Album A Day: The Black Keys – Thickfreakness

I have a friend or two here at school who are huge blues fanatics. Their ongoing mission is to get me (and everyone else they know, for that matter) to know and appreciate the works of folks like John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, and dozens of other names I’m blanking on right about now. The Black Keys aren’t a perfect fit into that category, but a good start. The duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney take the traditional sound of the blues and infuse it with just enough old-school rock n’ roll to make it different and exciting.

In the best way possible, The Black Keys are nothing most of the rock bands recording today. Listening to Thickfreakness, I had to keep reminding myself that this album came out in this decade, not 40 years ago. But the dated sound doesn’t hurt the band; in fact, it gives them an unexpected sense of fun. Thickfreakness is a raw, stripped-down rock n’ roll album; Auerbach’s vocals are fuzzy and left in the background, allowing the vibrant, textured guitar riffs to take center stage. The Black Keys aren’t about wowing listeners with big choruses or catchy hooks; in fact, both are in short supply here. Auerbach and Carney would rather win over listeners with some impressive guitar work and a dirty, live-show feel to the album. It might take a little time to accept what The Black Keys are offering, but if that can happen, Thickfreakness will reward with a rare nostalgic quality that’s far too uncommon.

The Black Keys – Have Love Will Travel [iTunes] (YSI)

==TJ==

PS: The Album A Day project is now accepting requests. A post will be coming shortly with more details.