Albums

Album Review: The Black Keys

Album: Attack & Release
Label: V2/Cooperative Music

When I first heard that The Black Keys were going to be working with producer Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse on their follow up to 2006’s ‘Magic Potion’, I was both slightly hesitant and unconvinced about the Keys’ new direction—I wanted another album of fuzzy blues rock from the double act! However, I am glad to say that this new album is as good as any of their previous efforts.

Out has gone the Kimbrough-style slow blues of ‘Thickfreakness’, the stripped-down and dusty feel to ‘Rubber Factory’, and the rock of ‘Magic Potion’. Stepped into their place is a fresh, almost ‘band’ sound, full of the best riffs, slides, solos, and thumbpicking out of Dan Auerbach’s box of blues. There’s a much more varied drum sound from Patrick Carney too. Also, a multitude of different instruments (banjos, organs, moogs, drum machines, and flutes—to name a few) were used and played by notable guest appearances.

Initial collaboration began in 2007 when Burton approached the band to write songs for an album he was developing with the late Ike Turner. The band would write the tracks in Ohio and then send them over to Burton where Ike would then put his vocals on tape. Sadly, this long and drawn out process ended due to Turner’s death in December. However, the Keys’ decided that most of the groundwork had been laid for the project and that it was worth continuing. They recorded the tracks in two weeks at engineer Paul Hamann’s Suma Studio outside Cleveland, Ohio. This album not only sees the Keys’ first collaboration with other artists, but more importantly the band was able to get out of their mouldy basement recording sessions and into a proper studio.

The first track ‘All You Ever Wanted’ starts with a slow reverb-laden drum beat, a barely audible organ, and then a throbbing tremolo-filled guitar just before the main acoustic riff. Auerbach’s voice soulfully drifts over the track. The forthcoming single ‘Strange Times’ is more upbeat than many of the tracks on the album. It has the classic Keys’ guitar tone and rock & roll rhythm, but also touches on aspects of The Beatles during their psychedelic phase. ‘Lies’ is the first track on ‘Attack & Release’ that really looks back on previous work. Although it has perhaps lost some of the charm of not being recorded in a dusty basement, Burton has turned it into a mellow, slow jam full of swirling reverb, uplifting organ playing, and softly sung vocals.

Besides the Keys’ and Burton’s work on making the album, other contributions include guitarist Marc Ribot and multi-instrumentalist Ralph Carney (Patrick’s uncle). The track ‘Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be’ features Auerbach singing along side eighteen-year-old bluegrass/country-singer Jessica Lea Mayfield. Burton’s ability for hearing melody and organising track arrangements has meant that ‘Attack & Release’ is an accomplished album, and one to look out for.

For fans of: White Stripes, Tom Waits, Junior Kimbrough

Band links = The Black Keys

Buy this CD!

Tags: album, cd, The Black Keys, Attack & Release, review

Bookmark to:

Previous & Next