Sometimes I find I’m way to critical a listener of music. On face value, the Alabama Shakes’ debut album “Boys & Girls” is a fine old-school, STAX-inspired soul record with sturdy songs sung by newcomer powerhouse vocalist Brittany Howard. But here’s where the rub comes…when I hear a retro record like this that hawks back to an older type of music, I can’t help but wonder are they just emulating the sound…or do they actually feel what they are doing? In the Shakes’ case, it sounds somewhat genuine…but the jaded music industry side of me can’t help wonder if it is all some kind of a concoction dreamt up by some aging A&R guys around a board room table at a record company. I guess I’ve gotta stop thinking so much about the music…and start feeling it myself… Perhaps I should just “Hang Loose.”
