THE BLACK KEYS – Strange Times – 2008 – Single review
RATING: 2.5/5
'Strange times are here' sings Dan Auerbach - a lot - on this. Presumably this is because even he's weirded out by the fact that the 'Keys are now doing passable imitations of early Black Sabbath albeit with a not particularly inspiring tune and that this has been chosen as the lead single for upcoming album Attack & Release. This isn't the band I like - and much as I'd like to lay the blame squarely at the feet of producer Dangermouse who was clearly determined to do something other than the band's usual 'medium-fi' sound - the rot had already set in on last album Magic Potion which was high on funereal blues dirges and low on the hook-laden tunes of earlier albums. In fact, I don't mind the different production style - you can't keep doing the same thing all your life can you? But not having a decent melody is somewhat of a disappointment. It's like turning up at your favourite roadhouse to find that the bikers have taken over - not something that bothers you - but replaced your favourite beer with Fosters - something that disturbs you to the core.
Out now on Nonesuch.
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