The Black Keys "Brothers" (2010)
There is a lot more to the Black Keys’ history than I was aware; this is
actually their 6th album!
The two-piece band had formed when
singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach asked his friend drummer Patrick Carney to
help him record some demos. The other musicians Auerbach had asked to
take part failed to show up so the two guys started jamming and
recording together.
They shopped around their demo and were eventually offered a contract. They weren't living a life of wealth and fame at first. They had to mow lawns to raise enough money to go on tour and recorded their first few albums themselves. As other colour-themed-name duo the White Stripes ascended to fame, the Black Keys were left being accused of imitating them or jumping on the bandwagon (an accusation even levelled by Jack White himself).
The duo teamed up with Danger Mouse to produce their album “Attack and Release” (which is one I do own) after an Ike Turner record DM had contacted them about working on fell through. Following this Auerbach released a solo album which caused a rift between the duo as nobody had told Patrick Carney this was happening. They eventually made up and got together to record again, which brings us to “Brothers”.
The duo moved into a famed studio in Alabama and pursued a more stripped down sound for the album (partly to accommodate the technical limitations of their equipment). The sound is a kind of blues with a 60s vibe to it, while still feeling really contemporary. Auerbach's vocal track is often distorted giving the recording that hint of lo-fi. Elsewhere, fuzzed out single-string guitar lines and wah-wah guitar add to the 60s feel.
Opener "Everlasting Light" has Auerbach crooning in falsetto which Motown-esque backing vocals drift in and out. Single "Tighten Up" is Danger Mouse's sole production contribution to the album, and the looped drum, perky whistling sound and backing keys definitely give him away. Danger Mouse does tend to be one of those producers where his records sound like him. I dig his sound, so I don't see it as an inherently bad thing, but I do feel like producers should be more about bringing out the best in their 'clients' rather than making themselves a member of the band.
Pretty sure I've heard "Howlin' for You" in a commercial somewhere, it's got an easy stomping electric blues feel. Psychedelic organ in "The Only One" again ramps up the 60s feel. I actually feel like their laid-back, stripped-down blues with melodic sensibility and simple but effective drumming often brings to mind parts of the Beatles' "White Album" and Let it Be" albums, especially on a track like "Unknown Brother".
In the past I've felt the 'two-person band' thing was a bit gimmicky, but I've got to admit that the Black Keys have a great sound, and Auerbach's lyrics are kind of simple yet effective, both in their emotional impact and their fit with the music.
They shopped around their demo and were eventually offered a contract. They weren't living a life of wealth and fame at first. They had to mow lawns to raise enough money to go on tour and recorded their first few albums themselves. As other colour-themed-name duo the White Stripes ascended to fame, the Black Keys were left being accused of imitating them or jumping on the bandwagon (an accusation even levelled by Jack White himself).
The duo teamed up with Danger Mouse to produce their album “Attack and Release” (which is one I do own) after an Ike Turner record DM had contacted them about working on fell through. Following this Auerbach released a solo album which caused a rift between the duo as nobody had told Patrick Carney this was happening. They eventually made up and got together to record again, which brings us to “Brothers”.
The duo moved into a famed studio in Alabama and pursued a more stripped down sound for the album (partly to accommodate the technical limitations of their equipment). The sound is a kind of blues with a 60s vibe to it, while still feeling really contemporary. Auerbach's vocal track is often distorted giving the recording that hint of lo-fi. Elsewhere, fuzzed out single-string guitar lines and wah-wah guitar add to the 60s feel.
Opener "Everlasting Light" has Auerbach crooning in falsetto which Motown-esque backing vocals drift in and out. Single "Tighten Up" is Danger Mouse's sole production contribution to the album, and the looped drum, perky whistling sound and backing keys definitely give him away. Danger Mouse does tend to be one of those producers where his records sound like him. I dig his sound, so I don't see it as an inherently bad thing, but I do feel like producers should be more about bringing out the best in their 'clients' rather than making themselves a member of the band.
Pretty sure I've heard "Howlin' for You" in a commercial somewhere, it's got an easy stomping electric blues feel. Psychedelic organ in "The Only One" again ramps up the 60s feel. I actually feel like their laid-back, stripped-down blues with melodic sensibility and simple but effective drumming often brings to mind parts of the Beatles' "White Album" and Let it Be" albums, especially on a track like "Unknown Brother".
In the past I've felt the 'two-person band' thing was a bit gimmicky, but I've got to admit that the Black Keys have a great sound, and Auerbach's lyrics are kind of simple yet effective, both in their emotional impact and their fit with the music.
