Saturday, February 9, 2008

Breaking Records! - The Black Keys - Attack & Release


The Black Keys have a new CD coming out on April 1st. I have been a big fan of The Black Keys since I first heard their album Thickfreakness in 2003. In 2006 they put out an album (Magic Potion) and an EP (Chulahoma) that both placed among my favorite albums of 2006.

The Black Keys are a two-piece blues rock duo from Akron, OH. They are often compared to The White Stripes, but I feel like they are much dirtier, funkier and a lot less experimental (in this case, that's a good thing). They have released 4 albums and 2 EPs since 2002.

Now they are back and they are bringing with them the mastermind producer behind The Grey Album, Gnarls Barkley and The Gorillaz 2nd album, Demon Days.

This also appears to mark the first time anyone has played on a Black Keys album that isn't drummer Patrick Carney or guitarist/vocalist Daniel Auerbach. Specifically, Patrick's uncle Ralph Carney who has played various instruments (but mostly sax and clarinet) on half a dozen Tom Waits CDs as well as the B-52's and other projects. Also joining them is the amazing Marc Ribot who has also played with Tom Waits a lot, as well as John Zorn, Medeski, Martin and Wood and Elvis Costello along with his own fantastic group, Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos.

Well, the first single from Attack & Release has been released. This is Strange Times.

2 comments:

Greg said...

Sounds great!... I think people are afraid of a bloated sound with all of the added instrumentation, but they should take comfort in this listen. Spoon made it work with Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - I don't see why these guys can't pull it off as well.

strangelove said...

Interesting sound, not sure what I'm expecting yet. I still think the Keys have yet to top theri second album, so far nothign has had that soul or energy.
I know "Attack and Release" is already out on tte net, anyone have a link for it?

 
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