The Black Keys

Album: Brothers
Who: Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney
Released: 5/18/10
Label: Nonesuch Records

Here is the album stream for The Black Keys‘ sixth album, “Brothers”, out in May. It sounds a lot less like murder to me than their first albums, but this isn’t shocking considering their last two albums.  The second half of the album, being a lot different than the first half as well. The new back-up vocals are a little strange, and same for the beats or scattered electronics. The drums are a lot lighter, nowhere near the gut they had before, really weird glam turn.   I think there is

whistling on one or two tracks and definitely some chanting. I used to picture The Black Keys ripping my face off with just their tambourines. I saw myself rushing to the ER for a Tetanus shot after their show explaining that I’d just been face flanked by a rusty ass cymbal, day dreaming of the sexy simple life paradox, but not so much anymore. Stale. This album kinda places me in a half empty concert bar surrounded by lonely consumer rate alternative rock jocks swaying back n forth to Auerbach’s bluesy, pansy hymns. Apparently Danger Mouse had a hand in this. I mean if Jenny from the block taught us anything, lets get fuckin loud. Shit you’re playing an electric guitar, toss the innocent chorus fails, and drive us home. Whatever. I mean I liked some of his dreamy ballads, but I just really hate the high pitch shtick when its with back up vocals. Aside from this one vision, opinion, I will listen to this album more than ten times. I really like She’s Long Gone, or I would have at least for their old sound, and I also think Sinster Kid really sucks hard and Howlin’ For You is a little leechy, like blues with a price tag.
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