Alabama Shakes, on its second album “Sound & Color,” has gotten more experimental, more technically proficient and … less interesting?

This is an unfortunate development for this group because its debut album “Boys & Girls” was remarkable in the way it recalled rhythmic details of the Muscle Shoals recording era.

“Boys & Girls” also contained “Hold On,” one of the best songs of 2012. A delightful blues stomp with Brittany Howard’s powerful voice laid over the top made for a consistent listening session throughout that year.

“Sound & Color” has “Don’t Wanna Fight,” which feels like the darker sequel to “Hold On.” More blues stomp, more tight instrumentation and Howard making some sort of alien squeal at the beginning of the first verse that I can’t shake.

Unfortunately, that’s the high point of this record. As I’m writing this, I’m struggling to recall any other track on the record that isn’t “Shoegaze,” a cute little number that gets in and out in three minutes with the second-best groove on the album.

Part of the issue is that the songs are slower this time around, and that hampers tracks like “Gimme All Your Love,” a potential highlight that turns into a bit of a bore outside of the chorus.

Also, a quick angry outburst: can bands stop covering their lack of songwriting knowledge with amounts of reverb that would make 1980s drummers blush with excitement?

On the whole, I think this album is above average. It’s not bringing you anything new, but it’s a pleasant enough listen even if it fades into background noise after about three or four tracks.

My last recommendation as a Daily Beacon writer: go listen to The Go! Team’s “The Scene Between” instead; your summer will be so much better with it as a companion.

What you’ve read here is, to my knowledge, my final review for The Daily Beacon.

I want to take a quick moment to thank readers for feedback and comments on my work this year; this has been the most rewarding writing experience I have undertaken so far.