| CD REVIEW The Black keys |
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Band : The Black keys Although The Black Keys (in essence the duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney) were unknown to me before I was handed over the download promo copy of their latest album, it seems that the band grew to a very successful act, with songs of theirs in the soundtracks of several movies, games, tv series, and even commercials (among which the underclothes giant Victoria’s Secret). I have to say the late ‘60s – early ‘70s wacky guitar tonalities the band displays on their new album immediately drew my attention, and my eagerness to check out their background! …Which I’m not going to give to you too detailed, this time around (would take to long, and you can read the detailed story at the band’s Wikipedia page anyway). However, sóm facts need to be told, right? So, the duo was formed in 2001, the two members already acive in the Underground scene of Akron, Ohio. Debut album The Big Come Up, and it was immediately rather successful for a beginning independent Rock act (2 singles, both covers, were released as extended plays). Just like the sophomore album, 2003’s Thickfreakness (was even more successful with 3 singles, only one of which a cover this time), the debut was recorded in Carney’s basement on an old 8-track tape recorder from the early ‘80s. Next up was a split-EP with The Six Parts Seven, released in September the same year, and in early 2004 the band released a 4-track EP titled The Moan. Meanwhile the band’s popularity was growing to the extend that, after releasing third album Rubber Factory (the first album of which songs were used in movies, chronologically speaking – it’s only later that the 2 first album’s would be browsed for soundtrack material as well), the band opened for the likes of Pearl Jam, Beck, Radiohead, and Sleater-Kinney. In March 2005, the band filmed its first live video album Live (in Sydney, Australia, by the way), released later in the year. On May 2, 2006 TBK released their EP Chulahoma, featuring covers originally by Blues musician Junior Kimbrough (founder of the Fat Possum Records label), and 4 days later issued their second live album Live In Austin, TX. Not long after came the band’s 4th studio album Magic Potion, their first on the Nonesuch Records label, and later the same year came another live recording with The Live EP. After this steady bout of releases, it took the band until April 2008 to release their next full-length Attach & Release. Although leaked onto the Internet a month earlier, the album nevertheless made it to #14 on the Billboard 200 album charts (can you think of a better sign for the band’s growing popularity). One of the album’s 3 singles, “I Got Mine” was named 23rd best song by Rolling Stones magazine’s list of the 100 best songs of 2008. Another song on the album, “Big Love, Lie To Me”, was covered live by Kelly Clarkson on her tour that year. In November of the same year, TBK released yet another live video album (say DVD) titled Live At The Crystal Ballroom, filmed earlier in the year… Side-projects? On February 2009, singer/ guitarist Dan Auerbach released his debut solo album Keep It Hid. During the same period as it took to be recorded, drummer Patrick Carney formed Indie band Drummer which, signed to Carney’s own Audio Eagle Records, released their debut album Feel Good Together in September 2009. Meanwhile, the duo was also working on the 2009 Blakroc album, a collaboration with several Hip Hop artists (including the now deceased raapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard), something they’d been wanting to do since when they were 16. Which brings us full-circle, and back to the album at hand! Comparisons? The band is frequently compared to The White Stripes and to the stylings of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Not knowing the music of the first but definitely familiar with the second, I can confirm that some of the songs indeed are played in his early-days style…meaning geared somewhat towards the Blues spectrum. In fact, some songs sound very much like they’d been recorded in an environment of the late ’50s and early ‘60s, way down South, where Black Blues was so prolific! One thing I do nót like about the album is the way the songs are spread. I mean, all the most excited & exciting ones can be found at the beginning of the 15-track album. Actually, in the songs of the second half of the album, the guys infused a certain Soul feel to their music. Which is quite nice to listen to at any rate, you know, but personally I might’ve enjoyed the near 56-minute album more, if the songs had been mixed up a bit on the track-list, making for an alternation between calmer and more excited tracks! Well, no matter, I’m sure songs of both styles will again make it onto some soundtracks (I’m sure I’ll die if the wonderful “Howling’ For You” don’t make it on some soundtracks in a massive way, I tells ya!). The two songs off the album posted at myspace.com/theblackkeys (alongside older material) are of the more exciting style (gotta love that wacky guitar sound!). At the moment the band is still touring in the US, but come June 23 they’ll be in Europe (they also play at Rock Werchter on July 4). Meanwhile, work has already started on a follow-up to Blakroc. 88/100 Tony. |