The Black Keys

Brothers is astounding; garage blues rock by name but, by nature, free of the shackles such labelling might engender. Using the terms ‘garage,’ ‘ blues’ and ‘rock’ may of course evoke a certain group called The White Stripes; there are two members. Check. One plays drums, the other sings and plays guitar. Check. They’re not related even though Jack first told us he and Meg White were brother and sister respectively and this album’s called Brothers even though The Black Keys aren’t really brothers. A rather specific…check.  But that’s where the similarities end.  Akin to the playful album cover artwork, The Black Keys attack the aural senses with their own distinctive gait; combining nods to Alabama’s legendary Muscle Shoals studio where the album was recorded with their own flourishes amidst the bluesy exterior.

The opening track – ‘Everlasting Light’ – chugs along like a freight train with its repeating guitar rhythms.  Slowly, it builds and carries its velocity onto the gritty and raw ‘Next Girl.’  This song, an early standout, reverberates onto the scene with the lyrics “Oh my next girl / will be nothing like my, ex girl / I made mistakes back then, I'll never do it again.”

‘Tighten up’ (the current single) is simply superb; its whistling spaghetti-western-style intro is mirrored by an addictive guitar hook that perfectly befits Auerback’s roughshod vocals.  It also epitomises why Dangermouse is such a gifted producer in pulling together the duo’s obvious talents to create a cunningly crafted ‘three-minute pop song’; albeit one that eschews pop by rote.  Oh, and the video ain’t half bad either.

Following this, ‘Howlin’ for You’ has a haunting ‘Strange Days’-era Doors quality aligned with Carney’s driving drum section.  ‘The Only One’ and the elegant ‘Too Afraid to Love’ – with its enveloping harpsichord melody – roll along a psychedelic path while the soulful storytelling of ‘Ten Cent Pistol’ again changes tack.  Throughout this track, and others, there is a lyrical romanticism with older worldly blues, with ‘Sinister Kid’ bringing in the lyrics “If I kill a man in the first degree / baby would you flee with me?”  As if to add to this homage, a grandiose cover of Jerry Butler’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ is freshly served up and wavers little from the original.

So I think it’s safe to say this one merited more than just a quick capsule review.  It’s a hugely impressive showcase that doesn’t, in my book, put a foot wrong.  A ‘brotherly’ duo in tune with their sound and in tune with each other, the garage blues rock fraternity (and anyone else listening for that matter) has never had it so good.

'Brothers' is out 17th May on Nonesuch. Catch the boys touring in June, including a show at London's Roundhouse and a slot on the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury.

For more info, head over to www.myspace.com/theblackkeys

Words by Ben Nicholas