I've recently gotten into a band that I'm digging so hard I'm kind of amazed that I'd never heard of them before, given the fact that they've got a decade's worth of material behind them.The band? The Black Keys.
It was Dave, my husband, who discovered them first. He got a copy of their previous album, Attack & Release, and immediately put it on heavy rotation. I liked them as soon as I heard them. Their sound was original and established, very full; I was impressed that they were two guys – Dan Auerbach (vocals, guitar) and Patrick Carney (drummer, producer) – as opposed to a full band.
Their latest album, Brothers, wasn't released until this past Tuesday, but just like Attack & Release, it was leaked on to the Internet weeks before its scheduled debut. I haven't given either album the time and attention they deserve, but the more I listen to Brothers, the more I like it. It's got a loose, gritty sound to it – the songs are raw and bluesy, with a lot of soul. I'm moderately obsessed with the album at this point – it's all I've been listening to. I like the ways Dan displays his vocal range, how he brings the falsetto on the album's opener, "Everlasting Light," then belts it out on "Next Girl." "Ten Cent Pistol" is a smooth, sultry tune, the kind of song you'd hear playing in a smoky, roadside tavern somewhere. "Too Afraid to Love You" is my favorite track so far – it's very seductive, with a great beat; I get it stuck in my head all the time.
Based on what I've heard so far, Brothers is definitely worth a listen. Check it out if you like original, soulful blues/rock.
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