The Alabama Shakes have just announced details of their sophomore studio album Sound & Color which will be released on April 21st through ATO Records (Rough Trade in UK). To call this album highly anticipated after the huge impact their 2012 debut Boys & Girls caused would be an understatement. The build-up to that release was helped in a big way by how their music was first revealed to most…via a music blog.
The band became something of an overnight sensation when Justin Gage, the founder of the music blog Aquarium Drunkard asked if he could put up one of their tracks to share. They gave him You Ain’t Alone and after it was posted all hell broke loose. Gage then sent the track to the Drive-by-Truckers team who offered them an opening slot – the rest as they say was history.
Sound & Color was recorded at the Sound Emporium in Nashville, a studio originally built for Sun Records house producer Cowboy Jack Clement. It was produced by Blake Mills who’s as well known as touring guitarist and session musician as he is a producer. There was no way they could get away with making this album announcement without revealing what they had in store and they didn’t disappoint as they revealed an animation video for their lead single Don’t Wanna Fight. Watch it out below:
Sound & Color is available for pre-order on itunes, Amazon and the band’s website. Digital pre-orders come with an instant download of “Don’t Wanna Fight.” The album is also available on either 180-gram vinyl or limited edition clear vinyl. A full track list is below.
Sound & Color tracklist:
01. Sound and Color
02. Don’t Wanna Fight
03. Dunes
04. Future People
05. Gimme All Your Love
06. This Feeling
07. Guess Who
08. The Greatest
09. Shoegaze
10. Miss You
11. Gemini
12. Over My Head
They play London’s Islington Assembly Hall on February 19th, their first gig in the UK for nearly two years, returning later in May for Brighton’s Great Escape Festival. Dates below.
Alabama Shakes Tour Dates
February
19 – London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall
March
11 – New York,NY @ The Beacon Theatre
12 – New York,NY @ The Beacon Theatre
14 – Chicago,IL @ The Chicago Theatre
15 – Milwaukee,WI @ The Riverside Theater
17 – Madison, WI @ Overture Center for the Arts
18 – Champaign, IL @ The Virginia Theatre
20 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall
21 – Knoxville, TN @ Historic Tennessee Theatre
April
02 – Newtown, Australia @ Enmore Theatre
03 – Byron Bay, Australia @ Byron Bay Bluesfest
04 – Byron Bay, Australia @ Byron Bay Bluesfest
08 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
10 – Indio,CA @ Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
11 – Berkeley,CA @ The Greek Theatre
17 – Indio,CA @ Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
May
15 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape Festival
June
6-7 – Toronto, ON @ Field Trip Music & Arts Festival
7 – Hunter Mountain, NY @ Mountain Jam Festival
11-14 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
27 – Beuningen, Netherlands @ Down The Rabbit Hole
July
10 – Rotterdam, Netherlands @ North Sea Jazz Festival
August
16 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre