ALABAMA SHAKES - I Must Be Dreaming

A strange creature, this new album from the Alabama Shakes. The long-awaited project breaks an eleven-year silence, during which Brittany Howard focused her attention on a solo career with excellent results.
With "I Must Be Dreaming" the band tries to pick up the conversation right where they left it, acting as though nothing had happened in between. But time has shifted perspectives, interests and personal circumstances. What weighs most heavily is the departure of longtime drummer Steve Johnson, engulfed by allegations of sexual abuse.

The first sign of change is felt above all in the lyrics, less militant than in the past and more inclined to explore intimate stories and feelings. The band only rediscovers its political bite toward the end of the tracklist with "American Dream": a powerful blues–soul-rock statement packed with invective against the American system, embellished by a splendid bassline that shapes a magnetic, biting groove.
"Tea Time" also works very well, an excellent funky-soul track that taps into afrobeat rhythms to talk about peace and freedom. Meanwhile, the thunderous psychedelic funk-rock of "How Love's Supposed To Go" raises the tension, and looks set to become one of the highlights of upcoming live shows.
Unfortunately, the choice to rely on a murky, deceptively lo-fi mix undercuts the record's potential. The excessive layering of instruments ends up diluting the energy of the songs: while "Waist Deep" manages to salvage a melodic line straight out of the Rolling Stones playbook, other tracks are left crushed under a claustrophobic sound. That's the case with the Beatles-esque "Friends" or the impersonal ballad "Easy".

It almost feels as if the band wanted to mask songwriting that isn't always original behind a chaotic sound, which ends up robbing a rock-blues number like "Another Life" of its substance and reduces a soul ballad like "Garden" to a bloodless afterthought. And while the exotic lightness of "I Feel Hope Coming" ultimately wins you over – helped by lyrics that sharply address pay inequality – the same can't be said for the grating, syrupy "Time", hampered by production choices that do a disservice to Howard's vocal qualities.
As stimulating as it is, "I Must Be Dreaming" turns out to be a classic transitional record: a chapter full of promising ideas that never quite come into focus. Sure, a formidable trio of tracks like "Tea Time", "American Dream" and "How Love's Supposed To Go" keeps things compelling, but only a more careful production – one able to free Brittany Howard's voice from a maximalist sound that doesn't always work in its favor – can restore the Alabama Shakes to a central role on the contemporary scene.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

10/09/2026