Seraphina Lotkhamnga on August 2nd, 2011

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Musicians are showered with accolades when they reinvent the wheel, but sometimes the mere basics can provide the firmest of foundations for songwriting. Athens, Ala.-based band the Shakes has provided wonderful proof of this by stirring things up with only a handful of demos. Fronted by the remarkable Brittany Howard, whose soulful vocals express a million feelings in a single note, the Shakes offer the truth, which is something many bands unfortunately seem to bury under a pile of commercial image. There are no high-tech embellishments, nor is there any pretense. Howard and band members Heath Fogg, Zac Cockrell and Steve Johnson aren’t about being fancy, and it’s a breath of fresh air. Otis Redding influences may seep out a bit and inspirational themes are reminiscent of Mavis Staples, but we hardly consider either of those qualities to be a fault.

||| Download: “You Ain’t Alone” (via Aquarium Drunkard)