You know how i eschew hyperbole here at LET, so you're just going to have to believe me when i tell you that the Black Keys have released what is possibly the greatest faux movie trailer music video OF ALL TIMES!!!!
Showing posts with label Black Keys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Keys. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Video Vixens: The Black Keys' "Howlin' For You"
You know how i eschew hyperbole here at LET, so you're just going to have to believe me when i tell you that the Black Keys have released what is possibly the greatest faux movie trailer music video OF ALL TIMES!!!!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Terrible Chris' Fave Albums of 2010, Part the First
OK, now that the 2010 is behind us, and we have ALL the facts in front of us, here's my list of favorite CDs of the year past. As Megan will tell you, i'm not a huge fan of lists because, quite frankly, they're all just opinions. And as we all know, my opinion is superior to all others, so i just feel bad when i put out lists that so obviously trump all others. Oh well, it's my cross to bear.And because i spent so damn long on this list, posting the links, etc., i'm breaking it up into a four parter. Be still your beating hearts, i know.
Now, part the first.
1. The Black Keys, Brothers--OK, i lied. This clearly was the best CD of 2010. Paraphrasing one of the better reviews i recall reading, the Keys didn't reinvent the wheel with this one, they just proved they could make it rounder, rubberier and added spokes.
2. Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra, Honker--Probably the best CD of the year by a guy of whom you've never heard. Hopefully, the future will change that, as he's quite possibly the wittiest lyricist out there today.
3. Reggie Watts, Why Shit So Crazy?--This is more of a comedy/performance piece, but Watts shows what a sense of humor, a loop machine and a strong sense of lyrics can do.
4. Project: Mooncircle Artists, The Moon Comes Closer--Yes, i'm a Project: Mooncircle junkie, and this probably was my favorite offering from them in '10. The fact that it contains a huge chunk of their roster certainly didn't hurt.
5. Admiral Radley, I Heart California--i can't believe this wasn't on more "Best Of" lists. Critics and bloggers who are not me can be such maroons.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Late. Or early. Or something.Somebody needs to make this that.
(And it's way too late with way to get to too much. So if you have a problem...that bitch will cut you, so don't think she won't.)
mp3: Sun is Shining (Bob Marley & the Wailers from Kaya)
mp3: Grown So Ugly (The Black Keys from Rubber Factory)
mp3: I Wanna Get High (Cypress Hill from Black Sunday)
And if this ain't enough to get you kicked, well...
i'm not saying, i'm just saying. You know what i'm saying?
No matter what you are feeling this early in the early, this is the beginning of the best mix that is the best mix, so...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Live Review: The Black Keys at DAR Constitution, 7-26-10
i'm beginning to think the Black Keys are incapable of putting on a bad show. i've seen Dan Auerbach tear it up solo apparently while suffering from the flu, and while last night may not have been my favorite time seeing them, to claim the boys were in less than their usual rarefied air would simply be untrue.It might have had something to do with the fact that my ass hat of a brother who i also bought tickets for showed up almost half an hour late, or it may have just been the fact that i'm not a huge fan of DAR, but i couldn't quite get into the swing of things last night.
It certainly wasn't openers The Morning Benders. While my knowledge of them is largely limited to that cover CD they put out a couple of years ago, they certainly performed admirably. While they seemed somewhat mismatched with the harder sounding Keys at first, by the time they closed with "Excuses," damn near the entire house at that point (let's say just over half full) gave them a standing ovation, myself included.
Maybe i was thrown by the fact that Patrick Carney didn't wear glasses for the entire set, a first for me, and i've seen them at least a half dozen or so times already. i'm not sure how this is possible, but the heir apparent to John Bonham's frenzied style of playing appeared somehow even angrier than usual, beating the skins with a renewed passion one does not typically see outside of long-term, abusive relationships of the type found on "Cops" reruns. His drumming, however, remained flawless. The same should be said of Auerbach's guitar work, if anything better than the last couple of times i've seen him play solo. The song selection wasn't bad, either. Once they got "Stack Shot Billy" and "10 a.m. Automatic" out of the way, they pretty much covered my bases. More than half the show was dedicated to their earlier CDs, though they did bring out a bassists and keyboardist (another first for me seeing them), which wasn't a half bad affair at all, to help with their newer material. i'm not sure they added a whole hell of a lot, but they certainly didn't detract in the least. From the new CD, they played my faves again, ("Everlasting Light," "Next Girl," "Tighten Up," "Howlin' for You"), so it couldn't have been that, either. They did play their Twilight track, and while a kick-ass tune, teenage vampires do piss me off something fierce.
i dunno. Maybe my shoes were too tight, because upon further review, they obviously rocked last night.
Never mind. These are not the droids you're looking for. Move along; move along.
mp3: Ohio (The Black Keys from previous 7", now available at the website for the price of your email addy)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
It's Covered: Summertime Blues
Mother Terrible recently mentioned that summer is about over, and that school is just around the corner. While her exaggeration is obvious, it got me to thinking that if i'm going to do an "It's Covered" on the classic "Summertime Blues," i better get off my duff and into action.Originally penned by Eddie Cochran and his manager, Jerry Capehart, it started life as a B-side before eventually peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 29, 1958 and #18 on the UK Singles Chart. It's been covered by dozens of folks, and i've got more than a couple of versions for you to sample, from the original to a Japanese release only version by the greatest rock band playing today to the speed punk of the gods that were Guitar Wolf. i understand there's an Olivia Newton-John version out there i'm dying to get my hands on for reasons i can't even figure out myself, but there you have it.
Hopefully, it cures what ails ya.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Biggest Cry Baby Mix You Ever Will Hear
So i started physical therapy for ye olde broken down back today, and suffice to say, it was not a painless affair. As such, i'm circumventing witty and going straight for tears.You, you lucky bastard, get the Biggest Cry Baby Mix You Ever Will Hear, assuming my barely suppressed sobs don't get in the way. Seriously, call me a baby all you like (certain folks pay big bucks for that kind of treatment), but having a catheter inserted wasn't as painful as today's workout back spasms.
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.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
A Terrible Concert Update
While Megan clearly has been the concert lead for LET this year, tonight starts a pretty decent run of shows for me, and since i don't have anything else prepared for today, you get to check out what i have deemed worthy of my attendance. As always, if you see the lumpy, bald guy with the red beard in the corner, and you mention this ad, you'll get 50 PERCENT OFF your next order!!! Now all i have to do is start an import/export business, and we're styling.(That's tonight, suckas, so be there or don't. Your call, really)
(Don't have tix to this one yet, but i always kick myself when i miss him playing 'round these parts, so this time, i'm going. Damn it.)
UPDATE: This one is sold out, so unless i get off my ass and pull the old "let the blogger in" card, i guess i'm going to have to wait AGAIN to see Dan. Damn it two times.
(A friend of mine's band. She keeps promising me an mp3 for the site, but i'm going to break my own rule just for her and mention the show SANS music for all ya'll to enjoy.)
(Not my favorite venue, but this is what we do for Badu)
(The latest iteration of the remaining boys from Morphine. Saw them at the Mark Sandman Tribute Concert, if memory serves, and they were money)
mp3: Do You Swear To Tell, The Truth The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth, So Help Your Black Ass? (Amanda Palmer from her website)
(In case you needed to find me when you can't locate me at the Hole show, C.I.T.)
(May the Nerd be with You)
(See the above note re: Ms. Badu, but come up with something that rhymes with "Keys" in the second verse)
Undoubtedly, there will be some more, and i'll do a write-up on each one after the fact. If there's somebody kick ass coming we truly should not miss, feel free to plug your band in the comment section.
Friday, April 30, 2010
And the Reef Goes On...Half Baked Mixes, a Couple of Strains and a Lip Synching Dinosaur Puppet
i guess it's weed music week, er, two or something, here at LET. And as luck would have it, i can tie it all into beat music, which i do so enjoy.First up, two mixes that both prominently feature sound bites from the stoner classic, Half Baked. While Dave Chapelle would go on to bigger and better things before jumping off the grid, this flick remains one of the highlights of his career as far as i'm concerned. The fact that LET favorite Alex B and newer comer Shlohmo apparently agree is only icing on the cake.
mp3: MAH Mix (Shlohmo, ran on both the Mary Anne Hobbs Show and the Low End Theory's podcast, episode 12)
Remember those bad assed Oscillations mixtapes from Jus Like Music and Apple Juice Break i was yapping about last week? Well, they've already got an update. If you downloaded them for yourselves, you'll recall BUG's "Indica." Well, in the ever raging battle of which strain of weed is funkier, he's back with "Sativa." Wait until the bass line and synths burble all funky like right after the intro on the latter, and i think we'll agree on the winner of that.
Now, according to Dan Auerbach at their last show at the 9:30 Club, he and Patrick Carney are infrequent pot smokers, at best, but i don't hold that against them. Apropos of absolutely nothing beyond the fact that it amuses me immensely (and is probably some very stoner-worthy viewing), here's their latest video. Whether you're into dinosaur puppets, tongue-in-cheek subtitles or hot, tatted up chicks, there's a little something here for everyone.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Inappropriate Songs for Air Travel
Alright, my flight leaves shortly to return to DC, so as i like to tell my wife, get ready for another quickie. And by that, of course, i mean sex.While i am just about to be leaving on a jet plane, i just cannot bring myself to the level of hackneyed required to do an "It's Covered" on that track.
Instead, i bring to you perhaps two of the most inappropriate songs for air travel ever penned.
God damn, i love the Keys and the Mouse.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Live Review: Black Keys @ Rams Head Live!, February 4
OK, so I'm a bit behind on a couple of show reviews that I'm giving you out of order anyway, but what can you do? My erstwhile partner has been trying to show me how to do more behind-the-scenes work here at the site, and let's just say, it's been slow going. Let's see how this one goes, eh?So the Black Keys blew through Baltimore earlier this month, playing Rams Head Live! I had never been to the venue before, though I have been to the much smaller Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis. Gotta say, I wasn't super impressed with the digs. While there's a great deal of space, it seemed particularly poorly set up to me. The sound board is set up damn near dead center of the lower level, eating up a boatload of space where people assumedly would otherwise, you know, actually groove out to the show. The upper levels weren't much better, allowing for those right up against the railing to see the show, but nobody else. Now I'm about 6' 2", so it was no biggie for me, but my under five foot bride had a bit more of an issue. Granted, they have TV screens all over the place, but if I wanted to watch them on TV, I'd buy their live DVD .
Now, having seen Dan and Patrick about a dozen times, I refuse to believe they are capable of a "bad" show, but I have to admit, this was one of the weaker times I had seen them. While they tore through their set with the usual blistering abandon, the balls against the wall attitude one comes to expect from a Keys show seemed to be lacking. I dunno, it seemed like Carney only wanted to hurt his drumkit, not beat the snot out of it like usual.
On an up note, this leg of the tour has freaking tee shirts WITH A GIANT TURTLE ON IT!!!! If that's not worth the price of admission, well, you're just greedy.
And now for some additional BK audio pleasure for you:
[Photo by Chris Daly]
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Gift from Nonesuch Records
Those daffy bastards at Nonesuch Records have decided to make all our lives a little better by releasing a few tracks from Black Keys' frontman Dan Auerbach's upcoming solo CD, Keep It Hid.Surprisingly, I have not seen these tracks blasted all over the Interwebs yet. I'm guessing it's gotta be because of the holidays, as this clearly is the CD I'm currently most looking forward to hearing in 2009.
If these tracks are any indication, Auerbach is sticking fairly close to the BK sound, but has added a bit more pyschedelia and country blues to the mix.
"The Prowl" is a growling gut cruncher, while "Trouble Weighs a Ton" and "I Want Some More" have a much more "old skool" blues feel to them.
Damnation, I can't wait until February 28 when this tour hits the 9:30 Club.
mp3: The Prowl
mp3: Trouble Weighs a Ton
mp3: I Want Some More
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Top Albums of 2008 According to Chris: #1 - The Black Keys
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, quite frankly, are the best touring rock band in all of rock-bandom these days.Between Dan's sucking on glass 'til his throat is raw vocals and Patrick's insistence on beating the skins like they grabbed his little sister's ass at a party, these two consistently put out some of the most powerful tunes intended to grab you by the boo boo, and this year's Attack & Release was no different.
Composed with the idea that Ike Turner would play a major role on the CD, that version did not come to be, as Ike beat Tina to death (Best Headline of the Year? Probably.), and the boys took the journey themselves. They did, however, have the foresight to invite producer extraordinaire DangerMouse along for the ride, though, and the results are incredible. DM opted to add flourishes not heard on previous BK CDs, such as more female backing vocals and, believe it or not, actual keys. The result actually is a somewhat softer sound for the most part, though rockers like "Strange Times" and "I Got Mine" certainly wail as mercilessly as anything on the duo's earlier albums.
Add to the mix that both guys did a boatload of side work as producers for everyone from Jessica Lea Mayfield to Royal Bangs PLUS their nearly non-stop touring and it's hard to believe these two even have time to sleep, yet alone continually rock our socks off. Would now be a crazy time to mention that Dan has his own solo album scheduled to hit in early February of 09 and he's touring it, too, a scant few days after finishing the latest on-going Keys tour? Yeah, I've already got my Keys tickets for when they come to Baltimore AND the Dan solo tickets when he hits the 9:30 less than a month later.
God damn, I love the Black Keys. In case you missed their last visit to the 9:30 Club, here are a couple of goodies from said show.
mp3: 10 AM Automatic (link expired)
mp3: Strange Times (link expired)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Oooh Look! A Black Keys Song!
It's probably no secret that I lurvs me some Black Keys in the worst way. The only thing better than their CDs, in my humble opinion, is their live show. A studio setting can fix even the most glaring shortcomings, but a band has to let it all hang out when it's just them and an audience.In an effort to hoc their latest wares, the Live at the Crystal Ballroom DVD, Patrick and Dan have offered up this tasty morsel from the show, a fiery version of "I Got Mine." Culled from the sold-out April 4, 2008 gig at Portland, Oregon's Crystal Ballroom, this track simply reaffirms how freaking kick ass these boys are. Hard to imagine it's just two cats up there, rocking out the way they do. That's the magic potion those two have concocted, I suppose.
Get your copy of the DVD here, friends, and be ready for something special.
mp3: I Got Mine (live @ the Crystal Ballroom)
Monday, September 15, 2008
For The Record (Label): Audio Eagle
Inspired by the always excellent HearYa music blog and their spectacular Dan Auerbach Week, I've decided to spread the Black Keys love and give the drummer some. Dan has done some killer production work with various artists on the Alive Records label, but Patrick Carney upped the ante and started his own label, Audio Eagle. While most of Auerbach's work seems to focus on his wheelhouse of dirty, sludgey garage rock blues sound, Carney seems to be a bit more all over the board, courting much more of an indie rocker sound with such bands as Houseguest, Beaten Awake and Royal Bangs. (I'm afraid I haven't heard anything from the fourth label mate, Gil Mantera's Party Dream.) While the genres are different, the quality of artists is not. Both these cats know their music and are surrounding themselves with some damn fine talent in the production studio. So sit back and enjoy these tunes produced by the Black Keys' drummer. If you dig them as much as I do, make sure to check out these bands when they hit your burg.Saturday, May 24, 2008
Live Review: Black Keys @ 9:30 Club, May 12
I've said it before and I know I'll say it again: quite frankly, the Black Keys are the finest rock band touring today. For reasons I can't figure out, the White Stripes get far more love, but if you want a rocking good time that will blow your freaking doors off, look no further than the duo of Dan Auerbach (vox and guitar) and Patrick Carney (skins). These two will rock you harder in an hour than most bands can accomplish in a year.I literally walked into the door of the 9:30 Club last night as the boys took the stage for what proved to be another scorcher, the first of a two night gig kicking off their East Coast tour. (And I've got tickets to night two, too. You can begin feeling jealous whenever you please). Playing in front of a vintage rock light show and an over sized, inflated rubber tire emblazoned with the band's name and Akron, Ohio, Auerbach quickly acknowledged the crowd and then launched into it.
The Keys played crowd favorites all night long, from their original album, The Big Come Up, (Busted) to their latest, Attack & Release (Strange Times). In between, the crowd was treated to such tracks as "10 A.M. Automatic", "Stack Shot Billy," "Set You Free" and "You're the One", pretty much hitting the high points of their entire catalogue. Personally, I would have loved to have heard "Grown So Ugly", but what can you do?
Now, for those of you that have never seen the Keys perform live before, Carney beats the drums like he walked in on them sleeping with his girlfriend. The man must go through a dozen drum sticks a night. He reminds me of a current day John Bonham, doing more with a small drum kit than most marching bands do with an entire percussion section. Auerbach looks more and more like Chris Robinson every time I see him, but he plays guitar like a blues master and has a voice that sounds roughly 40 years older than he is. Combined, the two create a scuzzy, garage-blues-rock sound that should be the envy of every kid interested in becoming a rock star. Again, screw the White Stripes, the Black Keys are where it's at.
The boys played for about an hour before taking a brief break and returning for a quick encore. While there was not a great deal of audience patter between songs, these guys let their instruments do the talking for them. And speak well they did.
As Auerbach pointed out about midway through the set, "We're going to play more songs tomorrow night, but we're going to play better this evening." I'll have to let you know how Night Two goes, but he wasn't messing around with his take on Night One's pyrotechnics.
For those of you that would like to hear for yourself the Black Keys' second night in DC, NPR has been kind enough to stream the show for your listening pleasure:
I'm the guy screaming. And one of the half naked fans he mentions. In case you were wondering.
[Photo by Todd M. Duym]
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