|
I need to start this review by being completely honest with myself and to you the readers. The Black Keys are a band that for some unexplainable reason I have never really taken to as much as perhaps I should have. It may have something to do with the fact that they came out during the ‘THE bands’ invasion in the early noughties, and they just got lost amongst ‘The Vines’, ‘The Datsuns’ ‘The White Stripes’ ‘The Strokes’ and ‘The Von Bondies’ that I just never fully paid much attention to them. So here they are seven albums into their career and I have finally sat down and listened to an album of theirs in its entirety. The main reason being we are at that lull in the music industry and their are very little new albums released in the run up to Christmas.
After listening to the album I am very grateful that it has been released at this time of year, as I may have let this pass me by if it had been released earlier in the year. It took one listen to the album to make me regret allowing The Black Keys to pass me by.
The album begins with ‘Lonely Boy’ which is one of those 100mph rock and roll songs that is full of energy and excitement it makes you want to do something like rob a bank, (not that I am encouraging anyone to do such a thing). This is the theme for much of this album, you could imagine it being on the cd player of a getaway car during a film about a bank heist. Once you get past the fast pace and listen to the lyrics you release their is a sensitive side to the band, the lyrics in ‘Lonely Boy’ seems to be taking on the theme of lost love “I got a love that keeps me waiting”. Some of the stand out tracks on this album for me are ‘Dead and Gone’ which has a great opening drum beat, full of infectious melodies, and a chorus that shows this band knows how to combine rock and roll, blues and pop music. ‘Little Black Submarines’ which begins with a beautiful acoustic guitar melody, captivating vocals and emotive lyrics “Everybody knows that a broken heart is blind”. Then before you know it the song has changed into a full on blues rock song that will blow your mind. ‘Run Right Back’ which is as perfect as a pop song could be; this for me is the standout track on the album. The chorus in this song will be ringing around your head for a very long time. ‘Hell Of A Season’ has a darker feel to it, whilst ‘Stop Stop’ has a very soulful feel to it. This may have something to do with the influence of producer Danger Mouse. The album ends with ‘Mind Eraser’ which is a piano led blues song to bring the album to a perfect end.
With no previous in depth knowledge of The Black Keys I am unable to comment from a fans perspective as to whether this album has been a major change in direction or the sound of a band ‘selling out’. All I can say is this album has made me very excited about The Black Keys and I am now going to delve into their back catalogue with great excitement.
Rating: 7/10
Steve Tay
|
