Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Album Review: The Black Keys' Brothers is So Good I Want to Mount it Like a Bull in Heat

Is it just me, or is 2010 already turning out to be the best year in while for new music? Hell, Erykah Badu and Broken Social Scene alone have made it a year to remember, album-wise. And then today comes Brothers, the latest from the greatest touring blues rock duo in the known universe, The Black Keys. Of course, i purchased the "For Fanatical Fans" package, but if you want a chance to win your own, head on over to LET fave HearYa for a contest to do just that. Feel free to comment to an almost unnecessary degree about your love of beards while there. Those cats dig that stuff.

i feel it's slightly premature to say this is not only the Key's best work, but the best CD of the year so far, but that's only because i haven't had a chance to listen to it at eardrum shredding levels in my car yet. Suffice to say, it's a damn fine album, kids, and i cannot recommend it enough. Once Dan opens things up singing falsetto, it's pretty much a swampy, sludgey, funky, nasty affair from there on out. Think the audial equivalent of banana pancakes with crunchy peanut butter syrup for your earholes. To call any of the tracks standouts would be to imply the entire album isn't incredible, but after just a couple of listens on ye olde computer during work, "Everlasting Light," "Next Girl" and "Howlin' For You" are the tunes that i can't wait to hear live when they hit DC in a few months.

Of course, the boys are pimping the hell out of the thing on their own site today. Sign up for the fan list to get your own copy of free mp3, "Ohio," previously only available as a 7".

They've also got this new "Tighten Up" video going, which could be their best yet, even without Frank the Dinosaur.

You can go listen to the entire album yourself over at NPR, but since i know you vultures want to get your fix of free tunes here, you lazy bastards, here's the boys playing the John Peel show back in '03.

mp3: Set You Free (The Black Keys from the Peel Sessions, 4-20-03)

mp3: Hard Row (The Black Keys from the Peel Sessions, 4-20-03)

mp3: No Trust (The Black Keys from the Peel Sessions, 4-20-03)

mp3: The Moan (The Black Keys from the Peel Sessions, 4-20-03)

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