Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color

When we have Sharon Jones singing old school funk and soul anthems, there is really no competition in the genre. But what Brittany Howard and the boys are doing, is something very different, even though it's at times confusing. It's pure rock. Vintage - Janis - rock (listen to the "Dunes" and "Gimme all your love", so that you can feel the Joplin effect), which does not play immition games during its creation. And if you think that "Sound & Color" is a copy-paste of their 2012 debut, well, think twice.

This time, three years after their critically acclaimed "Boys & Girls", they are trying to be more raw, vocally at least, and more 70's psychedelic with their sound ("Gemini" will nearly blow your mind). Don't get me wrong, it's still a 2015 thing going on here. But there is a sense of retro freedom and creative euphoria in the songs, even in the darkest ones, that make you listen to the band and Brittany's voice like it's their first attempt in the studio ever.

The desperation part is turned off. No lyrics like "I didn’t think I’d make it to 22 years old", no country echoes, no best new artist burden going around. "The greatest" and "Shoegaze" make them big time rock stars. "Don't wanna fight" is the connection between their two albums, spiritually speaking. "This feeling", one of their best records, could be an India.Arie/Mumford & Sons collaboration and their outro, "Over my head", could be a new Nikka Costa or even a new Prince song.

The constant use of triplets is on. Her powerhouse lungs are also on. Their 70's experimentation is more than welcome, while the vibraphone/strings intro in "Sound & Color" is beautifully weird. Everything is on, fighting, in order to make them better as musicians. And that's the truth about Alabama Shakes' sophomore album - they have become better as musicians. And if you watched their mini gig in SNL, you can admit they have become even better as performers.

AnArtCalled... 9/10

The Slap (US)

Now that the US version of the Christos Tsiolkas' novel of the same name is coming to an end (tomorrow you can watch the series finale), it's time to talk about one of the best things on TV this year. "The Slap" not only managed to cast A-list stars for its adaptation, but also it proved once again that female directors and producers have all the rights to conquer the cameras all over the world with their vision. Yes, I'm talking about Lisa Cholodenko, who is also responsible this season for "Olive Kitteridge" with  Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins and Bill Murray.

"The Slap" is about a birthday party and the Greek family of the birthday man. Everything is fun, until a member of the family slaps someone else's misbehaving child. So the 8-episode mini series is about telling the story from the perspective of each character, so that we have a closure.

If you try to find what's the one thing that makes this series special, it's about the characters and the ethical codes they carry throughout the script. The storytelling is not something you haven't watched in the past. But the way the directors guide Thandie Newton, Zachary Quinto, Peter Sarsgaard, Brian Cox, Melissa George and Uma Thurman is just extraordinary. And this guidance does the book justice.

Watch "The Slap" if you like strong dramas, if you have read the book and if you want to give Uma Thurman and Thandie Newton another chance. They are phenomenal in this. And for the love of God, let's give an Emmy Award in 2015 to Lisa Cholodenko.

p.s. "The Slap" novel by the Greek/Australian author Christos Tsiolkas won the Commonwealth Writers Prize 2009 for best novel in the South-East Asia and South Pacific area.

AnArtCalled... 8,5/10