Fresh Air’s rock critic recommends three songs that transcend age and genre: Howard’s “Another Day,” Kweskin’s duet with Maria Muldaur, “Let’s Get Happy Together,” and Helms’ “Leanne.”
TONYA MOSLEY, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. Rock critic Ken Tucker has been listening to a lot of new music and has selected songs by three very different artists, music from former Alabama Shakes lead singer Brittany Howard, veteran folk singer Jim Kweskin, who has an album of duets, and young country music singer Colby T. Helms, out with a new debut album. Ken says what they each have in common is a crackling, creative energy that transcends age or genre.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RED FLAGS”)
BRITTANY HOWARD: (Singing) Headfirst. Don’t think, listen what I’m feeling first. I came, I saw, unconscious. The best time that I ever had, that’s when the worst times started. I followed you and didn’t look back. I didn’t know love could feel like that. I ran right through them red flags, I ran right through them.
KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: Brittany Howard made an impact a decade ago as the lead singer of the Alabama Shakes, using her rumbling voice in a southern rock and soul context. Then her solo career took off in 2019 with the Grammy-winning album “Jaime.” Now she’s back with a new solo effort called “What Now.” What she’s up to now is a collection filled with thick slabs of reverberation and clustered instrumentation. Her voice is one among many competing sounds. One of the album’s most successful experiments is the stirring funk of “Another Day.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ANOTHER DAY”)
HOWARD: (Singing) I believe in a world where we can go outside and be who we want and see who we like and love each other through this wild ride. And love each other through this wild ride. We were born in a time to change the paradigm. Peace is the prize of our timeline. Yes, I know we can do it ’cause we must do it. I know we can do it, so let’s get to it. I am in love when…
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