Alabama Shakes return with renewed purpose

It's an easy yes. I Must Be Dreaming feels like the trio has been honing all they’ve learned in their time apart on different solo projects, coming back to deliver something necessary, building on the foundations laid by their debut, 2012's Boys & Girls, and the Grammy-winning follow-up 2016's Sound & Color. Opener “Tea Time” is a soothing reintroduction to the group and the power and soul in Brittany Howard’s voice, which jostles for attention with the almost trip-hop grooves. It feels like two dancers deliberately slightly out of rhythm but totally in tune. It’s a real statement of intent and an immediate reassurance for long-term fans. “Another Life” feels like an expansion of the sonic template laid by Sound & Color, the group effortlessly picking up where they left off. It wouldn’t be out of place among that record’s stellar collection of tracks, Howard’s vocals remaining pristine. It is the sound of all the components that make Alabama Shakes such a standout, firing on all cylinders. It's a rare foray into familiar territory, however, and “Garden” quickly shakes things up. Starting in subdued fashion, it's a moody slow burn that gradually builds with strings simme...