I looked through new releases on iTunes yesterday, and I saw a new single from the Black Keys titled “Fever”. I listened to it, and it was decent, but then I had a craving to listen to their last album, El Camino. And then their album Brothers. And then Rubber Factory. And I found myself listening to them all day as I crammed for my math test.
Who are the Black Keys? They’re a band from Akron, Ohio and there are only two members: Dan Auerbach, who sings and plays guitar, and Patrick Carney, the drummer. I hadn’t really heard of them until a couple of years ago when they released El Camino. Everywhere I went, I heard their singles on the radio, and I liked their unique guitar sound and the simplicity of their songs, so I decided to look deeper into them. I found out that they had 6 more albums, so I went searching for more of their songs. And I was certainly not disappointed.
I started listening to El Camino, and it quickly turned into one of my favorite albums. The lead track, Lonely Boy, turned out to be the biggest hit from the album, and it won the Grammy for best rock song in 2013. It’s a great song, featuring a heavy guitar (the Black Keys’ trademark) and a fast-paced chorus. And it’s not even my favorite song on the album. Gold on the Ceiling is a slower paced song, but it’s extremely catchy. It carries a nice message as well. Keep your head up so you can see the gold on the ceiling. Little Black Submarines is a very dynamic song and different from most others on the album. The first half of the song features an acoustic guitar, which is very rare for a Black Keys song. It is slow and soft, but out of nowhere, a heavy guitar riff comes in and the song picks up pace and tempo. It is the first Black Keys song I bought, and it’s still one of my favorites. These three songs earned plenty of radio play, but other songs on the album are definitely worth a listen. Money Maker and Mind Eraser both have nice, relaxed feels, and Sister has a catchy chorus worth checking out. El Camino quickly became one of my favorite albums to listen to. Although its singles get most of the attention, it truly is a complete album.
I looked into their other albums, and I was similarly pleased. Their 2004 release Rubber Factory truly established their unique, gritty sound. It features songs like 10 AM Automatic, a very guitar-heavy song that is just easy to listen and enjoy. Girl Is On My Mind has a catchy guitar solo that steps away from their typical distorted guitar sound. But Rubber Factory also contains songs like The Lengths, a soft, slow-paced take on a love song, and despite my doubts I had about it at first, the Black Keys successfully pull off that sound. A couple of big Black Keys fans that I know always cite Rubbery Factory as their best album, and I can certainly see why. I only started listening to it recently, but I definitely enjoy it.
Brothers, the album that preceded El Camino, is another one of my favorites. It has my favorite artwork of any album by any band. The album itself is full of catchy guitar riffs like the ones in Howlin’ For You and Tighten Up. And if you’re interested in music videos, Howlin’ For You has a funny one. Next Girl features a trancey guitar background that is different for the Black Keys, and another funny music video. The falsetto found in the lead track Everlasting Light adds a different dimension to the band’s sound. Too Afraid To Love You features a different guitar, and I’m not entirely sure what instrument it really is, but I still enjoy it. The songs on the album back up the fantastic album cover. Brothers is another great Black Keys release, and if you like the Black Keys, you should give it a listen.
I could go on and on, but it would get repetitive (if it hasn’t already). As usual, here’s my top 5 favorite Black Keys songs:
2. Tighten Up
4. Lonely Boy
Honorable Mention: Girl Is On My Mind, 10 AM Automatic
Last week I got a request to talk about any older bands I like, but I don’t really feel qualified to talk about any band in particular; i just don’t know enough songs by older bands. I could do my favorite classic rock songs next week instead of writing about a band. If you like that idea, if you have another suggestion, or if you think I should keep doing what I’ve been doing, please let me know!