Relieve post-semester stress with the Black Keys.

Play it by Ear

Black Keys please

By: Jordan Kerfeld

Posted: 4/28/08

"The Yardbirds want to play the blues badly-and they do," Blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson quipped in the 1960s. This line is particularly potent when discussing the potentially controversial relationship between races and the types of music we tend to associate with them.

The Yardbirds comment is condescending by Sonny Boy, and particularly ironic, as The Yardbirds in their various incarnations featured three of the best blues/rock guitarists of all time (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Led Zeppelin axe man Jimmy Page) and their white skin is seldom mentioned.

But throughout history, the validity of many acts are called into question, whether it be the stirring R&B of Eric Burdon & the Animals or the blue-eyed soul of The Rascals. I find these bands to not only be Great, but particularly important in mixing our musical gene pool.

In 2008, the Black Keys are a direct descendant of these important bands, one that shows how far music has evolved.

The Detroit based duo are known for their gritty, garage Blues sound, arriving with the White Stripes with an invigorating sound that seems like something ones parents might listen to, but with an edge that completely speaks to a contemporary audience.

The Keys' latest, "Attack & Release," is a surprisingly rich 40 minutes that explores the Blues and late '60s psycadelia. Though their work is generally defined by a much edgier, aggressive sound, "Attack and Release" reveals a softer, but no less powerful sound.

I was initially worried that producer Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, "The Grey Album") would drown their sound with all kinds of sonic bells and whistles, but he turns in a relatively conservative effort, helping the Black Keys explore a far out sound without letting them wander too far out.

Did I just write that?

"I Got Mine" is the first song to note, a typical sounding Black Keys number. Singer Dan Aurbach's Kermit the Frog vocals sound perfectly passionate as his guitar slithers to Patrick Carney's emphatic drum beat. The song sounds as if it would fit in with the southern juke joint blues of old.

"Psychotic Girl" comes shortly after, a funky number that has a backbeat reminiscent of Gorillaz' "Clint Eastwood" with mournful guitars and eery background harmonies that gives the track warmth.

"Same Old Thing" has a thundering, infectious groove that is hard not to enjoy. It also features some pretty impressive jazz flute that made me smile at first, but it's an appropriate touch.

The Black Keys latest is the perfect album to listen too during and after the stressful late semester weeks. There's passion, and power, but the Keys have finally honed in on softer sounds and "Attack and Release" shines because of it.

Grade: A-

jkerfeld@unews.com