[Album Review] The Black Keys: Brothers

The frequent comparisons between The Black Keys and The White Stripes might have been accurate in the past, both bands producing catchy, blues-influenced, instrumentally simple albums that were best played straight through in their entirety. Things have changed, though, and Brothers proves to be an entirely unique and valuable album for a new decade. From the first bouncing notes and thumping drum beat of “Everlasting Light” you get that wonderful feeling that comes when a band totally and unexpectedly exceeds your expectations; it’s still the same old Black Keys, for sure, but with less of the generic tales of heartbreak and repetitive riffs so often found in their previous work, and much more innovation. At about two-and-a-half minutes into one of the album’s best tracks, “Tighten Up,” the Black Keys work some surprising nuance into their usually simple style. With a few flicks of a drumstick, the tempo slows down ever-so-slightly, creating a tension with the guitar that mirrors the brooding mood of the lyrics. Read full review at inyourspeakers.com

The Black Keys – Howlin For You

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Black Keys – Too Afraid To Love You

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.