I did my due diligence, but I should have just gone with my first instinct. Nothing else came close.
So, (drum roll)…the album of the month for May 2024 is Brittany Howard’s What Now.
What Now is Howard’s second solo album and first in five years. Her debut, Jaime, was a huge success both critically and commercially. Jaime was nominated for four Grammys and won one for Best Rock Song for “Stay High.”
Jaime was a very personal album for Howard and is named after her sister, who died of retinoblastoma as a teen.
In addition to discussing the death of her sister, the album explores growing up poor, the prejudice that her parents faced as an interracial couple, and her struggle with religious faith.
Most people, though, likely know Brittany as the lead vocalist and guitarist for Alabama Shakes, the roots/rock/soul band she fronted from 2009–2018.
I remember first hearing the Shakes in 2015, when their debut album, Sound & Color, was released. The single “Don’t Wanna Fight” stopped me in my tracks. Sure, I was impressed with the skin-tight retro grooves that the band was creating, but Brittany Howard’s powerhouse vocals stayed with me and had me running out (to my phone, sadly) to buy the album.
Very few vocalists can exude the sort of power, sensitivity, grit, playfulness, rage — really all the emotions — the way Howard can. All the ones I am thinking of are legends of rock and soul. Brittany Howard belongs in the same sentence as Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin.
As much as I love the two albums she recorded with Alabama Shakes, I find myself gravitating to her solo material far more often.
What Now, like Jaime, is a musically adventurous, sonically ambitious listening experience. Incorporating elements of rock, funk, jazz, psychedelia, soul, and folk — it could easily feel like it’s pulling in too many directions. But that’s what is so impressive about What Now. Its palette is wide, and yet all the colors belong. All the colors are essential.
I don’t want to say too much more; check it out for yourself and form your own impressions.
Then come join the discussion on Sunday, May the 26th from 4–6pm EST.
Invite your friends! We are a bunch of sweet, friendly music nerds who love nothing better than to chat about an album.
And if you are an AOTM alumni, what better time to come on back!
See you there!
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Charlie Cole Charles in San Francisco Terry Barr Nicole Brown Christine Carmichael Jeffrey Harvey Anthony Overs Jessica Lee McMillan Stanley C. Bill Cooper Buddy Gott Scott-Ryan Abt Kevin Alexander Nichola Scurry Grace Ombry
