The Black Keys need no introduction. At least not in 2012 they don’t. Back in 2009 it is possible that the casual music fan would not have been blessed enough to hear this fiery, passionate band’s take on the blues, the alternative, and of course – rock ‘n roll. Then their album Brothers came out, the lead single Tighten Up exploded, and the rest is of course history. Just this past December, they released a quick follow-up to Brothers, entitled El Camino. For reasons unknown to me, it did not seem to receive the same amount of hype as Brothers at all. Their lead single, Lonely Boy, did pretty well for itself, but they didn’t appear to be steamrolling down the same road in a tank destined for universal domination anymore. It is interesting to me how easily one might snatch up this or that year’s trendy band, be it the Black Keys, MGMT, Muse, or even the White Stripes when they blew up, yet they hold onto a single song or two and seem to care little about what else the band has done. They will rock Tighten Up, Kids, Uprising, or Fell In Love With a Girl all day, but when the band strives to prove their capabilities, and constantly demolish the boundaries of what indie or alternative or even rock ‘n roll can mean, the “fans” don’t take notice, and carry on with the same ole’ song and dance night after night. It is a very telling sign of the times. Many have seen this happening for years, but the album is becoming a thing of the past. The single is unequivocally where it’s at. The Black Keys do not care. Whether anyone is listening or not, their new album, El Camino, is here, and it wants – nay! – demands your attention.
The Black Keys have progressed plenty since their bluesy garage-rock beginnings. The White Stripes-Black Keys comparison was more plausible then, even beyond the comparisons of being a two-person blues-based rock band. While both bands have progressed plenty in their own right, the Black Keys have really strayed away from the blues dominance, and it is more just an influence now than anything. But where the blues has been put away for safe keeping and historical reference, out at the forefront is the beautiful sound of a blistering, soulful alternative rock band. That is simply the kind of band they have become now. It poked its bright shining face out on 2008′s underrated Attack & Release album (first one produced by Danger Mouse – a big influence that is easy to hear) and came out guns a-blazin’ on Brothers. Dan Auerbach sang with more gusto and soul than any time before, using falsetto as a major weapon for the first time, and Patrick Carney continued and improved upon his pummeling, yet precise attack on the drum kit. It especially worked to their advantage on the absolutely killer opening track, Everlasting Light. The album as a whole was very good, and boasted a lot of unique, soulful tracks that really had an impact. Where it suffered though was in length. It was just too long and far-fetched. They went balls to the wall and there were a lot of great, inspired ideas on the album and when it worked, it was fantastic. When it didn’t, it became boring and long-winded. I think the Black Keys learned from that, and on El Camino they really focus their abilities and have eliminated just about all filler (with the exception of Stop, Stop, the ugly duckling of the album, to be entirely cliche), and have put out what could be the most consistent album of their young yet prolific career.
The opening track is the lead single, Lonely Boy. From the initial feedback to the first crunchy guitar riff, you can get a sense for what kind of album this is going to be. The accompanying video that was released along with the track paints an absolutely perfect picture for the album.
Everything about the video is musical purity. There is no bullshit. There is no fluff. There is no excess. It is just one dude, rockin’ a song he digs, and gettin’ down. When it comes to music, or life really, what is more pure than that? You hear the notes, you hear the melody, you feel the groove, and all you can do is groove along with it. It gives you a sense of what is to come on the rest of the album. It is much more stripped down, straight forward, and even anthemic than any previous album of theirs. They didn’t reach on this album. They knew exactly what they wanted to do, and they did it. Granted it is not going to change the world, it is a rollicking blast of an album that desires your undivided attention and affection. The Black Keys – whether they approve or not – are carrying the torch for modern rock ‘n roll. There are few bands at their level of fame that strive to make the best album they can while pushing the boundaries and maintaining their integrity as musicians and artists. The Black Keys do exactly that. They are at the forefront of a rock ‘n roll (r)evolution that will hopefully bring the creativity and integrity of the alternative, to the prosperity and popularity of the mainstream.
Standout Tracks: Dead and Gone, Sister, Little Black Submarines, Hell of a Season, Run Right Back
Final Score: 8.9\10