Forever Muscle Shoals by Chrissy Poland, is as traditionally good as it is contemporary. Instead of treating its setting as a museum piece, the album uses the musical language associated with Muscle Shoals as a living, breathing foundation. Soul, blues, gospel, jazz, rock, and other influences all filter through the arrangements, giving the record a warmth and character that feels deeply rooted without becoming overly nostalgic.
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The opening cut makes it very clear. “Watch Dog” arrives with plenty of force, driven by a muscular groove and a vocal take that moves easily between a held back sensibility and full-throated intensity. The production has a sense of movement, with the rhythm section providing enough weight to make the song feel physical while leaving plenty of space for the voice to dominate. “The Best Thing You Ever Had” keeps the momentum going, leaning into a brighter, more swaggering soul-rock feel. Together, the two tracks establish an album that is comfortable being energetic without sounding frantic.
One of the album’s strengths is the way it understands pacing. “Cry Like A Baby” slows things down and introduces a more sophisticated, jazz-tinged atmosphere. The shift gives the album room to breathe, and the performance benefits from that extra space. There is an appealing conversational quality to the phrasing, with the vocal allowed to sit inside the arrangement rather than constantly pushing against it.
The covers are another important part of the experience, but they work best because they are treated as opportunities for reinterpretation rather than simple recreations. The emotional weight of “I Never Loved A Man” is heightened by a rich, soulful delivery, while “Respect Yourself” brings a slightly different texture through its shared vocal approach. The latter has an earthy, rhythmic quality that suits the overall character of the record particularly well in 2026 compared to 1970.
“Dr. Feelgood” introduces a stronger Southern-gospel influence, adding church style urgency to the album’s palette. Elsewhere, “Sit Down And Talk This Over” strips the sound back considerably, creating an intimate moment where the spoken-word approach and understated accompaniment make the lyrics sound especially prominent. The willingness to change the sonic temperature keeps the album from settling into a predictable formula.
The rendition of “Wild Horses” featuring James Otto is another highlight, approaching the historic song with tenderness rather than trying to overpower it. Its duet format gives the performance an easy chemistry, while the arrangement lets the melody carry much of the emotional weight. Later, “Hold On, I’m Coming” provides one of the biggest vocal peaks, turning the track into a showcase of sheer power and conviction.
As the record moves toward its conclusion, the jazzier “Steel Away” helps ease the intensity before “Good Times” cover adds another dose of classic soul charm. The closing “When He Returns” brings the soul influence back into focus, ending the album on a searching, emotionally vulnerable note.
Forever Muscle Shoals wins the prize because it understands that this music is about feeling as much as technique. Its grooves are warm, its performances are expressive, and its shifts between soul, blues, jazz, and even rock, sound and feel natural. As opposed to simply looking backward, the album finds a contemporary voice within a timeless musical tradition.
Chadwick Easton