The Black Keys are back with a brand new fast-paced, drive-hard soundtrack entitled El Camino. And personally, I couldn't be more pleased.
The always loud, yet often bluesy-rockers are reinventing that lo-fi sound they are famous for, by injecting more retro horsepower and few other surprises. With track titles like 'Nova Baby' [Likening it to a baby being born in the back of cherry-red Chevy] and 'Mind Eraser' you can bet your ass this is an album to be played at full volume, and top speed.
The opener, 'Lonely Boy' is exactly what you want to hear from these guys. Right out of the gate, we get a taste of a fast, furious beat--its the perfect track to crank while running from the fuzz.
We keep the beat, but lose the angst for the next track, 'Dead & Gone', which features some back-up vocals by some smooth soul singers. A bit of twinkle, and a whole lot of Hawaii Five-O type groove. A seemless transition as we work our way into the the body of the album.
'Gold On The Ceiling' can easily be compared to Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Higher Ground' [off Mother's Milk] It consists of a steady beat, backing guest vocals and consisten chorus lines. Not a throw-away track, but not the best so far. A toe-tapper at the least.
Giving us time to breathe, we break into the acoustic intro for, 'Little Black Submarines.' A very folky tune that exclaims 'everybody knows a broken heart is blind.' Which certainlyhas some truth value if you've ever been deserted. But half-way through, the sorrow-filled lyrics morph into a slightly more vigorous 'gettin-my-heart-back-together'-type jam. A nice touch. But be forewarned, if you listen to it a couple times, you might start to reminisce..
If The Doors sat down with the Keys, we might end up with something that sounds like the next one: 'Money Maker.' Simple lyrics, pounding drums during the chorus hook, and a bit of seriously distorted harmonica make up the main elements here. Only thing missing is perhaps some organs. Coming in at under three-minutes for seemingly no reason other than they just decided to stop, this had much more promise if they kept at it.
Picking back up the reigns and giving it more juice, 'Run Right Back [To Her]' is another great hi-octane highway track. Certain to be a single off the album, although more reserved than 'Lonely Boy', it lends a better transition..excuse me, transmission into 'Sister.' A foot-stomping AC/DC meets Rolling Stones hybrid. Perhaps my favorite on here--you get a taste of classic post-disco Jagger with a whole lot of that Black Keys swagger.
'Hell Of A Season' ain't much to write home about. To be honest, it seemed forced. Its got a nice beat--sure, thats a given when dealing with the Keys, but it lacks heart. Nothing stands out as particularly catchy but then again, they can't all be winners.
Just when you think they can't go any more retro, 'Nova Baby' picks up where 'Stop, Stop' leaves off. Its got a little bit of Billy Jean in there both in context and in rhythm. Interestingly enough, you can hear those organs faintly adding depth in the background, which makes me wonder why they weren't utilized in 'Money Maker.' But still a great track about a girl not knowing what she wants, stepping on your heart and thusly wasting your time. I think we can all relate.
Wrapping up the album is 'Mind Eraser.' An equally retro jam with smooth guitars and swooning lyrics decrying 'don't let it be over' [exactly what I was thinking]. A fitting end, and I'm sure somewhat intentional.
THE BIG PICTURE:
One thing that is very apparent on this album in particular, is the lack of emphasis on intricate guitar work. If you look back at titles like 'Just Got To Be' and 'Thickfreakness' and compare them to this album you will notice the stark difference. But just the same, the boys worked hard on this and it comes through in spades. Taking a risk by departing from their normal comfort zone and trying their hands at a more retro approach to story-telling seems to work out. Their earlier work can sound a bit ostentatious to some, and repetitious to others, which was why this album was necessary. The fact they can develop an entire album without relying on the same old elements or over-the-top fret work shows maturation as a band and depth of character both in concept and the finished product.
If you are just starting out as a Black Keys fan, this is where you should start. Simplified, stripped-down hard rock at its best. By working backwards through their catalouge you're more likely to appreciate their older, much heavier material.
4 out of 5 stars
El Camino is out 12/5 on Nonesuch Records.
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..don't let it be over!
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