The Black Keys - Attack and Release. Great CD!

Cafe Society
1

I’ve been listening to this CD when it came out. Today I just realized that this CD is still in my rotation, and my wife’s as well, and we both play it constantly. Very few CDs have that kind of staying power.

For those who aren’t familiar with them, The Black Keys are a midwestern guitar/drum duo, similar to the White Stripes. Where the White Stripes started out playing fairly experimental music tinged with the blues and hard rock, The Black Keys went a more traditional bluesy way.

But their latest album, “Attack and Release” is a bit of a departure. For one thing, they enlisted Danger Mouse, of Gnarls Barkley fame, to produce it. The result is astonishing - Their best album to date, and in my opnion one of the best albums of the year. It’s still heavily blues oriented, but it’s more atmospheric and tinged with funk, straight up rock, and even hints of bluegrass and country. The songs are full of catchy hooks, and the lyrics are fantastic.

I highly recommend this album to anyone who likes bands like Wilco, the White Stripes, the Allmans, Gov’t Mule, and other blues-rock bands.

Here’s a review of the album from PopMatters.

Here are some youtube clips of some tracks off this album, so you can see what they’re like:

I Got Mine - from the Letterman Show

Strange Times

Things Ain’t Like They Used to Be

Psychotic Girl

2

Atleast half the songs sound to me like a Credence Clear Water Revival cover band rocking out in the rain, with the other bits more of a CSNY cover band aura. Danger Mouse was fairly calm on the record, with only one real instance of strange noises appearing. I liked some songs, but didn’t feel it was spectacular.

3

Yeah, the Black Keys are good. Their previous CDs are also worth listening to. They did a great cover of “Act Nice and Gentle” by the Kinks. They’re also great live.

4

I’m digging this, as well! I think that putting Danger Mouse behind the controls was an idea that really paid off. This is one of my favorite Black Keys albums.

5

Mmm… This has some potential. Added to list of albums.

6

I have really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, it came to me right when I got the new Raconteurs album and also Vampire Weekend, so I have had a bit too much good, new music to work through…