ALABAMA SHAKES: 'SOUND & COLOR' LP 2015 ATO 0269 CLEAR VINYL 2-LP VERSION NICE

$

29

ALABAMA SHAKES 'SOUND & COLOR' 2015 CLEAR VINYL 2-LP 
ARTIST: ALABAMA SHAKES TITLE: SOUND & COLOR FORMAT: 2 LP ~ 3-SIDED ~ CLEAR VINYL LABEL: ATO RECORDS ATO0269 RELEASED: APRIL 21, 2015 RECORDED: SOUND EMPORIUM ~ NASHVILLE MASTERED: GATEWAY MASTERING (PORTLAND) by BOB LUDWIG (?) LACQUER: CAPITOL MASTERING ~ CUT by IAN SEFCHICK PRESSING: UNITED RECORD PRESSING MATRIX: (A) 0882226718-A G1. エ∽ ⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙◊⊙ 23689.1
CLEAR VINYL 2-LP VERSION
VINYL: EX-   JACKET: EX  INNER SLEEVES: EX
~~~~~~~ I've been going thru my massive vinyl record collection this summer and pulling out some LPs that I thought that someone else would want for their collection. I've been collecting records for over 40 years and it's time to pass some of them on to the next generation of collectors.
This week on EBay I am offering up this very nice clean copy of The Alabama Shakes Second album "Sound & Color" originally released in 2015. This is the 2-LP, 3-Sided, Clear Vinyl Version. It is a gatefold, 2 LP set. The inner sleeves are custom printed and contain lyrics, credits, cool artwork and a band photo.
The download card is here as well. I got this album 'used' shortly after it was released and never used the code, but can't guarantee it's still good, but it does make the record complete, as issued.
~~~~~~ This was the second album by the Athens, Alabama group, Alabama Shakes. This album is fantastic. They get away, but not too far away, from their Southern Soul sound that defined their debut album 'Boys and Girls' and the hit 'Hold On' from 2012.
That debut was an impressive rocking roots and blues album, but I think the title 'Sound and Color' fits this record perfectly as it shows what other 'sounds', 'colors' and styles the band is capable of. Several members of the band were, and are, record collectors plus they spent years as a 'cover' band playing bars and small clubs. Their deep knowledge of old school Soul, R&B, Punk and Funk really show on this record. It still shows their soulful Alabama roots but stretches out into heavier Funk and Rock, showing all their collective 'Sound & Color.'
The Alabama Shakes play a style of soulful southern rock with all the grit of garage, the glide of Funk, the Soul of Motown, and the guts of the blues, combined into a powerful package. The band is made up of bassist Zac Cockrell, guitarist Heath Fogg, and drummer Steve Johnson, but Brittney Howard's voice and guitar are still clearly the powerful front to this band and at the center of it all. Cockrell and Johnson lay down a tight groove right behind her throughout this great album.
Bon Iver collaborator Rob Moose adds some background strings to one or two songs to add emotion, while co-producer Blake Mills tweaks the guitar tones and rhythms to make everything sound exciting and fresh.
This album has traces of Curtis Mayfield, Erykah Badu, Marvin Gaye, Prince, the MC5, and the Strokes. 
To give this album more 'Sound and Color', there are sprinklings of strings, vibraphone, and keyboards that add color and texture to some of the songs. Not too much to make it 'sappy', just right.
~~~~~ Brittany Howard grew up singing in the Church and that deep, spiritual, soulful, heartfelt sound is still in almost everything she sings. She has an amazing control over her voice, making it sound truthful and spontaneous. Confidence oozes out of every note that pours from her mouth.
If you saw Brittany Howard at the mall, a normal looking, bespectacled former postal worker, you wouldn't think she was powerhouse singer in a band, but when she gets onstage and straps on her guitar, she becomes energized and transformed into a gritty soulful artist.
She can deliver Blues, Soul, Funk, Rock and Strong Emotion at will, and with full command. Her voice is stronger, more powerful and more emotional on this album compared to the debut. There's a few songs on this album that display her tales of loss, unreturned love, optimism and hope, but then there's songs where she lets herself rock out and also show off her southern funkines.
There's an amazing power and confidence to everything she sings here; whether it be soft, longing, reflectful,  lovesongs, rockers, falsetto soaring or down right Funk and Soul. Her voice seems to be a blend of Nina Simone, Etta James and Janis Joplin, all rolled into one. Her power, range and inflections are amazing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This album has some great songs on it. Some songs are stretched out, take their time, change direction and flow, just like the Tennessee River that ran thru their hometown. There's almost a psychedelic, slow burn, jam feel to some of the songs.
"Gemini", is a great example of her showing her romantic yet funky side. It's almost 7 minutes of slow funky groove. It was the first song recorded for this album and set the direction that they wanted to explore.
The band show off their Punk and Rock knowledge on songs like "Shoegaze" which has crunching heavy-metal chords, 
"The Greatest" is a punky garage rocker that has the sounds of the old Rolling Stones, mixed with the new sounds of the Strokes.
"Future People" is a sultry soul-rock groove that sounds like some kind of psychedelic funk. 
Howard’s unique, riveting perspective on the frailty of both Life and Love shines thru on the slower tracks on this LP, such as "Gimme All Your Love", a slow, spacious blues.
"Don’t Wanna Fight" is one of my favorites on the album. It's about how 'Conflict' is involved in everything in the world, from personal relationships to Band interactions, to War between countries. The song opens with a primal scream so raw you can practically feel the muscles in Howard’s neck straining to unleash it. Then the band kicks in with fat bass lines and taut crunchy riffs that make the song stand out.
"Miss You" is a retro sounding soul cut that wouldn't be out of place on an old Stax LP, except for the nice use of vibraphone, played by Howard. 
~~~~~~~~~~ This is a great album by Alabama Shakes, a great second effort, and the whole album just plain 'works' as a whole. This album is so much more confident and wide-ranging than the band's debut. This album is Southern and Rootsy, yet Modern at the same time. The Alabama Shakes epitomize what a modern rock band should be.
~~~~~~~ CONDITION: This album is in fantastic condition. I should mention that this was a very hard LP to photograph. The shiny black cover and clear vinyl made it quite difficult. The Album looks much better than my photographs make it seem. 
The jacket is clean with no signs of damage or ringwear. The all black jacket is notorious for showing wear. Corners are sharp with some very minimal corner wear. It looks great. No obvious issues. The tiny white 'dots' over the 'N' and inside the 'C' are printed into the cover artwork, not defects or dings.
The labels are nice as well. The vertical lines that look like 'scratches' are part of the artwork, not damage. No major spindle hole damage.
I purchased this at my local shop 'used' several days after it's release. I can only assume someone got it, didn't appreciate it, and returned it immediately. It looks great! 
Inner sleeves are near perfect, no splits. creases or marks. I put the vinyl into new sleeves to protect the inner sleeves.
The Vinyl looks terrific on close inspection, but the 'clear' vinyl makes it hard to see any small defects. I suspect it's Excellent, appears perfect, but I'm going to call it a strong VG+ because I can't be certain and I want the new owner to be happy. I'm sure you'll be very happy and pleased with this great record.
~~~~~~ I’m recently retired and downsizing and letting go some gems and rarities from nearly 45 years of vinyl record collecting. Check out the many other fantastic 45s and 33s coming soon to my page!
All records have been carefully evaluated and graded by me. I visually inspect all records under bright light, personally gently clean them with a soft cloth and then, if unsure, play them on a modern high-end turntable to get a true picture of condition. Please look at all the high-resolution pictures I added. They are all my own and are of the actual record being sold. The pictures are part of the description and can show small details, label variations, and condition better than I can put into words. 
My grading is fair and honest and I will ALWAYS refund you for anything you’re not happy with. I have had over 3,200 happy and satisfied EBay customers over the years, with 100% positive feedback, and I have been buying/selling on EBay for well over 20 years, so please bid with confidence!
I'm a 0ne-man operation, this is a hobby, not my job. I do this for fun. I do this because I love music, love collecting vinyl and want others to share in that same experience. I take my time listening, researching, grading, listing and packaging. I will NOT sell any record that I personally would not want in my collection.
As you well know, packing and shipping rare records requires special care and attention, therefore, shipping cost within the lower 48 states is $6.00 on this heavy vinyl, double LP album. If you would like insurance, or anything faster than Media/Economy Mail, please let me know and I can arrange it for you. I’ll work with you to make sure you’re happy!
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THANK YOU for looking and reading if you got this far.  -- JOHN