The Black Keys know where their money comes from. Sure, they screw around plenty these days with all kinds of kooky projects like solo records, bands comprised entirely of drummers, and blues/hip-hop fusion “supergroups”… but I mean, come on. That shit is all just ridiculous neon-sugar icing on the weathered old vanilla pound cake that is The Black Keys. And if you had to pick either the frosting or the vanilla cake to eat every day for the rest of your life, we all know damn well what you would pick (killing yourself is not an option).
That’s right. You’d release another Black Keys album before it’s too late and everyone just remembers you for all those aforementioned kooky side-projects. Hence, open wide for the sturdy and sensible sixth LP from Carney and Auerbach. It’s called Brothers, and it’s being released on May 18 via Nonesuch.
The duo (not actual brothers, mind you) recorded the bulk of the album at the legendary Alabama studio Muscle Shoals, one of those “if these walls could talk” kinda places that has produced iconic recordings from The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and others. Speaking about the vibe of the new record, Auerbach says, “We like spooky sounds… like Alice Coltrane, where a dark groove is laid down. That’s the headspace we tried to get into for this record.” The album includes one (last?) Danger Mouse-produced song called “Tighten Up,” as well as a cover of the Jerry Butler classic “Never Gonna Give You Up” (!). The remaining songs on Brothers are back to keeping it all in the pseudo-family though, with Carney and Auerbach themselves performing and producing the remainder of the tracks. Sorry, ‘Kwon.
Brothers:
01. Everlasting Light
02. Next Girl
03. Tighten Up
04. Howlin’ For You
05. She’s Long Gone
06. Black Mud
07. The Only One
08. Too Afraid to Love You
09. Ten Cent Pistol
10. Sinister Kid
11. The Go Getter
12. I’m Not the One
13. Unknown Brother
14. Never Gonna Give You Up
15. These Days
Upcoming dates (Nothing says “Spring Break” in Florida like the Blues, yeah?):
04.08.10 - Iowa City, IA - University of Iowa Memorial
04.17.10 - Live Oak, FL - Wanee Music Festival
04.18.10 - Miami, FL - The Fillmore at Jackie Gleason
04.19.10 - Orlando, FL - The House of Blues
06.11.10 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
07.27.10 - New York, NY - Summer Stage (SOLD OUT)
• The Black Keys: http://www.theblackkeys.com
• Nonesuch: http://www.nonesuchrecords.com
[Photo: James Carney]
