The Black Keys

The Black Keys hit another level following the release of Brothers in 2010.  The Keys were everywhere.  They appeared on late-night TV, their songs showed up car commercials, movie soundtracks, they even collaborated with the likes of Dame Dash, Bun B, and other Hip Hop artists who had finally become, well, hipped.  While the duo from Akron still enjoyed some under-the-radarness before Brothers hit the market, any of that went out the window soon after.  Thus, the band’s follow-up album, El Camino, was not only expected, but very much anticipated.  The spotlight had been turned on, and The Black Keys were in the, ‘what are you gonna do now?’ territory.  So, what did they do?  Well, for starters, The Black Keys relocated by setting up shop in the storied music town of Nashville, Tennessee.  They enlisted Danger Mouse, who helped shape previous Black Keys works such as Attack & Release, and then proceeded to rock out.

El Camino is an excellent LP, one that has grown on me with each listen.  Where Brothers is very dense and heavy, El Camino is lighter and faster, something the listener learns early on with songs like “Lonely Boy”, “Dead and Gone”, and my personal favorite, “Gold On The Ceiling” leading off the new album.  The Black Keys continue their mix of rock and blues, and where previously they may have leaned a little more to the blues-side, El Camino carries tinges of early-90’s alternative and grunge. Continuing that spirit as well, El Camino gets right to the point, wasting nothing in its sleek 11 songs and 38-minute running time.  While many bands try to go even bigger following a breakout performance, The Black Keys used the new success to go back to their roots. They rock out fast and furious on the new LP as it if it were a debut.  They even harken back to their early days with the album’s title and cover art, a nod to their life on the road in shitty vans, playing shitty clubs.  Those days are done, but it’s great to see that the spirit lives on.

The Black Keys: “Gold On The Ceiling”

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The Black Keys: “Black Submaries”

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The Black Keys: “Stop Stop”

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