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First Listen: Thunderbitch, 'Thunderbitch'

Thunderbitch
Thunderbitchcourtesy the artist
  Play Now [3:20]

by Andrea Swensson

September 01, 2015

Thunderbitch - I Don't Care
by MPR
Thunderbitch - I Just Wanna Rock 'n' Roll
by MPR
Thunderbitch - Eastside Party
by MPR
Thunderbitch - Closer
by MPR
Thunderbitch - Wild Child
by MPR
Thunderbitch - Very Best Friend
by MPR
Thunderbitch - My Baby Is My Guitar
by MPR
Thunderbitch - Let Me Do What I Do Best
by MPR
Thunderbitch - Heavenly Feeling
by MPR

"Thunderbitch. Rock 'n' roll. The end."

This new supergroup's brief bio pretty much says it all. Led by Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard, Thunderbitch throws all our expectations and presumptions out the window in favor of foundation-rattling, grimy, freewheeling rock 'n' roll.

The tracklisting seems to tell its own story, with "I Don't Care" followed by "I Just Wanna Rock n Roll," a proclamation of personal freedom that sits right up there with Joan Jett's plead to put another dime in the jukebox, baby.

For this debut release as Thunderbitch, Howard called on friends from Fly Golden Eagle and Clear Plastic Masks to help tap into the early rockabilly, swing, and juke-jiving roots of the rock genre; you can practically visualize Howard decked out in a leather jacket with the collar flipped up, her earrings swinging as she belts out these satisfying garage jams.

The album was posted online today without much hoopla, and is already available through iTunes. Thunderbitch is Howard's second release of 2015, following on the heels of Alabama Shakes' excellent Sound & Color from April.

Thunderbitch Tracklist

1. Leather Jacket
2. I Don't Care
3. I Just Wanna Rock n Roll
4. Eastside Party
5. Closer
6. Wild Child
7. Very Best Friend
8. My Baby Is My Guitar
9. Let Me Do What I Do Best
10. Heavenly Feeling