_The Black Keys - El Camino (21/01/2012)
__
The Black
Keys road to success
has only truly hit its stride in the past two years, but with the release of
their seventh (yes, seventh) studio album El Camino, they’re only going to outshine
everything they’ve already accomplished.
El Camino itself is a mixed pot of genres, melding everything from R&B and rock n roll, right through to soul and country. It’s short and sweet with enough catchy hooks to lure in even the most adamant of music listeners.
With its eccentric use of keys and guitar, lead single Lonely Boy kicks off the album in fine form, culminating in a chorus that is the albums unofficial anthem, the female back up vocalists only improving on the already strong track.
Driven by riffs that propel the album at a constant upbeat pace, the confidence displayed The Black Keys is astounding. Groovy beats thrive in Dead And Gone while the guitar fuzz kicks in for Gold On The Ceiling. It’s not exactly as subtle as their previous release, Brothers, but this only allows the band to explore new musical capabilities.
A highlight arrives mid-album in Run Right Back; it’s the perfect blend of country and rock n roll with a killer guitar riff layered throughout. But would it be blasphemy of me to say that Little Black Submarines sounds like a long lost track by Led Zeppelin? Its style is reminiscent of Stairway To Heaven in varying ways, most notably as the guitar kicks in against the drum-line at 2:26. Stop Stop is a beautiful homage to the soul of 1950’s mo-town with its endearing chorus, while final track Mind Eraser sends El Camino driving off into the sunset, leaving only a dusty haze of fading guitar riffs.
Realistically, I think the best way to describe El Camino would be that it’s a jukebox of eclectic singles. Each track offers something different while sticking to a style of vintage rock that demands repeat listens. Not just because it’s the choice album of Summer but because it excels, almost to perfection.
Luke Sutton
El Camino itself is a mixed pot of genres, melding everything from R&B and rock n roll, right through to soul and country. It’s short and sweet with enough catchy hooks to lure in even the most adamant of music listeners.
With its eccentric use of keys and guitar, lead single Lonely Boy kicks off the album in fine form, culminating in a chorus that is the albums unofficial anthem, the female back up vocalists only improving on the already strong track.
Driven by riffs that propel the album at a constant upbeat pace, the confidence displayed The Black Keys is astounding. Groovy beats thrive in Dead And Gone while the guitar fuzz kicks in for Gold On The Ceiling. It’s not exactly as subtle as their previous release, Brothers, but this only allows the band to explore new musical capabilities.
A highlight arrives mid-album in Run Right Back; it’s the perfect blend of country and rock n roll with a killer guitar riff layered throughout. But would it be blasphemy of me to say that Little Black Submarines sounds like a long lost track by Led Zeppelin? Its style is reminiscent of Stairway To Heaven in varying ways, most notably as the guitar kicks in against the drum-line at 2:26. Stop Stop is a beautiful homage to the soul of 1950’s mo-town with its endearing chorus, while final track Mind Eraser sends El Camino driving off into the sunset, leaving only a dusty haze of fading guitar riffs.
Realistically, I think the best way to describe El Camino would be that it’s a jukebox of eclectic singles. Each track offers something different while sticking to a style of vintage rock that demands repeat listens. Not just because it’s the choice album of Summer but because it excels, almost to perfection.
Luke Sutton