We don’t really put stock in the idea of “talent by association”. Sure, we’ve witnessed plenty of attempts to pivot from a successful group into a profitable solo offshoot. But if they didn’t have the spark to start with, they won’t have much to bargain with on their own. And on the ongoing collaborative level, when one player reaches a certain tier of talent, they rarely lower the bar in terms of the artists they surround themselves with, let alone their choice of creative clientele.
Now bear with us as we break down a bit of history here. Alabama Shakes hires Ben Tanner as a touring keyboardist. Tanner helps Alabama Shakes secure the 2018 Grammy for “Best American Roots Performance”. Then, just last year, Tanner does it again by snagging “Best Roots Gospel Album” for co-producing, engineering, and mixing Echoes of the South by Blind Boys of Alabama. In between it all, Ben continues to prove himself as not just a prized player, but a prolific producer with a musical Midas touch. So for Ben to bring an out-of-state group of relative-unknowns to his Muscle Shoals studio and bang out their debut? Sure says a lot, doesn’t it?
The group in question is The Jaws of Brooklyn, who as you might’ve guess are from…Washington?! Yes, we got our first feel for this Seattle septet from their aptly-titled Summer 2022 full-length The Shoals. And sure, while Tanner did put a proper polish on it, but a firm grasp on the classic garage-soul-rock sound (complete with ’60s-style girl group gusto) was clearly ingrained in J.O.B. from the get-go.
Now, following the fickle affair that is swapping out frontwomen, The Jaws of Brooklyn are back at it with Gretchen Lemon in the lead singer slot. And with Alabama Shakes acolytes Shannay Johnson and Karita Law also returning to Tanner’s auspicious Muscle Shoals recording space, The Jaws of Brooklyn have cranked out a dozen-plus new tunes, soon to be split across two EPs. The first one drops next April, (when J.O.B.’s stint at SXSW 2025 will still be fresh in memory), and we got a taste of that latest batch this morning with the record’s lead single, “Litebringer”.
By hinging on a hefty mix that’s instantly evocative of golden age Alabama Shakes, (snappy percussion, full house vocal harmonies, gritty garage guitar tones, and all) “Litebringer” has our mouth watering for what’s to come from The Jaws of Brooklyn, no matter what they sink their teeth into next.
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