What sounds are best on Sunday? None other than old-time blues. Of course this is just my personal opinion. Being a girl raised in a pond with splish-splashes of soul, funk and rhythm and blues it's no wonder that hard-hitting blues have become sounds of pure comfort for me. It's a shame that the blues aren't as prominent as they were back in the day. But, luckily for us we have banging blues bands like The Black Keys.
The Black Keys are easily among my top picks. Their music is some of the loosest, rawest of tunes I have heard in this decade. If you ever get the chance to listen to these guys on vinyl, take it, it is a soothing, and crisp experience. Pure perfection. The band consists of two guys who, upon looking at them, you would not think that they are the ones who have produced such genius (yeah, genius). What I really enjoy about the Black Keys is their element of realness. What I mean is, this barroom blues with blasts of psychedelia is so raw with zero fluff and glitter. They are gritty with a sound of maturation, creating a sound of organic growth through every album they release. Each song that you will hear by the Black Keys carries with it sacks of substance. And, really, what more could use ask for? Especially in a world which seems to covet music that has no meat on its bones.
In May, The Black Keys came out with their eighth studio album, Brothers. It's so sugar sweet. The sound is not what I expected, quite quite different from (my fav's) Attack and Release, and Rubber Factory however, not in a negative way. I find that Brothers has a lot more tracks that are melodious, which certainly is not a bad criticism. The guys of the Black Keys seem to have really found and honed in on their sound which is that of blues with an unheeding dose of soul, and rock. In finding this magical sound that is so true to them, they have been able to become a more rounded band who has the ability to appeal to a wider spectrum of music lovers.
The Black Keys are so rad. What I gather from listening to their music is that they are under the influence of classic blues supergods like Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Eric Clapton (circa The Bluesbreakers). Regardless of who their inspiration comes from, its workin' like a charm. Being able to dabble in different mediums and genres, in my mind, makes you an astute, wise musician. The Black Keys have not only collaborated with Danger Mouse but they also have a collaboration album called Blakroc, which is an album consisting of collabs between The Black Keys and various hip-hop, rap and r&b artists. Is that not wicked, or what? It's a pretty sweet album. If you like hip hop and are open-minded it is definitely worth the listen. My favorite tracks are: Stay Off the Fuckin' Flowers with Raekwon,Why Can't I Forget Him? with Nicole Wray, Ain't Nothin' Like You with Jim Jones and Mos Def, and What You Do to Me with Billy Danze, Jim Jones, Nicole Wray. Word on the street is there will be another Blakroc album out in 2011. I don't know the details though.
Don't just take my word for it though, go out experience the Black Keys for yourself. If you're diggin' on unhinged, chill, modern, whisky blues, the Black Keys are for you. Mad chops.
