The Black Keys

liebzz · Post by **liebzz** » Fri February 22, 2013 8:43 pm

I looked and was shocked there wasn't a thread about them already. I am a huge fan of everything they've done...one of the few bands that I characterize as not have a single bad album. I guess to get people start thinking, I'll rank the albums (we could talk about the shift to more musicians in the band and the Danger Mouse production changes, but I fear it would devolve into a Bob Dylan picks up an electric instrument vibe)...

1. The Big Come Up (maybe the rawess album I've ever heard - explodes out the speakers)
2. Rubber Factory (every song on this album is A+)
3. Brothers (the perfect combination of experimentation and catchiness, and a breath of fresh air needed for this group)
4. El Camino (to quote McCready "the logical extension" of Brothers - Little Black Submarines is so awesome!)
5. Magic Potion (very underrated by fans, but when you go back to listen, this was the absolute perfect straight ahead rock/blues collision for them)
6. Attack & Release (Danger Mouse's first album with them, and the flourishes added greatly to the sound - but similar to other Danger Mouse productions, the album is a little too short)
7. Thickfreakness (can't ever explain why it falls this far down the list as I love every song on this album, but it somehow always does)
8. Chulahoma (Junior Kimbrough cover album more of an EP, and it is phenomenal, but maybe because it is only reworking his stuff it falls to the bottom of the pile)

As an aside, I am not counting Blak Roc as an album by them, but it is a real grower, and over time I have really come to enjoy it. I don't think I am missing any albums here. Discuss.

bada · Post by **bada** » Fri February 22, 2013 8:51 pm

If I was looking to sell a washer and dryer or had a TV show that was slighty hip and quirky I would certainly use one of their songs in the commercial.

liebzz · Post by **liebzz** » Fri February 22, 2013 9:20 pm

bada wrote:If I was looking to sell a washer and dryer or had a TV show that was slighty hip and quirky I would certainly use one of their songs in the commercial.

I don't pay this stuff any mind. Even the mighty Led Zeppelin and the Who have relented on this. Street cred was so 1990s.

zeb · Post by **zeb** » Fri February 22, 2013 9:41 pm

Good band.

psychobain · Post by **psychobain** » Fri February 22, 2013 10:13 pm

zeb wrote:Good band.

Hatfield · Post by **Hatfield** » Fri February 22, 2013 11:00 pm

I have to be in the right mood for El Camino and Brothers, but I'm always in the mood for Rubber Factory.

Strat · Post by **Strat** » Fri February 22, 2013 11:00 pm

Amazing band. Auerbachs solo record is also a favorite of mine. To me - they can do no wrong. I am happy for all the success they are getting. They deserve it. That being said...

I am not going to pay 60 bucks to see them in an arena now. Only because (yes, sorry, im that guy) i have seen them in tiny ass clubs over the years....

surfndestroy · Post by **surfndestroy** » Fri February 22, 2013 11:21 pm

Strat wrote:Amazing band. Auerbachs solo record is also a favorite of mine. To me - they can do no wrong. I am happy for all the success they are getting. They deserve it. That being said...

I am not going to pay 60 bucks to see them in an arena now. Only because (yes, sorry, im that guy) i have seen them in tiny ass clubs over the years....

I like them in the same way I like AC/DC. Expect zero musical growth and a certain kind of sameness in every record. Enjoy it for what it is. As for $60 to see them live, no thanks. Been there, done that and they're just not that interesting live.

Sat February 23, 2013 12:14 am

Love them, though my one time getting to see them live i was a bit disappointed, the had an hour long spot at bonnaroo and they barely played 45 minutes, they sounded great, but was hoping for a bit more, im still hoping to get to see them again has headliners of their own tour

super nintendo chalmers · Sat February 23, 2013 2:36 am

I like Rubber Factory, but they bore the shit out of me.

verb_to_trust · Post by **verb_to_trust** » Sat February 23, 2013 4:16 am

As a live band they need to be in a small club. Otherwise, it just doesn't work.

super nintendo chalmers · Sat February 23, 2013 5:31 am

verb_to_trust wrote:As a live band they need to be in a small club. Otherwise, it just doesn't work.

Bingo.

verb_to_trust · Post by **verb_to_trust** » Sat February 23, 2013 6:48 pm

Like this:

More ideal even would be my garage....

southp · Post by **southp** » Sat February 23, 2013 8:01 pm

El Camino is one of my favourite records in the past couple of years.
That and Springsteen Wrecking Ball have never been too far out of rotation in the last 14 months or so.

Heathen · Post by **Heathen** » Sat February 23, 2013 8:11 pm

I like Magic Potion the best. The rest is hit or miss.

BurtReynolds · Post by **BurtReynolds** » Sat February 23, 2013 8:37 pm

I love el Camino and hated Brothers. Not sure why. I don't care how big they are, I like these dudes.

southp · Post by **southp** » Sat February 23, 2013 8:39 pm

BurtReynolds wrote:I love el Camino and hated Brothers. Not sure why. I don't care how big they are, I like these dudes.

Brothers can seem a bit long and drawn out whereas El Camino is like 40 minutes of tight/fun rock songs.

oasisfan35 · Post by **oasisfan35** » Sat February 23, 2013 9:34 pm

super nintendo chalmers wrote:
verb_to_trust wrote:As a live band they need to be in a small club. Otherwise, it just doesn't work.
Bingo.

Though small club is pushing it, I saw them at the Orpheum in Boston and it was fantastic. Then MSG and even worse FireFly and it was beyond clear that they are not a big sound and venue type of band.

i got bugs · Post by **i got bugs** » Sun February 24, 2013 11:12 am

wasnt a fan at first

but magic potion kills it

Gods' Die · Post by **Gods' Die** » Mon February 25, 2013 4:19 pm

Yeah...their current attitude of trying to get big and the last 2 albums, while good, have been a step down in order to get more attention. It's a strategy I'd probably ensue myself, but the music has suffered.

Thickfreakness, Rubber Factory, The Big Come Up, Chulahoma, Magic Potion, Attack & Release are all pretty great shit. A&R is where it started trending toward their current, more commercial appeal shtick.

Which, go for it...I just don't reach for those records.

Red Mosquito

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