Rooting themselves in the finest traditions of Muscle Shoals and Stax Records, Alabama Shakes grows into something very modern and new on their 2012 album "Boys & Girls." Harnessing the raw energy of an edgy blues-and-rock sound, the band tears into their all-original song line up. Brittany Howard's lively vocals clearly lead the way, but the rhythm section led by Zach Cockrell and Steve Johnson are driving. That is not to take anything away from the intense riffs of lead guitarist Heath Fogg. Scoring a minor hit with their song "Hold On," this is one of those cases where the complete album is so good that it leads the sales on its own, going up to #6 on the Billboard 200 chart for albums.

Tracklist

A1 Hold On
A2 I Found You
A3 Hang Loose
A4 Rise To The Sun
A5 You Ain't Alone
B1 Goin' To The Party
B2 Heartbreaker
B3 Boys & Girls
B4 Be Mine
B5 I Ain't The Same
B6 On Your Way