The Black Keys Return With New Album

The Black Keys have confirmed that they will release their 8th full length album on May 18th on Nonesuch Records. It will be called "Brothers". It's the first release since the sublime "Attack & Release" and is produced by the duo themselves, except for one track that will be produced by Danger Mouse who was behind "Attack & Release".

The tracklisting is as follows:


01 Everlasting Light
02 Next Girl
03 Tighten Up [Produced by Danger Mouse]
04 Howlin' for You
05 She's Long Gone
06 Black Mud
07 The Only One
08 Too Afraid to Love You
09 Ten Cent Pistol
10 Sinister Kid
11 The Go Getter
12 I'm Not the One
13 Unknown Brother
14 Never Gonna Give You Up
15 These Days

It was thought that we might be waiting a little longer for more from the Black Keys given a number of other projects: BlakRoc (a hip-hop collaboration with Damon Dash), a solo release from frontman Dan Auerbach and a project entitled Drummer from Patrick Carney, the bands eh.. drummer...

Track 14 should be an interesting one - it is a cover of the Jerry Butler song posted below.




The Black Keys, I feel, are among the most underrated acts in modern music. Despite receiving plaudits from John Peel, Letterman, Rolling Stone magazine and more they don't seem to have reached a widespread audience. They have been releasing consistently solid bluesy rock 'n' roll since 2002's "The Big Come Up", with standout tracks along the way including "Psychotic Girl", "Strange Times", "I Got Mine" and "Hurt Like Mine". There have been inevitable comparisons with the White Stripes for years (both consist of a singer/guitarist and drummer and are heavily influenced by the blues and garage stylings of everyone from Blind Willie McTell and Robert Johnson to the Stones and Iggy Pop & the Stooges) The duo have also flourished in the live setting, evident from this performance of "I Got Mine" on the Live From Abbey Road show on Channel 4.



The band have confirmed several dates in America, and rumour has it they should be going further afield during the summer. Fingers crossed for an Irish date! Here's hoping that Auerback and Carney can deliver yet another solid work when "Brothers" hits the shops in May. Sometimes you can't beat that raw, stripped back, simplistic sound...