Reviews > CDs
The Black Keys: El Camino

Nonesuch
All you need are three chords and a beat—at least, that’s how The Black Keys have been making music since their humble garage beginnings. What changes radically with each album is the overarching sonic theme, whether it’s the raw acid rock of Magic Potion, the grits-and-grease blues of Attack and Release, or the hyperdriven hard funk of Brothers. The Akron, Ohio duo’s seventh album—produced again by Brian Burton a.k.a. Danger Mouse —hits a lot of the familiar notes, but there’s a newfound sense of dynamics afoot here, as though three guys locked themselves in a room full of Free, T-Rex, Traffic and Stooges records for a weekend, distilling all they could from how a rock band (with Danger Mouse on keyboards) can work as a rhythmic unit. While some of the results sound a little stale—“Sister” and “Hell of a Season” plod like half-finished throwaways—the real killers emerge in the complexity: “Gold on the Ceiling” channels vintage Marc Bolan boogie rock, complete with a rare Dan Auerbach guitar solo and opening nod to ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (lending credence to the rumor that the Keys have been working with the Texas trio on their long-overdue comeback), while the acoustic first half of “Little Black Submarines” verges into straight-up folk, with Auerbach’s voice cracking over the line, “Oh can it be the voices calling me/ They get lost and out of time.” Although it is not quite the kitchy Americana classic that the title El Camino suggests, it’s still just as road-worthy.
Relix A/V
Golden Bloom "Flying Mountain"
Golden Bloom stopped by Relix to perform a tune from their latest EP No Day Like Today.
The Chapin Sisters "Crying in the Rain"
The Chapin Sisters share an tune from their new album A Date With the Everly Brothers.
Night Moves "Country Queens"
Minneapolis-based Night Moves share a song from their record, Colored Emotions, live at Relix.
The Giving Tree Band "Brown Eyed Women"
The Giving Tree Band enjoy a spring day on the Relix rooftop, while performing a classic Grateful Dead tune.
Hayden "Blurry Nights"
Canadian singer-songwriter Hayden performs a duet with his sister-in-law Lou Canon. The song appears on Us Alone his first record on Broken Social Scene’s Arts & Crafts Productions.
The Milk Carton Kids "Hope of a Lifetime"
The Milk Carton Kids share the first song from their new album, The Ash & Clay.
Premiere: Ana Popovic "Object Of Obsession"
Here is the new video from Serbian guitar ace Ana Popovic. “Object Of Obsession” appears on her latest album Can You Stand The Heat.
Ron Sexsmith "Nowhere To Go"
Ron Sexsmith visits the Relix office to perform a tune from his latest record Forever Endeavor.
Latest Content
- First Look: Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s Blue Note Debut Lickety Split
- The Rolling Stones with Dave Grohl (Gallery and Clip)
- Lotus "Age of Inexperience" (Official Video)
- Morning Teleporation Share "People On My Floor"
- The National at Public Assembly and on Colbert (Gallery and Clips)
- John Fogerty and Dawes "Someday Never Comes" on Letterman
- Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers "Little Too Late" Live at the Hangout
- John Fogerty: Wrote A Song For Everyone
Comments
There are no comments associated with this posts