Since The Black Keys arrival in 2001 the music scene has been gifted with something new and refreshing. If the saying ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ applied anywhere, then it would apply here, as they have to stuck to what they are good at and built around it. Releasing their seventh studio album El Camino at the end of 2011, these guys have flooded their listeners ears with dirty guitar riffs, distorted vocals and whiskey fuelled songs that we have all become familiar with.
Along with their past albums there is still no bass being used by the band itself, yet another thing that makes them so different to other big bands today. This may seem odd, but when listening to the dynamics of this Blues-Rock duo it becomes apparent that there is no need for one.
They have really achieved something special in this album. From its strong American rock style opening of ‘Lonely Boy’ to its nothing short of epic finish, there is an individual feel of listening to something old and classic but new and modern at the same time. The album gives off a more mature feel than their last album; it is full of up-tempo stories of the broken man. It displays a fresh yet familiar sound which can be so hard to achieve in today’s music industry. Littered with catchy lyrics and addictive beats, one of the strongest tracks on the album has to be ‘Gold on the Ceiling’ it just captures the essence of The Black Keys perfectly. It has that gritty rock sound, combined with good lyrics and a memorable sound; it almost gives off a euphoric feeling. Another strong track is ‘Little Black Submarines’, it starts with a sombre acoustic opening, where this folksy story-telling sound is shown and picks up half way through, giving it an extra punch. The album would be a fine addition to any music fans collection and would also sound beautiful on vinyl. If rock is your thing then this CD is definitely worth a listen.
{youtube}a_426RiwST8{/youtube}